Wharton Magazine

Illustration by Michael Witte

Illustration by Michael Witte

Illustration by Brian Ajhar

Illustration by Brian Ajhar

Illustration by Brian Ajhar, Concept by the Wharton Folly Committee (Joel Serebransky, WG’85, Matthew Sinacori, WG’03, Ram Rajagopal, WG’02, Steve Margolis, WG’86, and Andy Stack, WG’01)

For more on America’s real estate crisis, see our feature, “No Magic Bullet.”

Shira Yudkoff

The oddball Wharton tradition known as the Follies returned to campus in mid-February. Wharton Magazine contributing photographer Shira Yudkoff captured the Follies troupe here during their final night of rehearsal.

By The Wharton Folly Committee: (Joel Serebransky, WG’85, Matthew Sinacori, WG’03, Ram Rajagopal, WG’02, Steve Margolis, WG’86, and Andy Stack, WG’01)

Illustration by Brian Ajhar

Down from the iMount

The Wharton Follies are irreverent.

They’re silly.

They’re … funny.

But make no mistake, there’s nothing particularly funny about the amount of work that goes into each and every Follies production.

We here at Wharton Magazine spent some time with the Follies gang as they prepared for their latest production, and as you’ll see in our video below, the writers, editors and actors who put on the Follies literally spend months working on the show–and working hard, too. In fact, in the weeks leading up to each production, the cast and crew often endure six hour rehearsals … every day.

“It really is running a mile a minute,” said Follies head writer Adam Schlesinger, WG’10. “It is a full-time job.”

Which raises the question: How in the world do these people manage to hold down that “full-time job” while also handling their coursework?

Explained cast member Stacey Stokes, WG’10: “This weird thing happens at Wharton where you learn to handle so much more than you ever thought possible.  I never thought I would have been able to do school plus 32 hours a week of [Follies] practice. But then you do that, and more.”

By The Wharton Folly Committee — Joel Serebransky, WG’85, Matthew Sinacori, WG’03, Ram Rajagopal, WG’02, Steve Margolis, WG’86, and Andy Stack, WG’01

Illustration by Brian Ajhar

The New Interview

Twitter Power?

Illustration by Brian Ajhar

Concept by the Wharton Folly Committee (Joel Serebransky, WG’85, Matthew Sinacori, WG’03, Ram Rajagopal, WG’02, Steve Margolis, WG’86, and Andy Stack, WG’01)

Illustration by Brian Ajhar

Concept by the Wharton Folly Committee (Joel Serebransky, WG’85, Matthew Sinacori, WG’03, Ram Rajagopal, WG’02, Steve Margolis, WG’86, and Andy Stack, WG’01)

By Martin Thibodeau

‘Springtime for Harker’ by Wharton Follies; 30 Years of a Wharton Tradition!

On February 12, winter’s first big snowstorm arrived in Philadelphia just in time for the Wharton Follies 30th Reunion performance at the Zellerbach Theater. To the delight of the audience and returning alumni, the 2006 Follies production of “Springtime for Harker” braved the weather and went on with the show. The event showed the lighter side of Wharton’s 125th anniversary celebration as the Follies themselves reached a 30-year milestone. The Follies have become one of the defining traditions at Wharton and are regarded as a “must-see” event.

The Follies were inspired by Charlie Seymour, WG’75, who worked with classmate Larry Wilson to produce a string of theatrical productions at Houston Hall, International House, and Annenberg’s Prince Theater. With more than 100 students serving as producers, performers, writers, and crew, Follies is now both one of the largest clubs and highest profile organizations within Wharton, staging one of the most elaborate productions of its kind at any professional school. This year’s plotline parodied “The Producers” with backstage comedy framing the musical numbers. In this alternate universe, Graduate Division Vice Dean Anjani Jain and MBA Program Director Peggy Lane hatch a plot to create a Follies show so expensive and disastrous that its failure will oust their Dean, Patrick Harker, as payback for his taxing the pair with useless tasks, such as attending to his dry cleaning or cleaning his office.

As the Follies preparations balloon out of control, Harker finds no idea too absurd and no cost too great. The scheming duo hopes that he will finally be exposed for his profligacy. Needless to say, the lavish show-within-a-show “Springtime for Harker” becomes an unqualified success, thanks to some last-minute downsizing and “outsourcing” of skits. Harker ultimately ends up reaping all the accolades, despite the efforts to sabotage him, ensuring a new Follies production (and a new challenge for the onstage Lane and Jain) in 2007. If you missed the show and wish to appreciate the performance from the excellent cast, you are in luck. The 2006 Wharton Follies DVD is available for sale online at <store.yahoo.com/wga/follies2006dvd.html>.

Photos by Jerry Millevoi

The wacky plot of this year’s Wharton Follies, “Watchu Talkin’ Bout, Anjani,” centered on Vice Dean Anjani Jain’s plan to turn Wharton into a TV network… or perhaps not. Alumnus Donald Trump, W’68, was recruited to seal the deal which ultimately fell through at the show’s first ever Anjani Awards. The winner, who would get the chance to be on Trump’s new reality series, “The Apprentice,” declined – not wanting to leave Wharton under any circumstances.

Another smash hit, the show played to audiences of nearly 1,600 in Philadelphia on Feb. 12-13 and to 450 in New York on Feb. 20. Attendees in New York had the added incentive of attending an after party at the Metronome Restaurant. Here the cast from the MBA Classes of 2004 and 2005 mingled with alumni and previous Follies casts – another Wharton network.

“When I went back for the show it was the most important and meaningful type of reunion that I could imagine,” said Melissa Tischler, WG’03, artistic director of Follies 2003. “Not only did it provide a reason for my 2003 classmates to travel across the country to see the show, but it gave us a chance to cheer on our friends in the class of 2004 and a chance to meet and instantly bond with the class after that.”

This mini-reunion for New York area alumni is as much a tradition as the Follies itself, which celebrated its 28th anniversary this year.

“The NY alumni show has become an incredible tradition for Follies alumni and alumni in the local area,” said Gladys Chen, co-executive producer of Follies 2003. “Over the past two years, we have had former members of the Follies fly in from as far away as Israel and Moscow.”

The show itself was an eclectic performance of Wharton MBA students, showcasing their talents in singing, dancing, and comedy, very different from their skills with spreadsheets and client presentations. Where else would an audience be exposed to possible TV programming like “The ABP After School Special: Why Billy Can’t Lead”? Audiences had as good a time as the actors did.

“I know there is nothing else that draws classmates from all corners of the world. And I think the show and (almost more importantly) the after party let the recent alums reconnect and catch up with one another,” observed Tischler.

“The Job That I Want” (Sung to “The One That I Want” from Grease)

I’ve got skills at multiplyin’
And I’m made . . . for this role
Of all the can . . . didates applyin’
I’m electrifying!

I better step up, cause I need a job
And my heart is set on you
I better dress up, I better get some suits
Cause I’ll start September 2

Yes you’ll start
Yes you’ll start September 2

You’re the one that I want (you are the
one I want), ooh ooh ooh, honey
The job that I want (the job that I
want), ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I
want), ooh ooh ooh, honey
The job I need, oh yes indeed . . . .