Browsing: SING

All around campus, Baylor has wonderful shows to offer. Whether they’re from the theater department or student organizations, each one is distinct, and students should take advantage of the opportunity to go see them.

As we watch Sing next year, I challenge us to revisit our expectations. Ask yourself what is entertaining and what is excellent, and why you believe an act fits in either category (or both). I don’t think it’s a coincidence all six of the people’s choice awards from this year went to all-women’s acts.

The show itself is only the tip of the iceberg. What it took to get to the top of that mountain is the real story — and the one that nobody sees. If you do it right, your soul is connected to your act in the end, and it should be.

Since the 1950s, students have choreographed dances, chosen popular songs, changed lyrics to fit a theme and then put it together into a cohesive Sing act. Looking back on the many years of Sing, here is a playlist of some of the best songs used.

All-University Sing, one of Baylor’s most beloved traditions, is not just for fun. It’s also a competition. With only eight acts advancing to Pigskin Revue in the fall, competition can be fierce, especially in years like this one, with 20 Broadway-style performances from different organizations. There are various categories that factor into the judges’ scoresheets, but here are six elements that can make or break any Sing act.

Burton currently works for the Houston Texans Cheerleaders and choreographs for high school drill teams on the side — but ever since Mission senior and Phi Gamma Delta Sing chair Christian Cavazos reached out to her in October, she has been collaborating with the fraternity to choreograph its All-University Sing act.

All-University Sing | Feb. 15-17, 22-24 | 6:30 p.m. | Baylor’s best and brightest annual tradition returns to campus for two weekends. See friends and familiar faces take the stage in hopes of advancing to Pigskin Revue in the fall. Tickets for weekend one are sold out, but a livestream is available for weekend two.

If you’re a part of the 45% of students in the College of Arts and Sciences, you’re all too familiar with credits for CAEs — Creative Arts Experiences. They’re intended to help students become engaged in art, music, theater, film and literature on campus. For some reason, All-University Sing and Pigskin Revue don’t fall under this category, even though there are hundreds of participants every year — from Sing chairs and stagehands to sororities and fraternities.

In high school, seniors get the first row of the bleachers in games; in professional spaces the senior level employees typically have more influence and power; even senior citizens get discounts at places like the zoo or movie theaters. When it comes to milestone Baylor traditions like Sing, seniors should also be treated special.

No matter if you love or hate Sing, you can’t deny there’s something magical about hundreds of students coming together to create elaborate performances to entertain thousands. Sing isn’t just about performing, it’s about the experience of coming together as a community.

But alas, tickets sell out in minutes. I’m happy they do, but I truly have to contemplate if I’m able to “splurge” on the price of them. This year, they were upwards of $30 for students and the general public.

“I think people trust me with the microphone [because] I’m not going to say anything that will reflect poorly on Baylor,” Browning said. “I love Baylor, so I’m not trying to be edgy with jokes that could risk Baylor’s reputation. I need to be excited about the students and get out of the way.”

Nothing consumes and defines Baylor life in the spring semester so much as All-University Sing, a marathon of Broadway-style shows put on by Sing Alliance, Baylor Chamber of Commerce and various Greek organizations every year in front of family and alumni from all over the country as part of a 61-year tradition.

When the curtain rises, all the audience sees is the glare of stage lights against dramatic make-up, flashy costumes and newly painted props. This year, 18 acts are performing, including paired acts and Sing Alliance, which consists of students who are not involved in Greek organizations but still want to participate.

I’ve seen a lot of Sing acts — 6 or 7 years’ worth of them to be precise. I have a very strong idea about what makes a “good” Sing act. I look at song choice, creativity, story, execution and, to an extent, cleverness. I appreciate novelty and new-ness, as well as risk-taking. I’m going to try to reward acts when they are good, but I’m not going to hesitate to criticize them when they miss opportunities (or notes during a solo). This year, we will be working on a 5-point-scale. A 5 is near perfection and a 1 is barely showing up. Since Chamber is actually competing this year, no zeroes will be given.

This week marks the beginning of All-University Sing, and the students involved have been hard at work preparing to perform in front of thousands of people.

Preparation for Sing involves thousands of hours choreographing, practicing and perfecting, but students involved in Sing must still attend classes and participate in many other activities.