By Jaci Schneider, Staff Writer

Kara Wilson is directing a bunch of monkeys for Sing Song this year.

At least that’s how it can seem at times, she said, especially when 30 children ages 5 to 12 are looking to her for direction.

Wilson, freshman Bible major from San Antonio, is assistant director of the children’s Sing Song act this year. She and director Lindsey Vanhooser, freshman psychology major from Edmond, Okla., are teaching the children songs and choreography for a Jungle Book medley. The kids, as part of the Silver Screen theme, will play the parts of monkeys and Mowgli, the main character from the movie The Jungle Book. Three Sing Song hosts will accompany them.

Wilson rehearses with the kids once a week for two hours, and they are in their fourth week of practice. The kids are all volunteers: some are professor’s children, some take dance classes at a local studio and some are children who have performed in the past, said Melanie McRay, Sing Song downstage manager and senior children’s ministry major from Houston.

Wilson said she loves the practices. It can be hard to keep all the kids occupied during practice, she said, but it is fun.

“In the middle of practice kids will me ask about snacks,” she said, “but they’re so funny. The 5-year-olds really have no idea what’s going on, but they’re really cute.”

McRay said both directors succeed in keeping the children under control and staying in contact with the parents, which can be hard.

Both McRay and Wilson said they are looking forward to seeing the children perform.

“It’s one of my favorite numbers of the show,” McRay said.

Wilson agreed. “I’m really proud of the kids.”