Exceptional Choreography, Relatable Characters, Competitive Camaraderie Make Follies Hottest Ticket in Town

Kissimee captured the 2022 Follies title with a splendid rendition of 'The Wizard of Oz.'

Electric dance moves set to scintillating music. Send-offs of iconic pop culture favorites. Humor-packed skits showcasing life at Mississippi College.

Follies continues to be one of the hottest Homecoming events at MC. Alumni, family members, friends, and classmates of participating Club and Tribe members pack Swor Auditorium at Nelson Hall for the annual cavalcade of competitive showmanship that promises to bring down the house with every segment.

“Follies is a 10-minute performance put on by each club and tribe,” said Chip Wilson, associate director of student engagement. “The organizations practice for weeks leading up to the performance, and once the week arrives, much of campus is excited to see what their organization or friends will perform on stage.

“The performances include singing, dancing, and acting – all put on by the students of Mississippi College. Not only will the live performances be something to behold, but the props and backdrops are always stunning and creative. It is such a hot ticket because parents thoroughly enjoy seeing their students perform and the performers’ friends and other actives within their respective organizations come to see the final production.”

On the strength of an expertly choreographed performance riffing off the childhood classic “The Wizard of Oz,” Kissimee won its first Follies title in almost three decades last year. The other nine clubs and tribes will put their best dance feet forward to wrest the title away from Kissimee at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, in Swor Auditorium in Nelson Hall. Open seating costs $20 each and are available for purchase online.

“The Kissimee ensemble put together seamlessly executed singing and dancing throughout the entire performance,” Wilson said. “The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the acting and introduction of each character.”

Kissimee is attempting to join Laguna (1994-95) as the only tribe to win back-to-back Follies titles. Civitan men’s social club won four consecutive Follies from 2008-11 and eight in a 10-year span from 2005-14. Civitan has won the most Follies titles (15); with four apiece, Laguna and Nenamoosha are tied for the most Follies championships by a women’s tribe, although Laguna also teamed with Shawreth men’s club for the 2015 title.

“Follies creates a lot of buy-in from the organizations because they are excited to see and cheer on their fellow members and hope for a win,” Wilson said. “If you win Follies, you receive a trophy and points toward Club and Tribe of the Year, which is announced in the spring of each school year.”

Wilson said many MC alumni who performed in Follies return for Homecoming to root on their respective organizations. But what makes the event unique is the fellowship among participants.

“What makes Follies so special is the camaraderie it elicits within the organizations as well as the joy it brings those watching from the seats in the crowd,” he said. “It is an exciting time at MC, and it is always met with much enthusiasm from the students.”

The night before the Follies public performance, participating organizations stage a free “dress rehearsal” for MC faculty, staff, and students. The Follies student performance is scheduled for 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Swor Auditorium.

Wilson said he enjoys seeing the satisfaction and pride many participants express when their skit is well received during the final performance.

“They spend a week practicing in Swor Auditorium, and throughout that time, we can see improvement in each of their practices,” he said. “After the final production, it is always fun to walk to the Piazza and see all of the organizations and the families of those performing gathered and celebrating the performances, regardless of the outcome.

“I think the audiences enjoy seeing the individuals and groups they know performing on stage.”

For more information or to purchase tickets to 2023 Follies at Mississippi College, click here.