Handbook for Cast Members--Chapter 4
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A very special "University Singers Look" is an important part of our Show both onstage and offstage. For four decades we’ve been recognized at home and around the world for our fresh, young, contemporary and friendly personality and appearance.
The design and creation of our program content, musical arrangements, choreography, sound, set, and costumes are based on an image of Quality. It is equally important that each of our cast gives the same attention to personal appearance, because the Singers Look is a combination of Costume, attitude, and grooming. At all times your appearance and deportment should add to the Show and detract from it. Anything that could be considered offensive, distracting, or not in the best interest of our overall image can’t be permitted. And since we’re in the public eye before, during, and after every performance, our "class act" must remain consistent.
In order to play your role you have to look the part. Whether you are in the Production Center planning the Show, in rehearsal, or onstage presenting the Show, our traditional Singers Look continues to be one of the most important elements of or role as Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors!
Hair
A neat, natural haircut, well-styled, combed, and groomed
is essential. Avoid extremes in style, length, or coloring.
Appropriate Travel Attire hair is
curled and styled away from the face in a barrette, headband, etc. so that your
face can be seen. Falls may be worn if we are using them in the performance that
day. Plain barrettes or hair ribbons are
permitted for the express purpose of holding the hair away from the face, not as
a decorative addition to your costume. The Singer Look for men generally
calls for a clean shave.
Cosmetics
Makeup for women and men is worn onstage to project a healthy, youthful image. Foundation, blush, eye makeup, and lipstick should compliment your costume, natural complexion, and time-of-day or general character of a specific show. Avoid extremes. Offstage women are expected always to appear in makeup that projects a fresh natural look. Men should never wear makeup offstage.
Fingernails
Clean presentable fingernails are a must. Polish for women, if used, should be clear or flesh tones. Fingernails should always be neatly groomed and trimmed to a modest length.
Jewelry
Onstage only a wedding band or engagement ring is permitted. Any other jewelry will be assigned as a part of your costume. For men an earring is never part of the Singers Look on stage, and only small studs (one each ear) are permitted in travel attire.
Costumes
Specially designed costumes project the Singers Look to our audience. In terms of color, style, and flair costumes are our principal stage dressing. Costumes should be clean and neat at all times. You have a primary responsibility for the appearance of your costume. Never sit in your costume. Wardrobe assistants will launder sets of costumes when necessary. Never try to clean your costume separately. Broken buttons, raveled hems, or stains don’t fit into our fresh, clean Show. If your costume needs repair, tell the wardrobe assistant at an appropriate time. (You may need to put it in writing.)
Shoes
You’ll be responsible for providing and maintaining (always clean and polished) the prescribed shoes that complement your costumes.
Travel Attire
Even offstage we continue to represent Ball State and the Quality Show called University Singers. Because we’re a class act we always travel in style. On the road men wear dress slacks and shoes, a conservative shirt and tie, and a navy-blue blazer. Women wear nice dresses appropriate to the season with complimentary accessories.
Stage Presence
Regardless of where you work or what your role is, anytime you’re involved in a University Singers activity you are “onstage.” Your attitude and performance are direct reflections of the Quality of our Show. And it’s those little things that you don’t always think about that detract from our image: like chewing gum, slouching, being loud, or having a constant frown on your face. Needless to say, the same goes for sloppy eating and drinking, and smoking. We all do our best to make this a “class act.” We ask that you do your part to look and act your best at all times.
Vocal, Instrumental, and Movement Ability
As a condition for your continued membership in University Singers you are responsible for maintaining your “chops,” vocal or instrumental ability and physical agility, fitness and endurance.
Nametags
Because of your talent, dedication, and desire you’ve earned the right to share the Singers Look. You are now part of a tradition and reputation that spans four decades and includes countless talented singers, dancers, instrumentalists, technicians and staff. To signify your role in our cast you’ve been issued a nametag. Wear it with pride!
The University Singers Sound
A simple motto, “we sing songs,” lies at the heart of the process of creating our show. Poets can only recite lyrics; instrumentalists can only play melodies. We combine words and notes into a unique musical creation called Song. Songs were written to sing and in fact they must be sung to be songs!
Every year we consider hundreds and hundreds of songs to
include in our show--songs of faith and laughter and love, pop songs,
childrens’ songs, old songs and new songs, classics and corny novelties, movie
songs and songs from Broadway, fast songs, slow songs, songs in major and minor
keys, memorable favorites in new settings, and the latest hits arranged in the
traditional style. Then we test the songs--choosing, sorting, combining,
arranging and rearranging--to discover those we think the audience will find
particularly interesting or exciting or fun. We rehearse the words and the
notes, searching for the unique message of each song, finding just the right
soloist or ensemble to bring each song to life.
Next we experiment with instrumental accompaniments and staging and choreography to see if we can clarify or enhance the meaning of each of our songs. We add sound and lights and costumes for one last bit of sparkle. At any stage of this process, if a song doesn’t seem to say something this season to the cast, we put it back in the library to be tried again another year.
Finally, we present our hand-picked, top-of-the-line, best-ever selection of songs for the consideration of our audience. The audience, after all, have been the final test for forty years! Every year we hope they'll enjoy our sincere effort to entertain, and every year we say a sincere “thanks for sharing!”
First night of 2000 rehearsals