By Tanner Anderson, Page Editor
Some people learn to run before they can walk; they decide to dive in headfirst right into a challenge no matter how shallow the water may be. Others pursue a dream with conviction, passion and fervor until their goal is met. Two of this year’s six Sing Song hosts and hostesses used these two methods with great success. Donovan Plummer refers to himself as being a shower singer. He never joined a choir, never did theatre and did not sing in any public setting outside of church, until now. Now Plummer has been preparing to entertain thousands of students, alumni and doting parents as one of this year’s Sing Song hosts.
“I was the most shocked person. I thought they had made a mistake,” Plummer said. “I give all the credit to my accompanist Adrian Chew; he helped me lighten and loosen up.”
During the second audition, Plummer said the sight reading and choreography gave him some trouble but instead of getting flustered, he kept his demeanor and decided to have fun and be himself throughout the audition.
“What fueled me was adrenaline. It was a fight or flight situation, and I always choose the fight,” Plummer said.
Jennifer Rasco, senior elementary education major from Abilene, has a slightly different story. Rasco grew up in Abilene, two blocks away from ACU, and attended many Sing Song performances. She has been involved with singing and acting since a young age. Her parents and older brother, Jeffrey Rasco, attended ACU; Jeffrey was one of the Sing Song hosts in 2004.
“I grew up watching my brother as a host, and after that, I’ve always wanted to be a hostess; that was my dream,” Rasco said. “I felt a little added pressure since I was a senior, but I let go of all my insecurities and doubts when I went on stage to the audition.”
Moody Coliseum has seen practices, lots of them, and right now the six members who make up the host and hostess group are about to command the stage after several weeks of rehearsing vocals and choreography, while attempting to balance school and their social lives. A former high school football player, Plummer said he was used to long gritty practices and he assumed he could fulfill his skills as a host in the same “grit your teeth and bear it” fashion.
“I had no idea how draining singing could be. I also didn’t know how emotionally involved I would become in the lives of five other people, and I thank God for the experience,” he said. “I’ve never been around such a musically talented group.”
Even seasoned veterans, such as Rasco who directed Sigma Theta Chi to a first place club performance two years ago, had to mentally prepare for her hostess’ responsibilities.
“I always knew it would take a lot of time and energy, but every step of the way has been a great experience,” she said. “All of the practices and rehearsals have kept me busy, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Beside being a senior and a host of Sing Song, Plummer is the president of College Democrats, involved in Essence of Ebony and has begun a Wednesday night devotional, titled HIGHways, that meets at 9 p.m. in The Grove’s clubhouse.
Rasco has a busy calendar as well. Besides being a member of Sigma Theta Chi, Rasco devotes her time to her fourth grade class that she began student teaching this semester.
“I’ve been amazed at the talent that everyone has, from the hosts and hostesses to our vocal and dance coaches. I’ve grown and have learned so much from them. I want to thank them for this whole experience,” Rasco said. “I’ve enjoyed it 100 percent. It’s been a huge part of my college career, and whenever I think of ACU, I think of Sing Song and all the memories that I will take with me.”
