The 47th-annual Spring Sing show prepares to ‘Just Duet’

Spring Sing has come to campus again, and social clubs and the freshmen class are preparing to “Just Duet” on March 6-7.

The 47th-annual Spring Sing show at Oklahoma Christian University features duos, meaning all club performance themes involve a famous pair.

“[Choosing a theme] was really difficult at first, but now that I see everything that everyone has come up with, it’s really exciting,” junior Amy Winn, Iota Kappa Phi Spring Sing director, said. “It’s different and it’s really cool to see kind of where people went with that and how people worked with that.”

Winn chose Dottie Hinson and Kit Keller from the movie “A League of Their Own” as Iota’s theme. The other female club themes include Gamma Rho as strawberries and pineapples, Pi Zeta Phi as the wicked stepsisters from “Cinderella” and Theta Theta Theta as DJ Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler from “Full House.”

The male club themes are Alpha Gamma Omega as Will Turner and Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Chi Lambda Phi as Lewis and Clark, Delta Gamma Sigma as Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza from “Seinfeld,” Kappa Sigma Tau as Robin Hood and Little John and Psi Epsilon as Chewbacca and Han Solo from “Star Wars.”

The men and women of the freshman class are Barbie and Ken.

Delta Spring Sing Director Nick Thomas said club members did not initially appreciate the unusual theme, but he is sure it will appeal to the audience.

“It took them a little while to warm up to it because it’s not a typical Delta theme,” Thomas said. “A lot of the older people in the audience will like Seinfeld.”

The significance of Spring Sing to the Oklahoma Christian community, according to Staff Advisor Amanda Watson, is its long history on campus.

“They say that it’s one of OC’s greatest traditions… and it involves over 600 students on campus,” Watson said. “Usually we have three completely sold out shows.”

Spring Sing contains more than just the club acts. Students also make up the live band and the hosts, who perform songs in between club performances. Watson said the show is more than a systematic set of musical productions.

“I call it a variety show because it’s a lot of things,” Watson said. “It’s not just one set thing.”

The endless possibilities of a Spring Sing show make club director’s jobs highly involved.

“Probably the most challenging thing is understanding that I’m responsible for 55 girls and not just one girl,” Winn said. “In the past, [I just had to remember] to bring my costume and… all the things that I have to bring for myself, but with being a director I have to be sending reminders and emails and be like ‘Hey guys, don’t forget this and this and this.’”

Thomas said he enjoys the return he gets out the effort he puts in, but does not like being demanding.

“I like seeing ideas that I have come to life — that is the best part of being a director,” Thomas said. “Having to tell people what to do isn’t that fun.”

Among his ideas is the choreography Thomas had to create for Delta’s show. He said Delta tried to implement new moves while still maintaining tradition.

“We try to keep the dance moves fairly new,” Thomas said. “I think the alumni will appreciate that we have so many of our classic moves like the leg lift and ‘Winter Wonderland,’ the Delta, tongue-in-cheek stuff that we always throw in there.”

Winn said she appreciates her club members’ dedication to the show along with their fun attitudes.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group,” Winn said. “They like to change the lyrics and make them funny and stuff, but they’re really great and they all have really gotten into and are really committed.”

According to Winn, the Iota girls are looking forward to the actual performances. Winn said Spring Sing is a unifying event for the OC community.

“With the shows, it’s just exciting because Spring Sing is such a big deal at OC that people like alums are coming back and parents are coming in,” Winn said. “It brings people in and brings them together.”

Thomas said he enjoys the shows, but the end of Spring Sing and seeing Delta’s accomplishments is his favorite part.

“[At the end], you see the fruits of your labor, you see everything come together,” Thomas said. “You are done with it and now I get to show people what we’ve been working on. That, to me, is the best part.”

The show begins at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday in Hardeman Auditorium. Tickets are currently sold out.