The Davis Hall Follies, a historically beloved variety show, made its grand return on February 26th, 2026.
Gavin Leton and Matthew Nasir | March 17, 2026
Most Huntington University students would be confused by the premise of the Davis Hall Follies—after all, where is Davis Hall? Was it named after Assistant Professor of English Dr. Jeremiah Davis or one of his relatives? What is this tradition, and why is it important to revive after years of inactivity?
What is now the third floor of Becker Hall used to be known as “Davis Hall.” Davis Hall was an original fixture of Central College, Huntington University’s previous name.
Named in memory of Lewis Davis, an abolitionist bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Davis Hall served as the original main auditorium of the university. Even in Central College’s infancy, it was apparent that Davis Hall would be the heart of its campus community.
Though the name and purpose of Davis Hall were eventually changed, the spirit of the iconic venue lived on through the Davis Hall Follies—a variety show featuring mesmerizing musical performances, quirky costumes, silly skits, and captivated crowds.
Future Vice President for Student Life, Dr. Ron Coffey, seemingly in a pair of “get along” underwear with Mr. Jeff Berggren, future Director of Marketing and Communications, during the 2001 Davis Hall Follies.
Some acts playfully parodied consenting faculty and staff members, with some even featuring them as actors; one year’s Davis Hall Follies even included a scene with Mr. Jeff Berggren and the future Dr. Ron Coffey conjoined by an oversized pair of underwear!
For decades, the Davis Hall Follies were a mainstay of Huntington University’s rich culture. They connected students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumna through memorable evenings of creative expression, camaraderie, and laughter.
This year, thanks to the Student Government Association, nine engaging performers, four fan-favorite judges, and the support of HU’s student body, the Davis Hall Follies were introduced to the new generation of HU.
The winners of Davis Hall Follies were awarded $200 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place.
Senior Class Representative and Chair of the Davis Hall Follies Merari Williams commented that these rewards were the result of “[trying] to do Davis Hall Follies last year.” However, they did not have enough acts, so “the rewards were an incentive to get people to perform, at least for the time being.”
“I had been performing baton for 13 years before I came to college, and I missed it, so I decided, why not perform it again!” Third-place winner, freshman Lexi Keener, said. “[It was] fun to perform something I love so much to people who might not have seen something like that before.”
Freshman Leah Steup, the second-place winner, did a sketch comedy act featuring “a stand-up comedian who can’t remember their set and must use their to-do list for improvisation.”
“I wanted to represent Comedy Overflow … an improv comedy group that I started on campus this year,” Steup said. She also added that “It’s easy to add different jokes that relate to specific audiences, like Huntington University students and faculty!”
Steup hopes “to put on an official improv show later this semester and grow our group for next year, so I wanted to do something that spreads the word about this group!”
Steup said that part of her preparation for Davis Hall Follies was going to the recital hall with no audience “to practice in the same room as performances because it helps you feel comfortable and know how loud to project your voice.”
The first-place winners, Williams and Mackenna Gibson, performed a recreation of a dance from Shrek Four in costume. They had a video playing in the background as a reference.
Williams and Gibson were inspired by a video of someone else doing the same dance. They also performed it during Admitted Student Weekend.
Williams was selected to chair the Davis Hall Follies committee because she is the Senior Class Representative and was impassioned. “I felt it was a duty and wanted to have a good restart,” she said.
After the success of this year’s Davis Hall Follies, Williams hopes that they will become a fundamental tradition once again.
Looking forward, Williams noted some things to change with the Davis Hall Follies. She said that the emojis given to the judges “did not add much engagement with the audience, and the judges did not love them.”
The return of the Davis Hall Follies this year saw enthusiastic performances and excitement for one of Huntington’s oldest traditions. Participants and viewers alike hope that the performance can be even better in the coming years.
About the Author
