The Dolphin Show Celebrates Its 67th Year W/ WIZARD OF OZ

America's largest student-produced musical, The Dolphin Show at Northwestern University, celebrates its 67th year with the opening of a dynamic re-imagining of the timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz.

The Dolphin Show began as production in a swimming pool to benefit the Dolphin Club swim team. Now in its 67th year, The Dolphin Show has moved its productions onto dry land and has become the largest entirely student-produced musical in the country and a Northwestern and Greater Chicago tradition, boasting professional quality production values and a team of over a hundred undergraduate students. The Dolphin Show is also dedicated to engaging the greater Chicagoland community through extensive philanthropy, outreach programming and community-focused events.

This year's production of The Wizard of Oz allows The Dolphin Show to create a bold re-imagining of the classic story that has become synonymous with American culture.

"We are thrilled to bring Oz to life on stage for a whole new generation to experience and appreciate. This production is certain to continue The Dolphin Show's tradition of celebrating the arts and entertaining both the Northwestern and Chicagoland communities," said Executive Producer/President Zachary Baer.

"The story of ‘The Wizard of Oz' is timeless, but we are updating it in a few ways," said director Katie Spelman, a senior in Northwestern's School of Communication. "The costumes and sets are very different from the MGM film, and the performances are delivered with a vocal honesty that is more in tune to today's world. Instead of having a wide-eyed, Judy-Garlandesque Dorothy, we are telling the story of a girl that could have walked out of a mall in 2009 America. She is going through the things that children today go through -- a need for friendship, and a feeling of being misunderstood."

Written in 1900 by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz tells the story of Dorothy Gale from Kansas, a girl who dreams of what lies over the rainbow. When a cyclone hits her farm and carries her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must journey to the great and powerful Wizard in order to find a way home. Along the way, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion, all of whom join her as she ventures down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. Featuring the classic songs "Over the Rainbow" and "We're Off to See the Wizard", The Wizard of Oz is a treat for the entire family.

Performances run January 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, and 31st in Cahn Auditorium (Evanston, IL). For more information on ticketing, please visit www.nudolphinshow.org, call the box office at (847) 467-4000, or visit the box office at Pick-Staiger on Northwestern's Evanston campus. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. Tickets are $25 for the general public, $20 for seniors, and $10 for children/students.

To find out more about The Dolphin Show at Northwestern University, please visit www.nudolphinshow.org.

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