The Junior Girls' Play was a popular tradition that played a large role in the social life and customs of women at the University of Michigan. The Junior Girls' Play tradition began in 1904, when the junior class presented a play to graduating senior women class. From 1909 to 1920, the play was also performed at the Michigan Women's Banquet, an annual banquet held for University of Michigan women and alumnae. The first complete musical comedy was performed in 1912 ("In Old Baghdad"). The first public performance (when men were admitted) was performed in 1916. The performances were held in the Whitney Theater from 1919 to 1929 and from 1930 onwards in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater.
For an in-depth discussion of the individual plays and the history of the Junior Girls' Plays at the University of Michigan see pages 1864-1867 (Junior Girls' Play by Marian Swanson Wissenberg) of The University of Michigan, an encyclopedic survey, edited by Wilfred B. Shaw.
From the guide to the Junior Girls' Play (University of Michigan) publications, 1906-1960, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
