Spring Sing host Jesse Hixson answers questions about his experience
1. What was one of your most unique Spring Sing practices?
“We did like a retreat here in Searcy and worked the Friday and Saturday of spring break from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, just us (hosts/hostesses) reviewing all the choreography we learned, doing all our features, and learning intros. So we spent the whole weekend basically doing two weeks of work in two days.”
2. What of your childhood let to performing?
“When I lived in Montana for several years and there was a community production of the Wizard of Oz. That’s the first thing I remember going to see. It was a community thing so it wasn’t a big deal but it was a big deal to me. That was when I thought ‘you know I could do that, I would really like to do that.”
3. Why did you try out for Spring Sing host/hostess?
“I think it’s one of the most unique performing opportunities not only here but anywhere, because it’s not a play, it’s not just a musical. You get to kind of be yourself on stage and that is not something normal, I would say, in the performing world because normally you’re playing a character or pretending to be somebody else.”
4. How do you feel when you perform on stage?
“When I get to go up there and do something that is really funny like my feature this year it is definitely the best feeling in the world. To say something and have the entire room think that it’s funny, it just makes you feel more confident and carefree than in everyday life.”
5. How do you prepare for a show?
“I have to get really hyped up about it, especially with a show like Spring Sing when you have to be energetic for like three hours … I’m the one running around backstage, talking to people and getting really excited. I’m kind of bouncing off the walls.”
6. What is the group dynamic of all the hosts and hostesses?
“The four of us as a group were not friends before we were cast together so at the beginning there were lots of awkward things that happened. Through the magic of Spring Sing, the four of us have managed to actually become friends outside of the show and have a dynamic now that is really funny … Before I was worried; I was like ‘we’re going to have to fake this.’ But I think it’s working now.”
7. What have you learned from this experience?
“That teamwork is really important, you can’t do anything on your own even if you think you can.”
8. What motivates you to perform?
“I don’t necessarily love rehearsing, that probably goes for anyone, no one enjoys the practice part, but doing the show and having a huge audience there watching you and really enjoying the hard work you’ve put it and knowing you’ll be at that point soon is always what keeps you going.”
