Union’s Student Activities Council is making modifications to the annual Variety Show to encourage non-Greek participation and to enforce stricter copyright regulations.
Variety Show is student-created and student-led tradition at Union.
The 17-year-old show features numerous groups from around campus who debut themed acts to entertain the audience and compete against each other.
Last year’s show saw changes in the addition of student hosts to the show, a tradition that Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Engagement Jared Dauenhauer hopes will be carried on for as long as the show continues.
This year, audiences and participants can expect two big changes to the show.
“SAC is focusing time and energy on independents putting a large group act together, and there will be stricter regulations on what songs, characters and content each act can have,” Dauenhauer said.
He said Greek organizations are by far the majority participants in the show, and SAC hopes to foster a show that encourages a larger portion of the student body to participate.
SAC will not financially support this group or lead the independent group.
However, SAC is working to set up this group with the proper leadership and infrastructure to participate in this year’s show and future years to come.
Also affecting participants in this year’s show: stricter copyright regulations.
“Larger copyright firms are really cracking down on student productions across the nation for using their material.
“The specific focus of these infringements focus on the illegal use of copyright characters (e.g. Superman) and largely music from Broadway musicals,” said Dauenhauer.
“This will be a huge change for Variety Show since so many of our groups retell the stories of famous musicals and use famous characters.”
Last year our themes included “Phantom of the Opera” and “Annie.”
Themes and musical selections from productions like last year’s will not be allowed in the future.
Overall, Dauenhauer believes that both of these changes will increase the quality of the show.
As the show continues to attract more students the audience will begin to see more and more the “variety” of the show.
“More groups equal more creative ideas coming to life on stage,” said Amiee Brassart , SAC president.
“I also believe that the theme and music limitations will stimulate groups to push their creativity to the next level,” Brassart said.
“Variety Show is ultimately about story-telling and world-creating. Students will now have to push themselves to come up with more original material.”
Variety Show will take place May 3, 2014, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in downtown Jackson.
