Sing Song, which has been delayed until April 22-24 at the Paramount Theatre, will undergo major changes in 2021 to follow health and safety guidelines due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“These decisions were made with thinking safety in mind for our students,” said Caddie Coupe, director of student activities and organizations. “We want to make sure every part of the Sing Song process is thinking about safeguarding our students every step along the way.”
A minimum of eight and a maximum of 16 participants will be allowed in each act. This max number pales in comparison to 2020 when as many as 100 were allowed. Directors are not included in this total.
Acts will be permitted to have four additional alternatives that can replace other members of the acts on any given performance.
“I think we are going to try to allow two freshmen acts, as we have in the past,” said Coupe. “It really depends on if the freshman class step up and become directors for their act.”
While freshmen will be allowed up to two acts, sophomores, juniors and seniors will be restricted to just one.
In addition to limited capacity amongst groups, no one will be allowed to participate in more than one act to allow as many people to participate as possible.
Rehearsal time limits are also being implemented to avoid extended hours of close contact. Acts are permitted to rehearse only six hours a week, and masks are required.
“We really want to make sure we are keeping our students safe,” Coupe said. “Cutting back the hours is a way to make sure we control that area.”
Sing Song will also strip choreography as a judged category because of the smaller acts. Instead all acts will be judged on vocals, entertainment and costume. There will be no sets or large props allowed.
All acts will be socially-distanced on choir risers with a director in front of them, and Coupe is hopeful that the university will sell tickets for a limited attendance in April.
“The Paramount already has a socially-distanced ticketing system that they’ve used successfully for several movies in the fall,” Coupe said. “We’re looking at anywhere from 250-300 visitors per show.”
