Singarama is right around the corner.
Students are busy choreographing, rehearsing, writing and directing three separate shows for one of Lipscomb’s biggest annual events. Each of the three individual Singarama productions is directed by Lipscomb students, and this year the directors are seniors Myron Sailors and Amy Hurd and junior Tori Thurmond.
While all three directors have performed in Singarama before, this is their first time directing.
“It’s been super interesting seeing people come out of the woodwork with their own gifts and talents that they want to put forth towards the show,” said Sailors, a bioscience and philosophy major.
Hurd, a marketing major, said she agreed that directing has given her a different perspective on Singarama.
“Not just sitting back but being actively engaged in making all of these ideas come to life has been really fun during practices for me,” Hurd said. “It’s awesome to be able to contribute to every single portion.”
As directors, Sailors, Hurd and Thurmond are responsible for a range of tasks, including designing a rehearsal timeline and coordinating and communicating with performers.
In addition, Sailors said he believes that part of his role includes “a responsibility to try and keep morale up.”
“I love Singarama, so I want it to be fun for everybody,” Sailors said.
Thurmond, an English major, was on the production team for Singarama last year when she was a sophomore. She said she thinks it’s important to have a range of ages on the team, not just upperclassmen.
“I knew that I could carry that on to the next year, and I think it’s very important for there to be younger members on the production team so they can see how it works,” Thurmond said. “I’m trying to show other people how, so we can keep having good Singarama shows.”
The directors said Singarama is about more than just the three days of competitive performances — it’s about the memories made throughout the process.
“Some of my favorite memories from college are and will be, after I graduate in May, affiliated with Singarama,” Sailors said. “It’s amazing, because you can have a team of like 150 people, and yet you feel close and have this connection and bond with every single person in the show. I love it.”
Hurd, who grew up participating in theater with her father, also said that Singarama can have a unifying impact on participants.
“It really has the power to be such an inclusive thing,” Hurd said. “Anyone can learn and anyone can be involved. It’s just been one of the most special things to me.”
Thurmond, who has participated in the event since her freshman year, acknowledged Singarama has been a way to get to know fellow Delta Omega members that she wouldn’t have gotten to know as well otherwise, and also those outside of her own club. And Singarama isn’t just for students who participate in Greek Life.
“For the people who aren’t in social clubs and feel on the outside of this Greek Life-bubble, it’s a way for them to enter into it without having to join Greek Life,” Thurmond said. “I’ve made tons of friends who aren’t in clubs just through this. I think it’s just a good thing to bring together community. It just feels like the family aspect of Lipscomb that I think so many people are drawn to, and I love seeing that be brought out in Singarama.”
Sailors said he would encourage any students who are interested in directing in the future to apply.
“You never know who’s going to get it,” Sailors said. “You have to take the risk in order to even get in in the first place.”
Thurmond also encouraged students to consider directing Singarama, remarking on the directing process of turning an idea into a 25 minute production.
“Go for it,” Thurmond said. “Be as involved as you can.”
Though Singarama is a competition, Hurd said that having fun is the most important part to her.
“I’m really proud of how hard everyone’s worked, and I know that they’re only going to exceed my expectations as we keep going,” Hurd said. “Regardless of whatever happens, whoever has the most fun truly wins in the end.”
Singarama 2019: “Bring the Family” performances will be at 7 p.m. April 4-6, with a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. Every performance will take place in Collins Alumni Auditorium. Students, parents, alumni and anyone who wants to attend can purchase their tickets to Singarama here.
Photo by Ben Davis
Video by Erin Franklin