This is how these things work for a Penn Stater interested in the arts: word of mouth. A guy I worked with over the summer happened to be a member of the Singing Lions, a Penn State show choir, and he invited me to see his group’s cabaret performance on Saturday the 29th at the Pavilion Theatre on campus. Any show at the Pavilion is definitely worth attending. To say it’s an intimate setting doesn’t even do it justice. The stage sits lower than the stadium seating, which surrounds it on three sides, and if you get the front row in any of these three sections you can reach out and wipe the sweat from any performer’s forehead. That’s how close you are.

When I walked into the Pavilion, the Glee version of “Teenage Dream” was playing over the loudspeakers. I made sure to get a front row seat. The girl sitting next to me was wearing turquoise and neon yellow sneakers. When she turned around to talk to the guy behind her she was gesturing with the Singing Lions program in her hand. “Here’s my question,” she said. “This says No Jazz Hands,” (which was the title of the Singing Lions cabaret that night) “but what about just one hand? I think I’d be okay with one jazz hand, you know, for being excited. But if I see more than two I want my money back!” Thank you kismet for placing me in such a wonderful place to enjoy the show.

It was a little over a two hour performance that covered thirty songs with a ten minute intermission at the halfway point. The show started a little slow with a song about not being afraid to live up to your potential. In itself, not the most boring thing to sing about, but it featured four singers sitting in four caf� chairs and taking turns to step up to a microphone to sing their story. Just watching singers with their arms straight down by their sides was a little lackluster. The show quickly picked up, though, with the following tongue and cheek songs that the Singing Lions definitely put their acting skills in to. It was more fun as an audience member to see the Singing Lions when they were up and moving around in addition to their singing. 

The highlights of the evening were:

• “Accident Prone” performed by Lauren Lynch (The man of her dreams will have to learn to chill about her klutziness.)
• “Coffee” by Brian Poole and Jessie Leo (A bohemian tries to inspire a creature of habit.)
• “Sensitive Male Best Friend” by Alex Gallego (He’s your best friend who’s secretly in love with you and rammed into the car of your cheating ex-boyfriend to defend your honor and now needs you to help him make bail for that little escapade.)
• “Breaking Up” by Josie Farinelli and Tyler Segalla (“I just don’t get why you…[cell phone signal cuts out].” “You’re breaking up.” “No, I just want to talk.”)
• “The Sensitive Song” by Andrew Torchia (He just can’t date you anymore and he’s not shy about telling you why.)
• “Blue Hair” by Jessie Leo (Independent and totally rad, it’s gonna look like wonderful, super fantastic, coolness, remarkable!) 
• “Mrs. Sharp” by all the guys (“I never thought my teacher could be hot!”)
• “We’re Just Friends” by Saeed Manley and Sarah Sewcheck (“We’re just friends…with benefits.”)
• The finale “It Gets Better” featuring everyone.

I only caught a few of these on film for your viewing pleasure but they were all worth a double take. Don’t believe me? Then maybe it’s time to befriend a Singing Lion and hear all about the excitement from the inside, not to mention hearing about all the upcoming performances you could be filling your nights with.