Opening of Wellesley Summer Stage Lures Pilot and Pundit Attendance

Wine may still stop its flow at Wellesley's verdant borders, but not so women or even song of the hotel orchestra variety. The 500 wooded acres on Lake Waban are currently the home of the only college-sponsored theatre in America, marking opening night tonight replete with aircraft escort.

Since July 7, when the dramatic school started, 20 stage struck maidens and half as many amateur male thespians have been earnestly reading for Director Eldon Winkler in competition for parts in the productions.

Tonight only one of the students of the six-week course, Judith Hornady, will join with the six regular Equity professionals, also living at Munger Hall, in the cast of "The First Mrs. Frazier," by St. John Irvine, starring Jane Cowl.

Eleven more, however, including Catherine Metcalf, winner of the one $418 scholarship, have earned a niche in next week's offering, "The State of the Union."

No mere rattling of seats, which generally heralds the rise of a summer theater curtain, will inaugurate the dimming of the house lights at Wellesley's Alumnae Hall tonight. Elaborate brassladen ceremonies have been scheduled, which climax in a squadron of airplanes zooming overhead in letter "W" formation.

Coolidge in Dogfight

Competing with the aircraft motors, on the guest speakers' platform, beginning at 8:15 o'clock, will be Lieutenant-Governor Arthur W. Coolidge; Linus Towers, executive vice president of the Yankee Network; Rear-Admiral Morton Dayo; Major General Horace McBridge; S. Murray Forbes, Wellesley trustoo; and star Jane Cowl.

Background music, in the appropriate bucolic mood, will be provided by Ruby Newman on lend-lease from the Hotel Statler, beginning at 7:45. Those without the cutie, car, or cash to attend all this can pick it up in the room easy chair by radio broadcast.

Somewhat eclipsed by the theatrical spotlight, and winding up on Thursday a two week session of pondering social issues is the 12-year old Wellesley Institute for Social Progress, with an enrollment of 200 quartered in Claftin, Severance, and Pomeroy Halls.