Masque is the largest of the five theatre performance groups at WPI. They perform four shows a year, including the New Voices Festival and a major student directed show. Masque has received praise from local audiences and has performed internationally as well. This year Masque will produce HENRY V by William Shakespeare. Extensive design plans have been in place since the summer as this is the largest single show of the season, directed by the Masque advisor, Susan Vick. Every winter Masque produces a major student directed show. This show is selected, produced and directed by undergraduate students (usually the President of Masque). Some of Masque's most ambitious shows have taken place in this format, including the recent productions of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and Ray Bradbury's FAHRENHEIT 451. New Voices is a theatre festival made up of play that are written, produced and directed exclusively by members of the WPI community, many of which have never been seen on stage before. Recent festivals have included as many as twenty plays, brought to life by the effort of over two hundred. New Voices is one of the largest events on campus, drawing standing room only crowds.
The MW Repertory Theatre Co. (MWRep) produces two shows every year, one in the fall and one in the winter. MWRep is run entirely by members of WPI and the community, they select the shows that will be performed, the producer and the director. They also finance the performance as they receive no funding from the school. Even without school funding, the shows are always of high quality and very professional. Some of the most compelling and entertaining theatre in Worcester is performed by MWRep.
The third group on campus is WPI's own improvisational theatre troupe, Chain Link Fence. Chain Link Fence has one or two student directors who are elected by the group. These directors run their weekly practice sessions and set up performances for the group. They have performed many times on campus and off campus, as far away as New York. Chain Link Fence produces a unique brand of comedy which is highly entertaining.
Alpha Psi Omega, an international honor society, maintains a chapter, the Rho Kappa cast, at WPI. In the past, this organization planned performances and organized trips to visit other schools' theatre programs. They also organize an annual Masquerade Ball around Halloween, which is a semi-formal event that welcomes all. Alpha Psi Omega works not only to honor those who excel in theatre, but also to help theatre to grow at WPI.
The last group is WPI Summer Theatre. Every summer members of all the other groups ban together to produce a total student organized theatre show. Again, there is no funding from the school, but the proceeds of the previous summer pay for the performance for any given year. Usually, these shows are made up of a few short plays, sometimes older New Voices plays, but usually works never before seen at WPI. This summer show is always a great deal of fun for all involved.
Putting on ten productions a year requires a great deal of work and all these groups are always interested in new members. Everyone one is welcome to participate in and attend all the theatre shows at WPI. If you want more information about any of these groups please contact Susan Vick at the Department of the Humanities and the Arts (e-mail: svick@wpi) or Noah Weisleder (e-mail: wildman@wpi or Box 3171).