Dolphin Show
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About
Held annually at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, The Dolphin Show is the nation’s largest student-produced musical. Each year, The Dolphin Show involves over 120 students from diverse academic backgrounds in its production. The show is committed to reaching out to the North Shore (Chicago) and greater Chicagoland areas with various community-focused programming. Some examples include the Senior Matinee & Reception as well as the annual Educational Outreach program. Having sold thousands of tickets in recent years to patrons outside of the immediate Northwestern family, The Dolphin Show continues to build ties with the community beyond the reach of the University’s famous arch.
Productions
This year's production, Into the Woods, opens January 19, 2007, and runs through January 27 at Northwestern's Cahn Auditorium.
- Into the Woods, 2007
Written by: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine; Directed by: Travis Greisler; Produced by: Dave Leuchter and Evyn Williams;
- On the Town, 2006
Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green; Directed by: Josh Penzell; Produced by: Abra Chusid and Whitney Frick
The 2006 producers were awarded Northwestern University's Center for Student Involvement's inaugural Outstanding Producer Award.
Written by: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert, and Frank Loesser; Directed by: Evan Brody; Produced by: Abby Wolbe and Rachael Scholten
- Gypsy, 2004
Written by: Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, and Arthur Laurents; Directed by: Sloan Gordon Grenz; Produced by: Danna Ginsberg and Dana Oppenheim
- Evita, 2003
Written by: Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber; Directed by: Jonathan Saylors; Produced by: Chris Plevin and Amy Ludwigsen
- Damn Yankees, 2002
Written by: Richard Adler, Jerry Ross, George Abbot, and Douglass Wallop Directed by: Jessica Redish Produced by: Megan Felsburg and Geeta Kharker
- The Secret Garden, 2001
Written by: Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman Directed by: Matthew Trombetta Produced by: Kate Webster and Karyn Meltz
- Kiss of the Spiderwoman, 2000
Written by: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Manuel Puig Directed by: Mikie Garver Produced by: Claire Yoon and Kim Kelly
History
n 1939 a group of Northwestern University men interested in developing their swimming talents formed an elite group called the Dolphin Club. They swam hard and won competitions all over the Chicagoland area. In 1940 an opportunity to compete in a Florida meet prompted the men to hold a swim carnival in order to raise money so their 15-member team could travel south for the meet. Both the carnival and the meet were so successful that the Dolphin Club repeated its efforts the following year. With the aid of experience, new features were added and the quality of the water show improved.
By 1942 the popularity of the Dolphin Club's show had grown. The effects of World War II forced the cancellation of the annual Waa-Mu show, another popular student-run show at Northwestern. Dolphin Club members used this opportunity to combine their tradition with some of the original student talent that had been the Waa-Mu show and presented an evening of song and dance. Unfortunately, due to the wartime economy, the newly named Dolphin Show was canceled as well.
The Dolphin Show resurfaced in 1944 with the musical revue entitled "Wela Kahau." The production showcased the aquatic talents of the women's water ballet and the men's Dolphin Club. The proceeds from this show went to buy war bonds. By 1948 the tradition of the show was strong, and the audiences returned to see the musical-comedy revue which took place around the pool of Patten Gymnasium. A team of designers and other staff members mounted the show in order to, once again, send the Dolphin Club to Florida. As time progressed club members found that the show ventured further and further away from its original aquatic roots. In 1949 the Lorelei Club, a female swimming club, joined the Dolphin Club's efforts to produce the Dolphin Show. With the addition of this group, the Dolphin Executive Board came into being. The board gave equal representation to both clubs in decisions concerning materials and budgets. Each year the clubs chose a theme around which the show would develop.
The year 1963 brought the first Dolphin Show in which the play around the pool was an event itself, not serving as a fund-raiser. A year later, the 1964 Dolphin Show was still trying to get out of the water. Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" was presented around the pool. In 1970, the musical "Mame" finally graced the Cahn Auditorium stage.
Those people currently associated with the Dolphin Show are proud of its rich history. Few shows can boast such a colorful background or such successful alumni as actors David Schwimmer, Warren Beatty and former Miss America Kate Shindle.
