Scotch’n’Soda Theatre

As one of the nation’s oldest student theatre organizations, Carnegie Mellon University’s Scotch’n’Soda Theatre is an entirely student-run group dedicated to the development of student-written theatrical works and to educating the campus community on all aspects of theatre. Scotch’n’Soda is an interdisciplinary organization that values a versatile and diverse constituency devoted to creating unique, innovative, and entertaining products. In collaborating on these products, Scotch’n’Soda builds a strong social network both on campus and off, fostering a safe, supportive environment for creative exploration and artistic expression.

Ticket prices are kept low or are free of charge in order to encourage student patronage, and Scotch’n’Soda strives to make its shows accessible to all audience members while simultaneously challenging them to discover exciting new works and revisiting old favorites. Most importantly, from directing to hanging lighting to acting, painting, and even writing, there’s a student in every position of every show.

Scotch’n’Soda Theatre has a very broad and diverse membership, pulling students from every college in the university. Though founded by three drama majors, the organization now boasts members pursuing more than 35 majors. Scotch’n’Soda membership is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as to any other members of the campus community who pay their Student Activities Fee (included in tuition). There are plenty of ways to get involved:

	Join a Tech Crew! The majority of our members serve behind the scenes on tech crews. From set design to publicity, lighting operation to costuming, carpentry to sound design, and even more, students take hands-on roles in every aspect of every production. Ever devoted to teaching, Scotch’n’Soda provides on-the-job learning opportunities for students of all skill levels, as well as leadership opportunities for those with experience. Working out of our own scene shop—the Dungeon—we strive to make the technical side of our shows approachable, fun, and educational for all involved.
	Act! Auditions are open to the entire campus community, regardless of theatrical experience, and are held periodically throughout the production year. With at least five shows a season, Scotch’n’Soda produces musicals, straight plays, and even occasionally experimental threatre pieces, so there’s something for everyone.
	Workshop! At the heart of Scotch’n’Soda is an interest in student written pieces, be they musicals, comedies or dramas. The Workshopping Committee meets year-long to help student playwrights refine their scripts for the stage.
	Improvise! Founded in 1996, the No Parking Players is Scotch’n’Soda Theatre’s improv troupe. NPP practices improvised theatre of all kinds, with a focus on the comedic short form. At the core of the NPP experience are the weekly workshops, open to the entire campus community. People of all experience levels are welcome, including those who have never tried improv before. Most workshops are composed of regulars and newcomers side-by-side. The No Parking Players performance group also has regular bi-weekly shows, featuring a mix of improv games, storytelling, and of course a large dose of audience participation.

In the beginning of the year, you’ve got tons of options. Meet us at the Activities Fair in September. Come to our Barbecue. Most importantly, come to a general meeting! These are wacky, fun-filled events where the Board fills the rest of the membership in on upcoming auditions, open staff positions, social events, and other juicy tidbits! Later on, watch the website’s News area, sign up for the mailing list or make an account at our internal site – Scotch on the Web – for more information.

Scotch’n’Soda Theatre is one of the nation’s oldest student theatre groups, and is one of the oldest and largest student organizations at Carnegie Mellon University. It was originally founded in the fall of 1907 as The White Friars Club, providing a theatrical outlet for the students of the Carnegie Technical Schools. The White Friars Club was to be short-lived however, as student theatre went on hiatus during World War I. It wasn’t until 1932 when a student theatre group by the name of the Bacchanalians was formed for the purpose of producing a musical for Carnegie Tech’s Spring Carnival. The organization took its current name in 1937 during a vote by the membership and the newly named student-run theatre troupe founded by three drama majors began producing original full-length musicals for Spring Carnival.

In the 1960s, Scotch’n’Soda began expanding its season by producing shows for Homecoming. Not satisfied with only doing musicals, Scotch’n’Soda introduced the campus’ first long-form improvisational comedy production in 1988. This was to be the beginning of a 20 year period of remarkable growth and change for the organization. The early 1990s saw the expansion to a three-production season. In 1996 a subsidiary troupe was formed: The No Parking Players, Carnegie Mellon’s first short-form improv comedy group. The action-packed 90s closed out with the permanent expansion to a five-production season in 1998.

Today, Scotch’n’Soda proudly produces five to seven shows each diverse season, ranging from full-scale musicals to intimate black box plays, performing in a variety of spaces in the University Center and elsewhere on the Carnegie Mellon campus. With a strongly committed and talented membership spanning all six of Carnegie Mellon’s undergraduate colleges and representing over 35 different majors, Scotch’n’Soda is growing still and is well poised to continue providing student-run theatre to the Carnegie Mellon campus community for years to come.

Because there is no administrative authority over Scotch’n’Soda, the organization is governed by a board of nine directors, each position elected annually by the general membership. These nine students work to contribute and act as executive producers to each production and hold weekly meetings to discuss all issues related to the organization.

2010–2011 Board of Directors

President: Aaron Gross Artistic Director: Caitlin Cox Vice President: Daniel Freeman Managing Director: Kelly Rivers Technical Coordinator: Matt Dickoff Secretary: Gillian Hassert Public Relations Coordinator: Nick Ryan General Membership Coordinator: Will Weiner Rights & Reservations Representative: Jay Rockwell

2009–2010 Auxiliary Board

Director of Development: Alex DiClaudio Workshopping Committee Chair: Shannon Deep No Parking Players Artistic Directors: Pat Kane & Timothy Sherman Dungeon Mistress: Patty Rupinen Assistant Dungeon Master: Theodore Martin Webmaster: Spencer Williams