After a year of planning, various student organizations gear up for competition in the 88th annual Varieties show. Varieties began in the Great Depression as a source of free entertainment and has since become a beloved tradition at Iowa State. 

The 88th year of Varieties kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

Pairings of sororities, fraternities and other student organizations such as residences halls and clubs will put on 16 to 22 minute mini-musicals based off the theme “Tradition Lives On.” Each musical must have original choreography and song lyrics tying into their interpretation of the theme.

“This is the 88th year of varieties,” said Kate Price, the director for this year’s Varieties. “We kind of talked about how varieties has changed so much. It is basically re-going back to how much it has changed over the years. It is so cool and something unique to Iowa State.” 

There are five different pairings performing. Two acts, “Spy High” and “A Trip Down Memory Lane,” will perform at 7 p.m. Friday.

Three acts, including “Alive in the 515,” “Haunted by Tradition” and “The Other Side,” will perform 7 p.m. Saturday.

Seven vignettes will be performing spread over the two nights. These short acts range in talent from comedy to singing, and from magic to belly dancing.

This year’s scoring will be different than past Varieties. All of the pairings will be moving on to the Finals and performing both nights. Their scores from the Semi-Finals will be averaged, and the winner and runner-up will receive a one point advantage going into Finals. Four of the seven vignettes will be advancing to the finals.

“The different shows, especially with the different themes, just change it each year,” Price said. “I think it is going to just be a cool one thinking back on traditions.”

The process for Varieties starts right after the last show. The committee, headed by Price, has been meeting every week since September to organize and plan this year’s show. They stay in touch during the summer months as well.

“We reach out to them in the beginning, usually like September or October, figure out who is participating,” Price said. “Once we [know] they start practicing in October. We go to practices and [see] them probably once every other week.”

Varieties acts begin their practices as early as October. The committee comes and helps with the initial critiques and behind the scenes set-up. They have an exhibition in November, which leads up to the Semi-Finals and Finals in February.

“I love watching the pairing progress behind the scenes from the start to the finish. The final product they put out is amazing,” said Matt Morgan, a member of the behind-the-scenes Varieties Central. He has been involved with Varieties since his freshman year.

Varieties Semi-Finals will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $6 with a student ID, $10 for the public and free for children 5 and under. Tickets are available in person in the Maintenance Shop Box Office or by phone from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A charge of $1 will be placed on phone orders. Tickets can also be purchased online at MidwesTIX for a $2 surcharge.