On the verge of her fourth Step Sing competition, Samford University senior Lilly Carroll relishes the fusion of song, dance and silliness that makes the three-night event “chaotic fun.”
Freshman Lauren Parker, about to take the stage for the first time, grew to love Step Sing while watching two older sisters participate. “It’s amazing seeing the groups put it all out there.”
Anticipation has never soared higher for Step Sing as one of Samford’s most cherished traditions ramps up for its 75th anniversary. The student-led production runs Thursday, Jan. 30 through the sweepstakes award show on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Performed in front of sold-out crowds at the Wright Center, Step Sing projects to be streamed by more than 60,000 viewers.
WATCH: Nightly livestreams Thursday, Friday and Saturday (7 p.m. Central)
Groups have been practicing daily for the past month, a crash course in choreography and set maneuvering for teams that often exceed 70 students.
“I love it when the directors give everybody a number, and they’re like, ‘Get ready. Drum roll. We’re going to send out the formation!’ And then we all go to our spots,” said Carroll, a psychology major from Knoxville, Tennessee, and member of Independent Ladies.
Collin Doherty, a senior journalism/mass communication major from Dothan, Alabama, wasn’t aware of Step Sing when he enrolled four years ago. After a recruiting pitch from seniors led him to join the Dudes-A-Plenty group, Step Sing has become an annual highlight.
“It’s always my favorite thing to come back to campus in January and practice with a lot of people I don’t really get to see much the rest of the year,” Doherty said. “This month is always very busy, but I enjoy it.”
For directors, the Step Sing preparation runs virtually year-round—the conclusion of one sweepstakes show signaling the start of brainstorming for the next competition. “It starts with a bunch of ideas coming to the table,” Doherty said. “A lot of them are dumb and will never fly, but you just put everything out there, and then slowly, it narrows down. We develop several themes just to figure out which is going to actually play out on stage.”
Parker, an elementary education major from Mobile, Alabama, and a member of Freshman Girls, is excited her older sisters will be cheering from the audience.
“I’ve watched it for years and years and years,” she said. “When it gets cranking, especially on sweepstakes night, everyone’s going crazy, and it’s such an awesome environment to be in that moment.”
All participants with at least one undergraduate semester remaining are eligible to receive funds from the Step Sing Endowed Scholarship, an award launched in 2020 that can be pivotal as students aim to complete their degrees.
GIVE: Support the Step Sing Endowed Scholarship
Step Sing began in 1951 as a sing-along on the steps of Renfroe Hall at the Howard College East Lake campus. Initially staged each semester, it became an annual event during the late ’50s, around the time Howard College relocated to its current campus on Lakeshore Drive. Costumes and props were soon added, and in 1967, each group began selecting a theme for its performance.
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