‘Celebrate America: A tribute to Hope’
What could be more American than apple pie, baseball – and Bob Hope.
For decades, Hope was the best America had to offer – funny, honest and close to the hearts of everyone in the country.
This year, with special permission from Hope Enterprises and the Bob Hope Family, the choreographed portion of Logan’s annual Celebrate America show, a big-band dinner and dance, will feature a tribute to the career of the man some consider to be the most successful entertainer of all time.
Following in the footsteps of the Glen Miller Show, which was discontinued several years ago, the Celebrate America show has a simple format: a choreographed show, a catered dinner, big-band dancing and a tribute to war veterans.
Following Hope’s career from Vaudeville to Hollywood, and including a tribute to his years of United Service Organization tours, giving laughter and encouragement to the young men serving in WWII and the Vietnam war, the show will also feature live music provided by the Crestmark Orchestra.
“It’s almost as much fun to watch the dancing after the show as to dance,” said veteran audience member Candace Peterson.
“The show began as a way to fill the void left by the former [Utah States University] Glenn Miller Show,” said Brenda Anthony, founder and director of the event. “The purpose of the show is to continue the tradition of the big band extravaganza that our community has come to love and provide a patriotic experience that remembers America’s heroes.”
“I think the primary purpose of the show is to honor veterans,” said Dan Anthony, the performer who plays Bob Hope. “Naturally that leads into honoring the United States itself, but the general purpose is to appreciate those that have served in any capacity in the armed forces.”
Along with the orchestra, the show will feature 12 singers and nine dancers, the majority of whom are USU students.
“They receive a scholarship and three hours class credit for the show,” Brenda said.
Though the $38.75 ticket price includes a buffet style dinner, a choreographed show and dancing, many students feel they aren’t able to afford such a hefty fee, especially if they bring a date.
In order to help students be able to enjoy the show, this year, the organizers are offering a student night with tickets going for $5. Though no dinner will be served, the students will be able to experience the big band era first hand for a much more economical price.
“Student night is definitely cheaper,” Dan said. “Personally, I think it’s worth it to come on the other nights, when you and your sweetheart can get all dressed up, come have a USU-catered dinner, watch a fantastic show and then dance the night away. How often do students have big formal occasions avaliable as an option? Almost never.”
Also featuring a tribute to war veterans, the show often runs the gamut of emotional experience.
“One [memory] that I recall,” said Brenda, “is the year we included a PowerPoint presentation on 9/11. The cast had rehearsed the number all summer and had speaking lines right after the slides. The first performer to speak was so overcome with emotion at seeing the slides, she broke down and cried through the dialogue. It was genuine and very tender for all of us.”
In attempting to make the show better every year, this year’s show will ask the spouses or widows of veterans to stand as well.
“It is such a logical thing to do,” Brenda said. “I wish we had been doing it all along.”
Student night takes place on Wednesday, Sept 8. The full package shows will run 7-11:30 p.m. Sept. 9-11.
Students may purchase tickets at the TSC ticket office, at the USU Ticket office in the Spectrum or at the door, depending on space availability.
-mattgo@cc.usu.edu