Having portrayed the Statue of Liberty and a Girl Scout during previous Step Sing competitions, Samford University junior Reagan Reasonover beams about this year’s upcoming tribute to another female American icon.
The theme of that performance remains a closely guarded secret until Thursday, Jan. 29, opening night for the 76th edition of the university’s beloved student musical showcase. With 18 student groups performing inside the sold-out Wright Center, Step Sing will be livestreamed for three consecutive evenings, drawing an online audience expected to surpass 70,000.
WATCH: Nightly livestreams Thursday, Friday and Saturday (7 p.m. Central)
For Reasonover, the event was a highlight even before she came to college.
“Growing up I did competitive cheer and color guard, so I loved performing,” Reasonover said. “My senior year of high school, once I decided to go to Samford, I livestreamed Step Sing and knew I wanted to be a part of it.”
The nursing major from Texas is a director for Kappa Delta’s show, planning for which began last September. “It’s a 180 from last year’s show,” Reasonover said. “All the intensity around preparing the choreography and music has been really fun.”
Paxton Wray, a freshman majoring in exercise science, will be experiencing his first Step Sing as a performer for Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.
The Russellville, Alabama, native joked that he and his friends “can’t dance at all,” yet during early rehearsals they wound up on the front row for one of the trickiest pieces of choreography.
“After about 30 minutes we were moved to the back,” he said.
This marks the third Step Sing for Caroline Lewis of the Independent Ladies show.
A senior psychology major and first-year Masters of Social Work student from Olive Branch, Mississippi, Lewis carries special memories from her Step Sing debut in 2023.
“I met my best friend there and we became super close,” she said.
That was the year Independent Ladies performed as coffee cups, apropos for members staying caffeinated during a month of rigorous practices leading up to Step Sing.
“It’s definitely intense, but it's worth it,” Lewis said. “It's fun, because you get to spend every night with close friends and doing this awesome thing.”
GIVE: Support the Step Sing Endowed Scholarship
Step Sing continues to be one of Samford's most popular traditions, drawing an expanding audience that includes prospective students, employees, the Birmingham community and alumni worldwide.
It is organized by students, including musical arrangement, choreography and costume design. Step Sing has been held inside Samford’s Wright Center since 1976, and its beginnings trace back to 1951, when it was a sing-along on the steps of Renfroe Hall at the Howard College East Lake Campus.
In 2020, the Step Sing Endowed Scholarship was created, with all participants with at least one undergraduate semester remaining eligible to receive funds.
Step Sing Watch Parties
The Samford University Alumni Association invites alumni and friends of Samford to join us for Step Sing watch parties.
Campus watch party (register)
Saturday, Jan. 31 (6:30 p.m. Central)
Bring friends and enjoy watching the livestream alongside fellow Bulldogs. There will be refreshments, Step Sing memorabilia and more.
Atlanta watch party (purchase tickets)
Saturday, Jan. 31: The Springs Cinema, 8 p.m. Eastern
Huntsville watch party (register)
Saturday, Jan. 31: Home of Laura and Ted Satcher, 6:30 p.m. Central
Montgomery watch party (register)
Saturday, Jan. 31: Central Restaurant, 7 p.m. Central
Nashville watch party (purchase tickets)
Saturday, Jan. 31: Regal Cinema-Green Hills, 7 p.m. Central
Raleigh watch party (register)
Saturday, Jan 31: Home of Amanda Cooley, 7:30 p.m. Eastern
