Every star has their beginning, and for next year’s Tiger Tunes hosts and hostesses, that time is drawing near.
Under the direction of Joey Licklider, manager of the Jones Performing Arts Center (JPAC), and with the assistance of choreographer and senior biology major Grace Whitaker, auditions for the 2010 hosts and hostesses will be held this Monday and Tuesday.
Licklider will be acting as the staff coordinator and producer for a second consecutive year by organizing schedules, rehearsals and overseeing costume and music selections. Assisting Licklider will be Whitaker who can be noted for her work in the Miss OBU pageant and 2009 Tiger Tunes show.
Each year, 40 to 50 students showcase their talents for a panel of staff and faculty judges that will choose the ones to proceed in the process.
“Primarily they will be judged vocally because that is a huge part of Tiger Tunes,” Licklider said. “However, a dance audition, grades, schedule and stage presence will be considered as well.”
The most strenuous part of the auditions will be Monday, according to Whitaker, when each participant will be required to learn a choreographed dance in a group setting and perform a portion of the vocal audition, each under time constraints.
“I am always looking for someone that makes me want to get up and dance and smile,” Whitaker said.
“Choreography is teachable, but when there is just something about that person, the audience will see a performer.”
Also a new “pop quiz” feature was added this year to the auditions under Licklider’s supervision to test the ability of each participant to perform unprepared.
During the vocal auditions on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m., the general public is invited to come and support each participant in JPAC. Each auditioning student has the option of using the musical accompaniment of their choice, however, no A Capella auditions will be accepted on Tuesday.
When contemplating an audition, participants should be aware of the criteria and time commitment being a Tiger Tunes hostess or host would involve. While being a full-time student with an acceptable GPA is a requirement, multiple extra curricular activities and excessive credit hours could hinder a participant’s ability to carry out the duties.
A complete set of criteria, times and sign-up sheets can be found outside Licklider’s office, JPAC 111. The deadline to sign up is today.
By Whitney Crews, Signal Writer
