Northwestern is a moderately big school. And while going to a big school has plenty of benefits (hey there, huge endowment), it may be nearly impossible to join and understand every sub-community. North by Northwestern is here to make it easy for you. Northwestern Defined will tell you all you need to know to converse with all students at Northwestern easily. Check back periodically for all your vocabulary needs.
If I've learned anything from living across the hall from two theater majors for one year, it’s this: Life on the stage is not for the faint of heart. You have to sing, dance, perfect the on-cue cry, gracefully handle rejection, and occasionally whip out the jazz hands. If it wasn’t hard enough to fit in, this Northwestern community has more acronyms, slang and verbiage than the first 120 pages of the Webster dictionary.
You must learn quickly.
After weeks of classes and attending at least three student-produced shows per week, every theater major starts spitting game like their life depends on it. However, all this talk leaves the rest of us severely out of the loop. TI? Dash Three? Strike? Listening to a table of Jones kids can be more confusing that last Tuesday’s Econ lecture. However, all is not lost. You may never appear on TV or on Broadway, but I promise you, there is a way to understand what the hell theater kids are talking about.
Dash One, Dash Two, Dash Three - (140-1, 140-2, 140-3)
n. – the required class sequence for freshman theater majors – Dash one: All 100 theatre majors gather in one room and chat on Facebook. Dash two: theater version of a Freshman seminar, frequently described as “worst thing, ever.” Why? Apparently, the theater grad students who teach the class are less than ideal. But, hey, I wouldn’t be the best teacher either if I gave up the prospect of an acting career to grade half-assed essays. Dash 3: Every freshman theater major is require to work crew for a T.I. show. This means a lot of time spent building sets, making costumes, learning how to work lights and swapping Youtube videos backstage. It is also notable to mention that Barbara Butts, the professor for all Dash 3 classes, is supposedly the most wonderful woman in the world. Sound more fun that your Chemistry lab? It is.
Dolphin Show (Doll-Fin Sh-o)
n. – The largest student-produced musical in the country, sponsored by Arts Alliance and performed in Cahn Auditorium. This Northwestern tradition started out as a synchronized swimming show. Now, it’s an on-stage musical with a larger budget than any other student show. Either way, it’s usually the one show many Northwestern students see, sometimes in a mad dash for Greek housing points, but usually just for funsies.
Generals (Gen-er-Ells)
n. - At the beginning of each quarter an individual can choose to attend a General audition wherein they are, in effect, auditioning for at least twelve plays at the same time. Basically, you perform in a room full of thirty people judging you...sounds like a nurturing environment.
R&D
n.- Ridge and Davis, the off-campus location where many theater majors choose to live. Mostly, it’s where these kids rage. It’s their version of the fraternity quads and I trust them when they say it’s just as fun.
Expect a lot of Lady Gaga and drunk a capella.
Shanley (SHan-lee) Also known as: Shan-Shack or Shit-show Shanley
n. – Versatile student performing space that is literally falling apart at the seams.
Many StuCo produced shows are performed in the Shan-Shack. In many ways, the idea of one multipurpose performing space for students seems ideal. However, Shanley, a space previously belonging to a campus cafe, was given to the theater department after the university found that it was asbestos-infested and a major health hazard. On behalf of every theater major I know: Thank you for your generosity, Northwestern.
StuCo (STU-Coe)
Student Theatre Coalition
n. – Student produced theater – comprised of many different boards such as Arts Alliance, Jewish Theatre Ensemble, Lovers and Madmen, Purple Crayon Players, WAVE, Vertigo, Sit & Spin, and Spectrum.
If you live on South Campus, especially in Jones, your walls are endlessly plastered with posters advertising different shows being directed, produced, performed and even written by students. If you live on North Campus, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. However, many theater students spend their four years devoted to putting on shows by students, for students. Often, these performances are just as good as T.I. shows and worth seeing. Hours and hours are put into production, so if you’d like to keep (or make) some stage-lovin’ friends, nod and smile when they mention anything StuCo.
TI (tee-eye)
Theatre and Interpretation Centre
n. – The large building close to Norris that houses all of the theatre classes OR the Theatre department itself.
Any shows produced by T.I. are guaranteed to be good. The best of the best are featured in these productions. Casting is fiercely competitive and brings out the “bitch please” in the nicest of individuals. If you have the time to see a show, or if you’re really still really hungover from that Thursday night at the Deuce, you should definitely attend one of these productions. You may even be culturally educated, or something.
Vo-Fo Po-Fo
n. – Voice for Performance. This is a required class for all theater freshmen. They learn what is wrong with their voice and to unlearn certain dialect tendencies. This means that if you’re a little heavy on that Chicago accent, you'll have to stop that shit. Essentially, it’s a class that teaches how to speak for the stage. Sometimes its useful. Mostly, it’s not.
Waa-Mu (Wah-Mew)
n. – Largest student-written musical in the country, which showcases the singing talents of Northwestern, as well as being about our school. This year’s show included a candlelight vigil song for the closing of the Keg. Lots of songs. Lots of glitz. Lots of references to underage drinking.