In 1901, the Shakespeare Society performed As You Like It. Suddenly, performances -- not essays -- defined the group. The outdoor scenery and actresses' talent earned the students and administration's admiration.
Here the 1913 cast of the Tempest poses for a photo.
As-You-Like-It Hill
The Shakespeare Society performed on As-You-Like-It Hill. Ada Goldsmith -- a member -- described the organization’s performances as “more and more realistic…. It seems only natural that nymphs should come dancing over the brow of the hill.” An impressed Beloit allum even paid the college to plant bushes on the hill, improving the women's stage.
The hill where the women performed became known as As-You-Like-It Hill. You can still wander it today, if you ever walk up the rainbow path by the Wright Museum.
Click on any of the photos to enlarge.
Marie Radcliffe '15, Blanche Howard '14, and Dorothy Pettibone '15, perform in The Tempest, 1913.
Marguerite Turney '13, flutters as Ariel. The Tempest, 1913.
Here Edna Thomson ‘14, laughs as Trinculo. The Tempest, 1913.
Louise Pierce '14, poses dramatically. The Tempest, 1913
Ariel gestures defience in the Shakespeare Society's 1913 Tempest performance.
Here the 1912 cast of As You Like It, poses for a photo.
Louise Pierce '14 and Brown '12 performing As You Like It in 1912.
A 1909 Round Table article describing the Shakespeare Society’s history.
"From the ermine-trimmed robe of a king to the clown's bell tipped hat."
Beautiful costumes defined the Shakespeare Society. But creating them took time and care -- requiring a “keeper of the wardrobe” to maintain the costume collection.
Despite these expenses, the society supported itself through its performances.
A letter from Ethel Bird ‘05 to her parents (February 17th, 1904).
Finding costumes could be difficult. Writing home in 1904, Ethel Bird ‘05 begs her parents to send her a wig from Chicago an upcoming dramatic performance.
