The Dolphin Show is a non-profit student theatre organization that annually presents a large-scale student-produced musical theatre production at Northwestern University.
The Dolphin Show is a non-profit student theatre organization that annually presents a large-scale student-produced musical theatre production at Northwestern University.
A group of Northwestern University men formed the Dolphin Club in 1939 to compete in Chicago area swimming meets. In 1940, the 15-member team held a swim carnival to raise money to attend a meet in Florida. The carnival and the meet were both successful, so the water show was repeated in 1941 and 1942. When World War II forced the cancellation of the annual Waa-Mu Show, the club combined their tradition with some students from Waa-Mu to present an evening of song and dance called the Dolphin Show. The 1944 Dolphin Show was a musical revue called "Wela Kahau" including women's water ballet and the men's Dolphin Club. Proceeds from this show bought war bonds. In 1948 audiences returned to see a musical-comedy revue around the original Patten Gymnasium pool. The Dolphin Show became jointly produced by the female Lorelei swimming club in 1949, but drifted away from its aquatic origin. [1] The Dolphin Executive Board gave equal representation to both clubs who chose a theme for each year's show. In 1963 the production was no longer raising funds for the swim clubs. In 1964 the show presented Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado around the pool. In 1970, the group performed the musical Mame on stage at Cahn Auditorium. [2]
Alumni include actors David Schwimmer, Warren Beatty, Richard Kind, lyricist Sheldon Harnick, musical director Keith Dworkin, singer Ardis Krainik and Kate Shindle who was Miss America 1998. [1] [2] [3]
The productions have been awarded Northwestern University's Center for Student Involvement's "Outstanding Theatrical Production", "Outstanding Producers", and "Outstanding Director" awards, as well as William Daniels Awards, including "Best Musical." [4]
| Year | Show | Directors | Producers | Music Directors | Choreographer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kinky Boots the Musical | Alexa Goldstein | Daniel Maton Ryan Nguyen Rachel Olkin | Otto Vogel | Lily Nevo |
| 2023 | Matilda the Musical | Lucy Harrington | Arella Flur Daniel Maton Rachel Schmaier | Kevin Park | Kristen Waagner |
| 2022 | Merrily We Roll Along | Nora Geffen | Owen Kiley Simran Deokule | Cameron Miya Shraman Ghosh | Sammi Tapper |
| 2021 | Pippin | Mary Tomei | Paia Amelio Emma Flanders Rachel Khutorsky | Ezri Killeen Lorenzo Pipino | Sammi Tapper |
| 2019 | Hello, Dolly! | Isabel Perry | Casey Watson Andrew Harlan Austin Manross | Joe Badion Louis Danowsky | Tucker DeGregrory |
| 2018 | Ragtime | Michael Herwitz | Michael Kelleher Prateek Singh | Noah Landis Bryan Eng | Tucker DeGregrory |
| 2017 | Little Shop of Horrors | Maggie Monahan | Bailey Sutton Janie Dickerson | Landon Hegedus Matthew Burgess | Lauryn Schmelzer |
| 2016 | Gypsy | Aaron Simon Gross | Brandon Nadig Alex Wolfe | Jonathan Bauerfeld Geoffrey Ko | Rosie Jo Neddy |
| 2015 | Titanic | Brendan Flynn | Jack Eidson Isabel Garcia | Jason Shuian Andrea Swanson | |
| 2014 | Shrek the Musical | Marlee Rich | Rachel Marchant Brandon Johnston | Ellen Morris Adam Rothenberg | |
| 2013 | My Fair Lady | Tristan Powell | Louis Schermerhorn Rachel Birnbaum | Ellen Morris Kevin Scott | |
| 2012 | 42nd Street | Emily Maltby | Jeremey Shpizner Lucas McMahon | Patrick Sulken | |
| 2011 | Ragtime | Michael Holtzman | Julie Boor Lucas McMahon | Liz Doran Patrick Sulken | |
| 2010 | Parade | Scott G. Weinstein | Zachary Baer Tom Casserly Jamie Lynn White | Ian Weinberger | |
| 2009 | The Wizard of Oz | Katie Spelman | Zachary Baer Tracy MacKenzie Kyly Zakheim | Will Curry Liz Doran | |
| 2008 | Carousel | Tyler G. Beattie | Brittney Anne Bahlman Deanna Hope | Eugenio Vargas | |
| 2007 | Into the Woods | Travis Greisler | Dave Leuchter Evyn Williams | Joel Esher | |
| 2006 | On the Town | Josh Penzell | Abra Chusid Whitney Frick | Keith Dworkin | |
| 2005 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | Evan Brody | Abby Wolbe Rachael Scholten | ||
| 2004 | Gypsy: A Musical Fable | Sloan Gordon Grenz | Danna Ginsberg Dana Oppenheim | ||
| 2003 | Evita | Jonathan Saylors | Chris Plevin Amy Ludwigsen | Cory Hills Daniel Singer | |
| 2002 | Damn Yankees | Jessica Redish | Megan Felsburg Geeta Kharker | Greg Brown | |
| 2001 | The Secret Garden | Matthew Trombetta | Kate Webster Karyn Meltz | ||
| 2000 | Kiss of the Spider Woman | Mikie Garver | Claire Yoon and Kim Kelly | ||
| 1999 | Guys and Dolls | ||||
| 1998 | Sweeney Todd |
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