ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. –
Appearing before two capacity crowds at the Reel Time Theater, the Tops-in-Blue sang, danced, and entertained enthusiastic audiences Sept. 28 and 29.
The show, titled "The Fly-by: A Musical Tribute to 60 years of Proud Air Force History," was a high energy, maximum action performance that thrilled everyone.
Interacting with service members and their families throughout the two-hour show, the audience clapped, stomped, and shouted their approval back to the performers.
One of those, who loved the show was sitting front and center in the first row. Breanna O'Daniel, 10-year old daughter of Tech. Sgt. Brian O'Daniel 89th Aerial Port Squadron, told of her experience of being picked out of her seat by a performer and dancing with him in front of the stage.
"This whole show was so cool! But that was my favorite part," she said.
Also dancing in the aisle and doing the twist was five-year old Tyrone Jones. "It was great!" he said, a broad smile on his small face.
His dance partner in the show, Staff Sgt. Daniel Rutherford, agreed, "He was wonderful! That little guy will be in Tops-in-Blue one day," adding, "He's what this show is all about."
A Korean cryptologic linguist with the 22nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Md., Rutherford is one of 32 performance company members this year. Coming from around the world to audition and train at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, the Tops-in-Blue team performs more than 150 times in a grueling nine month schedule, which will take them to almost every U.S. air base on the planet.
"The shows performed in support of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are special," said Rutherford. "There's nothing better; no better experience, than to see those guys and gals over there. They are so grateful, so happy to see us.
"I know how they feel," Rutherford continued. "I first learned about Tops-in-Blue when I was stationed in Korea. It was Christmas Eve and I was so lonely, so a friend took me to the show. It made me feel so much better. I told myself right then that I was going to audition and make the group, so I could make others feel like I did back then. It is one of the best experiences I have had in the Air Force."
A former Tops-in-Blue member from the 2004-2005 season is Master Sgt. Andrea Fisher, 89th Operations Group.
She agreed with Rutherford.
"I haven't lived my entire life yet," she says with a laugh, "but being a Tops-in-Blue member is one of the best things I have done."
A logistics coordinator for the performing company, Sergeant Fisher saw the operation from the inside.
"The performers also set-up and break down all this equipment, lighting, sound system, stage, projectors - everything! We do it all ourselves," she said, "We are our own roadies!"
Of particular favor with the audience were performer impressions. From Tom Jones to Patti Page and Stevie Wonder to Johnny Cash, cast members made the characters come alive in music and action. "We do our best to make people feel like they (the characters) are really in the room," said Rutherford.
Midway through Friday night's show, a power cell blew out, leaving the cast with no sound and very little lighting in the large theater. However, with great professionalism, the performers lived up to the old acting motto: The show must go on!
They continued belting out great tunes from each of the Air Force's six decades of history. In approximately 10 minutes, power was restored, but the audience's excitement for the performance never waned.
"You can't see a show like this anywhere else for free," one viewer said on the way out. "No other service has this. It's a real benefit of being Air Force. I hope they come back next year!"