Fur-tile Ground
Despite its early challenges, the Mee-Ow Show found its legs, and began to show serious ambitions — as did its cast members.
The 1980 and 1981 shows — “Ten Against the Empire” and “Candy from Strangers” — featured Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who would go on to play the iconic Elaine Benes on “Seinfeld” and Selina Meyer on “Veep.”
Paul Barrosse, Louis-Dreyfus’s fellow castmate from those shows, would go on to found the Practical Theater Company with Brad Hall (future husband of Louis-Dreyfus). PTC existed as an entirely independent improv company, eventually rivaling The Second City programming using only Northwestern talent. Several members of its 1982 improv comedy revue (Louis-Dreyfus, Barrosse, Hall, and Gary Kroeger) were scooped up by “Saturday Night Live.”
“Ten Against the Empire,” 1980
Poster
Poster
A Daily Northwestern article on Feb. 15, 1980, reported that this show had been held over from its original run due to “enormous popular acclaim” and sold-out houses. A Daily critic lauded the show’s “forty-odd comedy skits and songs, which, at their worst are still entertaining, and at their best approach hysteria.”
Program back cover
Program back cover
Program, inside spread
Program, inside spread
Cast photo
Cast photo
Signed by each cast member as their Mee-Ow character. Clockwise from left: Thalgorr the Orc Slayer (John Goodrich); Mercurio, the Elusive (Mike Markowitz); Kennan the Barbarian (Ken Marks); Plasto-Groin (Dana Olsen); Gonzo (Rod McLaughlin); Boop (Judy Pruitt); Ultra-Violence (Rush Pearson); Shachi (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss); Infra-Death (Paul Barrosse). The show was accompanied by Larry Schanker, dubbed “The Keyster.” Photographer: Ralf-Finn Hestoft.
“Candy from Strangers,” 1981
“Til the Cows Come Home,” 1982
Letter from John Goodrich to Mark Lancaster, 1982
Goodrich had a habit of writing personal notes to castmates, as he did here to Lancaster after the 1982 show, “’Til The Cows Come Home.”
“Plasto-Groin” card, John Goodrich, 1980. From the Dana Olsen Papers.
The 1980 cast adopted superhero names for the show “Ten Against the Empire.” Cast member John “Johnny B.” Goodrich drew caricatures and cartoons promoting the show. This illustration opens to a handwritten letter from Goodrich to castmate Dana Olsen (“Plasto-Groin”), praising and congratulating him after the show’s run.
Tickets for “Escape from Baltic Avenue,” 1984
Cast members of this show included Eric Gilliland (producer of “Roseanne” and other shows) and Dermot Mulroney (“My Best Friend’s Wedding”).
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.