Waa-Mu

Northwestern's Waa-Mu Show, the musical revue that helped to launch the careers of dozens of Broadway and Hollywood performers, has been a campus tradition for more than 75 years. The annual show celebrates all the aspects of music theater and highlights the talents of undergraduate student performers.

The first Waa-Mu Show was presented by the Women's Athletic Association and the Men's Union during the 1929-30 academic year. Joe Miller ('29) and Darrell Ware ('29), two Phi Delta Theta seniors, wrote the script and staged the college musical comedy that became "Waa-Mu." To help finance the first production Miller and Ware raised $1,200 by borrowing $5 a piece from interested students.

The "Waa" stood for the Women's Athletic Association, which had been staging popular female musical comedies since 1912. The "Mu" was inspired by the Men's Union, which had presented less successful all-male comic operas for a number of years.

It also was Miller's and Ware's idea to feature both male and female students in their premiere production. At first, the female committee was reluctant about sharing the stage with the male members, but they eventually agreed to combine talents.

The premiere show, "Good Morning Glory," was such a smash that the Daily Northwestern wrote, "Campus interest is the highest yet for any single dramatic activity in University history."

After graduating from Northwestern, Wade headed to Hollywood to write screenplays and Miller remained at the University. He became Director of Student Affairs, and directed the Waa-Mu show until 1975. Tom Roland succeeded Miller as the second director of the Waa-Mu productions in 1976.

Waa-Mu went on hiatus during the World War II years, but was re-launched in 1946 with a show that featured two students who went on to become television and stage comedy legends, Paul Lynde ('46) and Charlotte Rae ('48). Rae used her last name Lubotsky when she was a student.

Warren Beatty ('59) donned a cowboy hat and a Native American headdress and buckskins for his stage appearances in the Silver Jubilee of Waa-Mu in 1956, prior to becoming a leading man in movies. In 1960, Ann-Margaret Olson ('63) was a cast member in a Waa-Mu show entitled "Among Friends."

Occasionally, Waa-Mu has performed off-campus. The show traveled to Chicago several times after its Evanston run. And renowned orchestra leader Fred Waring played original Waa-Mu songs on the radio in 1951.

In 1981, the 50th anniversary show spoofed the University's history and reprised numbers from previous "Waa-Mu" productions.

Waa-Mu performances have been presented at the Cahn Auditorium since 1940, the year that Scott Hall was completed. At the time, Cahn was considered one of the best-equipped theaters in the Midwest.

The Waa-Mu Show continues to serve as an important launching pad for many of the University's most talented performers. Many former Waa-Mu performers have gone on to successful careers on Broadway and in Hollywood.

All these years later, Waa-Mu is still billed as "the greatest college show in America," and it always draws large and loyal audiences.

Waa-Mu

Waa-Mu's First Show

Waa-Mu over the Years

Historic Moments