Eight students will take the stage in the Heritage Auditorium tomorrow at 8 p.m. for the HU Spectacular, a talent show sponsored by Campus Activities Board (CAB) that is free to students.
The students selected by CAB to perform are freshman Wesley Hargon, sophomores Kelly Spangler and Cassidy Hopper, juniors Ben Stewart and Nathan Hannum, freshmen Katelyn Perrett and Samuel Cobb and Jed Clark, who is not a student.
After performing at Open Mic Night throughout the month of February, 25 different acts were narrowed down by a panel of judges consisting of student workers at CAB. The winning acts were chosen by CAB director Logan Light and student directors senior Summer Gibson and junior Phoebe Cunningham. CAB member Jake Owens said the judges factored in how unique performances were so that the few acts selected would not be too similar.
“After taking notes on the performances, the judges looked for skill as well as variety,” Owens said. “We didn’t want the Spectacular to be eight of the same acts, but we also wanted the acts to be of a skill level worthy of taking one of those slots.”
Owens said the initial idea for the HU Spectacular show branched from the success of a similar show during freshmen Impact week last fall.
“CAB actually did a Spectacular during this past freshmen Impact, so this is kind of an evolved version of it that this time includes the entire student body rather than just the incoming freshmen,” Owens said. “The goal was to have an event that involved and catered to the entire student body.”
Gibson said the idea behind the HU Spectacular was to allow students a chance to showcase talents that might not otherwise have an outlet to their peers.
“Once CAB has an idea that we want to run with, we go through a brainstorming session to figure out all the details that we might want to be a part of the show,” Gibson said. “The basis behind the Spectacular is to create a fun avenue for a student talent show, giving students the opportunity to share their talent with fellow students.”
Gibson said that CAB members will host the show and entertain the crowd between acts. Owens said he is most looking forward to seeing audience participation.
“I think the games interspersed between the acts themselves will be entertaining and will provide a more high-energy kind of entertainment,” Owens said.
Sophomore Kelly Spangler has been performing magic tricks since she was 10 years old, and said she is thrilled to have a chance to share her talent with the student body on a larger scale than the occasional Open Mic Night.
“I’m really excited to be in the Spectacular, especially since I haven’t performed on a big stage in two years,” Spangler said. “It’s an honor to get to share my passion with a large crowd. A lot of people know I’m a magician, but I don’t think many have seen me perform, and now I have that opportunity.”
Spangler said she plans on using the same trick from her audition, but with a twist.
“I’m doing the same trick I did at Starbucks, but it definitely won’t be the same routine,” Spangler said. “I’ll have new jokes and a bigger space.”
According to Gibson, if tomorrow’s Spectacular is a success, it will become an annual event.
