August 04, 2009
U.S. Army Soldier Show halfway though tour
By Rob McIlvaine
FMWRC Public Affairs
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Sgt. Sarah Gayle Connell, a Health Care Specialist and Combat Medic from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, pulls cords above the stage. (Photo by Rob McIlvaine, FMWRC Public Affairs)
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That’s a wrap! …until the next show.
The U.S. Army Soldier Show, on the road since April 24, “just completed their first show of literally, the second half of their tour in downtown San Antonio, just off base from what will become our new home garrison at Fort Sam Houston, Texas,” Capt. Gabriel Granados, Army Entertainment Detachment commander said.
Army Entertainment, part of the Family and MWR Command, will move to Fort Sam Houston by 2011 in accordance with BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) law.
The 104-degree heat of July 28 didn’t stop the packed audience of Soldiers and civilians, both young and old, from jumping to their feet to sing along with the Army entertainers and dance in the aisles at Laurie Auditorium.
“[The Soldiers] just got back from a 10-day blanket leave, so they were eager to get back on stage to perform,” Granados said.
This year’s production pays tribute to Noncommissioned Officers, the backbone of the Army.
The cast of 15 and crew of 26, including drivers, represent the strength of the NCO Corps as they accomplish a demanding mission as a team.
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As Sgt Sarah Gayle Connell, a Health Care Specialist and Combat Medic from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, prepares to climb above the stage, Staff Sgt. Nafrettifi Griffin, an Intelligence Analyst from Fort Meade, Maryland, (left) and Sgt Jennifer Noel, a Combat Medic and Allergy-Immunology Technician at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, pull the power that was used during the production. (Photo by Rob McIlvaine, FMWRC Public Affairs)
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Performing on stage is not all they do.
Before and after the 90-minute show, they transport, unload, install, pack and re-load more than 40,000 pounds of technical equipment.
When the last performance is completed on Nov. 8 at the Wallace Theater on Fort Belvoir, they will have traveled to more than 60 locations in the United States, including Hawaii, and the Republic of Korea.
“Thanks to the theatrical design by Nicole Coppinger and the technical production by Steve Smith, this year’s sets are very mobile, light weight and user friendly,” Granados said, “making the set changes throughout the four acts, very easy on our backs.”
“Lights, Camera, Action,” the title of the production, directed by Victor Hurtado, represents a live studio setting of a television show.
“It’s a show within a show,” explains Granados. “The audience gets to experience what happens back stage and during commercials.”
“This is my second time performing for the Soldier Show,” Sgt. Deneen Murray said. “The first time was in 2006 and I’m going to come back again, but next time as part of the staff.” The thrill of performing on-stage and the resulting cheers from the audience requires much hard work.
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Capt. Gabriel Granados, Army Entertainment Detachment Commander, breaks down part of the set after the San Antonio show. (Photo by Rob McIlvaine, FMWRC Public Affairs)
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When these Soldiers first got together after auditions and winning a spot on the Soldier Show, they rehearsed 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week.
“As they begin the second half of tour, there’s still tweaking going on but they now rehearse about two hours before the show, perfecting their performance each time,” Granados said.
“From a vocal standpoint, this show in San Antonio was the best I’ve seen, but it will get better. They’ve really come together as a team in all aspects of the theater. For instance, their set-up time is down to about six hours with their goal being four to five hours. Tearing down goes even better. It’s now down to three hours to get all packed up and loaded on the trailers,” Granados said.
After they arrived at Fort Sill, Okla. where they performed four shows from July 31 to August 2, the crew and cast packed up again to perform at Fort Carson, Colo. on August 6 and 7. View the complete schedule at
http://www.armymwr.com/UserFiles/file/Soldier%20Show/Soldier_Show_Tour_Schedule-byDATE.pdf.
By 2011, though, the Soldier Show will be operating out of their new home at the soon-to-be renovated Sam Houston Theater, which will include a huge addition in the rear of the theater.
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| Sgt. Dawn Florence, a Human Resources Specialist from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, pulls the power used for the show. (Photo by Rob McIlvaine, FMWRC Public Affairs) |
“Yesterday, I had a tour of the new location,” Granados said. “There will be a major addition at the rear of the theater with three floors. The first floor will be an extension of the stage with loading docks in the rear. On the second floor will be recording and dance studios, and costumes. On the third floor will be offices. We’re all looking forward to having everything in one place.”
“More than a team, we’ve really become like Family,” Murray said as she looked back at the now empty stage. “Oh, we have our ups and downs, like Family, but we love each other and enjoy what we’re doing. And seeing the audience enjoy themselves? That’s what we live for.”
The Soldier Show is sponsored by I. A.M. STRONG, the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program, and AT&T. The cast and crew are also supported and encouraged by audiences at each performance.
2010 auditions are open to all Soldiers, (Active Duty, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Army National Guard), with sufficient time in service remaining. USAR and U.S. Army National guard Soldiers must be activated for the duration of the tour.
Postmark deadline for submission of VHS, DVD or CD is December 31, 2009. For the latest updates, visit www.armyentertainment.net.