By Sarah Carlson, Arts Editor

The high heels Jenna Lucado has to fill look awfully similar to her mother’s.

Lucado, senior integrated marketing communication major from San Antonio, will perform this weekend in a role her mother, Denalyn (Preston) Lucado, did 27 years ago: Sing Song hostess.

“I have wanted to be a hostess since I was a little girl,” Lucado said in an e-mail. “I grew up going to Sing Song. Singing has always been a passion of mine.”

Lucado joins five other hosts and hostesses for “The 50th Show,” the 50th anniversary of Sing Song: Crystal Hughes, junior human communication major from Frisco; Ragan Rhodes, junior interdisciplinary major from Fort Worth; Shannon Bailey, senior management major from Corsicana; Josh Castle, junior music teaching major from Overland Park, Kan.; and Will Smyth, senior youth and family ministry major from Keller.

Lucado said she was shocked when she learned she was chosen as a hostess and the experience was surreal.

“I had already experienced the disappointment from not making hostess last year,” she said, “so I think that made this year even more meaningful.”

Castle spent his freshman and sophomore years as an accompanist during Sing Song and said he thought it would be fun to be on stage singing rather than behind a piano.

The night of callback auditions, Vivi Massey, wife of director of Student Productions, Kendall Massey, called Castle and acted like she would tell him he had not been chosen. But, he said, in the middle of the conversation came a knock on his door and a group of people ready to kidnap the new host.

Castle said he was used to the time-consuming rehearsal schedule, having already worked with the hosts and hostesses for two years; he is only taking 12 hours of coursework to accommodate his 20-25 hour work weeks. Lucado said her class load is light because this is her last semester, and she said she finds it funny that the hours she’s rehearsing add up to more than the hours she’s in class.

The busy schedules make it difficult for some hosts to find time for everything.

“When you’re rehearsing every night, it’s really hard to find time to do homework,” Castle said, “but I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Rehearsals have taken over Lucado’s life, she said, but she couldn’t have asked for a more joyful and encouraging group to work with.

“Though rehearsal times get pretty intense, we as a team try to always remember how blessed we are to even be in this position,” she said. “Also, Kendall, as a director and friend, could not be more kind and uplifting.”

Smyth said learning to balance his homework with the practice schedule has taught him better time-management skills, but the fun times he’s had in rehearsals has made the schedule juggling worthwhile.

“I have learned so much from everyone and have been encouraged by everyone,” Smyth said in an e-mail. “Rehearsals have not only made me a better singer, but a better person. Everyone gets along great on and off stage.

“It’s funny; you’d think we would get annoyed spending six weeks together, but we have become closer and best friends.”

Castle said no two Sing Song productions are alike and this year is different in many ways.

Lucado said the song selection runs the gamut of possibilities, from Gloria Estefan to the Beatles, and from Michael Buble crooning numbers to rap.

“Sing Song is becoming more diverse, appealing to all different tastes in music,” she said.

All three said they have numerous family members and friends coming to see them perform, with Castle’s family coming from Kansas, and the Lucados are using the weekend as an opportunity for a mini-family reunion, she said.

Castle said he isn’t too nervous yet, but he’s sure he’ll have butterflies on opening night. Smyth said he doesn’t get nervous much anymore because he’s been practicing for six weeks.

“I’m more excited to see how God is going to bless the show,” he said. “I just want to give praise to God for all he has done for us and is going to do for us in the show.”

Lucado said she’s nervous for the show, and she said when you spend so many hours working on something, you don’t want to make any mistakes.

“But I really have to keep things in perspective,” she said. “Life will go on if I mess up.”