“Romance en Route” follows six romantics on a journey through love, loss, heartbreak, and self-discovery in the City of Lights. By a chance of fate, Eve and Xander sit next to each other on their flight from Chicago to Paris. Meanwhile, their significant others, Lexi and Jenna, are in Paris competing for a high-stakes promotion. Alongside Tristan, a flight attendant with his head in the clouds, and Matthieu, a hotel concierge and part-time cynic, the two couples meet and are forced to confront fears, doubts, and unavoidable conversations. Will they find themselves—and the love they deserve—before they return home?  

Northwestern’s oldest theatrical tradition, The Waa-Mu Show, provides undergraduates with an unparalleled education in new musical theatre development. More than 100 students participate every year as producers, writers, and performers in creating an original musical that inspires audiences, challenges the artists involved, and engages the surrounding communities. Now in its 92^nd year, 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 original production, from writing to orchestration to performance.

Waa-Mu: Behind the Curtain

Led by Dr. Ryan T. Nelson, School of Communication

Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 2 PM

Part of the IMAGINE U series for young audiences, geared toward children and their families. An interactive musical exploration for young audiences!

Cahn Auditorium
600 Emerson Street @ Sheridan Rd.
Evanston Campus of Northwestern University
Evanston, IL 60208

Recommended for ages 6-10.

Tickets – Behind the Curtain

This playful and fun-filled hour will feature lights, costumes, song and dance. It will be hosted by School of Communication faculty member Ryan T. Nelson, the award-winning music director of Northwestern’s Annual Waa-Mu Show. Nelson and cast members of this year’s Waa-Mu Show will lead audience members through the process of creating a new musical together. Attendees will experience a behind-the-scenes glimpse of “the greatest college show in America” with special interactive access with the cast, crew and creative team and feature hands-on demonstrations related to musical instruments, choreography and singing. 

Waa-Mu Behind the Curtain is presented through a partnership between the 92nd Annual Waa Mu Show and Imagine U. 

All tickets are $5. Recommended for ages 6-10.

About Waa-Mu

The Waa-Mu Show is Northwestern University’s own original musical, written, performed, and presented by Northwestern students.

The Waa-Mu Show’s quirky name stands for the two organizations that banded together to present the first show in 1929, the Women’s Athletic Association (W.A.A.) and the Men’s Union (M.U.). Since then, Waa-Mu has become a virtual institution for budding young theatrical talent. As Northwestern’s oldest theatrical tradition, The Waa-Mu Show provides undergraduates with the unparalleled opportunity to create an original musical each year. Students serve as leaders in every aspect of development from conception through production to create a show exploring themes and stories that inspire us as college students, challenge us as musical theatre artists, and engage us with our surrounding communities.

The Waa-Mu Show strives to place itself at the forefront of new musical theatre writing, continuing to push the limits of the “greatest college show in America” (Associated Press).

For more information about this year’s production and those involved, visit waamushow.org.