Those high school band lessons have paid off for Blast! tuba soloist Sanford Jones.
"I was in seventh grade when I started playing the tuba," Jones said by phone from Phoenix. "And I played all through school. And I somehow ended up as one of the original cast members of Blast!"
Blast! is a Tony Award-winning musical showcase of brass, percussion and dance, which has its roots in the 128-member drum-and-bugle corps of Star of Indiana. The corps debuted in 1984 in Bloomington to provide musical education to young students.
By 1994, the show, directed by James Mason, had evolved into an early incarnation of Blast! and was soon playing hockey arenas. Jones, who was a member of the Star of Indiana, remembers those times. "That production was actually the first draft of Blast!" said Jones, an original member of the Star of Indiana. "So, I was kind of involved since the beginning. Four years later, we were told that we were going to make a Broadway production out of it."
To prepare, the group streamlined its performance and cut the number of performers down to 35. Then, after sculpting the show for the stage, Mason took Jones and the rest to London for preliminary performances.
When the production made its Broadway debut in 2001, it surprised a lot of critics. Even Jones was a bit surprised at the reception. "We didn't know how people would react to it," he said. "We did make it accessible to all ages. We wanted people to see the show and get excited about what we were doing. The funny thing is, people still don't know what to expect when they come to the show. But I do know they leave with smiles on their faces."
In 2001, Blast! nabbed the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. That same year, after debuting on TV, the production won the best-choreography Emmy.
Jones said that Blast! is not only a display of musical excitement but includes costume changes, choreography and lighting effects that rival Riverdance and Stomp. "We are in the same category as those other shows. Of course, we're not like them in the sense of the music, but we're like them in the sense of production style."
Recently, the production toured Japan, said Jones. "It was incredible. The reception was so exciting. It was great to see the Japanese audiences' reaction to the show. It was fun seeing them react to such an American thing.
"Each night is different. The audiences react differently from night to night. And those who have an idea about us have certain expectations. And we, as performers, do keep our eyes and minds wide open to any ideas or changes that can be done to improve the show."
If you go . . .
What: Blast!
Where: Kingsburry Hall, University of Utah
When: Tonight and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $25.50 - $47.50
Phone: 581-7100
E-mail: scott@desnews.com