OC’s Homecoming musical to feature classic Disney songs Nov. 5 and 7

Students in OC’s Music Program will perform choral, jazz and steel drum ensembles, duets and solos in “Songs America Sings: Cinderella and Friends” at 8 p.m. each night in Baugh Auditorium.

November 1, 2020

While this year presented Oklahoma Christian University with unique and limited opportunities for music performances, students, employees and alumni can still look forward to the annual Homecoming musical. Whether a limited number of students and employees get to watch in-person or everyone else watches online, “Songs America Sings: Cinderella and Friends” is sure to be one of OC’s most memorable performances. 

The show is comprised of 20 Disney songs that will be performed by a 16-voice ensemble and will also include solos and duets. The ensemble will sing classics like “Someday” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Trashin' the Camp” from “Tarzan” and “Try Everything” from “Zootopia.” OC’s jazz ensemble will perform three numbers, and the steel drum ensemble will perform an arrangement of “Under the Sea.”

Kyle Pullen, OC’s professor of music and choral groups director, served as the director for this year’s musical. He has encouraged the students to focus on creating excellent music for those attending in-person or online.

“I just want people to look forward to great music,” Pullen said. “It will be about the sound and the light and the familiar songs that everybody has seen in the movies. It will be a lot of fun to hear those songs in a different setting rather than on the screen.”

Student Mikayla McKenzie, one of the singers and an officer for OC’s symphonic band, discussed what she thinks students can look forward to and what makes this year’s performance unique.

“I think students can look forward to being brought back to the favorites of their childhood,” McKenzie said. “We’ve all grown up on Disney classics, and students can enjoy reminiscing about their favorite childhood sing-alongs. Previously, we have done shows with plot lines and a set of leads accompanied by supporting actors and an ensemble. This year, everyone gets to shine in their own way, especially since we’re not performing as characters.” 

OC is thrilled to welcome back accomplished alumna Rebekah Bruce Parker as the band conductor for the show. She serves as music director of the traveling Broadway hit show “Mean Girls.”

Due to COVID-19, only 302 seats are available and only to students and OC employees on Nov. 5 and 7. The shows begin at 8 p.m. in Baugh Auditorium. OC will also offer a live stream of the performance both nights, so families, friends and alumni can enjoy the musical talents of students and staff.

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