History of the Mustard and Cheese Drama Society

As the second oldest drama society in the nation, the Mustard and Cheese Drama Society has a rich and extensive history.

Mustard and Cheese has come a long way since it was first organized as an outgrowth of meetings held by a small group during 1884 in the back room of Renning’s bar. The leading spirits were brothers Richard Harding Davis and Charles Belmont Davis. R.H. Davis was a Lehigh University campus leader, whose influence was felt in other activities as his enthusiasms turned every enterprise he undertook into an adventure. At the Saturday night meetings the menu consisted of talk, sweitzed cheese and mustard - washed down by beer. When a name for the “club” was sought, it was unanimously agreed upon that “The Mustard and Cheese Club” would be most appropriate.

The first performance was “Mary, The Child of Misfortune” (written by R.H. Davis) and was presented early in 1885. The first public performances were “‘Love and Money’ A Melo-Drama in One Act” and “‘Sir Dagobert and the Dragon’ A Romantic Extravaganza in Three Acts.” These were held at the Sun Hotel in Bethlehem on April 10, 1885 and the proceeds were devoted to repairing the athletic grounds.

Women were an exciting addition to Mustard and Cheese in the late 1800s although women would not come to Lehigh until 1971. The first plays were given in the auditorium of Drown Hall. Then - after World War II - the productions were staged at Broughal Junior High School. In 1958, the Division of Speech was created within the English Department thus leading to Mustard and Cheese's new home (starting in 1959) in the Lamberton basement. 1972 saw the expansion of the Division of Speech to become the Division of Speech and Theatre, with Lehigh awarding its first Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre in 1975. At this point, the university began to convert an old power plant into the Wilbur Drama Building. Finally, after much work by the professors, Lehigh opened the Department of Theatre on July 1st, 1988. Ten years later, Lehigh and the surrounding community gathered to celebrate the opening of the Zoellner Arts Center, which is currently our home.