ALL ABOUT THE DOLPHIN SHOW
The 76th Annual Dolphin Show, Ragtime
Photo by Justin Barbin
Mission
The Dolphin Show is America’s largest student-produced musical. Each year, over 150 undergraduate administrators, designers, technicians, actors and musicians work together to mount a massive Broadway-style musical in Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University’s grandest performance venue. Our mission is three-fold:
• to provide a new generation of artists and administrators with an unmatched production experience
• to develop a vibrant community among this group of collaborators from across Northwestern’s campus
• to create a theatrical experience that celebrates musical theatre and encourages reflection in its audiences
The 9th Annual Dolphin Show, Jambalaya
The Dolphin Show logo before it was redesigned by John Allman (2013) for the 70th Anniversary in 2012.
Who Are We?
The Dolphin Show at Northwestern University is a non-profit student theatre organization that annually produces the largest student-produced musical in the country. It celebrates the diverse talents of the Northwestern undergraduate community by providing opportunities to learn and excel in all artistic and administrative fields. The Dolphin Show presents a professional-caliber production, while involving the community through outreach.
The 80th Annual Dolphin Show, Matilda the Musical
Photo by Justin Barbin
History
In 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 Chicago 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 musical 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 students 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.
Click here to download a more in-depth history!
Past Shows
2024: Kinky Boots the Musical
2023: Matilda the Musical
2022: Merrily We Roll Along
2021: Pippin
2019: Hello, Dolly!
2018: Ragtime
2017: Little Shop of Horrors
2016: Gypsy
2015: Titanic
2014: Shrek the Musical
2013: My Fair Lady
2012: 42nd Street
2011: Ragtime
2010: Parade
2009: The Wizard of Oz
2008: Carousel
2007: Into the Woods
2006: On the Town
2005: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
2004: Gypsy
2003: Evita
2002: Damn Yankees
2001: The Secret Garden
2000: Kiss of the Spiderwoman
1999: Guys and Dolls
1998: Sweeney Todd
1997: Kiss Me, Kate
1996: City of Angels
1995: Gypsy
1994: Meet Me in St. Louis
1993: Sunday in the Park with George
1992: Big River
1991: A Little Night Music
1990: My One and Only
1989: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1988: Evita
1987: Anything Goes
1986: Guys and Dolls
1985: Mack and Mabel
1984: West Side Story
1983: Cabaret
1982: Little Me
1981: Wonderful Town
1980: Mame
1979: Gypsy
1978: Fiddler on the Roof
1977: Once Upon A Mattress
1976: Guys and Dolls
1975: Anything Goes
1974: Company
1973: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1972: Man of La Mancha
1971: Sweet Charity
1970: Mame
1969: South Pacific
1968: Carousel
1967: Bye Bye Birdie
1966: The Gondoliers
1965: Scheherazade
1964: The Mikado
1963: Fogg-Bound
1962: Aquassey
1961: Wonderland Revisited
1960: Splashing Good TIme
1959: Water Colors
1958: Out to See
1957: The Swimming Game
1956: Fanfare
1955: Bottoms Up
1954: New Fins of '53
1953: Neptune Memoirs
1952: Aqua-Quest
1951: Jambalaya
1950: Look Out Below
1949: Hey Rube
1948: Mr. Dolphin Goes to Town
1947: Howdy Partner
1944-46: Cancelled due to WWII
1944: Wela Kehau
1940-1943: First Dolphin Club Fundraisers
1939: The Dolphin Club is Founded