Press "Enter" to skip to content

Happiest show on earth; Freshmen participate in 29th Fanfare

Freshmen at Oklahoma Christian University have spent the last month preparing to carry on the tradition of Freshman Fanfare, which takes place this weekend.

Co-directors Olivia Bryant and Jacob Knox chose the theme “The Wonderful World of Disney” for the 29th year of Fanfare. According to Bryant, this theme allowed them to use songs all the freshmen already knew, so they did not have to teach them every note.

“We had talked to Amanda Watson and they haven’t done this theme, at least in a while,” Bryant said. “It’s a pretty broad theme, and when we’re using the music, it’s something everyone in the crowd can recognize. It’s fun and something everyone can have a good time with.”

The show will have six emcees playing Genie from “Aladdin,” Troy from “High School Musical,” Mulan, Cinderella, Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” and Simba from “The Lion King.” In between the group numbers, the show will also have six feature acts, most of which will cover a Disney song. According to Bryant, this year they are trying to stick closely to the theme.

“In past years, I feel like they make a theme and put it on the shirts and then that’s it,” Bryant said. “So, we’ve made the emcees characters, the banners are Disney and all the songs are to Disney songs. We’re also doing different colored shirts for the boys and girls so there’s a contrast on stage.”

Bryant said she loved being a part of Fanfare her freshman year and found it a great opportunity to get to know a lot of people during her first few weeks of college.

“When you’re forced to stand next to someone you don’t know, you’re just kind of like, ‘Hey, we might as well be friends,’” Bryant said. “You’re singing and dancing and being weird, so you get to know each other quickly.”

According to the Oklahoma Christian website, Freshman Fanfare provides another opportunity for freshmen to meet people and develop relationships, in addition to learning the teamwork needed to put together a production.

Freshman Jakobee Holloway said she initially decided to participate in Fanfare because her friends were doing it, but she is glad she decided to step out of her comfort zone.

“I never really saw myself doing anything like it, but I love it,” Holloway. “It has improved my college experience because I have met so many great people just by being in the row next to them for a dance. I feel like they will be great, lifelong friendships.”

When freshman Taylor McKeever asked upperclassmen how to make the most of her first year of college, she said they all recommended she do Fanfare. In addition to being an opportunity to meet new people, McKeever said Freshman Fanfare gave her a glimpse of what to anticipate for Spring Sing.

“Fanfare was so great because I got know people outside of the classroom in a setting where we could goof off and sing songs about the ‘Freshman Fifteen’ and ‘Ring by Spring,’” McKeever said.

Holloway and McKeever both said their favorite part of the show is the girls’ performance of a parody of “What Dreams Are Made Of” from “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” According to Bryant, her favorite song in Fanfare is “A Whole New World,” which opens the show.

The show will be in Hardeman Auditorium tonight at 7 p.m., with an encore performance tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Oklahoma Christian faculty, staff and students will get in free with an Oklahoma Christian ID. Tickets are available for $8 and can be purchased online.

Email this to someonePrint this pageShare on Facebook0Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn0

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *