Scotch'n'Soda
Encyclopedia
Scotch'n'Soda is a student run theatre organization that resides on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University
. Its initial dedication was the creation and production of original musicals, but due to declining student interest in writing musicals over the past decade, it has taken to performing both professionally published and student-written materials. Students are welcome to write, compose, design, direct, perform in, and otherwise become involved with every aspect of each production. The organization is open to all Carnegie Mellon students from all backgrounds who are interested, and all performances are public with varying ticket prices.
. It was originally founded in the fall of 1907 as The White Friars Club, providing a theatrical outlet for the students of the Carnegie Technical Schools
. Their first production, in the spring of 1908, was entitled "All in a Dormitory" and gave a comical look at life on campus. The White Friars Club was short-lived, as student theater went on hiatus during World War I
. It wasn't until 1932 when a student theater group called The Bacchanalians formed to produce a musical for Carnegie Tech's Spring Carnival.
The organization took its current name in 1937 during a vote by the membership. Unconfirmed rumor has it that the name with the most votes was Hop'n'Scotch, but the leaders of the organization fixed the vote so that Scotch'n'Soda came out victorious. In any case, the newly named student-run theater troupe founded by three drama majors began producing original full-length musicals for Spring Carnival. With the exception of a five year break from 1942–1946 for World War II
, Scotch'n'Soda has been producing musicals for Carnival continuously to the present.
In the 1960s, Scotch'n'Soda began expanding its season by producing shows for Homecoming. While still heavily populated by drama majors, or "dramats," S'n'S provided a theatrical outlet to students of all disciplines, allowing for high degrees of collaboration on original works. Certainly the most notable of these original works from the 60s was the musical "Pippin, Pippin"
by drama student Stephen Schwartz
, produced for Carnival 1967. This show was produced on Broadway just five years later in 1972 under the shortened title "Pippin", and was directed and choreographed by the famed Bob Fosse
.
S'n'S continued to grow in the 1970s, winning two Broadcast Music, Inc. awards for Outstanding Variety Show. In a major blow to the membership, the School of Drama forbade acting majors from participating in Scotch'n'Soda productions starting in 1976. Despite the fact that they were the founding and most numerous members, the remaining membership decided to press on with completely student-run, non-major theater.
Not satisfied with only doing musicals for Homecoming and Carnival, Scotch'n'Soda introduced the campus' first long-form improvisational comedy production in 1988. This began a 20 year period of growth and change for the organization. In the early 1990s, they expanded to a three-production season. In 1993, a subsidiary group called Club Soda formed, which taught new skills to the diverse membership. In 1994, another subsidiary troupe formed, The No Parking Players, Carnegie Mellon's first short-form improv comedy group. In 1998, Scotch 'n Soda expanded to a permanent five-production season.
Today, Scotch'n'Soda proudly produces six to seven shows each diverse season, ranging from full-scale musicals to intimate black box plays, performing in a variety of spaces in the University Center and elsewhere on campus. With a strongly committed and talented membership spanning all six of Carnegie Mellon's undergraduate colleges and representing over 30 different majors, Scotch'n'Soda is growing still and is well poised to continue providing student-run theater to the Carnegie Mellon campus community for years to come.
These nine students work to contribute and act as executive producers to each production. They also hold weekly meetings to discuss all issues related to the organization and hold responsibility for selecting material for production. They are assisted by a half dozen or so auxiliary board members who are easily named and dismissed but wield less power over the organization.
.
Upon the completion of CMU's University Center, Scotch'n'Soda has been alternating performance spaces throughout the building including: The Connan Room, The McKenna/Peter/Wright Room, Rangos Ballroom, and McConomy Auditorium. This has proven difficult for the organization to this day, as access to the performance spaces is very limited, and in most cases they can only use each performance space for a maximum of seven consecutive days (Spring Carnival performances in 1997-1999 were able to reserve Rangos hall for two weeks). This limited amount of time includes load-in, rehearsals, performances and strike. In fact, unable to find a suitable venue, the May 2001 production of Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story" was performed outside in the Highlander Compass.
Some other venues have been used in recent years, including Porter Hall 100, Porter Hall 125C and the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theatre (in the Purnell Center).
, author of Godspell
, and Roger O. Hirson
, author of Pippin
. Other performing arts alumni include:
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. Its initial dedication was the creation and production of original musicals, but due to declining student interest in writing musicals over the past decade, it has taken to performing both professionally published and student-written materials. Students are welcome to write, compose, design, direct, perform in, and otherwise become involved with every aspect of each production. The organization is open to all Carnegie Mellon students from all backgrounds who are interested, and all performances are public with varying ticket prices.
