Last fall, Medill freshman Trevor Sullivan Weinstein applied to Northwestern with a supplemental essay about his desire to participate in The Dolphin Show.
Over a year later, he is in the midst of tech week, preparing to appear in the ensemble of “Footloose,” the 2026 Dolphin Show selection, and his first NU production.
The largest student-produced musical in the country is running for its 83rd year from Jan. 23 to 31 in Cahn Auditorium.
“Footloose” follows a teenager who moves to a new town and discovers that dancing is outlawed. He then decides to rebel against this and encourage self-expression. Through this arc, the show tackles themes of censorship and freedom of expression.
“The story is all about how we can make change within our own community and standing up for what we believe in,” said Communication senior and Business Producer Aiden Kaliner. “We wanted to inspire that kind of action and that kind of courage and bravery within the audience that comes to see Footloose.”
Unlike other NU productions, The Dolphin Show is the only theater production performed in Cahn Auditorium, which is usually reserved for events like Bienen School of Music performances and larger concerts. According to Kaliner, the team comprises around 150 people, and the show sells tickets in order to support this large-scale operation.
Communication senior Katherine Horton is the director of “Footloose.” Directing The Dolphin Show has been a long-time dream for Horton, who has wanted to take charge of the position since freshman year.
“It has this huge budget. So, we’re building a set that is 18 feet tall and feels like 100 feet wide. We have these huge casts, and we have a theater that seats almost 1000 people,” Horton said. “What that means is that not only do you get to work on the show and be a part of it, but that also makes me get to touch so many hearts and engage with so many audience members.”
Lots of time and energy go into preparing for this show. The team has been constructing the set since December, during a week known as “Winter Build.”
Preparation for The Dolphin Show begins right after the previous show closes. Kaliner and the head artistic producer were selected for their positions first, based on last year’s producers.
Then, they helped select the executive board by the end of Winter Quarter and finally chose the director and show. Rehearsals start the first week of November of the next calendar year while the business, artistic and production teams are working on various fundraising projects, casting decisions and marketing campaigns far beforehand.
“Footloose” is Communication freshman Mehret Marsh’s first role in a NU production. Despite having some nerves coming into the rehearsal process, she has noted how professional and welcoming the space has been for her.
“The team made sure to check in with us, like how we were as people, not just as actors and performers, and always felt like they really cared about us,” Marsh said, “It didn’t always feel like work, and there was a level of ‘We’re all students here’ and also ‘Because it’s student led, everyone wants to be there and everyone is really passionate.’”
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Related Stories:
— By the Numbers: Splashing through the history of The Dolphin Show
— ‘Footloose’ and fancy-free: The Dolphin Show to debut 80s-inspired musical in January
