This article does nice job of explaining Northwestern’s Waa-Mu show, the largest student-written (including book, music and orchestrations), performed and produced musical in the country. It is a truly amazing process for all involved.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/lifestyles/ct-evr-go-waamu-show-tl-0421-20160429-story.html
Here’s some general background on the Waa-Mu show.
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 .
David Bell (Director) is a Professor of Music Theatre and a professional director who has worked extensively all over the world — including Broadway, Off-Broadway, Carnegie Hall, The National Theatre, London’s West End, The Kennedy Center, The Royal Albert Hall, Long Wharf, Ford’s Theatre (Artistic Director 1983-1988), The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta (Associate Artistic Director 1992-2001), The Mongodor Theatre (Paris), The National Opera (Berlin), Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), and the closing Ceremony of the Barcelona Olympics.
Here are a few notable Waa-Mu alumni…
Past cast members of “Waa-Mu” include (1930s) Walter Kerr; (1940s) Claude Akins, Sheldon Harnick, Cloris Leachman, Paul Lynde, Charlotte Rae and Tony Randall; (1950s) Warren Beatty, Penny Fuller and Garry Marshall; (1960s) Karen Black, Frank Galati, Ann-Margret and Tony Roberts; (1970s) Laura Innes and Shelley Long; (1980s) Gregg Edelman, Ana Gasteyer and Megan Mullally; (1990s) Zach Braff, Brian d’Arcy James, Heather Headley, Jason Moore, Kate Shindle, Stephanie D’Abruzzo; (2000s) Jenny Powers, (2010s) Madeline Weinstein, Will Carlyon, Zach Piser.