By Graham Shea
Staff Writer
Smothers Theater bustled with a colorful array of peculiar characters. It’s the time of year Pepperdine puts on its dancing shoes and goes for the gold — Songfest has begun.
“This and our international programs are the two big things that are so special about Pepperdine,” said executive producer and director Sam Parmalee. “Alumni come back, as well as recent graduates and families of faculty and staff. I can’t remember the last time it wasn’t sold out every night.”
Songfest is a long-standing tradition, started in 1973. Each year several different student groups perform their self-choreographed musicals before judges and audience, competing for the coveted Sweepstakes Award.
Many of the judges are celebrities from the entertainment industry, and some have come year after year to enjoy the excitement and raw talent of Songfest.
Among the 19 judges this year is John Ratzenberger, the character Cliff from the TV show Cheers, and voice actor in various Pixar films. Another judge, Mickey Moore, was a child actor in silent films during the 10s and 20s and has gone on to direct and produce other films throughout the years.
The students are judged on five different aspects of their performance, and the group earning the most points overall, minus any penalties, will see their name on the time-honored Sweepstakes Trophy on display at the Student Activities Center.
Songfest is not only a competition, though, it is a heritage. It is tradition that at the end of the show, Pepperdine alumni who have come back to watch are invited up onto the stage with the performers to sing the closing song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Some of them participated in Songfest more than 30 years ago when it began.
“It’s amazing how many people return,” Parmalee said.
Even the faculty and staff have their own performance group, though they do not compete for the trophy. Each of the groups has about two and a half weeks to rehearse before the performance. Most of them have been practicing nightly from 10 p.m. until midnight.
“It’s a real time commitment,” said Nancy Pippin, whose daughter is a participant this year. Pippin has attended every Songfest in the past 21 years. She said she always enjoys the enthusiasm.
Freshman Darryl Pinkus is getting his first taste of Songfest.
“I didn’t expect it to turn out as professional as it is,” he said. “It is my first time ever being on stage in front of an audience. We’re just a bunch of busy students practicing late at night, yet it looks like a professional production. I am very impressed.”
Pinkus’ family is flying in from Texas to see the show.
Parmalee said he has never known anyone who regretted sacrificing the time to participate.
“I’m always really impressed by all the talent,” he said. “It’s interesting to see the people who haven’t really been on stage before and see them do things no one thought they could do.”
In addition to the talent on the stage, all of the music in Songfest is performed live from the orchestra pit. Sheet music had to be found for each of the musical numbers, some of which are very difficult. However, many of the musicians are also long-time patrons of Songfest and continue their own tradition of excellence.
Spirits were high at the dress rehearsal and the show promises not to disappoint.
The groups participating are Sigma Phi Epsilon, Delta Delta Delta, and Gamma Phi Beta, Psi Upsilon and Delta Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Chi and Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Ghkkkkket Sigma and Friends, and the faculty/staff group.
Tapes and DVDs of the performances are available nightly in the Smothers lobby.
Submitted March 25, 2004