ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The famed "Tops In Blue" troupe reached a milestone in Air Force entertainment by commemorating its 55th Anniversary.
Billed as the "Deja Blue" tour, the show took center stage before capacity crowds at the Andrews Reel Time Theater Saturday and Sunday.
The show gave a retrospective look at more than five decades of entertaining Airmen stateside and deployed.
Andrews servicemembers and their families were treated to an array of show-pleasing performances, through song, dance and music, while movies played in unison on two giant screens.
At the beginning of the show, Senior Airman April Vollm, a veteran TIB performer, randomly handed out raffle tickets to audience members to win prizes, while soliciting the audience for potential contestants to audition for the 2008 TIB world-wide competition.
Airman Vollm then enlisted the help of an audience member to assist her with magic tricks and mind-reading predictions. Throughout the show Airmen Vollm captivated the audience and tickled funny bones as she portrayed a slew of well-known stars from the silver screen and entertainment industry. Her portrayals included movie siren Marilyn Monroe, who sang Happy Birthday to Col. Stephen M. Shepro, 316th Wing commander.
Airman Vollm later snagged another audience member to portray Sonny Bono and join her Cher persona in a duet to sing "I got you Babe." Airman Vollm's other characters included country western comedian Minnie Pearl and a fictitious Latin siren, named Chaquita Banana.
The musicians also received their share of rave reviews as drummer Airman 1st Class Christopher Gadson performed a two-minute solo, blindfolded before a cheering crowd.
"It's a very entertaining show," said Staff Sgt. Alice Koinange, 89th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist. "It's also very inspirational the way they incorporate the Air Force's history into the show," said Sergeant Koinange, who's witnessed TIB performances over the past five years.
As the show progressed, the troupe poured into the aisles, dancing and singing to audience members one-on-one. Master Sgt. Artri Spratling, who was seated in the middle row, was serenaded by a TIB member during an audience interaction portion of the show. Sergeant Spratling, a former Tops-in-Blue alumni, remembers touring with Tops In Blue during it's 45th Anniversary. "Seeing them again made me want to get back on stage," said Sergeant Spratling, an Air National Guard Bureau affirmative employment NCOIC.
Along with celebrating the anniversary tour, a member of the TIB staff noted the importance of performing at Andrews. "Andrews Air Force Base is a major stop on our stateside tour of bases," noted Jamie Montgomery, TIB performance director. "That's why we always perform two shows here, because we want people to know what type of support we're giving to our Airmen that are deployed."
One of the highlights during the show for younger viewers came when Tech. Sgt. Chandra Smith played "Belle" and Staff Sgt. Corey Sims played "The Beast" while performing a duet from the classic Walt Disney animated feature.
Another crowd pleaser was when TIB performers sang, danced and rapped to scenes from the Men In Black. Airmen 1st Class Barry Smith played an alien and Senior Airman Quentin Thomas played Will Smith, who both wore the signature black suits and Rayban sun glasses, while dancing to the MIB theme song.
Among the other talented performers, Airman 1st Class Alice Lewis roused the crowd to fevered-pitch as she strutted her stuff, portraying the ageless Tina Turner.
The talented group of approximately 35 vocalists, musicians and dancers sang songs and performed dance routines to other notable movies, such Cars, Hairspray and the Lion King.
But the crowd pleaser that seems to never fail to stir patriotism in the crowd is when the TIB performers take stage and sing "God Bless the USA" by country western singer, Lee Greenwood. The song has become the Tops In Blue closing anthem.
The TIB performers entertain Airmen throughout more than 25 countries with more than 125 performances in various locations in the United States.
After 55 years the TIB's primary purpose remains the same -- to entertain military personnel and their families throughout the world.
"We're honored to host this 55-year legacy of talent here at Andrews," said Col. Stephen M. Shepro, 316th Wing commander. "It is a tribute to talented men and women that we continue to draw into the Air Force from across America," said Colonel Shepro. " They represent over 27 specialities that are vital to our 'fly, fight and win' mission -- and they can sing and dance to boot!"