Auditions for the first-ever Mr. Wildcat pageant featured eight UA men, but fell four students short of creating a UA calendar.
The Mr. Wildcat auditions Friday had UA men representing various organizations on campus and one student from the general student body – all of whom will eventually compete in a pageant Feb. 10, said Simone Reynolds, committee member for the University Activities Board.
Depending on funding, there may be a calendar created in conjunction with the show – but secondary auditions will have to be held after winter break, said Reynolds, a marketing freshman.
“”Time restrictions made it harder to get the word out,”” Reynolds said. “”You could always do better.””
Auditions were held on a stage in Cellar Restaurant in the Student Union Memorial Center, where the men were asked questions that would help judges get a feel for their personalities.
For the Feb. 10 Mr. Wildcat pageant, calendar-boy hopefuls will demonstrate talent and model formal and casual wear for the show, Reynolds said.
“”The show is a male beauty pageant,”” Reynolds said. “”And it will help them gain leadership experience.””
Melissa Genczo, special events chair for the University Activities Board and a biology sophomore, said UAB is looking for students who are fun and outgoing.
At the auditions, Herbert Arnold Jonathan Alexander Duke III, a biology freshman who hopes to be in next semester’s competition, joked that his long name often gets him stopped at airports.
Anthony Stuart, a junior majoring in Spanish, showed off his talent of speaking five languages. Stuart said he hopes to learn a sixth so he can “”speak to more of the population.””
The show is a male beauty pageant, and it will help them gain leadership experience.
– Simone Reynolds, committee member for the UA Activities Board
Jeff Sandell, a pre-business freshman, said his talents include a comedy routine of an exchange between his parents and beat boxing, while Cory MacDonald, a sophomore majoring in Spanish, said he is an aspiring musician who can play guitar.
Other students had more unusual talents, like marketing freshman Ian Morgan, who did a Michael Jackson dance.
Reid Olson, a pre-architecture freshman who auditioned for “”Mr. Scorpion”” at his high school, said diligence is his greatest strength.
Brendan Raybuck, a biochemistry junior, said he is known for standing up for his friends and is a resident assistant at Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall.
