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Since 1993, he has been shaping the evolution of Star of Indiana from a competitive, 128 member drum corps to a theatrical show combining the instrumental virtuosity and marching precision of outdoor pageantry with the repertoire, props, costuming, staging and special effects of musical theatre. Mason's newest and most exciting creation is Blast! The following interview provides insight into the creative process in developing such an innovative show.
Q: What would you say is the principle concept behind the Blast! production? MASON: To me, it's a celebration of instrumental music and outdoor pageantry, put in a theatrical setting. Blast! is almost like a Disneyesque animation, only in Blast! the animation comes to life with real people playing the music and interpreting it visually. For years musicians have been trapped in the pit and now they have crawled onto the stage. Throwing away the stands and chairs they now act, leap, and lunge creating a new musical and theatrical experience.
Q: What elements, both musical and theatrical, go into creating a show like Blast!? MASON: This show traces our heritage of color guard, drum and bugle corps and marching band, concentrating primarily on the brass and percussion instruments, along with the use of what we call a "visual ensemble" to interpret the music visually by spinning and manipulating props such as flags, rifles and sabers. That's the traditional palette we work from. Then we take those elements and blend them all together while at the same time expanding the palette with dramatic lighting, intricate choreography, exciting costumes and stage effects to enhance the show theatrically.
Q: Would you describe the theme of the show and it's progression through the colors of the spectrum? MASON: During Blast!, we explore the dramatic power of each color as a unique entity, and actually embrace the audience with each color. Using colors, we can stimulate and augment the audiences emotions. In the first act, Blast! utilizes the cool colors and the show remains somewhat aloof. In terms of staging, we keep the show more onstage and separate from the audience. Then with the second act, where we begin exploring the warm colors, we embrace the audience and interact with them to bring them into our show and into our world. We actually send the cast out into the audience to make them feel part of the show. The lighting, choreography, sets, props, costumes and musical selections all were carefully chosen to reflect the emotional qualities of the colors being depicted onstage during each segment in such a way as to stimulate a very strong emotional response from the audience.
Q: Many cast members have been members of World Champion organizations. What special skills and talents does it take to earn a place as a Blast! performer? MASON: These are performers who started preparing for this when they were probably six or seven years old, and they're literally the only people on earth with the skills to perform this show. They're finely tuned athletes as well as exceptionally talented musicians. Plus, they also have to have that 'star quality' that lets them communicate and connect to people while they're playing their instrument. That's a rarity. There's a lot of people who can sit in a chair behind a music stand and play their instrument beautifully; but can they do a one-handed cartwheel or run backwards as fast as they can, while staying in formation and play at the same time? The members of Blast! can, and that gives us the flexibility to add very exciting visual interpretation to the music.
Q: How is Blast! different from traditional theatre?
MASON: Nothing has ever been staged like this before. We're truly creating a new musical genre with Blast! being able to shrink what Star of Indiana did on a football field to a theatre, and stage it with the bold, theatrical lighting, set design and sound enhancement that modern theatre has, is really a challenge. But it's one we're very excited about attempting.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about working on Blast!? MASON: The obvious one is working with Bill Cook, Don VanDoren and the guys that serve on the creative team (George Pinney, James Prime and Jon Vanderkolff). They have meant so much to this project, spending so much time together-their friendships are invaluable. I have also enjoyed watching the staff and cast work together striving for the excellence that is demanded from all associated with Blast! As far as the performance goes-I love everything! The pre-show excitement before the house opens, the emotion that comes from the cast on stage, along with the interaction between the audience and cast during and after the show. It makes me smile just thinking about it.
Q: What do you hope audiences will take away after experiencing Blast!? MASON: I think there's something in this show for everyone with its wide variety of musical styles. I believe our audiences will be blown away by the power and presence of this type of brass, percussion, and visual ensemble performance in a theatre. They will not only see and hear Blast!, but feel it, as well. |
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