Andover’s Blue Key Head Auditions are a selective, student-led tradition steeped in joy, laughter, and fun. As the Class of 2026 throws on blue tutus and paint to earn a coveted spot, they are not just performing, but learning what it really means to lead through school spirit.
Frank Hu ’26
“I had a Hatsune Miku wig on, a ripped up ‘Home’ Andover shirt, my cycling bib on, then a tutu around the cycling bib. To round it off, I put paint on my face, drew A’s on my legs, and put handprints everywhere. Well to be honest there really wasn’t any inspo [behind it], I just asked my friends for a little advice on the outfit and what they had. I got the wig and tutu from friends, while the cycling bib shorts were mine. The Andover “Home” shirt I cut up myself. It was kind of perfect, as the skit I was given was very girly. I’m just a bit sad to see the “Home” shirt go… I was originally gonna use my Abbot Cluster shirt, but I couldn’t find it. [The outfit] really helped with my nerves. People were looking at me and they couldn’t even recognize me, and so I felt like I could basically do whatever with 100% confidence.”
Addison Deng ’26
“I wore a Perry the Platypus onesie, with a blue tutu and blue bikini over it. I also had these glasses that light up. I was the first audition on Monday, so I didn’t have much time to get my fit prepared. Actually, I relied a lot on Amazon one day delivery. I was very excited, but also very stressed. But one of my senior friends who graduated in 2024, Molly McKinnon, texted me right before my audition, because she saw in the story that I was going first, and she told me, you got this, have so much confidence, it’s always hard going first. So I took her words to heart and had fun with my audition. I [also] heard my Nathan Hale kids screaming Perry the Platypus in the background, which made me laugh. [The outfits were] definitely very silly, and it just says that I don’t care about what other people say about me and that I just want to have fun… especially when I’m with friends.”
Malcolm Tolbert ’26
“I had purple crocs, blue socks, and blue tights that were under my shorts. Which were these blue jellyfish shorts that I got off Amazon. I also had a blue suit jacket, and a gorilla T-shirt. And then I had pit vipers that my friend gave me and a blue wig. Honestly, I just found whatever was blue and funny. I was given a few recommendations from friends to wear the gorilla shirt and I just decided to go with it. My given skit was to pretend to be J.D. Vance and explain why I kill[ed] the Pope. I thought it was funny, so I wanted my outfit to be the same. My outfit definitely helped me be less nervous because it’s already silly enough. There’s nothing else to be really nervous about because you already look so silly, so might as well go out and be silly and as fun as you can be.”
Sean Kim ’26
“My blue key head audition outfit was a onesie of Stitch, the Disney character, a blue tutu I got from O-Rielly’s office, blue ski goggles, a blue gator, and a blue beanie. I also wore no shoes, so bare feet with blue paint on them. The inspiration behind my outfit was just how much of my body could be blue, and how much blue could have on. So even though the onesie was blue, I still wanted to add the tutu. Which is also why I painted my feet blue. I really tried to go for an overwhelming amount of blue. Also you have to do this every friday if you do get the position, so the audition is definitely a glimpse as to how much effort you’re supposed to put in in the future. And the lengths you’re willing to go.”
