The Centroplex Theater was filled with party t-shirts and noise makers Sunday afternoon as Greeks gathered to watch the 83rd annual Songfest.
Sponsored by the Greek Steering Committee, the three-hour event featured 17 individual acts and 10 sorority/fraternity match-ups.
Chi Omega, Sigma Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon won first place overall with their multi-love song number called “Love Actually.”
After seeing the movie, Chi-O choreographer Linzay Laffeur said she knew it would be an original idea.
“We just knew everyone would love it,” Laffeur, a biological sciences senior said. “[We wanted to] bring a little love to the stage.”
Dressed in red cotton shorts and homemade white t-shirts with a glittery, red heart, Chi-O members added a new element to their performance by painting elaborate red, white and silver designs on their faces.
Claire Murphy, Chi-O member and kinesology freshman, said her aunt, who used to be a traveling clown, painted everyone’s faces.
“She drove in today from Natchitoches,” Murphy said. “It was awesome.”
Jacob Morales, an undecided freshman and TKE pledge, said Songfest was a lot more fun than he thought it would be, and it was a great place to meet and get to know girls.
“The best part was finally doing it on stage,” Morales said.
In the solo competition, Scott Sutton, a Phi Kappa Psi sophomore, won first place with his vocal performance of “This is the Moment.”
Sutton was the only individual participant to receive a standing ovation from the audience.
Sutton said even though he has been singing since he was three, other than last year’s Phi Mu Man of the Year, this was one of his first public appearances.
Sutton also participated in “Gone Crazy” with Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Alpha Order and Phi Kappa Psi. Theta, KA and Phi Psi won second place overall.
“This was the best thing,” Sutton said. “We practiced three to four times a week, but all the [Theta] girls were great.”
Kappa Kappa Gamma, Theta Xi and Pi Kappa Alpha placed third overall with “Hitchin’ A Ride.”
Lacy Moffatt, a communication studies junior and the Kappa Songfest coordinator, said the best part of Songfest was getting to know the different fraternity guys and getting to hang out with everyone.
“I’m so excited,” Moffatt said. “They all were so dedicated — staying late after practice and coming in on Saturday.”
Kappa Delta member Courtney Haynes took second place in the solo competition, singing “I’ll be There,” and Sarabeth Johnson of Chi Omega placed third with “When the Lights Go Out.”