History
Acclamation was created by DEl Beatty in the spring of 1990 as part of a campaign platform when he was running for the student body vice presidential office at SUU. The original group had twenty-four members and was not called Acclamation but only referred to as "The Entertainment Bureau" since, at the time, no other group existed within the bureau organization. But in December of 1990, the university was preparing to host a Command Performance Gala to celebrate the awarding of university status to the campus. President Gerald R. Sherratt, then the president of SUU, decided that for this event the group needed a name of its own. Many possibilities were discussed which included Applause,Ovation, Noisemakers, and Acclaim.
It was decided that name should be Acclaim and for 2-3 days that was the plan. However, the morning that the Command Performance playbill was going to be printed, DEl felt uncomfortable with the decision to call this group Acclaim. He knew he wanted a one-word name and that he wanted it to be exciting and energetic, but was uneasy because Plymouth had introduced a new automobile that year also by the same name. Between classes, he input the word "Acclaim" into his computer and asked for all verb forms of the word. There it was...ACCLAMATION, the perfect name for this group! The program went to print and has been known as Acclamation ever since.
At the conclusion of the 90-91 season, DEl Beatty accepted employment as an LDS Seminary instructor in West Jordan, Utah, and the directorship of Acclamation fell temporarily to former Acclamation member Cathleen Castle Killian. Also, at the beginning of the 1991-92 season, the group downsized from twenty-four members to only twelve. This change made the staging and the choreography much simpler which, in turn, created a better working environment for the performers. The group remained at twelve until 1997 and at times has included fourteen to sixteen performers.
In addition to the actual performers, there are sound technicians, costume designers, a technical support staff, and several choreographers who assist the director in producing the show each season. An average Acclamation show includes 30-40 costume changes and a variety of musical styles. The show is tied together with narration, lively choreography, and of course, talented student performers. Acclamation shows are spontaneous and always include a few audience participation surprises. They are presented in every type of venue imaginable, from small outdoor stages to professional concert halls. It is a show that can be easily adapted to fit almost any setting, and geared toward a number of different audience types. The show is considered to be family friendly and is upbeat, clean, and energetic.
In July of 2003, DEl accepted an administrative role at the university, but remains the founder/producer of Acclamation. That year, Mr. Kevin Burns, a talented former Acclamation student as well as experienced performer and choreographer, took the position of Director. In August of 2004, Ms. Juliann Smith, also a former member of Acclamation, returned to SUU to assume the role of Director. Direction of Acclamation has now been taken over by Teresa Grimshaw who has been involved behind the scenes with Acclamation for many years. With Teresa at the helm, Acclamation promises a new and exciting experience for old and young alike.