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Follies at 40: MC’s traditional Homecoming production adds performance, amps up Choctaw spirit

When Art Stevens ’86, ‘89 co-emceed the first Follies at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏ four decades ago, it was far from the showstopping Homecoming sensation the musical variety performance would eventually become.

But Stevens could tell it had promise.

“I remember being amazed by the level of talent that MC students had,” said Stevens, who now lives in Ridgeland and serves as president of retail banking for Trustmark Bank. “That is still true today. The performances are first-class.

“I had three children graduate from MC, and they all participated in Follies while they were there.”

President of the Student Government Association at the time, Stevens and the other SGA officers were tasked by the MC administration with developing a new and original event to add to the Christian University’s Homecoming experience.

“Several people, including the first Follies chairs, Judy Shanks (Johnson) and Dianne Claypool, were familiar with Wingfield High School’s Follies,” Stevens said. “We also went as a group to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit Samford University’s ‘Step Sing.’

“The influence of those two events led us to imagine an MC Follies-type experience.”

Johnson ’87, who also went on that trip to Samford, remembers the first Follies took place in its current location: Swor Auditorium in Nelson Hall.

“The performance was quite exciting as we saw a dream coming to fruition,” said Johnson, who co-emceed the event. “It started off small and was nothing like it is today.”

Now an educator in St. Johns, Florida, Johnson is proud of her role in helping to make Follies a Homecoming tradition at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏ.

“The thing I love about Follies is that it is student-driven,” she said. “Seeing the tribes and clubs being creative and using their talents in this way is great.

“I also love that it has become such a tradition at MC now for 40 years. I had no idea when we had this thought way back in 1985 that it would become such a core part of MC during Homecoming each year.”

Follies has become so popular that the MC Office of Student Engagement has added a second public performance to its traditional schedule. The 2025 Follies is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, for MC students only, and at 4 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, for all MC faculty, staff, students, families and friends.

Jadi Foster, MC director of student engagement, said audiences can expect an electric atmosphere when the curtain rises on the Swor Auditorium stage.

“Our students are very talented,” Foster said. “Follies gives them an opportunity to showcase their creativity. It’s entertaining for everyone to watch.”

She said members of all 10 MC men’s service clubs and women’s social tribes are scheduled to perform in what has become a “cavalcade of competitive showmanship” that brings elite musical flair to each humorous skit. Past shows have spoofed popular television shows and movies – all with a distinctive MC twist.

Performances are 10 minutes long and include singing, dancing and acting. The skits will be judged on creativity, choreography, storyline and more.

Awards will be given for “Most Creative,” “Best Props and Costumes,” “Best Singing,” “Best Storyline,” “Best Choreography,” “Club and Tribe Favorite” (as voted by students), “Stu Pro Award” (as selected by the Student Production Committee to the organization that has been the kindest and most positive group throughout the process), “Outstanding Performer,” and “First, Second and Third Place.”

Laguna Social Tribe took first-place honors last year for their performance of “Grease,” breaking a tie with Nenamoosha for the most Follies championships by a women’s tribe (five).

“I’m excited to see the performances,” Foster said. “I’m proud of all the students for putting it together and of all the hard work that they put in. They practiced for months, and I think it will be a really great show.”

Stevens is pleased that Follies has turned into the can’t-miss event of MC’s Homecoming.

“I’m really not surprised, given the talent level and creativity of MC students,” he said. “I’m glad it has lasted this long and is still enjoyed by so many people.”