According to Aidinoff, the play's income is derived mainly from ticket sales and advertisements in the show program. Reciprocal deals are also made with local stores like Top Copy and Cafe Aventura, which contribute services in exchange for an ad. A most notable contributor is Filene's department store, which this year is donating $250 worth of brassieres to support the show's efforts.

Another testimonial to the show's increasing professionalism is the professionals themselves. The play's director music director and supervisor, chorcographer, costume designer, and set designers are all professionals from outside Harvard who are paid salaries by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals for their work on the show. They were hired by the play's producers who ran job advertisements, accepted resumes, and interviewed over the summer. The professionals seem to be drawn to the Pudding production for much the same reasons as the students.

Michael Pereival, director of both this and last year's show, came from Noble and Greenough School, where he was chairman of the Performing Arts department. "I wanted to be a part of this long standing tradition, and I'd heard about the spirit and enthusiasm of the show," he says.

Percival adds that the biggest challenge in putting on the show is the pressure of time, a concern that is voiced by almost everyone in the production. Because of Christmas vacation and exam period rehearsals cannot begin until February, which leaves only three weeks for the actors, tech crew, and band to whip the production into shape in time for the first show on February 22. The actors have the toughest schedule, with rehearsals running from 2 to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

"It's fun, but a lot of work," says Leonard W. Dick '86, who plays Jim Panzee, adding "The professionalism is almost overwhelming."

It's very difficult: you must sacrifice your friendships for a while," comments Jonathan S. Shapiro '84-5, who is playing Missionary Position while trying to write a thesis.

The time commitment does not stop there. There will be 42 shows, counting previews, after February 22, which constitutes the longest run of any collegiate show. After performing in Cambridge, the group will tour to New York, where they will play the Hunter College Playhouse, and to Bermuda, where they will play Hamilton City Hall.

Traveling to Bermuda is a tradition that started around 25 years ago, according to Isaacs, and for many it will be the high point of the long tour. Events there will include a party at the U.S. Consul-General's residence and a private boat cruise around the island.

"It's a great audience" said Isaacs, "we get a great mix of college kids and Bermudian British it's a really big deal for them."

The extensive touring puts in additional burden on the tech crew. 15 of whom work on the set under the direction of the set designer. The set has to be constructed, taken apart, moved, and reconstructed many times during the tour, and scenery elements like tigers, flamingoes, ships, and a volcano must be built to stand the wear and tear.

An outstanding event in the Hasty Pudding show is the annual selection of the Man and Woman of the Year, a traditional that began in 1951 with the selection of Gertrude Lawrence Honored stars in the past have included Mamie Eisenhower. Lauren Bacall, and Meryl Streep for the women, and Bob Hope Jack Lemmon and John Travolta for the men The honorees are chosen by the show's producers and the president and officers of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals 1984's woman of the Year, John Rivers will be presented with her award at the Hasty Pudding on February 15 following a parade through Cambridge. The Man of the Year, Sean Connery of James Bond fame, will be given his award at the first performance on February 22.

According to Beck, the show's publicity of fice has been deluged with calls from people wanting to meet the celebrities.

"We've gotten calls from a guy who says he's a great impressionist and can do a great Sean Connery," Beck says. "He want to audition for the part."

The other major pre-show event will be the dress rehearsal on February 21, called "Strawberry Night" for unknown reasons. The dress rehearsal performance is given annually for Hasty Pudding Club alumni. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1934 Pudding production of Hades the Ladies, which was directed by Alistair Cooke of Masterpiece Theater fame, so during intermission on Strawberry Night, Cooke and members of the cast of 1934 will perform some numbers and dances from their show

All those involved in the show emphasize that the concentrated effort of putting together such a long-running production creates a closeness and esprit de corps not found in other college activities.