Song and dance show has ‘Got Your Number’ Feb. 25 and 26

Song and dance show has ‘Got Your Number’ Feb. 25 and 26

EOU’s choir show, “We’ve Got Your Number” is postponed to Feb. 25 and 26. With several participating students testing positive for COVID-19, the program is unable to produce a full performance. Choir members have followed EOU’s COVID-19 testing protocols since returning to campus for winter term and have been testing weekly. 

“Students, faculty and guest choreographers have been working carefully and diligently under challenging rehearsal circumstances, but this is the only practical and prudent way to proceed in support of our community’s health,” said Nate Lowe, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “I am thankful for our faculty’s and Student Affairs’ careful and thoughtful approach to working with these student performers so that they have a public stage to showcase their talents.” 

The show will run at the same times (7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 and 3 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 26), and tickets that have already been purchased will remain valid. Contact Peter Wordelman (pwordelm@eou.edu) with any questions about already purchased tickets.

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Jan. 24, 2022 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Get ready for a cacophony of choreography and classic 

popular music tracks from all over the musical map with “We’ve Got Your Number,” a multi-genre musical performance and Eastern Oregon University Chamber Choir’s first live show of 2022.

This one-of-a-kind production, sponsored by Red Cross Drug, runs Feb. 4 and 5 (postponed to Feb. 25 and 26) in McKenzie Theatre, and features choreographed tracks that range from Bruno Mars to “Hamilton.”

“We have arranged the selected songs in numerical order and tied them together to allow for a wide range of musical styles and expressions,” said Music Professor and Chamber Choir Director Peter Wordelman. 

Rehearsals began on Jan. 4, with choreography practice starting Jan. 7. Nearly 40 choir students are involved. 

“It’s designed so that all of the students sing a solo at some point. We also all sing as a group,”  Wordelman said.

“We’ve Got Your Number” features 22 songs, which will be performed as a one-act show, opening with a verse from “One Voice” by Wailin’ Jennys and concluding with “Seasons of Love” from “Rent.” 

“The way it’s balanced is never to have four or five songs in a row that you’re ever going to be like, ‘Eh, I wasn’t a big fan of that one.’ We try to intermix the genres so that there’s a little bit of something for everyone’s musical tastes,” choir student Austin Nash said.

The entire ensemble is learning complex choreography, and 25 students have taken on special parts for select songs. Los Angeles-based choreographers Bill Rugh and Michelle Benton are teaching the choir’s choreography. 

“If you think about this whole production, Austin’s job for the production is to learn all of the singing, movement and the moving of props as needed. We know that he’s going to know his solo parts so we don’t have to worry about that. But you have to piece all of that together with 38 people,” Wordelman said.

During a rehearsal on Jan. 12, the choir focused on synchronization for “One” as performed by the Three Dog Night, going through hand motions, stances, and walking on stage as a group.  

“It always feels like it’s not going to come together until the end, and then everything comes together and it works … by the time the show rolls around, it will have all come together,” Nash said.

Tickets are on sale now for “We’ve Got Your Number,” playing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4 (postponed to Feb. 25), and  at 3 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5 (postponed to Feb. 26), in McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall on EOU’s campus. Admission costs $8 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Group tickets cost $6 each when you purchase 10 or more. Group tickets must be purchased in-person. Tickets are available at Red Cross Drug, in the EOU Bookstore and online at eou.edu/music/weve-got-your-number. Masks are required for all audience members.