The story
History
Hasty Pudding Theatricals was formed in 1795 as a social club for Harvard College students to cultivate the social affections and cherish the feelings of friendship and patriotism. On December 13, 1844, the Pudding put on its first full performance – William Barnes Rhodes' burlesque opera Bombastes Furioso. After a period of producing popular comedies by established playwrights, student members of the Pudding began to write their own shows, starting in 1882 with a production of Dido and Aeneas by Owen Wister. The event was interrupted for 2 years during each of the World Wars and once more in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cast was limited to only men (often performing in drag) until 2018, though women played a role in the company for many years, primarily as costumers. In 1948 Felisa Vanoff became Pudding's first female choreographer, and in 1978 Diane Nabatoff became its first female producer. In 2009 Megan Amram and Alexandra Petri became the first all-female team to write the musical comedy. The technical crew, band, and business staff has been co-ed for many years.
Origins of name
The Hasty Pudding name comes from a colonial era (originally British) dish called hasty pudding, a kind of porridge made from cornmeal with molasses, honey or other ingredients. It is not clear whether the dish was originally a staple or a dessert, but it is now served for dessert at the banquets thrown by the Pudding, such as opening night celebrations and the annual "roasts" for their Man and Woman of the Year.
From Wikipedia’s article on Hasty Pudding Theatricals, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3