Freshmen Ready to Shine in Follies

October 21, 2008

Freshman students at Oklahoma Baptist University will get their first opportunity to showcase their musical, acting, and other performance abilities to their families and OBU upperclassmen on Saturday, Oct. 25, as they participate in the Campus Activities Board's annual variety show, "Freshman Follies." The public is invited to attend the 8 p.m. show in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium.

The show, based on the theme "TGIFollies," is designed specifically as a showcase of freshman talent. It will feature six emcees, five individual acts and two group acts.

"Let's just say that there will be many elements that will bring the audience back to their younger years," said Ashli Williams, senior Campus Activities Board (CAB) member and a co-director of the show. "I think the theme that we are going with for this year's follies will be entertaining for everyone who comes.

CAB held tryouts for freshman students to come and display their various talents in hopes of performing on stage in front of friends and family.

"Students audition in front of CAB, and then each individual CAB member votes for who they would like to see in the show," said Michael Burns, director of residential life and student development, and leader of Campus Activities Board. "We had more than 20 emcees audition, and only six were selected, a difficult choice for CAB. There is a good variety of acts this year."

Follies will be directed by Williams, from Antlers, Okla., and Whitni Butler, a senior from Sapulpa, Okla. Emcees include freshmen Ryan Churchill, Katie Denny, Leslie Fort, Libby Hammons, Clay Henderson and Zach Melton. Freshmen performing in the acts are Hannah Wright, Lauren McHaney, Andrew Harper, Rachel Thomas, Mallory Simpson, as well as members of the groups Funktastic Syncopation and Pomme de Terre.

"There has been a lot of time spent with auditions, scriptwriting and group elements," Williams said, noting the amount of time it takes to produce such a variety show. "The small, detailed things have taken time as well. The majority of CAB will really begin to help when making props and decorating the auditorium. It takes a group effort, for sure."

Follies is the evening highlight of "OBU Family Day," dedicated to parents and families of freshman and new transfer students as an opportunity to visit and tour OBU, as well as meet with professors.