CASA - the contemporary a cappella society - "Model" Behavior From Northwestern's All-Female A Cappella Group

"Model" Behavior From Northwestern's All-Female A Cappella Group

Written by Oscar Melendrez / Daily Northwestern

Friday, 05 May 2006

EVANSTON, IL -- We have an extensive repertoire of man-hating songs and songs about heartbreak on our show,” jokes one of the members of Significant Others as she climbs on to the stage in Shanley where she, along with 10 other members, will perform on Friday and Saturday night.

Significant Others, the only all-female a cappella group on campus, is presenting their spring show, Sig-O’s Next Top Model, at Shanley Pavilion. The theme this year is set in the catty catwalks and mean photo shoots that have become staples on Tyra Banks’ hit reality show, America’s Next Top Model.

“It’s fun to play with the idea since we are an all-girls’ group,” says Emily Smith, a Communication senior. “When different types of girls are forced to be in one place, not everyone expects them to get along.”

The 21-year-old "beauty queen" is the musical director for the show and has been a part of the performance group for three years.

Elected at the beginning of the year, Smith is in charge of all the musical decisions, such as which songs will be sung and who will sing them. Turning a pop ballad into an a cappella song takes quite a bit of arranging.

"Every member can arrange a song for the show," Smith says, "but the musical director has to approve it and fix any errors before it's performed."

The 11-member group has decided to attribute each of the girls a stereotypical label for the show. Hence, it's appropriate that hailing from Lincoln, Neb., Katie Sands be named "The Nebraskan." The Medill senior is also the external producer for the show.

"I'm basically in charge of getting every person and every item here when they need to be here," she says. "I'm in charge of finding a lighting director and a sound director and helping with the set. It is incredibly difficult to find tech people, because it's such a busy time for performance groups on campus," Sands says.

Sig-O's Next Top Model gives the girls a chance to step beyond the traditional constructs of an a cappella performance. The songs are linked together by several skits to formulate a coherent show.

Laura Waters, the "non-comformist" from Baltimore, wrote all the skits for the show.

"It's all very satirical, using these stereotypes of girls clawing their way to the top," the Medill sophomore says.

This is Waters's first year as a part of Sig-O.

"I did a cappella in high school, but I was so overwhelmed last year as a freshman that I didn't audition for anything," Waters says. "That was when I realized how much I missed it."

"Significant Others was the best choice, because I went to an all-girls high school, and this is the only all-girls a cappella group on campus," she adds.

The women of Sig-O are certain to stress that their theme is purely parody. But they are more interested in following in the steps of Imogen Heap, than in those of Kate Moss.

But just like in any other group, whether it is a performance group or a group of friends, there is always going to be a difference of opinion.

"It's not so much drama as it is a discussion of our opinions," Waters says. "It never gets personal."

They may look like models, but the members of Sig-O can do a lot more than just sit there and look pretty. Like their opening song suggests, they are an endangered species.

Sig-O's Next Top Model will play at the Shanley Pavilion on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

Medill sophomore Oscar Melendrez is the PLAY theater editor. He can be reached at r-melendrez@northwestern.edu.