Blast! (musical)

Last updated
Blast! Logo Blast Main Logo.png
Blast! Logo

Blast! is a Broadway production created by James Mason for Cook Group Incorporated, the director and organization formerly operating the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps. It was the 2001 winner of the Tony Award for "Best Special Theatrical Event", [1] and simultaneously received a Tony Award nomination [2] for and won the 2001 Emmy Award for "Best Choreography". [3]

Contents

Blast!'s instrumentation is exclusively brass and percussion, a nod to the show's roots in the drum and bugle corps activity. Blast!'s performers use trumpets, flugelhorns, mellophones, baritone horns, tubas, trombones (including one on a unicycle during "Gee, Officer Krupke!"), french horns, and a full complement of percussion instruments including snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, xylophones. vibraphones and marimbas, timpani, and other standard percussion equipment. In addition, Blast! adds instruments not normally found in drum corps, such as French horns, concert euphoniums, trombones and bass trombones, didgeridoos and synthesizers. [4] [5] Blast! II Shockwave was written to include woodwind instruments, such as flute and saxophone. [6] Accompanying the wind and percussion is the Visual Ensemble (or VE for short), a group of dancers who manipulate a variety of props, similar to a color guard.

Most of Blast's duration is instrumentals, throwing people and flags, and a trombonist on a unicycle.

History

The Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, founded in 1984, began competition in the Drum Corps International circuit in 1985 and continued through the 1993 season. [7] It won the 1991 World Championship. After a showing in the 1993 season, the program left the DCI circuit to tour with the Canadian Brass, in a new program dubbed Brass Theater. On December 14, 1999, Blast! premiered at the Hammersmith Apollo in Hammersmith. A PBS special of the London production aired on August 5, 2000. [8] Blast! debuted in the United States on August 23, 2000, at the Wang Center in Boston, Massachusetts. On April 17, 2001, Blast! opened on Broadway at The Broadway Theatre, and later that year commenced its first national tour starting September 7 in St. Louis, Missouri. [9]

Following the success of the original production, Blast II Shockwave was developed and toured the United States in 2002–2003. This production added woodwind instruments. Shockwave has not been released on CD or DVD. The creators of Blast! also developed Cyberjam which premiered in London at the Queen's Theatre in 2003. [10] [11] [12] An additional sequel, MIX:Music in Xtreme, debuted in Japan in 2006 and toured Japan again in 2008. [13] In 2016 Blast! developed and premiered Blast! The Music of Disney in Japan. [13] Blast! The Music of Disney returned to Japan for additional tours in 2017 and 2019. [13] [14]

A shortened version of the show, called "The Power of BLAST!" played at the America Gardens Theatre at Epcot in Orlando, Florida for the summer of 2001, before moving to the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California from November 22, 2001 until September 2, 2002. [15]

According to the show's website, the original show has not toured since September 2020. [16]

Musical Numbers

Blast!

Act One

Overture of color

Violet

Blue

Green

Black

Act Two

Color Wheel

  • "Color Wheel Too" – (Jonathan Vanderkolff)

Yellow

Orange

Red

Recent editions of Blast! have omitted "Simple Gifts" and "Gee, Officer Krupke!", and moved "Tangerinamadidge" immediately before "Lemontechno".

Blast! II Shockwave

Act One

Act Two

MIX: Music in Xtreme

Act One

Act Two

The Power of BLAST!

Epcot version

Disney California Adventure version

BLAST! The Music of Disney

[17] [18]

Act I

Act II

Musical numbers listed in the souvenir program for early productions of Blast! The Music of Disney included Night on Bald Mountain, Let It Go, and How Far I'll Go. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Aladdin</i> (1992 Disney film) 1992 American animated musical fantasy film

Aladdin is a 1992 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was produced and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, and is based on the Arabic folktale of the same name from the One Thousand and One Nights. The voice cast features Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, and Jonathan Freeman. The film follows the titular Aladdin, an Arabian street urchin, who finds a magic lamp containing a genie. With the genie's help, Aladdin disguises himself as a wealthy prince and tries to impress the Sultan in order to marry his free-spirited daughter, Princess Jasmine, while the Sultan's evil vizier Jafar plots to steal the magic lamp for his own uses.

