Written by Gabrielle Pruitt
Saturday, April 23, was a historic night in Spring Sing performances. The John H. Ryan Sweepstakes Award was presented to two shows this year due to a tie by Zeta Rho, TNT and friends’ show “Redistribution of Wealth: The Early Years” and Pi Theta Phi, Gamma Sigma Phi, Iota Chi and friends’ show “20/80 Vision.”
According to the Director of Spring Sing production, Dr. Steven Frye, it has always been possible to tie, but this is the first year it has ever happened. Therefore, both shows will receive a $2,000 check for their charities, “a very unique and special win-win” situation, as Frye put it.
Producer of Theater (which includes Spring Sing) Cindee Stockstill said that she was thrilled about the tie. Being able to contribute significantly to two different charities and make twice as many people happy is “always a good thing,” she said.
PTP Spring Sing director of 20/80 Vision Katie Keesesaid she believes a tie means the ultimate goal of Spring Sing was accomplished in providing a fantastic show and being able to give more money to charities than originally expected.
“I think [the tie] is a good reminder for us to stop and think about what Spring Sing is really about,”Keese said.”Yes, winning is great and rewarding, but ultimately, everything we do needs to be for God and others, and winning is merely a small pat on the back in the great scheme of things.”
“The emotions I had been bottling up for the past two weeks exploded when Dr. [David] Burks announced that it was a tie,” said Scotti Beth Lawson, one of the ZP Spring Sing directors of Redistribution of Wealth: The EarlyYears. “Iwascompletely and incandescently happy.”
Other awards included: Redistribution of Wealth: The Early Years won the category for Music; 20/80 Vision and Redistribution of Wealth: The Early Years tied as winners for Visuals category; and the winner for both Staging category and Entertainment category was 20/80 Vision. The Spirit Award went to Once Upon a Sitcom.
