Show theme – Side Show

Show repertoire – https://www.facebook.com/bluestars/posts/10152734121246923

Entrance of the Gladiators- by Julius Fucik

The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze – by Gaston Lyle, Alfred Lee

I Will Never Leave You (from Side Show) – by Henry Krieger, Bill Russell

Send in the Clowns – by Stephen Sondheim

Carnivale – by Jeff Beal

Original music – by Richard Saucedo, Ian Grom, John Mapes

2015 Blue Stars playlist:



Strangely enough, there have not been many circus themed shows in drum corps history. The most famous may be the 1971 Cavaliers, one of two shows which some have claimed led to ’71 as the year “drum corps died”. While the activity is still around, albeit different than what it was four decades ago, only one other show comes to mind in junior corps history which used the circus as its focus, the 1987 Star of Indiana. It is safe to say, then, that the Blue Stars have a great opportunity for a fresh take on circuses with Side Show.

Based on the musical selection alone, the Blue Stars are going all in with their theme. Entrance of the Gladiators, better known as Thunder and Blazes, has made an excellent opener for corps like the Bridgemen. The Blue Stars, however, may be taking the song to the next level as there is an image of a line of trombones posted on their Facebook page. It is possible that those trombones are playing the classic low brass part?

Playing trombones with the greatest of ease…

More familiar musical selections such as The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze and Send in the Clowns (yes, it will be weird to hear somebody besides Santa Clara playing this) add to what is shaping up to be a very crowd pleasing show. The selection of I Will Never Leave You from the stage musical Side Show will be a great power ballad. The only music I don’t know is from the TV series Carnivale and it is not clear which selection or selections the Blue Stars will use in their show. Considering the theme of the show, however, the music should fit in perfectly.

The Blue Stars did a wonderful job reaching out to audiences last season and appear to be building on that connection in 2015. Side Show has the potential to become the most talked about and anticipated show of the season. The only thing which could cause a problem is if the corps decides to incorporate clowns into their show. Anybody who has read Stephen King’s IT or watched last season’s American Horror Story: Freak Show knows that clowns are bad news no matter what.

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