Mary Poppins appeared onstage in the Eisenhower Auditorium on Sunday singing her usual tunes about perfection and spoonfuls of sugar -- then a "remix" was announced.
The prim Poppins was soon stepping with the best of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Zeta Tau Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Phi Epsilon's rendition of "Mary Poppins" was the winning performance of Greek Sing 2009.
Fifty fraternities and sororities represented 19 Broadway plays in performances of five minutes or less in this year's competition.
The Grinch slotted time for stealing the Whos' Christmas somewhere on his to-do list after "Solve world hunger. Tell no one." and Sophie from "Mamma Mia!" declared to her mother: "I don't care if you've slept with hundreds of men. You're my mother, I love you."
Fraternity and sorority members sang songs ranging from "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey to "Cell Block Tango" from "Chicago", and choreographed dance numbers that involved head banging, back handsprings and pirouettes.
Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Pi and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., who performed "The Wedding Singer", won the most spirit points and best costume categories. Other winners included Alpha Omicron Pi, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Theta Delta Chi's "Mama Mia" for best short performance; Zeta Tau Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.'s "Mary Poppins" for best male lead; and Sigma Delta Tau, Pi Kappa Alpha and Zeta Phi Beta's "Rock of Ages" for best female lead.
Alex Middleton (senior-integrative arts) served as a judge for the performances and said "Mary Poppins" was his favorite performance for its harmonies and choreography. He said the judges evaluated each group's choreography, group singing, individual singing and set design, among other factors.
He said this year's Greek Sing was one of the best he had seen.
All proceeds from the event benefits the Gayle Beyers scholarship fund. The two winners of this year's scholarships -- Ebony Martin (senior- journalism) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jessica Goldstein (senior- marketing) of Gamma Phi Beta -- were announced at the event.
Penn State Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Roy Baker said the event is an opportunity for the greek community to come together to raise money for the scholarship and for students to try something new.
"I like everything about Greek Sing," Baker said. "It's an event that I'll look forward to every year. These kids aren't professional singers and dancers and they do an amazing job."
Ben Carroll (freshman-environmental systems and engineering), a new member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said he had never performed on a stage until Sunday
"But obviously I think I should have after this experience," Carroll joked of his performance in "Tarzan." "It was nerve-wracking, but all the hard work paid off."
Interfraternity Council President Luke Pierce (senior-economics) said the event's success this year was the result of much hard work and preparation. He said he enjoyed "absolutely everything" about the evening.
"I'm very proud of the all the participants in Greek Sing," he said. "They did a great job of putting on the best Greek Sing to date."
