After college

the best football players can try to play professionally, but where do

the stars of the marching band go?

The answer

is "Blast!," a Tony Award and Emmy Award winning show featuring

54 members who comprise three performing sections - the brass, percussion

and visual ensembles, which started last night at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

The show's

roots start in Bloomington, Ind., in 1984. Founded by Bill Cook as a way

to benefit young people in music education, Star of Indiana was a drum

and bugle corps with its sights set on a world championship. The group

placed in the top 10 in its initial year and became the world champions

in 1991. Lead by artistic director James Mason, the show has evolved from

a competitive 128-member drum corps to a theatrical show.

The cast of

"Blast!" is from all over North America and members are largely

in their early 20s. More than 40 world titles are held by cast members

who are also world class athletes. The cast goes through months of intense

training in all forms of weather to combine music, movement, athleticism

and showmanship to form the popular show.

"Blast!"

combines elements of classical music, jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll and techno

pop. The show has been performed in London, Chicago, Detroit, Boston and

Washington, D.C., as well as on Broadway. The group now begins an open-ended

tour of North America with eight shows at the Fox.

"Blast!"

will be performed at 8 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 16 and at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 17. There will also be matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday

and Sunday. Tickets, $22.50 to $45, are available at the Fox Theatre box

office, online at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com , or by phone at

404-817-8700.

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