Allie Scott, sophomore theatre major and 2019 Spring Sing hostess, has been involved in Harding productions since early in her freshman year. Her relationship with Spring Sing, however, started much earlier. In fact, Spring Sing runs in her blood.
Kim and John Scott, Allie’s parents, served as hostess and host in the 1992 Spring Sing program. John, a then second-year senior, and Kim, a senior, had married the previous year, and Spring Sing played a major role early on in their marriage.
“That was a packed few weeks,” Kim said, reflecting on the first few weeks of her senior year. “We got married on Aug. 31, went on our honeymoon and were practicing for our auditions on our honeymoon.”
John had been involved in Spring Sing several years before. After transferring to Harding University during his sophomore year in 1988, he served as a music director in his junior year, then directed the show “Is it a Wonderful Life?” during his first senior year.
“I tried out for host every year and never made it,” John reflected. “[My wife and I] got married, and then we tried out for Spring Sing together.”
Following his graduation, John continued to assist in Spring Sing productions by arranging music for the hosts and hostesses, and ultimately arranging the musical introductions the hosts and hostesses perform.
“I’ve never stopped doing Spring Sing,” John Scott said. “From my senior year of high school until I turned 50 this year, I’ve had some part in Spring Sing.”
Kim and John both attributed their continued support of Spring Sing to the maturity and growth they gained while being a part of the program.
“Arranging for the hosts and hostesses, for the ensemble, and then doing the musical intro arrangements was a way I could still be a part [of the program] and was a way I could give those kids the same opportunities that I had,” John said.
Allie called her involvement with Spring Sing in 2018 and 2019 a dream come true. After having attended Spring Sing since she was a baby, Allie said she had always wanted to participate in the program.
“I loved it last year, and I really wanted to be a hostess for one year because there is a sense of responsibility and leadership, and I really just wanted to be in that role,” Allie said.
When she first told her father about her plans to audition, John said he was sure she would be chosen for the role.
“When she told me, ‘I’m going to try out for hostess,’ I [said], ‘You’re probably going to get it,’” John said. “She is a very talented girl, so I was not surprised in the least.”
Kim agreed that she was confident Allie would make a great hostess because of her diligence and commitment to the role.
“I really feel like the Lord has helped her come into Harding and just have a good attitude and a good work ethic,” Kim Scott said.
The Scott family’s Spring Sing legacy continues this weekend as Allie officially steps into her parents shoes and fulfills her role as hostess.
