about us
NAVIGATION
“Justice to the stage; credit to the University.”
Overview
The Mask and Wig Club, founded in 1889 by Clayton Fotterall McMichael, is the premier collegiate musical comedy troupe in the United States. Founded as an alternative to the existing theatrical and dramatic outlets at the University of Pennsylvania, Mask and Wig has presented comedy, music, and dancing to the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and audiences nationwide.
Our History
Starting with our first show, Lurline, in 1889, Mask and Wig has a storied history that continues to evolve. From commissioning Old King Cole from a young Maxfield Parrish to touring in a private, Mask and Wig-branded Pennsylvania Railroad car, the Club met with immense success in its early days. By the middle of the century, Mask and Wig songs became the rage of big band orchestras, radio shows, and popular solo acts. For over a century, Mask and Wig has brought justice to the stage and credit to the University.
Our Shows
Mask and Wig performs three shows each academic year. Free Show, a one-night-only no-cost performance for University of Pennsylvania first- and second-year students during New Student Orientation, kicks off the academic year. Playing for one week, the Fall Show is a sketch comedy show on the University of Pennsylvania campus during (titled appropriately) the Fall. Our marquee undertaking is the Annual Production, a full-length musical comedy entirely written and performed by our undergraduate members, which runs for several months during the Spring.
The Mask and Wig Experience
Mask and Wig is a singular undergraduate opportunity at the University of Pennsylvania. Membership entails creation of professional-quality productions, a vibrant social network, and academic and mentorship opportunities.
Club Organization
The Mask and Wig Club of the University of Pennsylvania is an independently incorporated 501(c)3 charitable organization. Led by its Board of Governors, Mask and Wig exists as a steward of a tradition extending more than a century.