Things to do in Jersey – Upcoming Event at the State Theatre – Blast! – January 27 2012

by Donald Hanson • January 12, 2012 • Events • Comments (0) • 1256

State Theatre presents the Tony^® Award-winning show
Blast!

Friday, January 27, 2012, 8pm; $57, $52, $40, $25

Special lobby performance by the New Brunswick school district Jazz Big Band at 7:30pm

To kick-off the State Theatre’s winter festival, Hub City Carnivale

Ticket Office: 732-246-SHOW (7469)

New Brunswick, NJ —State Theatre presents the Tony^® Award-winning theatrical event, Blast! on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8pm. Born on athletic fields across the nation, Blast! is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry. Blast! is the kick-off event for the State Theatre’s 7th annual Hub City Carnivale, a four-week winter festival of performances and other family friendly activities from January 27 – February 24, 2012. Ticketed patrons can come early at 7:30pm to enjoy a performance in the State Theatre lobby by the New Brunswick school district Jazz Big Band. Tickets for Blast range from $25-57.

Astounding audiences around the globe repeatedly since the Emmy^® winning PBS performance and the Tony^® winning Broadway performances, Blast! is a celebration of movement and music. Howard Kissel of the New York Daily News says: “What a cast, what a ‘Blast!’ An exhilarating evening.” Bruce McCabe of the Boston Globe says, “Blast! 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.”

Blast! evolved from the drum corps Star of Indiana, which was founded in 1984 in Bloomington, Indiana, by businessman Bill Cook to benefit young people in music education. The Artistic Director James Mason, is a lifelong veteran of drum and bugle corps and other musical activities. In its initial year, Star of Indiana became the first corps ever to place among the top ten corps at the prestigious Drum Corps International World Championships. Star of Indiana improved each year until it became the World Champion in 1991. Competing against other organizations from the U.S., Japan, Canada, and Europe, Star’s performances revolutionized the world of drum corps, bringing an ever more sophisticated sense of musicianship, exciting showmanship, and dynamic choreography to this wonderful genre. In 1993, Mason began shaping the evolution of Star of Indiana from a competitive drum corps into a theatrical show which brings the power, passion, and precision of outdoor pageantry to the stage in a musical performance now known as Blast!

Blast! on tour consists of 35 members, drawn from the world of outdoor pageantry all across North America. There are over 40 world titles held by Blast! cast members who comprise three performing sections—the brass, percussion, and visual ensembles. The brass instruments are pitched in the standard multi-keys. The percussion section includes drums, mallet instruments, and electronic keyboards. The visual element enhances the show by spinning and tossing unusual implements along with the traditional sabers and colorful flags in perfectly synchronized, ballet-like drill.

The physical and musical demands of the production require that the performers be highly trained athletes who are also world-class musicians. Months of intense training prepare the cast. Rehearsing through heat, cold, dust and rain, they produce thrilling performances where athleticism, musical talent, kaleidoscopic movement, and showmanship merge into an art form that is both compelling and entertaining.

For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org. The State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm; Saturday 1pm to 5pm; and at least one hour prior to curtain on performance dates. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 517. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98. 3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.

Blast!

Fri, January 27 at 8pm

$57, $52, $40, $25

STATE THEATRE

15 Livingston Ave

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Ticket Office – 732-246-SHOW (7469)

Online – www.StateTheatreNJ.org