The 88th Annual Show (The Waa-Mu Show)

What is The Waa-Mu Show?

Northwestern’s oldest theatrical tradition, The Waa-Mu Show, provides undergraduates with an unparalleled education in new musical theatre development. More than 150 students participate every year as producers, writers, and performers in the creation of an original musical that inspires audiences, challenges the artists involved, and engages the surrounding communities. The Waa-Mu Show is a forerunner in the world of musical theater writing, giving undergraduate students a chance to serve as leaders in every aspect of the production's creation, from writing to orchestration to performance.

The Waa-Mu Show strives to be an accessible community that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and tradition. By sharing stories that engage the hearts and minds of Northwestern’s campus, as well as those of the greater community, The Waa-Mu Show aspires to give students an unparalleled experience that prepares them to lead and advance the world of musical theater.  

This year’s production: For the Record

Our 2019 production, For the Record, marks the 88th annual Waa-Mu Show. For the Record tells the story of remarkable women who were forgotten by history. Under the leadership of our two writing coordinators, our writing and music team will work together throughout winter quarter to craft an entirely original full-length book musical. The main focus of this year’s show is giving voices to women whose stories have been erased from the historical canon, even though they made revolutionary impacts on the world. By sharing their stories, we are carrying out a phenomenon known as counter-storytelling, or the method of telling untold stories in an attempt to preserve and publicize people's legacies. These women accomplished amazing feats, yet their names are virtually unknown to the public. Our mission is to try and change that. We believe that this type of storytelling is crucial in our world today, and we are super interested in the idea of having many voices represented in the story as well as many voices contributing within the writing process itself.

The overall story we want to tell is inspired by Amisha Padnani, a female New York Times digital editor, and her efforts to write the obituaries of remarkable women who did not receive ones after their deaths. We plan to focus in on three incredible women who fit this criteria, using a modern day journalist, and her journey, as a guide. We can’t wait to take these stories a step further than just print, illuminating the lives of these deserving women through music and movement, and finally give them the recognition they deserve!