CASA - the contemporary a cappella society - All Night Yahtzee Headed To NYC

All Night Yahtzee Headed To NYC

Written by Stuart Spencer

Thursday, 30 March 2006

photo by Jason Ardell

WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- If you asked anyone in the 500+ crowd at the ICCA South Region Semifinals, Saturday March 25 at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC their opinion of the judges’ decisions, the opinions would probably range from complete approval to total disagreement. The bipolar opinions are not a matter of questionable judging…but more that the competition was so balanced and even, that one off step in the choreography or one breath in the wrong place might have meant the difference between a victory and a 5th place finish.

The show featured five high finishers from the Southern quarterfinal rounds, as well as an ICHSA competitor from George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, FL, the Diamond Dozen. The sharply dressed ladies from the Diamond Dozen opened the show with a cool set, highlighted by TV Show medley (remember Heathcliff the cat?).

The college competition was led off by the Grains of Time from North Carolina State University. The seven man group brought the house to its feet with its “Oh What a Night/Ladies’ Night” medley. They were followed by the UNC Greensboro Spartones, whose powerful performance of “Cathedrals”, featuring Chris Juengel, was an emotional highlight of the evening. The Spartones also took home the best choreography award for “I Feel Fine”.

The second act opened with All Night Yahtzee from Florida State University. Highlights from their set included the performance of Catherine Lauer on “Ironic” (which took home best solo) and “Chariot”. The Georgia Tech Sympathetic Vibrations followed with a crowd pleasing set, including a hilarious “Margaritaville/Coconut” medley.

The competition concluded with the UNC Greensboro Sapphires. The Sapphires’ stunning set, which included a passionate “Fever” and an angry “Rearranged”, took home 2 awards. Meg Lowther received best arrangement for “Rearranged” and Blair Baldwin was awarded for her vocal percussion.

During the judges’ deliberations, the anxious audience was entertained by the host group, Innuendo. The mixed group from Wake Forest was an exceptional host and were “doin’ it and doin’ it and doin’ it well” all evening. Special mention is due the group for its rendition of “Po’ Folks”, which featured special a cappella and ICCA lyrics.

The last performance of the evening featured a large group of VPists and beat boxers from all the groups and audience and a hysterical ICCA rap from Innuendo’s Blake Brandes.

In the end, the judges made a very tough decision and the winners were announced by Dave Brown, the substitute ICCA South Producer. Third Place was given to the UNCG Spartones, and their sister group, the UNCG Sapphires, took second place. The winner, who advance to compete in the international finals at Lincoln Center in NYC, was FSU’s All Night Yahtzee.

Overall, the show was one of the best-received and successful a cappella concerts the south has ever seen. The night’s performances proved, without a doubt, that the Southeast is a hotbed for collegiate (and high school) a cappella. All Night Yahtzee will be a force in NYC!