The cast and crew of “Stop”, one of the three segments in the 51st installment of Singarama, have been working together almost every day and night for over a month.
With only a few days remaining until one of the biggest events on Lipscomb’s campus, the members of “Stop” are anxiously awaiting opening night.
The overall theme of Singarama this year is “Singarama’s On Fire” and the individual segments of the show are titled “Stop,” “Drop” and “Roll.”
The first of the three shows, “Stop,” will be put on by Delta Omega, Delta Xi, Phi Nu, Sigma Omega Sigma, Theta Psi and friends.
“Stop” revolves around Rick and Louis, two crossing guards, who encounter an unexpected theft while on their morning shift. The theft causes the two guards to embark on a twist-filled mission for justice and love.
“Throughout the story, they are going from place to place and finding different clues, trying to figure out who stole from the jewelry store,” show director Makenzie Kanyuh said.
Kanyuh has participated in Singarama all three years that she has been at Lipscomb, but this is the first time she has held the position of director, a position that she says has both its perks and problems.
“I’m just really excited to see it all come together,” Kanyuh said. “As director, it’s so much fun, but it’s really stressful to see it all piece-by-piece and have some holes still in it as you’re a week away. There are always holes when you’re a week away. That’s just the nature of it. Seeing it all come together is what I’m most looking forward to.”
Rick and Louis, the two protagonists, are played by Chandler Montgomery and Jay Klein. The two freshmen, despite this being their first Singarama, have embraced their lead roles.
“I play Louis, and he is a crossing guard who takes his job very seriously, perhaps at times a little too seriously,” Klein said. “He is determined to prove that he can be more than just a simple crossing guard who wants to solve a crime.”
“Rick is the more reserved crossing guard,” Montgomery said. “He’s not really sure about going and finding out this case until he meets Ellie. Louis uses that as an incentive for Rick to keep the mission going, so he can impress Ellie and get the girl.”
Ellie, a female cop and love interest of Rick, is played by senior Abby Freehill. One of the most challenging parts for Freehill so far in preparing for the show has also been one of her favorite parts – keeping a straight face when she shares the stage with the police chief, played by junior Jeru Jorguenson.
“He’s really funny and cracks me up, so I have to make sure I don’t laugh on stage,” Freehill said.
Jorguenson said to keep an eye out for his character as the plot moves on.
“I’m in charge of the cops for a little while, and then, at some point in the show, my character has a twist,” Jorguenson said. “I’m kind of funny for a little bit, but then [my character] becomes a little more serious.”
Freehill’s fellow cops are played by sophomores Caleb Janelle and Cedric Duncan and freshman Reese Lusk. The cops thrive on giving the crossing guards a hard time.
“The cop I play is kind of crazy,” Duncan said. “They’re always dramatic. They make fun of the two crossing guards. We think we’re good at solving problems, but we actually cause more trouble.”
“It’s a really fun position.” Janelle said. “I get to act a fool and make the job of the crossing guards even harder than it should be.”
The cops and the crossing guards alike are all trying to help Victoria, the owner of the jewelry shop, solve the mystery of who stole her jewelry. Victoria is played by junior Carolanne Deaton.
“My character is Victoria, the owner of Burning Love Jewelers.” Deaton said. “She is very regal, very pretentious, and she loves to flirt.”
With the show quickly approaching, the cast has to band together to make it through the grueling final stretch of practices. The thought of winning the Singarama competition will help drive them forward, but the lasting memories that they are making will be what they look back on fondly years down the road.
Singarama will be taking place on April 3-5 in Collins Alumni Auditorium, with show’s nightly at 7:30 and an afternoon show at 2 on Saturday.