Celebrating, Hollywood Style
It opened with the orchestra: saxophones, clarinets and trombones combined to recreate the suave style of Big Band era music, which set the mood for the next hour and fifteen minutes in USUís Evan Stevenson Ballroom. Performers dressed in elegant gowns and dashing tuxedos danced onto the stage, and Celebrate Americaís 2010 ìHooray for Hollywoodî theme show was under way.
The Celebrate America Show Corporation was started 11 years ago by Production Director Brenda Anthony. The inspiration for the corporation was the ìEvening with Glenn Millerî dinner show that the USU Entertainment Department used to put on until 12 years ago when it was cut for financial reasons, according to Anthony.
The community, however, wanted the tradition to continue, and members, such as Anthony, took it upon themselves to keep the show going. Retired faculty member Larry Smith started the orchestra, the Larry Smith Orchestra, now conducted by Mr. Will Francis.
ìThe best big band anywhere, theyíre fantastic,î Anthony said.
The production staff pieced together a show with support from the university.
ìThat first year, we just decided to give it a try,î Anthony said, ìWe did it for one night, and over the last ten years [it has grown] to what it is now.î
This year, the show is running for five days. Tuesday night was the dress rehearsal, open to the general public, and Wednesday was student night, with reduced ticket prices for students of USU. Thursday, Friday and Saturday night a university-catered dinner is included with the show.
ìWe couldnít do the show if Utah State didnít work with us,î Anthony said. ìThis is a great example of Utah State wanting to work with the community.î
The university does not fund the event. All the funding for Celebrate America comes from ticket sales and the corporationís benefactor, retired Army veteran Colonel Von Freeman, who resides in Texas.
The thirty performers are clad in dazzling costumes produced under the direction of wardrobe director Dawn Hooker. The lasting energy of the 12 singers, five ballroom dance couples and eight rockette-style dancers is evidenced by the smiles on their faces and pride in their eyes.
ìItís a lot of work,î said ballroom dancer Jessica Tripp, ìbut everything really came together in the last week.î
Auditions began in April, and throughout the summer singers periodically received songs in the mail that they were responsible to learn before each monthly practice.
ìIt takes a year [to put together]. We have to start planning now for next year,î Anthony said. ìAll the music in the show is transcribed specifically for us.î
The show includes several familiar songs such as ìDiamonds are a Girlís Best Friend,î ìBaby Itís Cold Outside,î and an instrumental version of ìSinging in the Rain.î Each piece of music was creatively arranged for the show but still carries all the merit of classic Big Band.
This yearís show was inspired by Hollywoodís Coconut Grove Nightclub in 1942, a place and a time when celebrities and fans gathered for nights of morale-boosting entertainment. Celebrities performing would travel through the audience, giving the spectators the feeling that they were part of the show. Special appearances were made by several well-known celebrities of the time.
Shirley Temple, Marylin Monroe, George Burns and Gracie Allen graced the patrons of Celebrate America with their talents in the very same manner, drawing smiles and chuckles from the crowd.
Hailey Barney, a singer in the show, commented that ìThe show has a lot to say [about] patriotism and reliving the ëglory daysí of Hollywood ñ that was my favorite part.î
ìHooray for Hollywoodî illustrates the highlights of 1942: the music, the dress, the love of entertainment, and support for the troops. Great care was taken to honor all veterans and current members of the military in attendance. Military anthems were played and rounds of applause were graciously given, portraying a patriotism unmatched by any other time or place.
Celebrate America offered a great show for the 11th year running, bringing dance and song together to provide a journey back to Big Band Era Hollywood. They truly captured the essence of time and portrayed it in an inspiring and entertaining way. Theyíve got rhythm, theyíve got music, who could ask for anything more?
ñshanelle.b@aggiemail.usu.edu