“STATE OF THE ART” VIRTUAL READING
Dear Supporters,
As you know, due to COVID-19 we were unable to have our traditional live performance of The Waa-Mu Show in Cahn Auditorium to continue The Waa-Mu Show tradition. However, we are very excited to share a link to the virtual final reading presentation we held of “State of the Art,” The 89th Waa-Mu Show in May for our families, faculty and mentors.
Since 1929, The Waa-Mu Show has been a cornerstone at Northwestern, a tradition that has stood the test of time. Until now, The Waa-Mu Show has only been disrupted due to World War II. The current state of the world truly tested the saying “the show must go on” and we are pleased we succeeded in delivering the first of its kind The Waa-Mu Show presentation.
We are grateful and proud we did not abandon our primary mission to educate the vanguard of new music theatre artists. Our team completed our final script and score through virtual workshop rehearsals, thus preserving the process we all value so deeply, even if the product did not culminate with a live performance with an in-person audience. We hope you enjoy this recorded reading.
We have been overwhelmed by the commitment and bravery of the Waa-Mu community throughout this shifting process and we cannot thank you enough for supporting this production in all of its forms. We raise a toast to all the Waa-Mu shows past who have gotten us to where we are today, and we are optimistic for all the Waa-Mu magic yet to come.
With lots of Waa-love,
The Co-Chairs
Emma Griffone, Leo Jared Scheck, Jon Toussaint, and Olivia Worley
89th Annual Waa-Mu Show
“State of the Art” follows a covert group of artists vandalizing world-renowned pieces of street art in a not-so-distant future metropolis. When the mayor’s misfit child crosses paths with the vandals, the city elite find themselves caught between their dream for the city to take its place on the national stage and the truth behind these young citizens’ acts of resistance.
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.
SUPPORT NORTHWESTERN’S LONGEST RUNNING THEATRICAL TRADITION!
In order to put on the Waa-Mu Show every year, we rely on the generosity and support from our Waa-Mu alumni, supporters, friends and family. Your support will directly contribute to the Waa-Mu Show and thus support the creative efforts of our actors, producers, marketers, crew, and entire team!