Many famous singers and performers will be brought to the stage of 7th Street Underground Wednesday with the production of Vegas.

Vegas, which is hosted by the University Board Mainstage, will feature celebrities being impersonated by Eastern students.

Audience members can expect to see student performances interpreting TLC, Elvis Presley, Jennifer Hudson, Jay-Z, Janelle Monae, Alicia Keys, Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Beyoncé and Erykah Badu.

Tanner Skym, will be portraying Elvis for his performance.

“I chose to be Elvis, because Elvis has been my role model for a long time,” Skym said. “I am an Elvis Impersonator, so I want to show the world how Elvis impacted my life.”

Skym said he will be doing a lot of rehearsing to perfect his act.

“I’ll probably practice the moves of Elvis, shaking those hips,” Skym said.

Thomas Wilson, a communications major, said he is impersonating Jay-Z for the event.

“I thought it would be a fun experience and something different to get me out of my comfort zone,” Wilson said. “Plus, 300 dollars sounds real good.”

Wilson said he chose to perform as Jay-Z because he enjoys his music.

“Kanye West and Jay-Z are two of my favorite artists, I thought me and my roommate emulate them really well,” Wilson said.

To make his performance the best it can be, Wilson said he is doing a lot of practicing.

“I’m watching videos of them in concert and playing the songs so I can know the words by heart,” Wilson said.

Shamerea Richards, a communication studies major, hopes to be as realistic as possible with her portrayal of Beyoncé.

“I chose to do the celebrity that I’m portraying because I’ve always loved her as a performer, a woman and overall entertainer,” she said. “I just love and adore her and I hope I do nearly as a amazing job as she can.”

For Richards, Vegas will be her first opportunity to lip-synch as part of her performance.

“I’m participating in Vegas because I love to perform and lip syncing is something that I usually don’t do and I’ve always wanted to do.”

Vegas will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 7th Street Underground. The event is open to Eastern students and admission is free.

Samantha Middendorf can be reached at 581-2812 or semiddendorf@eiu.edu.