Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tech Show records

The Tech Show at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was a recurring student production, at first in the form of a vaudeville revue, later a musical comedy. The first performance was given May 12, 1899, under the auspices of the MIT Athletic Association to raise money to benefit Institute athletic teams. In 1901, the Tech Show presented the American premier of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Grand Duke." Most show productions were original works by MIT students. Music, dance, and lyrics were composed, staged, and performed by students attending MIT. For many years William C. Greene of the English department served as coach and advisor to Tech Show students. Later, A. R. Gurney was the faculty advisor to the Tech Show. The show was presented in a number of venues in the earliest years such as the Hollis Theater in Boston and the Academy of Music in Northampton. Later because of financial reasons performances were held on campus. For many years, the show had an all-male cast with female roles played by men.

No show was produced in 1932 due to financial difficulties. There were shows again in 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936, but the show lost money each year, and the show's Advisory Council voted in May 1936 to suspend operations. The Tech Show was revived in 1947 and women, mostly from local Boston colleges, were cast as performers for the first time. The Tech Show was routinely produced until 1969, and then revived in 1979 into the 1990s. The Masque was an honorary society of Tech Show; membership was awarded for exceptional service to the show.

In 1971 the Tech Show Society merged with the MIT Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and the Classical Music Society to form the MIT Musical Theater Guild. (Musical Theater Guild: :http://web.mit.edu/mtg/www/AboutMTG.html)

1979

Loved and Lost or That Old Hack Magic/The God Option

1980

There's No Space Like Home

1981

I Scream Clone

1982

Big Show