Ouachita Stories

Nine Ouachita Baptist University groups, 456 participants and more than 21,000 hours of practice culminated into one outstanding Tiger Tunes production, performed last weekend at Jones Performing Arts Center. Audiences were entertained Oct. 6-8 during four shows by the Tiger Tunes 2011 hosts and hostesses, campus groups and organizations and Tiger Blast band. The announcement of EEE Women’s Social Club as the overall winner brought the show to a close Saturday night.

Tiger Tunes is an annual production hosted by the Ouachita Student Foundation to raise thousands of dollars for student scholarships. The show is also set up as a competition among organizations on campus for cash prizes and bragging rights.

EEE Tunes Co-Director Brittney Reynolds, a junior accounting major from Benton, Ark., explained that the idea for EEE’s outer space theme came about in an unusual way.

“Stephanie Morse and I knew that we wanted to be Tiger Tunes directors. We didn't know what our theme would be if we actually got the position, so we would brainstorm about crazy and fun ideas if we were to get the job,” Reynolds said. “Then, about a year ago, I had a dream about being astronauts and aliens for Tunes. I knew that was what we were supposed to be, even if we weren't the directors.”

Morse, a junior accounting major from Benton, Ark., and co-director of the EEE show with Reynolds, said she loves all things Tunes. “I honestly don't know what my favorite aspect of Tiger Tunes is because I love it all: practices, bonding with EEE sisters, fun costumes and makeup and of course the actual performances,” she explained. “Planning the show was a lot of work but definitely one of the best experiences I've ever had. Brittney and I had so much fun choosing music, changing lyrics, choreographing and creating fun costumes. Seeing our show come to life was literally a dream come true!”

The groups competing in Tiger Tunes included: Beta Beta Men’s Social Club as zookeepers, Campus Ministries as professors, Chi Delta Women’s Social Club as truck drivers, Chi Rho Phi Women’s Social Club’s “Lunch Room Days,” EEE Women’s Social Club in outer space, Eta Alpha Omega Men’s Social Club hosting the “Eta Clock News,” the freshmen class on the Oregon Trail, Kappa Chi Men’s Social Club as nerds and Tri Chi Women’s Social Club as the “Real Housewives of Clark County.”

The hosts and hostesses kept the audience entertained between group performances with music from many genres and time periods. Hosts and hostesses auditioned in February, began planning their show in the spring and started practicing before school began in August. Hours of practice went into their show, but for the hosts and hostesses it was worth it.

This year’s hosts and hostesses included: Stephanie Batsel, a senior music major from Mansfield, Texas; Paul Huenefeld, III, a senior church music major from Heber Springs, Ark.; Joseph Hurst, a sophomore music major from Morrilton, Ark.; Alison Johnson, a junior musical theatre major from Shreveport, La.; Alexis Pace, a junior musical theatre major from Sugar Land, Texas; Ryan Strebeck, a junior biology major from Texarkana, Ark.; and Kiley Wright, a junior biology major from Glenwood, Ark.

“Tiger Tunes was one of the most fun things that I've ever participated in, and just the fact that I know that a Ouachita student is going to receive financial aid made it all worthwhile,” said host Paul Huenefeld.

“My favorite thing about being a host was the opportunity to meet and work with some amazingly talented students. We started out as seven Tiger Tunes hosts and hostesses, but grew into best friends in the midst of it all,” said Ryan Strebeck. “Once you experience Tiger Tunes, you realize it is so much more than just a show. I am so blessed to have had a part in it.”

The overall winner of Tiger Tunes 2011 was the women of EEE, with the men of Kappa Chi placing second, and the men and women of Campus Ministries in third. The congeniality award, given by the members of OSF was presented to the men and women of Campus Ministries and the people’s choice award went to the women of Tri Chi.

Awards for each of the five criteria (costume, choreography, musicality, entertainment value, and theme and lyric) were announced after each of the first three performances. Thursday night’s winners were:  Kappa Chi for theme and lyric, Eta Alpha Omega for musicality and EEE for costume, choreography, and entertainment value. Friday night EEE swept the show and won all five awards. Saturday’s 5 p.m. show winners were: EEE for costume and theme and lyric, Tri Chi for choreography and Eta Alpha Omega for musicality and entertainment value.

The online version of The Signal student newspaper also produced a live webcast of the show and will post a video of the full show in the weeks following. To view the video and other Tunes coverage, visit www.obusignal.com.

By Nicci Fillinger