Everyone begins to take their seat, putting their phones away after posting a boomerang of the Variety Show pamphlet on their Instagram story (or was that just me?). The lights dim, and a countdown is placed on both screens above the stage. The 22nd annual Variety Show is about to begin.
The Variety Show is arguably one of the most popular and attended events that the Student Activity Council (SAC) hosts each year. I think it goes without saying that they have learned over the years how to perfect the craft of hosting a good show.
With each of the performances on stage comes the performers’ energy of wanting to win. This is one of the reasons this is such a popular event: the competition leads to incredible performances. Each group who performs has prepared for hours upon hours, for weeks in a row, in an attempt to get every step in sync and every movement mastered.
Through the years, the Variety Show has been predominantly Greek groups. Although the audience loves seeing them perform each year as they do a phenomenal job, there began to be a call for something more. The audience wants more “variety” in the show, and this year, it was given to them.
This year’s Variety Show has contained more non-Greek contestants than ever before. This allowed a new excitement to be fostered even leading up to the event. After feeling under our seats for a bottle of Nyquil at the words of the host (or was that just me again?), the curtains began to lift for the first act.
Again and again, each group leaves the audience applauding at the sheer talent and hard work the performers clearly put into their acts. Though each group was applauded heavily, Kappa Delta’s performance, in particular, stood out. Opening with Alice — from Alice in Wonderland — being lowered from the ceiling on a cord to the stage, the performance took a creative spin in the telling of the familiar story. Through incredible costumes (the Mad Hatter won the best costume for the night!) and interchanging scenes of choreographed dance, Kappa Delta showcased work that only hours of practice and dedication could achieve. Their hard work paid off as they walked away with first place for the Variety Show for 2019.
“Before you go on stage you are so nervous, but as soon as you get out there and do that first dance, all of it is gone,” said Rachel Durham, a sophomore elementary education major and member of Kappa Delta. “You just are having so much fun, dancing out there with all of your sisters having a great time and doing your best. When I did my dance and left the stage, I could not wait to go back on for the finale because this is what we worked for and really, in the end, it was just about having fun and creating a bonding experience.”
Riley Gray, a sophomore athletic training major and also a member of Kappa Delta, referred back to how Kappa Delta practiced. “We were pretty ahead of schedule,” said Gray. “We were really good to have our individual dances and group dances memorized. So it was nice to know that we knew the entire dance 2 weeks before spring break. Coming back from spring break was just about going over it, cleaning it up and making it sharp.”
Alpha Psi Omega gave the audience the most laughs by highlighting the emotions and thoughts of what almost everyone experiences when watching High School Musical and highlighting various inside jokes Union students have together (shout-out to email spam attack and copyright issues).
Lambda Chi Alpha left the audience fan-girling as three boy bands faced off to win “total boy band fame.” The small group You Say showcased a beautiful dance to a popular song reminding us of who we are in Christ. With these performers and many more, it was a very entertaining night with groups who have an immense amount of talent.
“This was my first V Show, and I was so impressed with all of the hard work and practice that goes into each act. Everyone did such a great job and it was so entertaining,” said Juliana White, a sophomore TESOL major.
As everyone left the Carl Perkins Civic Center, audience members exchanged comments on the acts they had watched, which were their favorite and who they thought should have won. Phones were out, sending congratulating texts to friends who were in the show on a job well done. Parents, friends, brothers and sisters all left proud of those they had come to support. And they should be proud. The amount of talent presented in the show along with all the behind-the-scenes work that goes on to make it come together is impressive.
This year’s show was memorable not only for the quality of performances but also for the extent of variety among group performances. Going forward, I think it is safe to anticipate even greater variety in years to come. Everyone has an opportunity to showcase their talent in this event, Greeks and non-Greeks alike. Because this Variety Show has had the most contestants than ever before, this might cause others to then feel more inclined to try out, allowing the Variety Show to continue to grow in its diverse nature that so many audience members are anticipating.
The individuals and groups who received awards at the end of the night include: Eli Creasy, Best Director; Shelby Morris, Best Character; Zeta, Best Music; Zeta, Best Choreography; You Say, Best Song Choice; Tamara Friesen, Spirit of V Show; ATO, Best Small Group; and Kappa Delta, Best Large Group.
Photo by Joey Echeverria
