Sing Song is a major part of ACU’s spring semester, but this year’s production could be the biggest in its 55-year history.

Sing Song 2011, “Faves!” will feature 17 competitive acts in addition to the downstage transitional acts performed by hosts and hostesses and accompanied by the ACU Jazz Ensemble.

Tom Craig, director of Sing Song, said because of the sheer amount of Sing Song acts this year the audience will definitely get their money’s worth.

“This is by far the largest Sing Song production that we’ve ever put on,” Craig said. “New for the first time, there will be a Grad School mixed voice group and we’re welcoming back the men of Pi Kappa whom we haven’t seen in several years.”

Andrea Haugen, graduate student from Spring, is a co-director of the Graduate School act and is excited for graduate students to be able to perform in Sing Song once again.

“With only 30 or so participants, we’re definitely a small group. But we figured we would be because of grad school schedules,” Haugen said. “We try to work with everyone on a case-by-case basis by having make up practices for those who can’t make our Wednesday night practices. We wanted everyone to get to be in the act who really wanted to be.”

The theme for the Graduate School’s act will be Mario Brothers, and Haugen promises that the act will feature several guest appearances by a variety of Nintendo characters.

“The name of the show is ‘Hide Your Coins, Hide Your Stars,” Haugen said. “The title gives you a little insight into what our act will be about. We’re going to have a great time.”

The men’s social club Pi Kappa is making its sixth Sing Song appearance in the club’s history. Their last performance was nine years ago in 2002 – winning first place in the men’s division in 2001.

Luke Burnam, junior music major from Mesquite, is directing the club act and said he hopes their presence at Sing Song will give their club some publicity on campus.

“We want to get our name out there and generate interest in the club,” Burnam said. “I don’t know if we’ll continue to do more acts in the immediate future, but for this year it’s all about having fun.”

All songs performed by Sing Song hosts and hostesses were chosen by the public as part of this year’s theme, “Faves!” Craig said he is excited that both the students and audience members had a chance to interact and shape Sing Song this year.

“Every couple of years we try to have a show where there isn’t specific parameters. So this year students will have a chance to plug in their favorite ideas,” Craig said. “The theme ‘Faves!’ plays off the popular concept of your own personal playlist or collection of favorite songs.”

A list of songs chosen as well as hosts, hostesses and co-chairs is available on at acu.edu/singsong.