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The producing organization of the Mountebanks was founded in 1911, but
dramatic presentations were being held as early as 1804. The name
'mountebank' comes from the Italian, used to "designate vendors of
charms, drugs, and quick medicines, who attracted purchases by
improvised dramatic performances on the street." The group built
their own theater in Hanna Hall and eventually flourished into a
fairly powerful organization with the help of alumni, students, and
friends. Their workshop extended throughout the next decade and the Mountebanks established themselves in Hanna Hall with four dressing rooms, a workshop, a greenroom, and a coat room for guests. In a way, the new Yulman Theater is reminiscent of the very seeds that started theater at Union College. They organized an executive committee which selected drama and plays and production staffs, and wrote a constitution. These aspects of Mountebanks have held throughout the years and are still present today. Between the years of 1928-9, Mountebanks soldified into a concrete group largely impart to a wonderful dramatic coach, Edward L. Carrol. Carrol had a wonderful record of theater. Edward L. Carrol graduated from Union in 1927 and received his masters in English and drama at Columbia. At Union, he was heavily involved with Mountebanks holding most positions including president. His ability at playing female roles since Union was all male at the time, won him much praise from drama critics. He was made class poet, elected to Phi Beta Kappa his senior year, and received the Blanchford prize for the best address at this commencement. Carrol led Mountebanks to much success throughout his years here. It is to his credit, the outlines of the Mountebanks organization and all the aspects and rules needed to produce "good plays on campus." He stressed the need for theater at Union College for trained men in all aspects of theater i.e. acting, productions, etc. Carrol hoped for a new theater at Union to be built to insure that drama would have strong roots and become a large part of the undergraduate life and activities. Interestingly enough, the English department took Mountebanks under its wings, with professors who were willing to teach drama courses. William Toniski, '29, current stage manager and others were intrigued with Hanna Hall, the new theater and the ability they would have at building scenery and properties. This would be the first opportunity the Mountebanks would have to become a theater group and have the ability to incorporate all interested men into a very intimate group. At the time, plays and theater were a big business and a flourishing area that offered exciting and interesting careers. Theater and play productions were intriguing things to get involved with, and Charles Perkins '29, business manager fully believed that Union should offer some formal training as a basis for this career path. There was a great drive by Carrol for the building of a formal theater where the dramatic/performing arts could have a home. Drama and theater became one of the most progressive and popular forms of entertainment and activity on campus. Mountebanks became one of the few organizations on campus to successfully produce and complete a major project every year. Each production was well managed and led successfully. It became of much interest to build Hanna Hall, a new theater. A suitable theater would cut costs and make theater a permanent aspect of campus life. Through hard work, and much financial dependency on students and faculty donations, a 300 person Hanna Hall theater was built, complete with a balcony. What ensued were two things: A wonderful area where drama could flourish, and immense debt that angered many, especially since students failed to contribute their share. Their first performance was a night of Three One Act Plays, including The Spend Thrifts, by Tristian Bernard, The Hero of Santa Marra, by Kenneth Sawyer, and The Betrayal, by Padriac Cilum. All directed and presented successfully. Mountebanks has always had a history of wandering around, performing outside, inside, in dining halls, lecture rooms, anywhere remotely resembling a stage. There has always been great determination of the Mountebanks to keep theater alive no matter what. Above any organization it seems, Mountebanks is one of the more dedicated and ambitious. Even if it means loafing around classrooms to perform. Since 1912, Mountebanks had been wandering around, using lawns for stages, and literally old drapery for scenery. Thursday April 16, 1928, Hanna Hall was opened. It was a portmanteau theater, a stage proscenium arch and strong, yet portable steel. While Hanna Hall was a dream of the technical staff because of its design, it was more a dream of Mountebanks.
Throughout the years, Mountebanks has put on countless plays, too
numerous to name them all, but here's a sampling:
The theatrical aspect of Union and the Mountebanks was definitely a great one. Mountebanks was once funded by outside patrons, and had such a grandeur Broadwayish aspect to it. Today, theater is still prevalent, though not as glamorous. Back then, there were weekly updates on play rehearsals, and funny things that happened during them. The campus shared in the delight during all aspects of production. The action wasn't just shared by the actors or the production staff. Theater truly encompassed all and took an interesting turn at the building of the Nott Memorial, which became the primary theater until just two years ago. Theater will always be alive at Union.
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