By Scott Jennings

The Sing Song dress rehearsal Thursday wasn’t just for members of the ACU or Abilene communities. Children and adults from all over the state witnessed the show before the weekend audiences.

Nonprofit organizations such as Treadaway Kids, Educational Talent Search, a local organization that helps kids from sixth through 12th grade prepare for and enroll in college, Hendrick Home for Children and ACU for the International Rescue Committee plan to bus, carpool and chauffeured groups to see the show, as did several churches in and around Abilene.

Some groups went out of their way to experience Sing Song. Churches such as Granbury and Hunstville Churches of Christ saw this as a great opportunity for children to experience ACU student life and a fantastic show; some churches traveled from as far away as Dallas.

Treadaway Kids brought 50 students along with their 55 student buddies; other groups varied in size from about 25 to 75.

Treadaway Kids Director Samantha Manski said Sing Song will serve as this week’s activity for the kids.

As practiced in previous years, organizations interested in bringing groups contacted Student Productions to find out about the show.

Rachel Smith, senior art education major from Richardson and co-chair of Sing Song, then coordinated their attendance.

“We usually have this many groups come every year,” Smith said. “We love having the Abilene community come to our shows.”