Known as the Air Force’s Expeditionary Entertainers, TOPS IN BLUE is one of the oldest and most widely traveled entertainment groups of its kind.  Composed of 35 to 40 of the most talented vocalists, musicians, dancers, and technicians anywhere, their primary purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families throughout the world.  However, the enormous popularity of the group has also made them America’s goodwill ambassadors around the globe. The 2012 tour, entitled “Listen,” invites the audience to listen to the music of life through the sounds we hear every day.  It features the dynamic rhythms of The Doobie Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, and Maroon 5.   This year’s tour also showcases the great country music of Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, and The Zac Brown Band.  Of course, no TOPS IN BLUE show would be complete without the great patriotic music that honors our nation and its heroes.  Add the high energy precision choreography and dazzling visual impact TOPS IN BLUE is known for and every member of the audience will be singing along and dancing in their seats. This year’s tour will take TOPS IN BLUE throughout the United States and to more than 20 countries, with close to 130 performances over a 10-month period. Each year, Air Force personnel stationed worldwide compete in a multilevel competition for the right to be selected as a member of this elite organization.  The TOPS IN BLUE team is an all-active duty U.S. Air Force special unit made up of talented performers selected for their entertainment abilities. Each team begins their tour with an intense 60-day training period at the “Home of TOPS IN BLUE,” Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland AFB, TX.  This training consists of a highly accelerated educational process to prepare them to succeed as world-class entertainers and distinguished Air Force Ambassadors during the 10-month tour.  The performers must master the instrumental, vocal, choreography, and staging requirements of the show.  In addition, they also must become highly accomplished in the intricate technical skills needed to support the tour.  They are, in essence, their own “road crew.” Under the guidance of five technical personnel, the performing team is responsible for setting up over 60,000 pounds of staging, lighting, audio, video and special effects equipment required for each performance. TOPS IN BLUE has a distinctive history, spanning 59 years.  Since its first world tour in 1953, the group has also performed on film, produced albums, and appeared on national television with such legends as Ed Sullivan, Bob Hope, Alabama, Barbara Mandrel, BOYZ II MEN, Lee Greenwood, and many others.  They performed the entire half-time shows for the 1981 Garden State Bowl and Super Bowl XIX.  TOPS IN BLUE has appeared in front of hundreds of thousands of fans at NASCAR events.  In 2005, they performed the National Anthem for Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and in 2011, they performed with Lea Michele of “Glee” at Super Bowl XLV.  TOPS IN BLUE has performed for heads of state and dignitaries throughout the world.  They have toured throughout Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, the Far East, Middle East, Central America, Southwest Asia, Canada, and all 50 of the United States.  Countries such as Taiwan, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Iceland, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Albania, Vietnam, Cuba, Africa and Iraq have all experienced the extraordinary entertainment of TOPS IN BLUE.

Isn’t that how the old cliché goes? If not, it should as Fall Hall Community Center prepares to hosts the annual Family and Teen Talent Contest.

On Friday, May 18, the Fall Hall staff invites moms, dads, brothers, sisters and friends to sing, dance and perform together in this family-oriented event. Contestants can enter in one of 6 categories:

CHILDREN
(ages 6 – 8 inclusive), PRETEEN (ages 9 – 12 inclusive) Solo/Individual Act, TEEN (ages 13 – 18 inclusive) Solo/Individual Act (Vocal), TEEN Solo/Individual Act (Instrumental), TEEN Solo/Individual (Performance/Specialty), GROUP or FAMILY (Group Act, Family Act, Parent and Youth, Husband and Wife).  Participants must be of the same immediate family.

DVDs of installation winners will be submitted for the Air Force-level contest.

“We invite everyone to enjoy an evening of entertainment while cheering for their co-workers and neighbors,” said Jamie Compton, Fall Hall Community Center manager.

Those interested can call Fall Hall Community Center at  773-3510 for more information. Sign up deadline is May 15.

]]> http://www.funatwarren.com/ugt/feed/ 0 http://www.funatwarren.com/playpass/ http://www.funatwarren.com/playpass/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:33:45 +0000 Warren AFB http://www.funatwarren.com/?p=4173 The PLAYpass card is available to single airmen returning from deployments, families of deployed Airmen and families of members at dependent-restricted assignments. The cards are valued at more than $500 and feature discounts  on Services activities such as child care and recreation programs.  PLAYpass will continue through calendar year 2012!  To see if you qualify and to get a PLAYpass visit the Airman and Family  Readiness Center, 7601 Randall Ave., 307-773-5899.