Oklahoma State University held its 53rd annual Follies competition in October before Homecoming week, raising $98,000 for the Stillwater High School Performing Arts Center.
Follies are singing and dancing-themed shows specifically designed to welcome new members. Each show features a cast of 30 performers — consisting of sorority and fraternity member pairings — and a group of directors who shape the performances. The competition is organized by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and takes place in the Student Union Theater.
The funds raised for Follies support the SHS performing arts program by allowing it to purchase new equipment, renovate facilities, and provide students with opportunities to express their artistic interests.
“It’s a philanthropic show funded by the energy and commitment of our fraternity and sorority affairs community,” said Sierra Sewell, a graduate assistant in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. “It creates a meaningful and impactful experience for our new members to keep them in and continuously give back to our community.”
Sewell, who also advises Follies and the Interfraternity Council, was part of the executive team that selected this year’s theme: Legends of the ’80s.
“My executive team loved the idea of the ’80s,” Sewell said. “The music and the vibrance of the time period. We wanted the theme to be memorable but fun for our cast members and directors to engage in. Each cast member was assigned a legend of the ’80s, like Madonna or Michael Jackson, and it was cool to see them be creative, utilize their artists and create a memorial for them and the impact that person made on our music industry. It turned out very, very fun.”
The shows run for only eight minutes and include three to 10 songs. The cast members can cut their music creatively to create the continuous track they’ll sing and dance to.
Sewell also emphasized that Follies teaches new fraternity and sorority members how to invest in their communities. By forming friendships with their fellow cast members and directors, these students gain a support network to help them achieve their goals in their first year. This sense of community is vital for building meaningful relationships within Greek life and demonstrates to students the importance of coming together to serve a purpose greater than themselves.
SHS Director of Bands Kevin Zamborsky was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
“We are incredibly thankful for the support of OSU Follies,” Zamborsky said. “Through their contributions, we have been able to create amazing experiences for our students, including many scholarship opportunities for summer camps and other performing arts-related activities, as well as the purchase of new equipment for each of the performing arts programs and the PAC itself. We are very fortunate to be the beneficiaries of this partnership, and hope that it will continue for many years to come.”
