Attention Warriors! Just in time for orientation week, To Be Honest: The Musical is making its debut from Wednesday, Aug. 27 to Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Humanities Theatre (Hagey Hall). This student-created musical is part of WUSA’s orientation programming, designed to help you, especially first-years, navigate the rollercoaster ride that is transitioning to university life.
The show follows a year in the life of Waterloo students, capturing the emotional highs and lows from homesickness and academic pressure to imposter syndrome and consent. It highlights how building connections, resilience, and self-awareness can help you find your place on campus.
Here are the showtimes and who’s invited:
| Date | Time | Audience |
| Wednesday, August 27 | 3 p.m. | AFIW & Campus Housing (Dons & staff) |
| Thursday, August 28 | 3 p.m. | Campus community (staff, faculty, families) |
| Friday, August 29 | 7 p.m. | Orientation leaders & Off‑Campus Dons |
| Monday, September 1 | 7 p.m. | New Engineering students |
| Monday, September 1 | 8 p.m. | New Science & Health students |
| Tuesday, September 2 | 7 p.m. | New Arts & Environment students |
| Tuesday, September 2 | 8 p.m. | New Math students |
All performances last about one hour and are free to attend. Though admission is open to the entire campus community, it’s strongly encouraged to RSVP for most sessions, as tickets are required to secure your spot.
To Be Honest isn’t just entertainment, it’s connection. It’s a performance by students, for students, tackling the stuff we actually face, stress, belonging, mental health, and more. It’s a chance to laugh, reflect, and most importantly realize you’re not alone on this journey.
You’ll also get a taste of Waterloo’s creative energy and community spirit, and maybe feel a little more ready to take on the term ahead. Bonus, there’s an original song from the show available on Spotify and Apple Music to keep the vibes going
If you’re around campus, this is the perfect way to kick off the year. Share some laughs, maybe shed a tear, and connect with the shared UW experience. Whether you’ve felt overwhelmed, excited, lost, or hopeful, To Be Honest: The Musical gets it and tells it like it is.
