Members of Greek Life chanted and cheered for their sororities and fraternities at the first night of the Homecoming Talent competition on Monday. Students, parents and alumni were present at the event, which was filled with singing, dancing and acting.
The program started with Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Tau Delta. The Roaring ’20s theme played off the invention of “talkies,” motion pictures with sound, and two silent film actors fought villain Charlie Chaplin to keep their jobs.
An acoustic performance by members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Farmhouse and Alpha Gamma Sigma included a mash-up of “Breakeven” and “Fast Car” by Colbie Caillat.
Sigma Sigma Sigma, Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Nu then took the stage with a Mayan-themed skit titled “La Adventura de Las Mayas.” The Mayan king always steals the queen’s ideas, so she leaves, and the kingdom is invaded by conquistadores who try to steal the coveted Mayan calendar.
The next performance was a mash-up of “Cold Weather” by the Zac Brown Band and “Some Nights” by Fun. Performers from Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Gamma Rho sang a capella.
Next, members of Kappa Delta and Kappa Alpha Order performed “JFK: Werewolf Hunter.” In this performance, John F. Kennedy is forced to send astronauts from NASA to the moon to collect moon rocks. These rocks will save his wife, Jackie, who was bitten by Boris, a Russian spy sent by the Soviets.
“It was so much fun,” said Lauren Haden, Kappa Delta member and skit actress. “The experience of performing in front of over a thousand people in Jesse Hall was exhilarating.”
It took a lot of work and preparation to put on the show, Haden said.
“We have been rehearsing almost every night for the past four or five weeks,” Haden said. “It’s not easy, but in the end you begin to work together so well with each other on stage.”
Three members of Kappa Kappa Gamma then performed an a capella version of “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston.
After a brief intermission, the Homecoming Royalty was presented.
The show then continued with “A Bard’s Tale,” presented by members of Phi Mu, Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Sigma Psi.
The performance told the story of a selfish king whose wife is a witch. Three witch hunters seek her out to prove she’s a witch, but a witch doctor declares her to be a witch. In the end, everyone finds a mate except the jester, who ends up alone.
Mizzou Forte also performed a mash-up, blending rock hits including “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness.
The Homecoming Talent competition judges were introduced after Mizzou Forte’s performance.
Monday night’s show ended with Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Theta. In the skit, rock star Xander Minks falls in love with the mayor’s daughter. Though the mayor is against them being together, the two find love in the end despite their differences.
Kappa Kappa Gamma members Emma Meek and Kelci Dampf said they enjoyed the show.
“I loved it,” Meek said. “My favorite was the last performance.”
Meek and Dampf said though they were not in the show, they contributed to the performance.
“I personally helped with the backdrop,” Dampf said. “Everyone does their part to help with (the production of) the show.”
The Homecoming Talent competition will continue at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets are available at Jesse Hall for each night. There is also a live streaming of the event at The Shack in the MU Student Center and online.