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Monday, April 16, 2007 12:16 AM CDT
A backstage look at Greek Sing 2007
56th annual event at EIU kicks off Greek Week
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Kristen Wilson made sure her “brides’ maids” were lined up and not psyched out before they took the stage Sunday afternoon for the Eastern Illinois University Greek Sing competition.
As director of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority singing group, it was the senior’s mission to make sure her group looked pretty in the teal dresses and black high heels. Alpha Gamma was readying to sing a rendition of wedding songs much like those from the movie “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”
The wedding connection was part of the show; Wilson was just leading her sisters in the singing competition as she nears the end of her collegiate career.
“I’m a senior, so I decided it was time to step up. And I’m president of the sorority,” Wilson said as she adjusted her veil before stepping up to the front of the line.
Wilson had all her gals on the same page though some maids whispered their gowns were mint not teal. And one Alpha Gamma singer seemed to take the old show biz line, “Break a leg” literally before Sunday’s show. She was wearing a brace on her lower leg and performed like a true trouper.
But the Alpha Gamma group was in tune and on the mark with its wedding medley. They took first place among the sororities. You might say they captured the golden ring.
Other sororities gaining honors during the 56th Annual Greek Sing were Alpha Phi with a second-place finish, Sigma Kappa, capturing third, and Sigma Sigma Sigma with fourth among the women taking stage. The Greek Sing was one of the opening events for Greek Week 2007 at the university.
The men of Sigma Phi Epsilon, under the direction of Matt Gidcumb, gained top honors among fraternity groups Sunday with their performance of some songs by Simon and Garfunkel. Second place went to Sigma Nu, third to Lambda Chi Alpha and fourth to Delta Tau Delta.
Greek Sing is about joining together to get the right sound, and also provide entertainment to the crowd in Lantz Gym. It is more than performing before other sororities and fraternities. It also becomes a matter of family pride with many parents and grandparents in the audience each year.
“We’ve been practicing since spring break. We’ve put in about three to four hours per week,” said Lambda Chi Alpha group director Andrew Gahan as he led the singers down the corridor backstage after a few minutes of last-minute practice time in one of several racketball courts in the lower level of Lantz. “And we have our parents here. It is parents’ weekend for our fraternity. You really have to care about this a lot to be here.”
Lambda Chi did capture the audience with their rendition of “Drops of Jupiter,” that topped the music charts a few years ago. It was one of many moments when one of the groups was in the zone.
Other singing groups went back to rock classics like Elton John’s “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer,” two of the songs performed by Delta Zeta Sorority.
“We wanted a variety of songs. “Rocket Man” is more upbeat and the other two like “Tiny Dancer” are crowd favorites,” said Michelle Bosco, Delta Zeta’s music director.
Color and theater was part of the scheme for the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority singers. They were wearing hats and red feather boas for their performance of tunes from the musical “Chicago.” One girl was carefully adjusting her high heels while others tried to control their nerves before the moment of truth.
“Yes, the costumes bring attention to more than the vocals. And you can express yourself and tell a story on stage,” said Danyelle Parker, a freshman helping direct the Alpha Sigma Alpha group. “I was in musicals in high school. I really love it!”
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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CLICK TO ENLARGE
 Eric Hiltner (JG/T-C)
Eastern's Alpha Gamma Delta sorority performs during the 65th annual Greek Sing competition in Lantz Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Alpha Gams received first place by singing wedding-themed songs.
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Nancy wrote on Apr 19, 2007 12:47 AM: