JAIL TIME: BT Hayes ‘22 (left) as Chloe O’Ponzi and Calvin Rusley ‘20 (center) as Charles Ponzi with a crowd of white collar criminals in the Princeton Triangle Club’s production of “ONCE UPONZI TIME.” (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Anne Levin

With its list of famous alumni, it might seem as if Princeton University’s Triangle Club show is designed as a gateway to a professional career in performing arts. But despite the impressive roster — Jimmy Stewart ’32, Brooke Shields ’87, Ellie Kemper ’02, and Molly Ephraim ’08 — the annual musical comedy at McCarter Theatre is more about collaboration and giving students who might be majoring in other fields a chance to test their creative talents.

“We have students who are earning certificates in theater or dance, or majoring in music. But a lot of cast members and people working on the show who are majoring in things like finance, astrophysics, and economics,” said Kirsten Traudt ’20, who is president of the Triangle Club. “They have no affiliation with the arts, but they come here and do something creative, and that’s one of the beautiful things about it.”

The curtain will rise on ONCE UPONZI TIME, the 129th annual Triangle Club Show, at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre on Friday, November 15 at 8 p.m., with additional shows Saturday, November 16 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m. As always, it is an original musical written and performed by students but led by professionals.

“We’re the only student group that hires a professional director, choreographer, and musical director,” said Traudt. “But the students do everything else — writing, acting, designing, promotion, playing in the pit orchestra. I’m working behind the scenes building the set, and we get to work alongside the McCarter staff. It’s really fun to see how they work.”

Traudt describes ONCE UPONZI TIME as a cross between Aladdin, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and The Wolf of Wall Street. “It’s all about the world of Wall Street and finance, which is obviously close to a lot of Princeton people’s hearts,” she said.

A press release about the show reads:  “When plucky young capitalist Chloe O’Ponzi leaves her family’s hot dog stand to work for Goldfish Snacks, the biggest bank on Wall Street, she stumbles upon a less-than-legal family secret that just might finance her new ambitions. Featuring duplicitous derivative dealings, Wall Street wackiness, and an introduction to hedge fund phone etiquette, ONCE UPONZI TIME is a hilarious evening at the theater for anyone operating under the paradigm of late-stage capitalism!“

The Triangle Club takes the show on a national tour each year, and is the oldest co-educational touring collegiate musical comedy in the country. The affiliation with McCarter Theatre goes back to 1930, when the theater was built to house the club after a fire destroyed its original home, known as the Casino. Roots of the club go back to 1883 and the Princeton College Dramatic Association. The club has presented shows since the late 19th century, beginning with collaborations with the Glee Club, the orchestra, and the Banjo and Mandolin Club, according to the University website.

Males played females in the shows before women were admitted to Princeton in 1969. But the traditional all-male kickline, which dates back at least to the 1907 production of The Mummy Monarch, continues as a signature of every performance.

“The shows are always brand new, reflecting a sense of humor and the times,” said Traudt. “We see ourselves as a kind of breeding ground for the future of comedy and musical theater, and several alumni have gone on to professional careers. But its really about providing students the opportunity to express themselves creatively at the highest possible level.”

ONCE UPONZI TIME is for audiences age 12 and up. Tickets are $10 for students, and start at $25 for others. Visit www.triangleshow.com/
tickets.