After last weekend's chaos related to the wild Halloween celebrations, UW-Madison students may be searching for something less frenzied and perhaps more entertaining for the upcoming weekend. Luckily, the Wisconsin Singers, a collegiate song and dance group, has a delightful surprise in store for these worn out students.
The Wisconsin Singers will celebrate its 35th anniversary with energetic performances Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Wisconsin Union Theatre.
The Wisconsin Singers is a student organization that performs for approximately 50,000 people a year throughout the Midwest. Popular music is incorporated into these performances with the accompaniment of singing, dancing, acting and humor.
According to Megan Whitty, UW-Madison senior and public relations and marketing director of the Wisconsin Singers, the group began under the Wisconsin Alumni Association in 1967, and it eventually became affiliated with the UW-Madison School of Music. More recently, the group became independent and remains a non-profit organization.
According to Whitty, the Wisconsin Singers remains unique because no other collegiate program of this kind exists in the nation.
The group is currently comprised of 28 members'16 singers and dancers, a nine-piece band and three technicians.
The Wisconsin Singers is composed entirely of full-time UW-Madison students, and with the exception of director Robin Whitty, is entirely student-run.
Robin Whitty has been involved with the Wisconsin Singers for 13 years. After becoming a singer/dancer during her junior and senior years at UW-Madison, she decided to continue her involvement in the program.
\It's a great outreach program ... The quality of the shows represents the quality of the education at UW-Madison,"" Whitty said.
In addition to Whitty, the group receives professional support for choreography, musical arrangement and costume design.
In order to become a member of the Wisconsin Singers, one must be a full-time UW-Madison student. According to Robin Whitty, between 100 and 200 people usually try out each May.
""No experience is required,"" she said.
Josh Gohlke, UW-Madison sophomore and company manager of the Wisconsin Singers, is performing as a singer/dancer with the group for his second year.
According to Gohlke, the group rehearses on Sundays for seven hours and spends the majority of performance weekends rehearsing together.
""We're pretty close as a group, so we usually hang out together during the week, too,"" Gohlke said. ""My favorite part about being a member is that I get to sing, dance and act to modern music.""
According to Megan Whitty, the performances ""are kind of like Broadway shows."" Each show has a specific theme. This year's theme, ""Encore! Encore!,"" will involve popular songs from the last 35 years.
In addition to enjoying a diverse range of music and humorous skits, audience members can anticipate entertainment from five local high schools and three Wisconsin Singers alumni during this weekend's performances.
Tickets to the performances are available at the Wisconsin Union Box Office or by calling 262-2201. Prices for students and seniors are $8 in advance or $10 at the door, and $14 in advance for adults or $16 at the door.
""I guarantee that anyone who goes will have a great time,"" Robin Whitty said.
