The 1960s and 1970s saw the staging of many successful plays and the establishment of notable Society practices. This was a result of Fr. John Murray’s influence as executive producer and head of the Society.
Fr. Murray’s role as producer, which he held beginning in 1954, involved numerous responsibilities. He selected the script, designed the set, managed Stage Crew and set construction, organized marketing and ticket sales, designed and sewed the costumes, and oversaw every other detail of production. Performances increasingly reflected his influence with elaborate sets, beautiful costumes, structured schedules for the semi-annual plays, and the introduction of ticket selling incentives. Many of these practices continue to influence Society productions today as they are long-standing traditions.
New perspectives and greater diversity were introduced as other faculty members, including Fr. J. Pungente S.J. and Fr. F. Obrigewitsch S.J., became increasingly involved in the Society. Performances shifted once again, from the Shakespearean-focused docket of the 1960s to more contemporary playwrights and comedies in the 1970s. Memorable performances included Teahouse of the August Moon, Jabberwock, and Alice in Wonderland.
1959 - 1960: First Annual Theatre Night - J. Caesar, Message from Khufu and Jest of Hahalaba
1959 - 1960: Caesar's Friend
1960 - 1961: Second Annual Theatre Night - Game of Chess, Banquo's Chair and The Refund
1960 - 1961: Twelve Angry Men
1961 - 1962: Third Annual Theatre Night - Deposition of Richard II, Le Poltron Courageux, Banquet of Death and An Affair of Dishonor
1961 - 1962: Savonrola
1962 - 1963: Fourth Annual Theatre Night - A Night at an Inn, Les Deux Crouquants, Chants Francais and The Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe
1962 - 1963: Comedy of Errors
1963 - 1964: Fifth Annual Theatre Night - Compromise of the King, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and King Henry V
1963 - 1964: Much Ado About Nothing
1964 - 1965: The Taming of the Shrew
1964 - 1965: Night of Crime and Punishment - The Rising of the Moon, Les Plaideurs, The Trial of Billy Budd, Crime in the Clubhouse and The Defective Detective
1965 - 1966: Seventh Annual Theatre Night - Lost Silk Hat, Box and Cox, Birds of a Feather and Jest of Hahalaba
1965 - 1966: Two Gentlemen of Verona
1966 - 1967: The Mouse That Roared and Merry Wives of Windsor
1967 - 1968: The Man Who Came to Dinner and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
1968 - 1969: You Can't Take it With You and Twelfth Night
St. Paul's College Yearbook
St. Paul's College Yearbook
St. Paul's College Yearbook
St. Paul's College Yearbook
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
St. Paul's Dramatic Society Digital Collection
St. Paul's Dramatic Society Digital Collection
St. Paul's Dramatic Society Digital Collection
St. Paul's High School Yearbook
1969 - 1970: Christmas in the Marketplace and She Stoops to Conquer
1970 - 1971: Mr. Pickwick and School for Scandal
1971 - 1972: Alice in Wonderland and Knight of the Burning Pestle
1972 - 1973: Thieves Carnival and The Italian Straw Hat
1973 - 1974: Once in a Life Time and Teahouse of the August Moon
1974 - 1975: Leave it to Psmith
1975 - 1976: Snow White and Jabberwock
1976 - 1977: Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew and The Inspector General
1977 - 1978: A Christmas Carole and Sherlock Holmes
1978 - 1979: Old Mother Hubbard and A Tale of Two Cities
As productions became increasingly elaborate under Fr. Murray the cast sizes grew. This encouraged the establishment of a relationship with the nearby convent school, The Convent of the Sacred Heart School, as female students were needed to fill the female roles.
The introduction of female students to the Society encouraged the staging of plays that included important female leads, including Teahouse of the August Moon, She Stoops to Conquer, Alice in Wonderland, and Snow White.
Following the closure of The Convent of the Sacred Heart School in 1973, students were invited from St. Mary's Academy and, on occasion, Shaftesbury High School to fill these female roles. This has become the normal practice for the Society even several decades later.