Monday night was a night filled with musicals, Disney characters and fraternity members to remember.
The third annual For The Glory talent show took place at 7 Monday night in the Eisenhower Auditorium, free for Penn State students, as part of Homecoming week.
The winners of the talent show were Pi Lambda Phi and Tapestry Dance Company with their rendition of the musical “Hairspray.”
In second place was the dance styling of the Blue & White Society and the Lion Ambassadors and the runner-ups for the night were Atlas THON performing a medley of love songs, which included the Spice Girls and Lady Gaga.
Other talent of the night was showcased by Beta Theta Pi and Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania’s performance of “Rugrats” and an interpretation of “Aladdin” with the recital of “Genie In A Bottle,” by Sigma Nu and Omega Phi Alpha.
The Homecoming talent show took the place of previous year’s “Air Bands” in the homecoming week lineup, Penn State Public Relations director Bobby Walter said.
Walter (junior-marketing) said that all those registered for Homecoming were required to enter the talent show, but others could have gotten involved.
Lindsey Dale was involved in the “Top Gun” performance by Gamma Sigma Sigma and Delta Upsilon and said that the group practiced two weeks prior to last night’s show.
Dale (junior-secondary education) said that everyone did well and that the night was about having fun.
New to the talent show this year, auditions were held prior to last night’s performance.
“In the past, the show was really long and hindered the quality of the performances,” Walter said.
The auditions narrowed the contestants down to a top 20 with the help of five judges in Heritage Hall, Walter said.
Organization Relations director for Homecoming 2012 Marissa Delozier said that 36 groups originally tried out for the show.
Homecoming in past years contained mostly Greek organizations, but this year marked a lot more club and organizational involvement.
Delozier (senior-architectural engineering) said that there was a vast variety in the talent presented in this year’s show.
The talent show had a range of dancing, singing and skits, Delozier said.
Ashley Ellis (senior-finance) said that the Super Mario Bros. performance by Phi Kappa Theta and Penn State Dance Alliance was the best of the night.
In agreement, Catie Grumbein said that it was better that the groups had to audition to be in the show.
“You could tell who put a lot of time in,” Grumbein (senior-kinesiology) said.
The judges for the night were Lion Ambassador President Logan Cawley, UPUA President Courtney Lennartz, THON overall chairperson Will Martin, Blue Band twirler Matt Freeman and women’s volleyball team member Kristin Carpenter.
The judges judged first on the talent itself and if it was “cohesive and entertaining” and then judged the overall performance, Delozier said.
The rest of homecoming week continues with Best of Penn State and a field day on Old Main Lawn today.
