Mask and Wig's 'An Ivy League of Their Own' merges baseball and comedy in fall production

The Mask and Wig Club, a student-run comedy troupe at Penn, recently presented their fall production, "An Ivy League of Their Own." 

The show, reminiscent of "Saturday Night Live," featured a series of short, humorous sketches, musical parodies, existential satire, and pop-culture references, all set against a baseball-themed backdrop. The show occurred from Oct. 18 to 21 at the Iron Gate Theatre.

College seniors Max Mester, serving as cast director, and Lucas Jaeger, the stage manager, were inspired to adopt the baseball theme partly due to the Philadelphia Phillies' success and the sport's unifying effect on the Penn campus. 

Mask and Wig, with a 135-year history, originated as a creative outlet for a group of Penn undergraduates. The troupe is known for its student-driven approach, from the Wig band’s musical arrangements to the set design, and is renowned for its original one-liners.

Mester highlighted the collaborative efforts across the troupe's departments in bringing the show to life.

“We did a baseball-themed photoshoot down at Penn Park and made baseball cards that we shared on social media, so it was a much more comprehensive approach in terms of how we thought about marketing the show, and I think it went really well,” Mester said. 

This year's fall production deviated from the troupe's traditional format, which typically involved a continuous storyline woven through various sketches and acts. Mester explained that they aimed to retain beneficial aspects while discarding less essential traditions.

Mask and Wig, historically an all-male comedy group, opened its membership to all gender identities in 2022. 

College junior Sophia Willis, a crew member and DEI chair, said that she is focused on ongoing DEI training within the company. 

"We have such a strong community, and I feel like I’ve been making really meaningful changes in something that I’m passionate about," Willis stated.

College senior Sophie Faircloth, among the first women to join Mask and Wig, expressed her positive experience with the troupe's inclusive environment.

"We have such a strong community, and I feel like I’ve been making really meaningful changes in something that I’m passionate about," Willis stated.

Mask and Wig will perform their full-length musical comedy nationwide from January through April. 

“I’ve had Wig members come and support me in other facets of my life, which is something that is a little rare to have people that are willing to drop anything to be there for you,” Faircloth said. “I’m excited to see what all Wig has to offer in the future.”