Our Crowdfunding Groups
The Waa-Mu Show, the largest student-written musical in the country, is one of Northwestern University’s oldest and most cherished traditions. For 84 years, Waa-Mu has provided a platform for young songwriters, lyricists, writers, and performers to come together and create a completely original musical every year.
Waa-Mu is not only an incredible tradition and unforgettable community here at Northwestern University, but it is also a platform that allows eager young writers and performers to collaboratively bring original, new, student work to life on a big stage! It is a process that is truly unique.
Throughout winter quarter, a class of over 50 undergraduate students come together to write a complete book musical. The production starts rehearsals in early April and opens early-May in Cahn Auditorium! But, a production of this size has many expenses.
We have already started our rehearsals for our 84th production of The Waa-Mu Show: GOLD. But, we are already starting to look toward making the 85th annual production of Waa-Mu possible. 85 is a big number for us - we've been around for a long time now! We are hoping to make next year's production especially spectacular.
What your donations can help us purchase:
Scenery: Perhaps not surprisingly, but scenery has the greatest cost out of all the tech elements for a show. All of the beautiful sets create the world of the stage, whether that be New Orleans or a dock or even Neverland - the scenery is what really helps bring this writing to life in a world that is exciting and allows the story to live.
Props: They may be small, but they are incredibly important - they serve both the actors and the storytelling.
Costumes: What would musical theatre be without those beautifully tailored suits, dresses and wacky outfits that bring color and character to the stage - costumes help bring imagined characters into a reality.
Lights: A show of this size uses potentially 20 moving lights in one show. Without lights, we wouldn't see anything. Without good lights, nothing would look good!
Waa-Mu is a tremendous undertaking, but it offers such a unique platform for so many undergraduate students here at Northwestern. A production of this size is always costly, but we believe that this kind of work and this kind of production is an important one - it brings original work to life, which is not only exciting in itself, but also is immensely important for all the writers involved. This is such a meaningful community and production. Please help us make it possible next year.
Every year Waa-Mu expenses on production can only be matched by generous donations from friends, family, supporters and alum. We hope that through this online crowd-funding project, we are able to raise $10,000 to help next year's fundraising.
Please consider joining us in continuing this important process and invaluable tradition by donating. Gifts of any size will make a tremendous impact.
Take a look at our fundraiser perks on the side. You will also receive updates on this year's production and the impact of donations on making next year's production possible if you choose to donate.
Please also consider sharing this page with family and friends!!
If you donate $10, your name will appear on next year's program!
If you donate $25, you will receive a poster of this year's show, GOLD, and your name will be printed in next year's program!
If you donate $50, you will receive a signed poster of this year's show, GOLD, and your name will be printed in next year's program!
If you donate $100, you will receive your very own Waa-Mu t-shirt, a signed poster of this year's show, GOLD, and your name will be printed in next year's program!
We will send you a personal "Thank You" video from the entire cast. You will also receive a Waa-Mu t-shirt, a signed poster of this year's show, and your name will be in next year's program!
This kind of donation is allowing upwards of 100 students' writing come to life on stage. We will arrange a backstage tour of Cahn Auditorium. You will also receive a Waa-Mu t-shirt, a signed poster of this year's production and your name will be printed in next year's program!
This is allowing almost every single prop we typically use in a production of this size come to life. If you're in town, we will arrange a small walk-on role during this year's production!
