Note: For the complete collection of Big Show '08 video skits available on YouTube, click here.

THE FIRST NIGHT of Big Show '08 — Friday, May 9 — was amazing. Big Show got tons of laughs! And apart from the doorbell buzzer ringing during the show, everything was great.

So why did I feel so terrible afterward? Why didn’t I want delicious ice cream from Jarling’s Custard Cup?

It was the anticipation of the 5K that I had to run with the rest of the Uni student body the next morning. I’ve never been completely calm before the 5K, but somehow I always survive.

I managed to make it through the run again this year. On Saturday morning, after a bitter roll and a sweet cookie, I left Crystal Lake Park — site of the run — excited about what was to happen later that night.

The second and final performance of Big Show was fast approaching. I hoped it would turn out as well as Friday’s, because often the second performance is low energy after the adrenaline rush of the first.

But before I could worry too much about making sure I still remembered how to be all of the Weasley family in the skit “Condensed Harry Potter,” I decided to pick up some T-shirts. You see, Anna Cangellaris and Eunice How are members of my Some-Of-The-Best-Directors-I-Have-Ever-Had Club, so I thought I would have all of the cast and crew sign shirts for them.

After finding and purchasing T-shirts, then waiting almost two hours for my brother to get his haircut, I ate a speedy dinner and arrived at school. One of the painters let me in through the south entrance. “The front door is open, you know,” he said, annoyed. Oops.

At least nobody minded that I was a little late. Since we don’t have to worry about makeup, hair, or costumes for Big Show, getting ready doesn’t take long.

So, after listening to music, hanging out, and getting a pep talk from faculty sponsor Chris Butler, we were ready.

Both nights, junior Adam “Voice” Tiouririne read a letter to us about the proper use of the organ in the South Attic. Saturday night, we realized it was so funny that we made him read it to the audience. It was hilarious!

The rest of the evening was just as successful. The performance was superb, we had a great amount of help during strike, and after all the risers were set back up, we had a fun cast party.

Of course, returning to school after all that fun was difficult. What am I supposed to do after school now that I don’t have rehearsal? Oh, right. Homework.

Note: All proceeds from Big Show '08 are for Uni's X-Week charity, Urbana-Champaign Books to Prisoners.

Big Show '08: Cast and Crew

• Directors
  Anna Cangellaris
  Eunice How
• Contributing Writers
  Paul Dampier
  Jake Seeley
• Cast Members
  Josh Chung, senior
  Will Erickson, subfreshman
  Anna Gooler, sophomore
  Julian Hartman, senior
  Hannah Leskosky, junior
  Alan Liang, junior
  Grant Loos, senior
  Andrea Park, senior
  Adam Tiouririne, junior
  Richard Weisbach, junior
  Carl Zielinski, senior
• Lights
  Natsuki Nakamura
• Tech Crew
  Sindha Agha
  Stephanie Overmier
  Aramael Pena-Alcantara
  Lauren Piester
• Live Music
  Josh Chung
  Julian Hartman
  Grant Loos
  Carl Zielinski

Big Show '08: Sketches

• Part I
  Deep Thought
  Pardon my French
  Burger Burger Burger
  This is Self-Referential
  FBI
  Montana
  Anyang Earbuds
  Distracted Job Interview
  Man vs. Wild
  Buy You Drink
  Condensed Harry Potter
  Shower
  The World According to Science: Mating the Grade
  TREATED
  Very Sad
  MTV Music Video World Premiere
  Elevator Safety
  Rock Band

10-minute intermission

• Part II
  Deep Thought
  Prom Narrator
  America’s Next Top Model
  Art Nouveau
  Phone Deletion
  Overused Phrases
  Platypus
  Everything Else
  Your Sister’s Hot
  E’Twaun
  The Great Debate
  The Fabulous Life
  Fitness
  Mary & Ed
  Rock Band II