AIRLINE
11-22-2001, 07:26 PM
Had the opportunity to sneak out-of-the-house for a couple of hours and hopped over to DCA and in to see the 1:45 p.m performance of BLAST!
Before allowing guests to enter, the queue outside was very full, in fact, I haven't seen it this full since DCA has opened! Furthermore, I haven't seen this side of DCA this full of people since the park first opened! (not counting preview days)
I noticed that several guests standing in line near where I was standing had "tickets" for the opening day of BLAST!
I'm not sure if they were handed to the guest as they entered the turnstiles of DCA, or were handed to them while inside the park. I did not receive one when entering the park and I arrived at 1:15 p.m. So, this could have been to build excitement and encourage guests to attend the 1:45 p.m. show.
Cast members began to let guests into the Hyperion Theater at 1:30 p.m.
I sat on the orchestra level, two rows directly in front of the control booth. (The two rows in front of the control booth were "roped off" and I observed cast members moving guests out of those rows at least once.) I assume it's because of the "noise" factor if guests are talking, those in the control booth may be distracted by the chatter.
From where I was sitting, every seat within the orchestra section was packed to the gills...I have never seen this theater so packed before! I could not see how many people were in the upper sections, as I was too far back within the orchestra section.
The show started at about 1:50 p.m. and ended about 2:25 p.m.
I'll let others on this board describe in details the instruments used (I'm only familiar with the instruments inside an airplane cockpit...hehe), but as others have described in earlier post about BLAST!, it was a combination of Cirque du Soleli and observing some of the performers using their drumsticks as if they were working at Benihana and preparing teppanyaki!
Feel free to explain the different sets. I think I counted at least 11 sets, but...some changed so fast, I lost count!
The cast of BLAST! kept the audience excited and in suspense, just waiting for what was going to happen next.
Many times throughout the show, the stage transitioned from total darkness one moment and then becoming all lit-up.
Toward the end of the show, a few of the performers came near my row and began blowing their trombones and getting the audience to clap on command.
At then end of the show, the performers each walked down from the stage, and left the theater toward the right hand side, while walking in front of a few rows in the audience.
Also, many in the audience were so pleased with the performance that I could see many people rising and giving standing ovations.
I guess you could say the audience really liked the show!...I know I did.
The cast was also available to speak with outside, once you left the theater. I'm not sure if this because it was the "first day", or if Disney is really listening to all of us and is really trying to do something to move DCA forward. I'll hope for the latter.
For this being the first public performance of BLAST! at DCA, I was quite amazed and very pleased how Disney staff pulled this off, considering from other's comments that this show was planned with very little lead time.
I give the DCA performance of BLAST! an absolute A+ and a must see for anyone who visits DCA.
It looks like DCA finally has a "hit" on their hands!
Before allowing guests to enter, the queue outside was very full, in fact, I haven't seen it this full since DCA has opened! Furthermore, I haven't seen this side of DCA this full of people since the park first opened! (not counting preview days)
I noticed that several guests standing in line near where I was standing had "tickets" for the opening day of BLAST!
I'm not sure if they were handed to the guest as they entered the turnstiles of DCA, or were handed to them while inside the park. I did not receive one when entering the park and I arrived at 1:15 p.m. So, this could have been to build excitement and encourage guests to attend the 1:45 p.m. show.
Cast members began to let guests into the Hyperion Theater at 1:30 p.m.
I sat on the orchestra level, two rows directly in front of the control booth. (The two rows in front of the control booth were "roped off" and I observed cast members moving guests out of those rows at least once.) I assume it's because of the "noise" factor if guests are talking, those in the control booth may be distracted by the chatter.
From where I was sitting, every seat within the orchestra section was packed to the gills...I have never seen this theater so packed before! I could not see how many people were in the upper sections, as I was too far back within the orchestra section.
The show started at about 1:50 p.m. and ended about 2:25 p.m.
I'll let others on this board describe in details the instruments used (I'm only familiar with the instruments inside an airplane cockpit...hehe), but as others have described in earlier post about BLAST!, it was a combination of Cirque du Soleli and observing some of the performers using their drumsticks as if they were working at Benihana and preparing teppanyaki!
Feel free to explain the different sets. I think I counted at least 11 sets, but...some changed so fast, I lost count!
The cast of BLAST! kept the audience excited and in suspense, just waiting for what was going to happen next.
Many times throughout the show, the stage transitioned from total darkness one moment and then becoming all lit-up.
Toward the end of the show, a few of the performers came near my row and began blowing their trombones and getting the audience to clap on command.
At then end of the show, the performers each walked down from the stage, and left the theater toward the right hand side, while walking in front of a few rows in the audience.
Also, many in the audience were so pleased with the performance that I could see many people rising and giving standing ovations.
I guess you could say the audience really liked the show!...I know I did.
The cast was also available to speak with outside, once you left the theater. I'm not sure if this because it was the "first day", or if Disney is really listening to all of us and is really trying to do something to move DCA forward. I'll hope for the latter.
For this being the first public performance of BLAST! at DCA, I was quite amazed and very pleased how Disney staff pulled this off, considering from other's comments that this show was planned with very little lead time.
I give the DCA performance of BLAST! an absolute A+ and a must see for anyone who visits DCA.
It looks like DCA finally has a "hit" on their hands!