Singarama showcases student talent for more than 50 years
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
For more than half a century generations of Lipscomb students have brought singing, acting and dance … um, choreography … to life on the stage of Collins Alumni Auditorium as part of one of the university’s longest-running traditions — Singarama.
This spring marks the 52nd production of Singarama, which takes place March 5-7. Three groups of student performers, actors and directors will interpret this year’s theme “Ready, Set, Go!”
“Singarama has always been a favorite tradition among our students,” said Sarah Keith Gamble, associate dean of campus life and Singarama producer for the past 30 years. “Each year I am amazed at the talent our students have. Their investment in planning, producing and performing as part of Singarama not only gives them experiences that will be useful in their careers one day but will also give them many fond memories that they will have for years to come.”
Show directors include Anne Claire Smith (“Ready”), Carolanne Deaton (“Set”) and John Alex Foster (“Go”). Hosts and hostesses, who were selected by audition, for this year’s production include Delaney Brown, David Austin Lowery, Michael Oruma, Caitlin Phelps, Tyler Russell and McKenna Smith.
Samantha Bell, Adwoa Osei, Hailey Parrott and Jon Rapacz, Singarama’s student coordinators, are working behind the scenes with Gamble to produce this year’s show. Fanning Residence Hall head resident Laurie Sain is serving as ticket manager and host and hostess wardrobe director, and her husband, Aaron, is directing the hosts and hostesses.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., March 5-7, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on March 7. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 6. To purchase tickets, call the Allen Arena Box Office at 615.966.7075 or CLICK HERE to purchase online.
Over the years, more than 16,000 students have participated in Singarama. Armed only with their category, the students in each group develop storylines, write scripts, choose a minimum of eight songs and accompanying choreography, design sets and create costumes.
The shows, evaluated over four performances by a panel of 18 judges, compete in three categories (theme, music, and staging) and in overall sweepstakes points.
Singarama has been a part of the Lipscomb community for more than 50 years, Gamble believes, because "Singarama is about building relationships and a sense of community.”
“This transcends a student’s professional goals or major or even their performance talent levels! It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and to engage with friends in the fun and creative process of building a 25-minute mini-musical from the ground up, culminating in the collective sense of accomplishment the students feel when they get to perform their show in front of the appreciative Singarama audiences,” she said. “It is impossible to measure on an individual basis the sense of accomplishment, the fun and the friendships that can be attributed to Singarama."
See Singarama pictures and history on the Lipscomb Singarama Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lipscombsingarama)