Word: hpt
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While Johnson's assertion is correct in that the current structure of the company goes back only 25 years, the all-male cast has been the defining feature of the Pudding since the late 18th century. Furthermore, when Harvard merged with Radcliffe in 1972 Hasty Pudding Theatricals (HPT) almost immediately opened up the other parts of the company--band, tech, and business--to women. Alumni say that just a decade later the Pudding show was known as one of the few communities on campus that was accepting of openly gay students. This clearly runs contrary to Johnson's claim that...
Most shows at Harvard are student-directed, and so the only opportunities to act in a professionally-directed show are through the Visiting Director's Project (once every four semesters) and the HPT. Actors in Pudding shows interact with professional directors, choreographers, costume designers, music directors, vocal trainers, etc. The Pudding show is also the only long-run production during the year, as well as the only company to gain national attention (for its Actress and Actor-of-the-Year Awards). Actors gain experience, exposure and prestige from being in the show...
...time when all-male Harvard felt threatened by an influx of lower class and non-white students and was beginning a reluctant merger with Radcliffe. The current form was one of protest, in which cross-casting moved from a reluctant necessity to the central tenant of the HPT...
Even if egalitarian casting should result in the withdrawal of alumni funds, this is a sacrifice which must be made to preserve our theater community and the art we together pursue. If the HPT has ceased to serve, or works against, the needs of current students, then it must be reformed. Conversations with undergraduate actresses have strengthened my belief in this, as well as the fact that a feminist review went up against the Pudding last year and that "Guys and Dolls" has readmitted women to the Pudding stage after a decade's absence...
...male or female, queer or straight--currently involved in this year's Pudding production, have a moral and ethical obligation to walk out of production until an agreement to admit actresses to next year's production is reached. To say that acting by females will lessen the quality of HPT 152 is an insult to the talent of our actresses as well as to the inventiveness and creativity of the Pudding production staff...