About the Maine Masque
History
The University of Maine Dramatic Club was
officially formed on December 3, 1906 by members of Windsor P. Daggett’s advanced public speaking course. They elected temporary
officers and chose Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” to be their
first presentation. Auditions, called try outs, were held on
December 18, 1906 and again on January 8, 1907 with 75-100 men
representing all sections of the college. On January 11, 1907
they met to announce the cast and adopt a constitution drawn up by
the temporary executive board. The Dramatic Club’s first
performance of “As You Like It” was on May 17, 1907 at Brewer City
Hall. They also performed at Hancock Hall in Ellsworth, date
unknown, and had a final performance on campus in the gymnasium at
Alumni Hall, which later became “Little Theater”. The campus
performance was on May 22, 1907 and featured the Glee Club singing
Shakespearean songs, and the University Orchestra playing an
overture. The first year of the University of Maine Dramatic Club
came to a close on May 31, 1907 with a final meeting to vote on
officers for the following year. For a number of years the
Dramatic Club would perform one main production each year, touring
it to a number of locations in the region before having a final
performance on campus. It wasn’t until November 7, 1910 that the
Dramatic Club voted to change their name to the Maine Masque, to
match the large letter M on each half of their main curtain.
Drama was first offered as a degree at the
University of Maine in 1933-34 and since that time the Maine
Masque has evolved into the organization that it is today. Open to
all University of Maine students, the Maine Masque’s primary goals
are to support and produce theater at the University of Maine.
Each year the Maine Masque produces one main stage production as
part of the School of Performing Arts season of events. The
School of Performing Arts offers music, theater, and dance degrees
at the University of Maine. The Maine Masque is an
independent organization under the jurisdiction of the University
of Maine Student Government, but closely works with the School of
Performing Arts to support theater activities at the University
including independent performances directed by University of Maine
students and various theater related activities on and off campus.
Some of the many activities that the Maine Masque organizes
include: trips to New York City open to all University students, a
welcome back to school BBQ at the Pavilion each fall, a Maine
Masque Ball each spring, attendance at the American College
Theater Festival, representation at the New England Theater
Conference, and the Apple Awards which is our version of the Tony
Awards.
