Wednesday, February 13, 2002
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Wednesday, February 13, 2002 |
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Fox Theatre strikes up the band with 'Blast!' By MICHAEL
BOYLAN After college the best football players can try to play professionally, but where do the stars of the marching band go? The answer is "Blast!," a Tony Award and Emmy Award winning show featuring 54 members who comprise three performing sections - the brass, percussion and visual ensembles, which started last night at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The show's roots start in Bloomington, Ind., in 1984. Founded by Bill Cook as a way to benefit young people in music education, Star of Indiana was a drum and bugle corps with its sights set on a world championship. The group placed in the top 10 in its initial year and became the world champions in 1991. Lead by artistic director James Mason, the show has evolved from a competitive 128-member drum corps to a theatrical show. The cast of "Blast!" is from all over North America and members are largely in their early 20s. More than 40 world titles are held by cast members who are also world class athletes. The cast goes through months of intense training in all forms of weather to combine music, movement, athleticism and showmanship to form the popular show. "Blast!" combines elements of classical music, jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll and techno pop. The show has been performed in London, Chicago, Detroit, Boston and Washington, D.C., as well as on Broadway. The group now begins an open-ended tour of North America with eight shows at the Fox. "Blast!" will be performed at 8 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 16 and at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17. There will also be matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets, $22.50 to $45, are available at the Fox Theatre box office, online at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com, or by phone at 404-817-8700. |