History
Scotch'n'Soda Theatre is one of the nation's oldest student theater groups, and is one of the oldest and largest student organizations at Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. It was originally founded in the fall of 1907 as The White Friars Club, providing a theatrical outlet for the students of the Carnegie Technical Schools
Carnegie Institute of Technology
The Carnegie Institute of Technology , is the name for Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. It was first called the Carnegie Technical Schools, or Carnegie Tech, when it was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie who intended to build a “first class technical school” in Pittsburgh,...
. Their first production, in the spring of 1908, was entitled "All in a Dormitory" and gave a comical look at life on campus. The White Friars Club was short-lived, as student theater went on hiatus during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It wasn't until 1932 when a student theater group called The Bacchanalians formed to produce a musical for Carnegie Tech's Spring Carnival.
The organization took its current name in 1937 during a vote by the membership. Unconfirmed rumor has it that the name with the most votes was Hop'n'Scotch, but the leaders of the organization fixed the vote so that Scotch'n'Soda came out victorious. In any case, the newly named student-run theater troupe founded by three drama majors began producing original full-length musicals for Spring Carnival. With the exception of a five year break from 1942–1946 for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Scotch'n'Soda has been producing musicals for Carnival continuously to the present.
In the 1960s, Scotch'n'Soda began expanding its season by producing shows for Homecoming. While still heavily populated by drama majors, or "dramats," S'n'S provided a theatrical outlet to students of all disciplines, allowing for high degrees of collaboration on original works. Certainly the most notable of these original works from the 60s was the musical "Pippin, Pippin"
Pippin (musical)
Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto...
by drama student Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz (composer)
Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
, produced for Carnival 1967. This show was produced on Broadway just five years later in 1972 under the shortened title "Pippin", and was directed and choreographed by the famed Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse
Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse was an American actor, dancer, musical theater choreographer, director, screenwriter, film editor and film director. He won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction...
.
S'n'S continued to grow in the 1970s, winning two Broadcast Music, Inc. awards for Outstanding Variety Show. In a major blow to the membership, the School of Drama forbade acting majors from participating in Scotch'n'Soda productions starting in 1976. Despite the fact that they were the founding and most numerous members, the remaining membership decided to press on with completely student-run, non-major theater.
Not satisfied with only doing musicals for Homecoming and Carnival, Scotch'n'Soda introduced the campus' first long-form improvisational comedy production in 1988. This began a 20 year period of growth and change for the organization. In the early 1990s, they expanded to a three-production season. In 1993, a subsidiary group called Club Soda formed, which taught new skills to the diverse membership. In 1994, another subsidiary troupe formed, The No Parking Players, Carnegie Mellon's first short-form improv comedy group. In 1998, Scotch 'n Soda expanded to a permanent five-production season.
Today, Scotch'n'Soda proudly produces six to seven shows each diverse season, ranging from full-scale musicals to intimate black box plays, performing in a variety of spaces in the University Center and elsewhere on campus. With a strongly committed and talented membership spanning all six of Carnegie Mellon's undergraduate colleges and representing over 30 different majors, Scotch'n'Soda is growing still and is well poised to continue providing student-run theater to the Carnegie Mellon campus community for years to come.
Board of directors
Scotch'n'Soda is governed by a board of nine directorshttp://snstheatre.org/about. Each position of the board is elected annually by the general membership. These positions include:- President
- Vice President
- Artistic Director
- Managing Director
- Technical Coordinator
- Secretary
- Public Relations Coordinator
- General Membership Coordinator
- Rights And Reservations Representative
These nine students work to contribute and act as executive producers to each production. They also hold weekly meetings to discuss all issues related to the organization and hold responsibility for selecting material for production. They are assisted by a half dozen or so auxiliary board members who are easily named and dismissed but wield less power over the organization.
Selection of material
Scotch'n'Soda welcomes scripts presented from any student on Carnegie Mellon's campus, though it does not have to be student-written. Playwrights who are not Carnegie Mellon students may submit their own material as long as it is submitted through a current CMU student. All scripts must be approved by the board, who examine each script and approve those that appeal to the community and membership, and are technically feasible. After scripts are approved, all Carnegie Mellon students are welcome to submit a Director's Proposal to the Scotch'n'Soda board. In a publicly held meeting, directors present their proposals to the board. The meeting is then closed to the public as the board selects a specific show for production. Several weeks into production, a Board Preview performance is held—which includes an open rehearsal for the show, as well as reports from all members of the technical staff on the production. It is at this Board Preview that final approval must be given to a show before it may begin performances.Funding
Scotch'n'Soda is funded by a specific allocation of a student activities fee paid by all students and distributed by Carnegie Mellon's Joint Funding Committee. Scotch'n'Soda does not profit from its productions, nor does any member receive payment for services.Venues
Originally, Scotch'n'Soda presented all its performances in Pittsburgh's Carnegie Music Hall, located less than one mile from the school's campus. Eventually, due to rental fees and time commitments, Scotch'n'Soda had to leave the large performance hall and was transplanted into the Carnegie Mellon gym. This was soon followed by a move into a specially constructed stage in Skibo Ballroom, part of the Skibo University Center on Carnegie Mellon's campus. In the summer of 1994, this building was torn down to make room for the school's current University Center. During the two years of construction, Scotch'n'Soda was completely homeless and performed in various lecture halls, the drill deck of the old student center and off campus at Temple Rodef ShalomTemple Rodef Shalom
Temple Rodef Shalom is the largest Jewish congregation in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Fairfax County . Founded in 1962, it counts a membership of over 1,300 households....
