At the University of California 'the new era in dramatic work began vrith the dedication of the Greek Theatre in 1903. Under the leader ship of Prof. C. M. Gayley of the depart ment of English the students have received so much scope and wise guidance that this uni versity has become one of the chief dramatic centres of the nation. All productions are under the supervision of the musical and dramatic conunittee. The chief play-producing body, The English Club, is a student organiza tion which in the spring and autumn of each year gives some noteworthy performance in the Greek Theatre. The plays, since 1903, have in cluded 'King Shudrakas); 'The Little Clay Cart,) from India; 'Abraham and Isaac' (A.D. 1316) ; (Thersytes) (A.D. 1539) ; Jonson's (The Hue and Cry after Cupid' ; Pinero's (The Cabinet Minister' ; Henry Van Dyke's (The House of Rimmon' ; Delcker's (The Shoe maker's Holiday' ; Stephen Phillips's (Nero' and 'Paolo and Francesca' • Shaw's (Caesar and Cleopatra> ; Schiller's (iary Stuart' • Al-. fred Noyes's 'Sherwood) ; Ibsen's (The Viiings at Helgeland); Sudermann's (Teja> ; Yeats's (The Countess Cathleen) ; Bulwer-Lytton's (Richelieu); Lawrence Housman and Granville Barker's (Prunella); four of Shakespeare's comedies and his (Henry V.) For the Shakes pearean Tercentenary in 1916 a dignified produc tion of (King Lear) was presented by the students in the Greek Theatre, without the usual stage settings and °business.'" Stanford University.dramatics date from the founding of the university in 1891. A few years later, an organization called the Sword and Sandals was founded for promoting the drama, and with a view to presenting a good standard or current play each year. This Society still exists as the mainspring of dramatic enter prise in the university, and their plays have ranged from the Greek classics to (Seven Keys to Baldpate); some of the more successful of these being (The Great Divide); (Only Way) ; (Men and Women); (The Man from Home,' and, in 1917, (Justice.) There are six .other organizations for the production of plays given throughout the year, including a women's society, the aMasquers,'" and the junior class, which specializes on original opera. All dra matic enterprise is governed by. the dramatic council, composed of the presidents of the various student organizations concerned, faculty representatives, the student stage-man agers and the professional director.
At Princeton University, the famous Tri angle Club devotes itself entirely to light comedy; and each year presents an original musical comedy, produced entirely by the under graduates. They write the °book " the music, the lyrics and plan the entire prociuction. The Triangle Club usually takes an extended trip during the Christmas vacation, presenting plays in many of the larger cities under the auspices of the alumni associations. The Princeton Dramatic Association devotes itself to the pres entation of plays of a more serious type under the direction of the faculty of the English de partment. It has given such plays as Marlowe's 'Dr. Faustus' and (The Jew of Malta' ; Mas singer's (New Way to Pay Old Debts); Beau wont and Fletcher's 'Knight of the Burning Pestle' • Shakespeare's 'Henry the Fourth' and 'Comedy of Errors' ; Ben Jonson's
At the University of Pennsylvania, in Phila delphia, the most prominent dramatic event of the year is the Easter week production of the Mask and Wig Club. For 30 successive years the club has staged a new play in the nature of an extravaganza or a burlesque, the book and music being written entirely by its mem bers. About 100 undergraduates usually take part. Other dramatic events are the round of French, German, Italian, Old English and Greek plays by the various depart ments. In May 1916 'The Comedy of Errors> was presented by the Philomathean Society in a specially constructed theatre modeled after the old Globe Theatre in London. This was one of the principal features of the Shakespeare Tercentenary celebrations in Phila delphia in 1916. In the spring of 1915 a com pany of English actors gave a fine production of 'Iphigenia in Tauris) and
Brown University has a reputation for good acting and shows enthusiasm in the cultivation of audiences beyond the usual academic circles.
The Sock and Buskin Society gives spring and autumn productions of modern classical plays, and aims in particular to keep alive the best of the old comedies in English, and good farces.
The University of Vermont has for some years carried on the interest in dramatics with purely student undertakings, and with open-air performances under the strict supervision of the university. A club for men and another for women present old English comedies, Shakespeare and the modern drama, in both separate and joint productions. In addition, the modern language clubs read and produce plays.
At Dartmouth College the dramatic renais sance has gathered up the best available talent among expositors and critics in New"England. No college in the country has shown more energy in the way of dramatic art than Dart mouth. On the practical side the professional coach was dispensed with, and the full responsi bility for productions given over to the Dra matic Association of the undergraduates. Within a year the Association had a repertory of 22 plays, not including those produced during the summer session. Every class of play, from Maeterlinckian gossamers to vaudeville sketches and Broadway melodramas, were presented.
The women's colleges of the United States are in no way behind the men's in their interest in the subject. At Vassar College, the Philale thean Society aims to interest and instruct its members in dramatic art; and all students are admitted on payment of dues. Five plays by the different chapters, called the Hall Plays, are given each year: Three major and two minor. The three major plays for the year 1915-16 are typical selections: