Harding University will host its 44th annual Spring Sing show April 13-15.
This year’s theme, “Curtain Up!” will feature a variety of songs from Broadway shows. According to ensemble member sophomore Justice Laws, the songs will come from several different shows of varying popularity.
“There’s going to be some numbers that people don’t know as well,” Laws said. “But there’s going to be some big songs that people have grown up listening to.”
The show will have several big numbers such as “A Musical,” from “Something Rotten,” “Don’t Break the Rules,” from “Catch Me If You Can,” and “Bigger,” a song performed by Neil Patrick Harris at the 67th Tony Awards.
According to Spring Sing director Steven Frye, more people are engaged in Broadway now than ever before, and this is what is driving the Broadway theme for this year’s show.
“We wanted to showcase some of what makes live theater so important to so many people and show that art is vital to a thriving community, college and nation,” Frye said.
Bringing this Broadway style takes a lot of members. According to Frye, there are around 1,000 members involved in this year’s show both on and off stage.
“There are 20 social clubs creating eight club shows, numerous ‘friends’ from other clubs and students not involved in social clubs, 28 ensemble members, 17 jazz band members, dozens of arrangers, costumers, graphic designers, technicians, etc.,” Frye said.
This many people working under one show requires a lot of communication on all levels. Iota Chi director sophomore Tori Cannefax, said that one of her biggest takeaways from this year’s show is the amount of teamwork it requires to complete a production.
“If we don’t communicate something, it can fall apart quickly,” Cannefax said. “It’s the people that make Spring Sing happen, more so than it is the ideas and what actually happens on stage.”
With the number of people needed to make the show happen, time commitments are also important for a quality show. The average club cast member has around 5 hours of practice a week before spring break and 8 hours of practice in the weeks leading up to the show. Other members, such as hosts and ensemble members, have to commit more time, according to junior host Ross Smith. “
It may sound like a lot, but the noticeable progress and anticipated outcome is what makes it all worth it,” Smith said. Frye believes that the time and effort that go into this show are beneficial to Harding as a whole.
“There are few activities that can touch so many areas in so many positive ways,” Frye said. “I am honored to be a part of the process.”
