Theater: Blast

Keywords

Blast! Theatre Schedule

Chicago Gigs

Blast!

Album

Songs

Video

Music

BLAST! is a feast of colors, sounds, and movements. It is a kaleidoscope for the senses like no other performance. BLAST! is comprised of 54 brass, percussion and visual performers, converging into a unique explosion of music and theatre. BLAST! is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry. It has been honored with the 2001 "TONY AWARD" for "BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT."

BLAST! takes audiences on a dramatic musical journey through varied musical genres. It's performances are emotionally intense, physically demanding and soul-stirring. The score includes many well-known musical numbers that include Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, Maurice Ravel's Bolero, Officer Krupke from Leonard Bernstein's inspired West Side Story score, and Chuck Mangione's Land of Make Believe.

According to Bruce McCabe of the Boston Globe, "BLAST! is an exuberant 15-number show that doesn't falter while bridging the categories of classical, blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, and techno-pop music. BLAST! stands, blows, pounds, marches, and whirls with panache. It sent a full house into repeated bursts of cheering and applause."

Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals (DMS), said, "This is one of the most popular shows we have ever had at the Music Hall. I had over 80 letters from subscribers begging us to bring Blast! back as soon as possible. So when we found an opportunity to bring it back this year as a special, we were thrilled to do so. One lady told me that her teenage son had been about to drop band until she took him to see Blast! and he decided to stay with his school's band program after that. Some people call this show 'revenge of the Band geeks,' but it had broad appeal with people who had never played an instrument as well as those who had."

Blast! evolved from the drum corps "Star of Indiana," that was founded in 1984 in Bloomington, Indiana, by businessman Bill Cook to benefit young people in music education. In its initial year, Star of Indiana became the first corps ever to be placed among the top ten corps at the prestigious Drum Corps International World Championships. Star of Indiana worked harder and improved each year until it became the World Champion in 1991. Star's performances and success revolutionized the world of drum corps. It brought an ever more sophisticated sense of musicianship, exciting showmanship, and dynamic choreography to this wonderful genre. Since 1993, Star of Indiana has evolved from a competitive 128 member drum corps, to a theatrical show which brings the power, passion and precision of outdoor pageantry to the stage in a musical performance which is now known as BLAST!

Blast! on tour, consists of 54 members, largely in their early 20s, drawn from the world of outdoor pageantry all across North America. The physical and musical demands of the production are very high. The programs require the performers to be highly trained athletes along with being world-class musicians. The performers undergo months of intense training to prepare. Practicing unrelentingly through heat, cold, dust and rain, they produce thrilling performances and the end product is an art form that is both compelling and entertaining.

Don't miss an opportunity to see this amazing kaleidescope of music and dance. Contact your on line ticket vendor and get the tickets.