History

In the winter of 1974, HBS students were suffering from the usual case overload and career uncertainty when second-year student Joe Parish decided to produce a show. After all, the undergrads had the Hasty Pudding, the Law School had its Parody, and the Medical School had a satire as well. The result was a collection of 16 skits featuring popular music with altered lyrics mocking life at HBS. Not yet recognized as an official organization, the production borrowed money from the Student Association to buy one light and print tickets. The Show was performed in Baker 100, sold out both nights, and established itself as an annual event.

Over the years, the HBS Show has evolved from an informal collection of skits to the major theatrical production you see today. The Show introduced its first two-act production in 1983 and followed with its first completely original script in 1988. Whereas the first Show required only three weeks of preparation, tonight's performance required over two months of rehearsal and seven months of planning.

The content of the HBS Show, however, has remained relatively consistent, satirizing some aspect of life at Harvard Business School. Familiar targets have included the recruiting process, the case method, professors, and the administration. In addition, case protagonists have often made cameo appearances. Erik Peterson and Tony Sarto would be millionaires if they were paid royalties every time their name was mentioned on stage. Other noteworthy characters have included Dorothy's little dog FIFO (The Wiz of Biz, 1977), Butch Process and Margaret Niche (The Proxy Fight at the 10-K Corral, 1979), Luke Skydecker (Moscow on the Charles, 1985), the evil Gwenneth Starr (BGIE Nights, 1999), Dot Cahm and Darth Venture (StartUp Wars: The Venture Menace, 2000), Ben E. Hana (Upside Story, 2001), and Larry Summers and Rob Kaplan (The Phantom of Baker Library, 2007).