The universityٳٱorganization brought back live shows withMavericks during Homecomingand Family WԻ.
As live theater returnsto stages across the country, The Masque of La 91ֱ is no different.
The student-runtheaterorganizationat91ֱgives those interested in theater workthe opportunityto gain experience rangingfrom performingon stagetomanagement rolesbackstage.
The students liftedthe curtain on themainstageof Dan Rodden Theatreduring La 91ֱ’s Homecoming and Family Weekend in mid-November for their first on-stage performances in front of a live crowd in nearly two years. The studentsperformedMavericks, a selection ofplays written, directed,and actedby students.This year the show included five plays rangingina variety of topics.
Typically,The Masqueputs on afall playand performsMavericks in the springsemester. The COVID-19 pandemiclimited their options for choosing an outside director for their play;moving Mavericksupon the calendarmade sense.
Eila Nash, ’23, a sociology major who serves as The Masque’s president, said the organization put more energy into the Mavericks this year since it replaced the fall musical. This included boostingsocial media awareness andapplyingextra attention to detail with each production.
Performing for a live audience again made the organization’s members happy, said Nash. The Mavericks received rave reviews from attendees,with many saying it was some of the best theyhad ever seenfrom theMasque, said ClaireKunzier, ’22, a communication major and Masque’s vice president of tech.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much having The Masque perform on the Dan Rodden stage again meant to current members and alums,”said Mina Koller,assistantdirector ofcampusprogramming andthe currentadvisor to the organization.Kollersat with an alumnigroupthathad come to campus for Homecoming to see TheMasque’sperformance.“The Masque is an incredibly special part of the La 91ֱ community,” Kolleradded.
“It’s been really nice being in-person again,” Nash said.
The organization’s membership has remained healthy,RachelZieglersaid,’22, a nursing major and Masque’s vice president of publicity and social media,andfive newcomersfinally got what she called “thefullMasqueexperience.”
“They’ve been doing great. They’re very confident,” she added.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much having The Masque perform on the Dan Rodden stage again meant to current members and alums. The Masque is an incredibly special part of the La 91ֱ community,” said Mina Koller, assistant director of campus programming and the current advisor to the organization.
For the spring, the group hopes to recruit more members, particularly on the technical side and in its male membership, saidLee Hungerford,’22,asociologymajor and The Masque’svice president of alumnirelationsand records.
The Masque is La 91ֱ’soldest student-run organization on campus,with its origins dating to1929.
“We have a lot oftraditionsandwe want to keep theLasallianspiritalive,”Kunziersaid.
—Meg Ryan