“Soldier Show 27.0” is the working concept of the 2010 U.S. Army Soldier Show, an “entertainment for the Soldier, by the Soldier” song-and-dance production. This year’s edition revolves around current social-media phenomena.
“It’s the 27th year and it’s a new version, just like a new version of a computer program, but it’s built on the foundations of all the past versions,” Soldier Show Production Director Victor Hurtado said. “Basically, it’s like a computer screen. When you walk in, you’ll see the desktop, and all of the transitions are like Facebook or Google with a PDF.”
The 2010 Soldier Show schedule features 101 performances at 53 venues, including eight stops in Germany. The tour began April 23 at Wallace Theater on Fort Belvoir, home of the Army Entertainment Division.
Soldier Show regulars might recognize a few familiar-looking faces because three siblings of 2004 Soldier Show performers are among this season’s cast: Spc. Philip Plasterer, Spc. Brian McAleese-Jergins and 2nd Lt. Katherine Melcher. And Sgt. Kevin Cherry, another 2004 performer, returns for his second go-round with the Soldier Show.
In addition to much ado about keeping it all in the family, the 2004 and 2010 themes somewhat resemble each other. The previous show revolved around how deployed Soldiers kept in touch with loved ones via cellular telephones and electronic mail. Those communication devices have since been supplemented by faster-moving and farther-reaching social-media tools, many of which the Army has embraced.
Hurtado was quickly impressed by this year’s Soldier Show performers.
“When I hear them sing together, it’s like the most glorious choir,” he said. “People are going to be just shocked by how good they are.”
Soldier Show founder Irving Berlin would not have wanted it any other way. The Soldier-performers, in turn, will honor the founding father of Army Entertainment.
“There’s some great historical content with Irving Berlin,” Hurtado explained. “We have much better video technology this year with moving projectors. We’re going to be able to use that during the show for a lot longer lengths of time, so we have voiceovers with Irving Berlin and some of his work.”
The 2010 U.S. Army Soldier Show is sponsored by the U.S. Army G-1’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program, and the U.S. Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program.
Staff Sgt. La’Brenza McDonald of the 165th Military Police Company, 40th MP Internment and Resettlement Battalion, Fort Leavenworh, K.S. will return to post when the Soldier Show performs at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 in the Lewis an Clark Center’s Eisenhower Auditorium. The show is free and open to the public.
