What happens when the residents of Keenan Hall decide to put on a show? Well, it depends on the year. Since the first Keenan Revue, the Knights have combined their eclectic talents in a variety of ways. The only constants seem to be a packed audience and a night to remember. The Archives team delved into the origin of various Keenan Revue traditions. This week, we present some of the ways the revue has changed and stayed the same over the years.
“The New Keenan Revue” lays groundwork for humor to come
Oct. 9, 1976 | Katie Kerwin | Researched by Nia Sylva
Founded in 1976, the Keenan Revue is a nearly 50-year-old annual tradition. But according to Observer writer Katie Kerwin, not all that much has changed.The first Revue, then called “The New Keenan Revue,” was effectively a variety show. Though the show boasted a number of distinct acts and a “startling, but solid range of talent,” music — especially vocal performances — took center stage, Kerwin said.Revue organizer discusses spirit of the event
Dec. 9, 1986 | David T. Marcantuono | Researched by Adriana Perez
As the 11th anniversary of the Keenan Revue approached, the show’s business manager, David Marcantuono (’88), wrote a letter to the editor on behalf of the Keenan Knights explaining the mission of the event and why admission is free. To Marcantuono, the Revue is an oasis of entertainment during the dreary winter — a time of year “when the campus seems to be at a social low.” During the “winter doldrums,” Marcantuono wrote, “it seems as though there's really not much to do except study.” Its no wonder, then, that thousands of students to trudge through the snow and merciless cold to attend the event each year, he said.The Revue is Keenan’s “gift” to the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College community, and for that reason, admission will always be free.The show’s timeless popularity seems to be a testament to the around-the-clock work that Keenanites have put in since the beginning of their annual tradition, Marcantuono wrote. This year, brainstorming for the show started over winter break. Nearly as soon as the semester began, Keenan’s writers held day-long skit tryouts and planned the event’s logistics. Marcantuono’s letter does reveal one key difference, however — at the time, the show lasted three-and-a-half hours; in recent memory, runtime has averaged around two. But no matter the show’s length, the revue’s goal has remained the same: in Marcanturo’s words, to highlight the “side of ND/SMC life which can't help but make us laugh.” According to him, the Revue is Keenan’s “gift” to the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College community, and for that reason, admission will always be free.
15th Keenan Revue aims for ‘kinder, gentler’ tone
Feb. 1, 1991 | Robyn Simmons and Alison Cocks | Researched by Mary Steurer
For its 15th year, Keenan Hall vied for a rebrand. Performers prefaced the show by telling the audience to expect a “kindler, gentler” tone, according to Accent writers Robyn Simmons and Alyson Cocks.