31 Spring Sing “I just loved getting to act again with such an amazing group of people,” Limburg said. “There was just so much enthusiasm, and the energy and the vibes being onstage with such an amazing group of people . . . I made so many different connections just through the show, and it was an incredible environment to get to be in.” Regardless of victory, participants at every level were honored to pay homage to their clubs’ roots and create new bonds between groups that would not have collaborated otherwise. Sophomore Bonnie Permenter’s favorite part of Spring Sing was growing close to her castmates in “Legend Has It,” a collaboration between members of women’s social clubs Delta Nu and Chi Omega Pi and men’s social club ROME, based on 1994 Sweepstakes winner “Take This Cork and Pop It.” “It’s a vulnerable thing to dance in front of people and to sing, so you have to get close to [your castmates],” Permenter said. “Getting to know those people on a really human level was really something I was so blessed with, and that led to . . . lifelong friendships and a love for the school and a love for the arts.” Permenter described the joys of Jersey Night, an annual dress rehearsal that allowed each group to watch their friends from other clubs perform in their club jerseys. “There’s no animosity towards anyone,” Permenter said. “There’s no cliques; there’s no hatefulness towards other clubs. You’re one big family performing; you’re all exhausted, and you’re all in it together, and it was so beautiful to see . . . how human it all was to be with those people.” This sense of community was what inspired Permenter to show an interest in representing Delta Nu as their Spring Sing 2025 director. “I wouldn’t be a director if I hadn’t enjoyed my time . . . seeing the heart that people put into it,” Permenter said. As a performer, she had a responsibility to be present for rehearsals and give her all to the song and dance of the show for one semester. As a director, Permenter didn’t anticipate the work that went into Spring Sing during the fall semester as well. “I have such a new respect for our directors from last year and all the directors in another club because of how much work really goes into it that I was not expecting,” Permenter said. At the end of the day, Spring Sing was never about the competition, the trophy or the prestige. Participants in the show overwhelmingly emerged with new friendships, admiration for their classmates and a newfound appreciation for the rewarding toil of performing arts. “Golden” allowed students to experience this on a large scale. Written by Cassidy Tucker Harding’s 100th year was also marked by the 50th Spring Sing production, which lasted from March 28–30, 2024. This milestone was reflected in the year’s theme: “Golden.” Hosts, hostesses and ensemble members appeared in various dazzling black-and-gold costumes, which culminated in an energetic and golden finale performance. “Golden” also served as a tribute to previous winning Spring Sing shows. Senior Adele Duncan co-directed the winning number, men’s social club TNT’s and women’s social club Zeta Rho’s “Hooked on a Reeling,” which was based on their 2006 show “Rumble in the Jungle.” She faced unique challenges in preparing for the show as she was not appointed as a director until November when a previous director transferred from the University. “I kind of went into it a little blind of what my exact role would look like,” Duncan said. Her role was further complicated when she was asked to take charge of making the 207 fish and barracuda costumes used in the show. “It took a village,” Duncan said. “With sewing, nobody really knows how to sew with a sewing machine, and you’re limited to how many sewing machines [you have]. That was definitely the biggest deficit—the lack of sewing machines and knowing how to sew—and that’s where I had to step up.” These were not the only trials during the preparation. Duncan described the disappointment her group experienced when a prop wall, standing about 15 feet tall, had to be cut from the show. “You put in all this time and energy for something for it to get taken away, but I have absolutely no complaints about the people in the show and the attitudes they have,” Duncan said. “Everything about the people [was] phenomenal—and the other directors.” Duncan also organized “secret practices” for the freshmen during which they watched historic past Spring Sing performances. She called this “the game changer in the attitudes and the camaraderie” of their show. “They understood why we were doing this, and it wasn’t just to learn how to dance and learn how to sing,” Duncan said. “It was to be with one another and to celebrate that.” Sophomore Rachel Limburg participated in the collaboration between men’s social club Chi Sigma Alpha, women’s social clubs Iota Chi and Regina and friends based on their 1995 show “Don’t Rock the Boat, Oar Else.” Her experience as a large-part Viking was time-consuming yet rewarding. Golden Moments Spring Sing 2024 pays homage to 50 years of iconic performances.
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