Theatre Traditions
DerbyThe Derby Award is a Tradition that goes way back. The Derby is an award given to an outstanding cast member after the strike of the last performance of a show. It is similar to a bowler hat and is decorated with inspiration from the current show. During the last performance, a voting box is placed backstage and all cast, crew, and pit orchestra member are allowed to vote for who they believe is the most outstanding member of the cast.
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"Golden" Paintbrush
The Golden Paintbrush Award is always paired with the Derby Award, having the same timeline but a different purpose. The Golden Paintbrush is an award given to an outstanding crew member after the strike of the last performance of a show. It is, simply put, a paintbrush decorated with inspiration from the show or dipped into golden paint. During the last performance, a voting box is placed backstage and all cast, crew, and pit orchestra members are allowed to vote for who they believe is the most outstanding member of the crew.
Pit Orchestra Award
The Pit Orchestra Award is given to the most outstanding pit orchestra member during a musical. During the last performance, a voting box is placed backstage and all cast, crew, and pit orchestra member are allowed to vote for who they believe is the most outstanding member of the pit orchestra. The physical award takes many forms depending on whatever the pit orchestra feels is appropriate. For example, the Pit Award for Tarzan was a golden coconut.
The 'M' Word
Every theater around the world has their own superstitions whether it's ghosts, bad juju, or paranormal activity, but one superstition remains constant: The 'M' Word. The 'M' Word is the name of a play written by William Shakespeare that involves a lot of death (dubbed as the "Scottish Play"), and that is all I will say about the word itself. The superstition is that if you say or reference the name of the play, NOT THE CHARACTER, the show will be cursed! If you do end up speaking it, you must follow the ritual in order to cleanse the theatre of the curse: you must run around the entire perimeter of the theatre THREE times. More information about the curse here.
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Thespian Traditions
Theatre Shirt ThursdayTheatre Shirt Thursday is a tradition where theatre people (or anyone really) where their theatre spirit wear from past or current shows! Acceptable Theatre Shirts are Princeton shows or any outside theatre production that you have been a part of or have seen. Post about your theatre pride using the hashtags #theatreshirtthursday and #tst
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Ride That Pony
Ride that Pony is a game that is played once or twice a year: at the first thespian meeting and sometimes at the last (at senior thespian's discretion). The game goes with everyone in a circle and one or two people in the middle. The people (or person) in the middle starts to run around the circle and clap to a beat and everyone in the circle claps as well. The people in the middle chant "COME ON BABY!" and the circle responds 'RIDE THAT PONY!" This is repeated 3 times and then the people in the middle pick two different people in the circle. The people in the circle mimic the person in the middle as so: shimmy to the front, shimmy to the back, shimmy to one side, and then the other, then do-si-do and switch positions. While shimmying, everyone chants "FRONT TO FRONT TO FRONT, NOW BABY BACK TO BACK TO BACK, NOW BABY, SIDE TO SIDE NOW BABY, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT! COME ON BABY..." This repeats until many people have been drawn into the middle and everyone is cheering and having a good time. One of the top rated games of the year.
Games
General and unique theatre games are played at Thespian Meetings and are used to either teach something or just have fun! A list of games is located in the Thespian Troupe 1102 Handbook in the Documents section under the Resources tab on this website. Or just click here.