Broadway Theatre League Presents BLAST! At Morris PAC 2/14

Since taking the world by storm with triumphant successes in London, on Broadway, across North America and Japan, BLAST!, winner of the 2001 Tony Award for "Best Special Theatrical Event," and the 2001 Emmy Award for "Best Choreography," will play The Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend February 14, 2012 for one night only.

Tickets start at $32 and are available online at www.theaterleague.com, the Morris Performing Arts Center Box Office, by calling 574.235.9190, or at the following outlets: Hammes Bookstore/Eddy Street Commons, South Bend; O'Brien Recreation Center, South Bend; and Super Sounds/TG Music, Goshen.

About the show: "BLAST!, a celebration of movement and music, almost defies description -- and it has left critics everywhere surprised and delighted. Born on athletic fields across the nation, BLAST! is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry. A unique experience, BLAST! explodes the genre with the artistry of the theatre. BLAST! is musical spectacle; it is music in motion. "

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 United States, 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, Mr. 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 performances where athleticism, musical talent, kaleidoscopic movement, and showmanship merge into an art form that is both compelling and entertaining.

Tickets for BLAST! start at $32 and are available online at www.theaterleague.com, the Morris Performing Arts Center Box Office, by calling 574.235.9190, or at the following outlets: Hammes Bookstore/Eddy Street Commons, South Bend; O'Brien Recreation Center, South Bend; and Super Sounds/TG Music, Goshen. Members of the military can enjoy half price seating throughout the auditorium and students with a valid ID pay half price for balcony seats. Groups of 15 or more call 1.866.31.GROUP and save up to 10%.

Please note: Broadway Theatre League, the Morris Performing Arts Center box office, and Morris Ticket Outlets are the only official sources for tickets to BLAST! and all of the shows in the 2011-2012 Broadway at the Morris Performing Arts Center Series. If you purchase tickets through another source, you may pay over-inflated prices and your tickets will not be guaranteed.

The 2011-2012 Broadway at the Morris Performing Arts Center is welcomed by the Ivy Court Inn & Suites.

The official BLAST! cast recording is available on RCA Victor. For further information on BLAST! www.blasttheshow.com

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