Yale Whiffenpoofs to Perform at Norris Theatre

The Whiffenpoofs of Yale University will appear in concert at 8 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Rolling Hills Estates.

The repertoire of the 14-member, all-male choral group ranges from jazz to melodic ballads, featuring show tunes by such composers as Cole Porter (Whiffenpoof of 1913), barbershop arrangements and traditional Yale songs.

In 1909, five Yale singers--members of the Glee Club--began singing together on Monday nights at Mory’s, an eating house near the campus. They named themselves after the Whiffenpoof, a mythical beast appearing in a Broadway show.

Eighty years later, they still sing at Mory’s and around the campus on Monday nights. The members are chosen in April of their junior year. Every singer in the group carries a full course load, perfecting their music and arranging concerts in his spare time. They receive no financial backing from the university, and operate independently as a nonprofit organization.

Tickets at $15 each are available by mailing a check, payable to the Norris Theatre, to P.O. Box 2465, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif. 90274, or by calling 544-0403. A reception on stage after the concert will be open to all who attend.