The double gyms utilized in previous years to contain Sing Song acts before they hit the Moody Coliseum stage have been rendered inaccessible because of construction on the Royce and Pam Money Recreation and Wellness Center – but the show will go on.
Instead of housing the participants in double gyms this year, Tom Craig, director of student productions, said the acts will rotate between Cullen Auditorium and a large tent erected outside on the north side of Moody.
Most acts will start the show in the tent, then move to Cullen Auditorium to warm up before performing in Moody. The tent never will contain all the Sing Song acts at once, Craig said. While the rotation differs from previous years, Craig said he was confident that practice will make perfect.
“With a little bit of practice, it will run like clockwork,” Craig said.
And according to Wednesday’s dress rehearsal, it did. Craig commended the acts on getting where they needed to go in a timely manner.
The outside tent, however, does not provide the same luxuries as the indoor gyms.
“Well, I wish they had floors. My allergies are acting up because of the grass, so I guess I’m not fond of the tent,” said Linley Riediger, senior biochemistry major from Abilene.
Other students also said they find the tent inconvenient.
“I don’t like it. I feel like a barn animal,” said Whitney Herrington, graduate social work major from Weatherford.
Colin Barnard, senior political science major from Washington, D.C., and director of the Gamma Sigma Phi act, said the tent doesn’t allow as much space for fun and games as the gyms did, but he said he understands the necessity of it.
“ACU is doing the best they can,” Barnard said. “It’s ok if we don’t have space to do all the little things. The Sing Song performance is the most important part, and we still have Moody for that.”
Craig said they also made additional arrangements to the concourse to help store props, so they wouldn’t go back and forth from the tent to the stage. While construction is presenting challenges for this year’s show, Craig said the wait will be worthwhile when construction is completed next year.
“It’s one of those years we’ll all have favorite stories when it’s done,” Craig said. “And we look forward to next year when we have new facilities to take advantage of.”
