Music Theatre Program

Many Northwestern alumni have lit up the Broadway stage. This includes Tony Award winners and nominees Heather Headley ("Aida"), Denis O'Hare ("Assassins"), Gregg Edelman ("1776"), Stephanie D'Abruzzo ("Avenue Q"), Spencer Kayden ("Urinetown"), Craig Bierko ("The Music Man") and Brian D'Arcy James ("Sweet Smell of Success").

Also, Northwestern boasts rising new stars like Jenny Powers ("Little Women") and Jim Weitzer ("Little Women"), David Ayers ("Wicked") and Miss America 1998 Kate Shindle ("Cabaret"). Northwestern also has created crossover talents such as Megan Mullally ("How To Succeed in Business…"), and Ana Gasteyer (Saturday Night Live, “Wicked”).

Northwestern also claims a stellar list of directors who have been a driving creative force for many Broadway shows. Among them are Jeff Calhoun ("Big River" revival), Mark Lamos ("Our Country's Good"), former Northwestern faculty member Robert Falls ("Aida"), Frank Galati ("Ragtime"), Michael Greif ("Rent") and Jason Moore ("Avenue Q").

In addition to the Waa-Mu Show, Northwestern has produced a number of original musicals. Northwestern alumnus director Gerald Freidman and writers Alfred Uhry and John Weidman created "America's Sweetheart" on the Evanston campus. The Chicago holiday favorite "The Christmas Schooner" had its premiere production at Northwestern. Faculty member Frank Galati recently brought Tony Award winning composer Stephen Flaherty to campus for the world premiere of "A Long Gay Book."