’Cats Outta the Bag
In the 1990s, Mee-Ow developed a structure of one-third sketches, one-third improv games, and one-third music. The format attracted the quick-witted, including comedy luminaries such as Seth Meyers, Kristen Schaal and others who went on to venues such as The Second City, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, The Groundlings, and “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Many proved their chops here to become producers, writers, and developers of every kind of media, from film to podcasts.
“Salvador’s Deli,” 1989
Today, Mee-Ow performs in Shanley Pavilion, the black-box space synonymous with student theater. No longer the only alternative to Waa-Mu, it is today not even the only alternative for student comedy. In its way, Mee-Ow ushered in a flourishing era for student creativity, spawning an entire herd of unherdable ’Cats.
Cast caricatures, 1994
Hand drawn cartoons of Jill Alexander, Ed Herbstman, Louise Lamson, Ethan Sandler, Jean Villepique, Amanda Weier, Dan Weiss, Jason Winer, Adrian Wenner and Jeanne (unknown last name).
1994
1994
First annual “Orgy of the Arts” program spread, 1994
1996
1996
Mee-Ow flyer, 1996
1996
1996
Program, “It’s a Wonderful Lie,” 1996. This show included Seth Meyers, who would go on to write and perform for “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
1999
1999
Cast photo, “That Was Then, This is Mee-Ow,” 1999. This lineup included Heather Campbell (comedian, podcaster, and writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Eric Andre Show”), third from left, and Kristen Schaal (“Bob's Burgers,” “What We Do in the Shadows”) fourth from left.
2000
2000
Page from script, “Millennium Chats,” 2000
2016/2017
2016/2017
Poster, “Mee-Ow’s Anatomy,” 2016/2017
BlackBoard Magazine 2006
BlackBoard Magazine, Vol. 36, Issue 2, March, 2006. Interview with cast member Adam Welton, today an actor, comedian and podcast host.
“There’s no neutering this cat!"
An interview with the director and cast of the 1991 shows.
The Daily Northwestern, March 8, 1991
“Lawrence of Your Labia,” 1991
“Lawrence of Your Labia,” 1991 poster
The anatomical pun in the title of the second 1991 show caused controversy on campus. Some posters advertising the show were tagged with stickers reading “This promotes woman hating” and “This is offensive to women.”
Letters to The Daily Northwestern op-ed page reflected the raging debate around the title of the second show that year. Director J.P. Manoux insisted the show “evolved from, if anything, a feminist perspective,” arguing that its topics tackled “male hierarchical figures” such as comedian Andrew Dice Clay, known for a sexist and homophobic brand of comedy. A counterargument from a graduate student asked, “Did the group of students who agreed on this title intend to imply male ownership of female sexuality?”
She pledged to avoid the show, and encouraged others to do the same unless the title changed.
Letters to the editor, The Daily Northwestern, Feb. 8, 1991
Collection Information
The Records of the Mee-Ow Show and the Dana Olsen Papers are housed in the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives, Northwestern University Libraries. Additional loans from Michael Lynn and Paul Barrosse. To view the collections, contact the McCormick Library.