Hello HRG&SP patrons and community, 

What a wild year! From a devastating pandemic to social uprising, we have seen and continue to see upheaval unparalleled in recent memory. This upheaval includes the continued ban on live theater performances on Harvard’s campus. 

We are as sad as you are that we won’t be able to bring you Ruddigore; or, the Witch’s Curse in a style and form commensurate with its greatness. While we may not be able to put on a full production of Ruddigore, we are still going to do some Gilbert and Sullivan music! By the end of the semester, we will have something to share with all of you! We’re still figuring out how and what, but rest assured, there will be some HRG&SP ~content~ for you to enjoy by the time we break for the semester. 

In addition to this ~content~, we are spending a lot of time developing, cultivating, and loving our membership. Because of the isolating nature of the current moment, we are leaning into our social functions. We are continuing to hold UNOs (Undergraduates Neglecting their Obligations) weekly via Zoom, will still be having Wine and Cheese in a virtual form, and we’re working on other social events that can work online. 

We probably won’t be sending out a patron letter this semester due to the impossibility of the great big envelope stuffing and licking party that we usually throw to prepare it for mailing, but I hope that you don’t feel too separated from us here in Cambridge and around the world. In order to keep you involved, we are working on a new patron engagement initiative that will directly connect you to members of our community! In particular, we will be sending videos of us singing/playing/performing made just for you! If you are interested in receiving one of these videos, email us. We love you and are happy to have your support. We can hope, though it seems unlikely, to see you next semester at Iolanthe; or, the Peer and the Peri. 

Until we see you again, enjoy our blog posts, occasional utterances, and backlog of productions (able to be found here).

If you have any questions, suggestions, messages of encouragement, hate mail, or want to receive the aforementioned personalized videos, feel free to email me at hrgsp.president@gmail.com!

Dutifully yours, 
Ross Simmons
HRG&SP President

Published by rossdsimmons

One thought on “Fall 2020 President’s Welcome”

  1. Hi, Ross—

    Would HRGS be interested in decades of programs saved from your productions? Very interesting to see how they change through the years.

    I’ll be happy to donate my collection if there is any interest. I’m trying to send various collections to their sources, or at least to places where they will be understood and appreciated. So far, Harvard Divinity School, University of Missouri, Library of Alexandria/Egypt, The Greek Institute in Cambridge and various historical societies in Missouri and elsewhere—including a small museum in Missouri that is taking my 50+ year old high school prom gowns, complete with hoops like Gone with the Wind.

    Cheers from a fellow Missourian (Chillicothe, that is),

    Mary Ned Nyberg Fotis

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