Celebrating America with song and swing
Taking a train ride around the country in one night may not be as hard as it sounds for those planning to attend “In the Miller Mood,” a big band dinner and show playing at USU Sept. 6 to 10.
“Its a musical journey through the Big Band Era,” said Brenda Anthony, director, producer and writer of the show.
According to the show’s program, the audience symbolically boards the Chattanooga Choo Choo in the 1940s and makes stops in Chicago, St. Louis and then back to its origin; New York City, at the Hotel Pennsylvania — the hotel Glen Miller wrote “Pennsylvania 6-5000” about.
One section of the program is music devoted to a contributor to Big Band Era sentiment: World War II. With such songs as “Any Bonds Today?” “He’s A-1 in the Army” and “Why Do They Call a Private a Private?” “In the Miller Mood” pays tribute to the inspiration for big band music and dance. Authentic costumes and miniature skits attempt to transport the audience back in time, as singers honor current military members with recognizable military anthems.
Putting on a production like “In the Miller Mood” requires a variety of performers. The Larry Smith Orchestra will be performing music from the era as well as accompanying the singers and dancers.
“One of the biggest reasons I do this is because of the opportunity to sing with a live big band orchestra,” said Michael Dubois, a third-year performer and emcee for the show.
The opening number will feature the USU ballroom dance team, and the Stardust Dancers and Stardust Singers will perform the bulk of the music. Anthony said the singers begin learning music in April, and get together monthly until August, when the regular rehearsals from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, begin.
“We have a very strict rehearsal, and it makes the time go by faster,” Dubois said.
Though the singers are expected to have all songs learned and memorized by the August rehearsals, the singers are constantly rehearsing music, with a five-minute break, every hour.
“There’s never a dull moment. Every minute you have to be selling it,” said McKenzie Turley, a singer, choreographer and vocal director for the show
Every detail must be taken care of, and much of the rehearsal is spent discussing who will be doing what, how many stage hands the show will need to take care of props, and what side of the stage each individual singer and dancer will enter from.
“Everyone on our committee wears lots of hats,” Anthony said.
Anthony said Celebrate America, the corporation who produces the show, is a not-for-profit organization and relies on ticket sales and funding from the county. USU will also be participating by hosting the show in the TSC Ballroom. USU catering will be handling the dinner.
“We couldn’t do it without the support of the university,” Anthony said.
USU will be involved in more than just the location, since all but one of the Stardust Singers are USU alumni.
Kelby Bosshardt, a biochemistry senior, said performing for “In the Miller Mood” is a fun hobby and pastime, but he loves being able to perform in front of people.
“There is such an energy that comes from being able to sing and dance with a live orchestra,” he said.
Anthony said many of the singers sacrifice time and money to be involved in the show, such as one singer who commutes from St. George, every week for rehearsals.
“There’s a lot of travel that goes into this show,” she said.
Anthony said, though tickets for Thursday through Saturday are more than $50, students can receive discounted tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday night. Tuesday is a dress rehearsal with just the show, not the dinner or dance, and tickets are $10 per person. Wednesday is the show and dance with no dinner and tickets are $27 for the public, $12.50 for students with ID, and couples pay $10 each.
“The excitement and energy it (‘In the Miller Mood’) brings is universally appealing to all ages,” Bosshardt said.
— kellyn.neumann@aggiemail.usu.edu