Anything goes at McLeod's 'Singing with the Stars'

'Singing with the Stars' – 7:30 p.m. Friday. Doors and bar open at 6:45 p.m. McLeod Theater, Southern Illinois University Carbondale. $40. Tickets can be purchased from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the McLeod Theater Box Office or by calling 453-3001.

Last year's image of Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard, in full Elvis regalia including sideburns, crooning the King's hits, should make it obvious that just about anything can happen at the Friends of McLeod Summer Playhouse's "Singing with the Stars" on Friday night.

When McLeod Summer Playhouse reopened its doors four years ago, it was decided there should also be a group of supporters put together to help make decisions about fundraising and to pursue ways to make sure the theater stayed on sound footing.

Marge Schulhof, president of the board of directors of Friends of McLeod Summer Playhouse, said they stumbled on the "Singing with the Stars" idea while brainstorming for a major fundraising event.

"We needed something to draw attention to McLeod Summer Playhouse, and we didn't want to do the usual black-tie, silent auction type of thing," Schulhof said.

Piggy-backing on the popularity of reality shows like "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars," they devised a way to introduce the community to the upcoming season by enticing them to come out and watch friends and "celebrities" paired together in an evening of fun.

"It was born out of that concept," Schulhof said. "The response has just been better than what we ever thought it would be; both in having people who will pay their money and come but also in having people in the community who will volunteer to be on stage and work really hard and learn a song-and-dance routine and get in front of their friends and family and do this."

"Singing with the Stars" has been so successful it is now an annual event. Since President Poshard got his chance to impress the masses last year, this year Sam Goldman, interim chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, gets his turn. Goldman will team with McLeod Summer Playhouse Co-General Director Tim Fink to sing the entire score of "Fiddler on the Roof" in three minutes.

David Dillard, assistant professor in voice baritone at SIUC is paired with SIUC Women's Golf Coach Diane Dougherty for "Indian Love Call," from the operetta "Rose Marie."

Katherine Bryant-Graves, minister of the First Christian Church of Carbondale, sings with a newcomer to the theater department, Susan Patrick Benson, on the woes of leaving a small town in "Why, Oh, Why, Oh Why-Oh�"

Mary Jo Hanes, well known for her work with the Stage Co., joins J. Thomas Kidd of the Theater Faculty with "I am Sixteen Going on Seventeen."

Jeanine Wagner, interim Chair of the SIUC School of Music will perform "Honey Bun" with a surprise guest star, who will most likely "conduct" himself with dignity.

One of the many show-stopping moments will be Mary Kay Moore and Marsha Ryan teaming up with Lori-Merrill Fink, an associate professor known for her many roles in SIUC Theater, such as Patsy Cline, as the "Gotta Have a Gimmick" girls from "Gypsy."

Singing and dancing isn't Moore or Ryan's day jobs. Ryan is the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. Both are on the board of directors for the SIU Foundation and Carbondale Community Arts.

"It's been the highlight of my last months," Ryan said. "It's been a hoot. It's just so different than anything we do in our normal lives."

"We just mainly want to win," Moore said with a laugh. "We're all three competitors at heart."

The judges for the event include 2006 winner Debbie Moore, of the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau, 2007 winner and former SIUC vice chancellor, Harvey Welch and Bryan Rives, General Manager of Shryock Auditorium.

Appetizers will be provided by Hunan and desserts by Laura Lipe of Lipe Family Orchards.

At the event, you'll vote for your favorite act the old-fashioned way, by buying them. It's one vote for $1 or six votes for $5.

brent.stewart@thesouthern.com

351-5074