Written by Jessica Ardrey
It is only September, but with Spring Sing preparations underway, some thoughts have already turned to spring. Last week a number of students auditioned for the roles of Spring Sing 2011 Hosts and Hostesses.The four who received the honor are seniors Sam Barker and Cameron Frazier, junior Caroline Snell and freshman Tori Wisely.Each contestant was required to perform two songs in front of an audience, with private original music and choreography audtions following the public portion.”You need to be a triple threat,” Spring Sing Director Steven Frye said. “You need to be able to move, you need to be able to act, and you certainly need to be able to sing.”Two of these triple threats, Barker and Frazier, are returning to the Benson stage as hosts for the second year in a row.”They are strong musicians, they have fun and pleasing personalities, they’re fearless, and they play well with others. I feel very confident about their leadership into another year,” Frye said.Even though both men are former hosts, this year will be new territory for them. While last year’s host group was all male, this year the group is back to the traditional form of two men and two women.”The dynamic is new, which is weird because I’ve done it before, but not really,” Barker said. “It’s going to be new and it’s going to be awesome.”Snell, whose Spring Sing experience includes the winning 2009 Zeta Rho and TNT show “Lines, Fiber, Grey Hair, Oh My!” said she feels more like a rookie than the others.”I’ve grown up seeing the shows and watching the hosts and hostesses and always wanting to be them,” Snell said. “I remember thinking they must lead such glamorous lives. I mean, I drive a Buick. I don’t have really awesome clothes, and I don’t have an iPhone or anything. It’s just kind of surreal.”The group said the one thing that is for sure is that the show will be like nothing audiences have seen. Expectations and enthusiasm are fueling the hosts and hostesses already.”There’s some great talent. I’m really excited,” Frazier said. “I know that the four who were chosen are really strong, and I’m looking forward to seeing the blend between us.”The theme of the 2011 show is “Welcome Home” and will focus on the aspects of home, heart, Harding and heaven.”To me, the theme seems perfect,” Wisely said. “It’s kind of like my transition from living in Illinois my whole life to having to uproot and come here. I hear so many people talk about Harding as home and how much they love it, and I’m moving into that.”