<i>Beauty and the Beast</i> (1991 film) 1991 American animated musical fantasy romance film

Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated musical romantic fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 30th Disney animated feature film and the third released during the Disney Renaissance period, it is based on the 1756 fairy tale of the same name by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, while also containing ideas from the 1946 French film of the same name directed by Jean Cocteau. The film was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise and produced by Don Hahn, from a screenplay by Linda Woolverton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drum and bugle corps (modern)</span> Marching group of brass and percussion instrumentalists

A modern drum and bugle corps is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, electronic instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions. Participants of all ages are represented within the corps activity, but the majority are between the ages of 13 and 22 and are members of corps within Drum Corps International or Drum Corps Associates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bongo drum</span> Type of drum

Bongos are an Afro-Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of small open bottomed hand drums of different sizes. They are struck with both hands, most commonly in an eight-stroke pattern called martillo (hammer). They are mainly employed in the rhythm section of son cubano and salsa ensembles, often alongside other drums such as the larger congas and the stick-struck timbales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Menken</span> American composer (born 1949)

Alan Irwin Menken is an American composer, best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores and songs for The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and Pocahontas (1995) have each won him two Academy Awards. He also composed the scores and songs for Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Newsies (1992), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Home on the Range (2004), Enchanted (2007), and Tangled (2010), among others. His accolades include eight Academy Awards, becoming the second most prolific Oscar winner in the music categories after Alfred Newman a Tony Award, eleven Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award. Menken is one of seventeen people to have won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony. He is the only person to have won a Razzie, an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony ("REGOT").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Gadd</span> American drummer

Stephen Kendall Gadd is an American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984. Gadd's performances on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Late in the Evening" and Steely Dan's "Aja" are examples of his style. He has worked with other popular musicians from many genres including Simon & Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, Grover Washington Jr., Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Paul Desmond, Kate Bush, Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, Chuck Mangione, Kenny Loggins, Eric Clapton, Pino Daniele, Michel Petrucciani, and Toshiki Kadomatsu.

The Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps is a defunct competitive junior drum and bugle corps, based in Bloomington, Indiana. The corps was the 1991 Drum Corps International (DCI) World Champion.

<i>Beauty and the Beast</i> (musical) Stage musical, based on the 1991 animated Disney film of the same

Beauty and the Beast is a Disney stage musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton. Adapted from Walt Disney Pictures' Academy Award-winning 1991 animated musical film of the same name – which in turn had been based on the classic French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont – Beauty and the Beast tells the story of an unkind prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment for his selfish ways. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must learn to love a bright, beautiful young lady who he has imprisoned in his enchanted castle before it is too late.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Theatrical Productions</span> Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the flagship stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a major business unit of The Walt Disney Company.

"Beauty and the Beast" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for the Disney animated feature film Beauty and the Beast (1991). The film's theme song, the Broadway-inspired ballad was first recorded by British-American actress Angela Lansbury in her role as the voice of the character Mrs. Potts, and essentially describes the relationship between its two main characters Belle and the Beast, specifically how the couple has learned to accept their differences and in turn change each other for the better. Additionally, the song's lyrics imply that the feeling of love is as timeless and ageless as a "tale as old as time". Lansbury's rendition is heard during the famous ballroom sequence between Belle and the Beast, while a shortened chorale version plays in the closing scenes of the film, and the song's motif features frequently in other pieces of Menken's film score. Lansbury was initially hesitant to record "Beauty and the Beast" because she felt that it was not suitable for her aging singing voice, but ultimately completed the song in one take.

During Labor Day Weekend, Drum Corps Associates (DCA) Open Class corps compete to earn the title of DCA Open Class World Champion. The championships consist of 2 rounds held on 2 consecutive nights. All corps compete at Prelims, with the top 10 Open Class and top 4 Class A corps competing at Finals. The champion is determined by the overall high score in the Finals competition. There are also a number of caption awards, though the process of determination for those awards has changed from year to year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band</span>

The University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (UMMB) is the marching band for the University of Massachusetts Amherst known for its drum corps style and nationally renowned percussion section. The Minuteman Band is also known for its use of dance routines, vocalists, electronics, and overall showmanship.

<i>The Little Mermaid</i> (musical) Musical based on the 1989 film of the same name

The Little Mermaid is a stage musical produced by Disney Theatrical, based on the animated 1989 Disney film of the same name and the classic story by Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find true love. Its book is by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, with additional lyrics by Glenn Slater. Its underwater setting and story about aquatic characters requires unusual technical designs and strategies to create gliding movements for the actors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon State University Marching Band</span>

Oregon State University Marching Band, ("OSUMB"), is the marching band of Oregon State University, known as the "Spirit and Sound of OSU." The band was established in 1891. It is one of the oldest bands in the Pac-12 and the primary athletic band at Oregon State. In addition to the Oregon State University Marching Band, other athletic bands include Basketball Band, Rhythm & Beavs, Rhythm & Beavs: Travel Band, the Away Game Pep Band, Alumni Band, Gymnastics Band, and Bar Band. All band members are required to participate in marching band before they may be eligible to participate in any of the other athletic bands Oregon State offers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future Corps</span> Musical artist

The Future Corps was a group of musicians who performed high energy instrumental music in the drum and bugle corps style, primarily at the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World. Made up entirely of brass players and percussionists, members were largely from competitive drum corps. Disney provided the instruments, and the group's futuristic costumes were designed and maintained by the Walt Disney World costume department. Special outfits were sometimes worn for performances around holidays such as Christmas. A similar group called the Magic Kingdom Korps also played at Disneyland, alternating stints as both a seasonal and a full-time group.

