Mask and Wig Experience
NAVIGATION
A singular experience at the University of Pennsylvania
Annual Activities
The Mask and Wig undergraduate experience extends beyond producing and performing in our shows. Starting during New Student Orientation, a myriad of opportunities await our undergraduate members. From internal social events such as barbecues, hangouts, and formals to external social events such as mixers with other performing arts-related and social groups on campus, undergraduate members have plenty of recreational opportunities. The Band often performs gigs across Philadelphia, including parties, formals, competitions, Penn events, and social gatherings. In addition to social outlets, Mask and Wig provides its undergraduate members academic resources, opportunities for housing (both off-campus and in a room in the Mask and Wig dormitory in the Quad), and networking with alumni eager to mentor. Mask and Wig also takes its members on an all-expenses-paid tour of the Annual Production during Penn’s spring break. Join us today!
Our Sections
Mask and Wig undergraduates join one of four sections: the Band, the Business Staff, the Cast, or the Stage Crew.
BAND
The Mask and Wig Band is one of Penn’s premier bands. The Band not only provides exquisite musical accompaniment for both our Fall Show and Annual Production but also plays energetic gigs year-round for packed crowds.
BUSINESS STAFF
The Business Staff resourcefully handles the promotion, sales, and fundraising for Mask and Wig. Working on design, photography, videography, marketing, and filling seats for every show, the Business Staff keeps the show and company running flawlessly.
CAST
The Cast writes for and acts in our two marquee original comedic productions. Belting tunes, tap dancing, and showcasing fan-favorite bits at campus comedy nights, the Cast is versatile on the stage.
STAGE CREW
Creating from scratch such wonders of the stage as a Mayan temple, an underwater kingdom, or a Roman Coliseum, the Crew builds themed sets for all Mask and Wig productions. Running the lights, sound, and stage for Mask and Wig shows, the Crew creates background magic.
Our Tour
Mask and Wig’s annual tour began in 1891 when the Club took Miss Columbia to New York and Washington, D.C. By 1940, the Club had performed in 31 cities, traveling in style in a Mask and Wig-branded Pennsylvania Railroad car. Early undergraduates played sold out shows nationwide and enjoyed relaxation and fun in the myriad cities that welcomed them.
Since then, the Tour has expanded nationally and internationally. To this day, all undergraduate Mask and Wig members take the Annual Production on the road during Penn’s spring break. Now, travel is no longer by rail car but by trucks, buses, trains, and planes. Recent years have seen performances in San Francisco, Orlando, New York City, Washington, D.C., Montréal, Miami, and London. In between performances, undergraduates travel to a “Mystery City,” where organized activities and free time abound to enjoy surprise destinations.
The best part of the Tour is, of course, the price tag (or lack thereof). Financed by tickets, advertisements, and donations, the undergraduate members roam the world free of charge. Around the world, Mask and Wig’s numerous and generous alumni enjoy housing undergraduate members, catching shows, and reconnecting with the Club.
Diversity, Equity, and inclusion
Mask and Wig embraces Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to ensure that members of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities are celebrated; to guarantee members access to equitable opportunities within Mask and Wig; and to prioritize the safety and belonging of members in every Mask and Wig space and setting.
Mask and Wig’s DEI Committee works to identify and dismantle systemic barriers to fair and accessible participation in Mask and Wig. The DEI Committee will intervene when members have experiences which fall short of being diverse, equitable, and/or inclusive in order to ensure that Mask and Wig remains a centerpiece of the Penn experience for its members.
Mask and Wig acknowledges its history of exclusionary and harmful behavior towards marginalized groups, including previously maintaining gender as a qualification for participation and membership. We are dedicated to actively combat discrimination wherever possible. The DEI Committee undertakes its efforts to ensure that Mask and Wig’s position on campus represents who we are now. Mask and Wig is committed to identifying and addressing any components of the Mask and Wig experience that may not reflect the values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. While these efforts are never complete, our goal is to continue to improve and evolve to match Mask and Wig’s current values.
To learn more about Mask and Wig’s efforts in this respect, please reach out to the DEI committee at dei@maskandwig.com.