Students in costume are shown standing on the lawn in front of College Hall. This photograph shows the cast of the play Every Woman's Road, which was performed in the spring of 1917. The West and North sides of Derham Hall can be seen in the upper left of the picture.
Moon Brothers Theater tent interior; close up of stage and painted scenery backdrop; Magic Lantern on a table for projecting images; chairs for seating
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Characters from play "The Captain's Idea" staged in St. Clement's Church Hall in Duluth on March 16, 1909. Reverend Raymond Basel, Order of Saint Benedict (OSB), served as assistant pastor and director.
Drama held a significant role in the curriculum of the academy. Performances drew large audiences, not only from the surrounding areas, but from as far as Milwaukee, WI. The Delsarle Tableaux performance, honoring Bishop Otto Zardetti, was presented at the Village Hall in St. Joseph on February 10, 1893 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909); St. Benedict's Monastery (convent), St. Joseph, Minnesota. While the sisters stressed simplicity in the matter of dress for St. Benedict's Academy students, school dresses could be of any style or color, but black sateen aprons were worn over them during school hours. On Sunday a plain black uniform (with a brooch for the collar) and earrings were to be worn. These regulations made occasions for dressing up something special (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, page 105)
Schools in south-central Minnesota (1876-1909). St. Bernard's Grade School had many activities, such as a Drama Club, much like a high school would have. For a period of time the curriculum also included a 2-year commercial school program (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) The performances Sister Dominica Borgerding directed would cram this hall and the two adjoining classrooms with seculars paying for tickets three Sundays in a row - from as far as the Twin Cities, Duluth and Milwaukee. She did not offer "milk for babes." Instead she challenged the Dramatics Club and the audiences with the "Merchant of Venice" (with a brilliant Shylock and a magnificent Portia) and with biblical plays of a Queen Esther and a Judith of Bethulia. Women took men's parts and managed very convincingly. If Shakespeare could make-do with men to take women's parts, Sister Dominica turned her women into men for their parts. The costumes were magnificent. They are still among the richest and most beautiful now in that amazing collection in the Benedicts Arts Center.
The cast of the theatrical productions of "The Violin Maker and The Balloon" produced at the College of St. Thomasl as the 1907 class plays. Back Row: Joseph Bonska, William O'Reilly, unknown, Martin Kennedy, unknown, John Doherty, Charles Morgan, Philip Gordon, unknown. First person seated on the left is Professor Stapleton. Negative Number: C82-150-209.