<i>The Little Mermaid</i> (franchise) Disney media franchise

The Little Mermaid is a Disney media franchise. The success of the 1989 American animated feature film The Little Mermaid led to a direct-to-video sequel, a prequel film, a spin-off television series, a musical, several video games, theme park attractions, and other merchandise. A live action remake of the film is in development for release in 2023. The Little Mermaid paved the way for what would become the Disney Renaissance, with the original film becoming the first film of that era.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell Marching Band has about 120 members and is directed by Daniel Lutz and assisted by Debra-Nicole Huber. The band acts as an exhibition band for the University of Massachusetts Lowell, performing for the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA), New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) and Musical Arts Conference (MAC) shows throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut. The band also frequently performs at events on campus and in surrounding communities, including parades.

<i>Aladdin</i> (2011 musical) Broadway musical

Aladdin is a Broadway musical based on the 1992 Disney animated film of the same name with a book by Chad Beguelin, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Beguelin. It resurrects three songs written by Menken and Ashman for the film but not used, and adds four songs written by Menken and Beguelin.

"Proud of Your Boy" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. Originally intended for Disney's animated film Aladdin (1992), the song was omitted when Aladdin's mother was written out of the story. After being discarded, "Proud of Your Boy" remained largely undiscovered by audiences until Walt Disney Records released Ashman and Menken's demo on a compilation album in 1994, after which it gradually gained popularity. The song was eventually restored for the film's stage musical adaptation in 2011, originally performed and recorded by American actor Adam Jacobs. Lyrically, "Proud of Your Boy" is about a young man promising his mother that he will change his mischievous ways and ultimately make her proud.

<i>The Little Mermaid</i> (2023 film) Upcoming film directed by Rob Marshall

The Little Mermaid is an upcoming American musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay written by David Magee and Jane Goldman, from a story written by Magee, Marshall and John DeLuca. It is a production of Walt Disney Pictures and is a live-action adaptation of the 1989 animated film of the same name, which itself is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale of the same name. It is produced by Rob Marshall, John DeLuca, Marc Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the latter of whom co-wrote new songs for the remake as the lyricist, Alan Menken is set to return as the composer for both the score and the songs. The film cast Halle Bailey as Ariel along with Jonah Hauer-King, Art Malik, Noma Dumezweni, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy, with Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, and Awkwafina in voice roles.

References

  1. "2001 Tony (Antoinette Perry) Awards". Infoplease. Retrieved December 20, 2005.
  2. "Blast! Tony Awards Info". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  3. "Emmy Awards: 2001". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 20, 2005.
  4. "Brass Instruments & Model Numbers". blasttheshow.com. Retrieved December 20, 2005.
  5. "Percussion Instruments & Model Numbers". blasttheshow.com. Retrieved December 20, 2005.
  6. Company, Tampa Publishing. "Back with a blast: "Shockwave'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  7. "Song History for Star of Indiana". Corpreps.com. Retrieved December 20, 2005.
  8. Bob, Hammel (Sep 26, 2008). The Bill Cook Story: Ready, Fire, Aim!. Indiana University Press. p. 348. ISBN   978-0253352545.
  9. "Blast Timeline". blasttheshow.com. Retrieved December 20, 2005.
  10. James, Mason. "Mason Entertainment Group: Company Info".
  11. "Broadway.com:Cyberjam". Broadway.com.
  12. Walters, John (Oct 24, 2003). "The Join Was Jumping". The Guardian.
  13. 1 2 3 James, Mason. "Blast the Show: History".
  14. "Blast Japan Tour". Blast Japan Tour. Dec 1, 2019.
  15. "The Power of Blast at Yesterland". yesterland.com.
  16. "Blast! Japan Tour 2019". www.blasttheshow.com/. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  17. "Blast Japan Tour: About". Blast Japan Tour. Dec 1, 2019.
  18. Souvenir Program. Tokyo, Japan: Kyodo Tokyo Inc. 2019. pp. 5, 6.
  19. Blast! The Music of Disney 2017 Souvenir Program. Tokyo, Japan: Kyodo Tokyo Inc. 2017. pp. 5–6.