.
Upon the completion of CMU's University Center, Scotch'n'Soda has been alternating performance spaces throughout the building including: The Connan Room, The McKenna/Peter/Wright Room, Rangos Ballroom, and McConomy Auditorium. This has proven difficult for the organization to this day, as access to the performance spaces is very limited, and in most cases they can only use each performance space for a maximum of seven consecutive days (Spring Carnival performances in 1997-1999 were able to reserve Rangos hall for two weeks). This limited amount of time includes load-in, rehearsals, performances and strike. In fact, unable to find a suitable venue, the May 2001 production of Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story" was performed outside in the Highlander Compass.
Some other venues have been used in recent years, including Porter Hall 100, Porter Hall 125C and the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theatre (in the Purnell Center).
The No Parking Players
Founded in 1996, the No Parking Players is Scotch'n'Soda Theatre's improv troupe. NPP practices improvised theatre of all kinds, with a focus on the comedic short form. At the core of the NPP experience are the twice weekly workshops, open to the entire campus community. People of all experience levels are welcome, including those who have never tried improv before. Most workshops are composed of regulars and newcomers side-by-side. The No Parking Players performance group also has regular bi-weekly shows, featuring a mix of improv games, storytelling, and audience participation. In 2009, the troupe began offering a class on comedic improv for free elective credit via Carnegie Mellon's Student College.Alumni Clan
Scotch'n'Soda is currently developing an Alumni Clan, which is devoted to keeping all past members of the organization in touch and organizing reunion events. It also presents the Buzz Blair Award for the Performing Arts, named after founding member Leonard 'Buzz' Blair, and given annually during Carnegie Mellon's homecoming festivities.Notable alumni
Numerous renowned figures in the performing arts started with Scotch'n'Soda. Two of the most acclaimed are the playwrights John-Michael TebelakJohn-Michael Tebelak
John-Michael Tebelak was an American playwright and director. He was most famous for creating the musical Godspell based on the Gospel of Saint Matthew. The music was by Stephen Schwartz...
, author of Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
, and Roger O. Hirson
Roger O. Hirson
Roger O. Hirson is an American dramatist and screenwriter best known for his books of the Broadway musicals, Pippin, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, and Walking Happy...
, author of Pippin
Pippin (musical)
Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto...
. Other performing arts alumni include:
- Jerry AdlerJerry AdlerJerry Adler is an American theatre director, production supervisor and a television and film actor.Adler was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Pauline and Philip Adler, who was a general manager of the Group Theatre...
- Lawrence CarraLawrence CarraLawrence Carra was an American professor of drama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a director of theater and television as well as a mentor to hundreds of actors and directors....
- Iris Rainer DartIris Rainer DartIris Rainer Dart is an American author and playwright for television and the stage. Her most notable novel is Beaches, which was made into a 1988 film of the same name...
— Novelist - Barbara Feldon — Actress/model
- Bob Finkel — Producer/director
- Herb Gardner — Artist/playwright
- Frank GorshinFrank GorshinFrank John Gorshin, Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show...
— Actor/comedian - Javier Grillo-MarxuachJavier Grillo-MarxuachJavier "Javi" Grillo-Marxuach , born October 28, 1969 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a television screenwriter and producer, known for his work as writer and producer on the first two seasons of the ABC television series Lost, as well as other series including Charmed and Law and Order: Special...
— Emmy-winning TV writer & producer - Franklin Heller
- Stephen SchwartzStephen Schwartz (composer)Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
— Composer/lyricist - Alex SegalAlex SegalAlex Segal was an American television director, television producer and film director.He directed mostly on television making over 25 productions between his debut as a director on Starring Boris Karloff in 1949 and his death.He directed a few films including Joy in the Morning in 1965.He received...
- Michael Patrick WalkerMichael Patrick WalkerMichael Patrick Walker is a composer/lyricist and musician as well as an arranger and orchestrator. He is best known for co-writing the musical, Altar Boyz with fellow composer/lyricist Gary Adler and book writer Kevin Del Aguila...
— Composer/lyricist