By Daniel Johnson-Kim, Editor in Chief

Skunks? Mice? Judges? Oh my.

Sing Song must be upon ACU.

After months of preparation and practice for the myriad of performances that make up the 53rd annual Sing Song 2009, Believe, the students who are part of this year’s show will put on one performance Friday and two more Saturday.

Tom Craig, director of Student productions, said, “Right now I’m excited because all of the wheels are in motion, and the talent this year so far has been great.”

More than 1,500 students will participate in this year’s show as either a host or hostess, co-chair, member of a social club act or class act, as part of the production or video staff or as a member of a student dance team, Craig said. The first show begins at 8 p.m. Friday, and a matinee show will be at 2 p.m. Saturday with a finale at 8 p.m.

Craig said he checked the ticket sales on Wednesday evening and no show had sold out yet, but the sales were ahead of the 2008 show.

Ezra Witt, senior youth and family ministry major from Tulsa, Okla., said Sing Song is unlike any other event he has performed in and is excited about donning an orange jump suit as part of the Frater Sodalis men’s social club act.

“I love Sing Song,” Witt said. “It’s just a time to hang out and just have fun with a show.” Five men’s and women’s social clubs are competing in this year’s show, and five mixed voice acts also are participating. The groups will perform for family, friends and alumni that come to one of the three shows, and a host of judges will rank their performances and give out awards at the end of each performance.

“I would say across the board that the vocals have improved dramatically for our upstage groups, especially for some of the smaller groups,” Craig said.

Although the newly reinstated Trojans men’s social club is part of the show, they will not compete, but will still have an act. One key difference to this year’s show is the placement of the ACU Jazz band on its own visible stage, as opposed to on the floor in front of the stage, like in past years, Craig said.

In addition to the club and class acts, several students will participate as part of a dance team. Milonga Latin Dance, Swing Cats, SHADES and Virtuous African Heritage Sisterhood also will perform.

Erika Goldman, junior elementary education major from Denver, is participating in the Sigma Theta Chi show and said the unity of Sing Song is what drew her to perform.

“I love how everyone can come together and put on a show that has been around for so long and be part of this; it is amazing,” Goldman said.