70 Musicians Blast into Apollo for X-mas
Date: 17 November 1999
The world premiere of a new 'musical extravaganza' will have a Christmas season at the Apollo Hammersmith. Blast!, featuring 70 musicians, will open on 14 December 1999, following previews from 9 December.
The company consists of 40 brass players, 12 percussionists and 16 visual ensemble. Although predominantly American, six of the musicians, all brass players, hail from the Royal Academy of Music. While playing a medley of live music from classical to rock, the cast march at high speed and perform intricate synchronised drills involving rifles, sabres and flags as well as musical instruments.
Blast! is produced by the Star of Indiana and Brass Theatre. Star of Indiana was founded twelve years ago in Bloomington, Indiana by businessman Bill Cook to benefit young people in music education. It became involved in the world of drum and bugle corps, winning the world championship in 1991. From here, Brass Theater developed, combining a musical theatre of brass and percussion music with dance and exciting visuals on stage. Blast! is the culmination of five years of research by the group to produce a distinctive instrumental sound for theatre.
The company is outfitted by the British company Red or Dead, winner for three years running of British Street Designer of the Year Award.
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