Fort Bliss Monitor

STAFF SGT. MARK PORTER
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SUSAN LAVEN

Pfc. Clarence Reeves III does his best Prince impersonation during a show at Soldier Hall Saturday. The cast presented two shows at Fort Bliss and will perform 110 shows across the country and around the world during their tour.

To those on the outside, the Soldier Show must seem like easy duty: all bright lights and cheering crowds. And, while there is plenty of that – in fact, the cast received a standing ovation following each of their shows here last weekend — Soldiers who make up the traveling troupe say those who think the Soldier Show is all play and no work don’t know the whole story.

Performers say people don’t take into account the months spent far from home and family, and the countless hours spent on a bus traveling from show to show. They do not know that the cast doesn’t sleep in until show time, but gets to the theater early to set up the stage set and lighting system – and then stays late after the final show at each site, tearing down and packing up the equipment before leaving for their next destination.
The 28 Soldiers who make up the cast and crew are not complaining, though. While all agree membership in this special unit is challenging, they add that they would not trade the experience for anything.

Spc. Korey McAleesejergins, Spc. David Clemo and Sgt. Abimael Leon sing “Yest-erday” at the Soldier Show’s Saturday per-formance at Soldier Hall.

“This is definitely a special group and it is an honor to be part of it,” said 1st Lt. Meredith Melcher, the only officer in the troupe. Spectators at the Saturday and Sunday shows at Soldier Hall agreed that this group is special. Following a 90-minute show packed with Country, Motown, rock and patriotic music (and even a touch of opera and gospel), audience members came away impressed with the talent on display.

“I was really surprised by how good some of the Soldiers were,” said Kelly Howard, a military spouse who saw Saturday’s show. “Some of them were so good, you wonder why they joined the Army at all. They sound as good as the people I hear on the radio.”

Melcher was not surprised by how good the Soldier Show cast could be. A member of the Medical Services Corps, Melcher said she saw the Soldier Show as a civilian and “had it in the back of her mind to try out for a spot” when she received her commission.

But deployment to Kuwait and Iraq forced her to postpone those dreams. Once she returned, Melcher said making the cast was her number one priority.

Since final auditions in March, she and the other members of the troupe have come together as a unit. Now, approximately halfway through their 110-show tour, everyone is comfortable with the routine and knows what it takes to be a member of this elite group.

“I think the biggest surprise and the biggest adjustment was learning the technical side of a show,” Melcher said. “We are our own road crew. On a performance day, we normally get to the theater by 8 a.m. to start setting up. To get all the sets together and all the lights in place takes about four hours.

“Then after the final show at each location, we have to stay and take everything down again, pack it up and get ready to leave for the next show.”

Despite the hard work and long hours, most agree it is a fair trade for the chance to perform and to travel the world. So far, in addition to shows throughout the United States, the Soldier Show has performed in Germany, Italy and Cuba.

For two members of the cast, the local shows were a homecoming of sorts. Melcher and Sgt. Abimael Leon were serving in Texas when they joined the cast: Melcher was with the 546th ASMC at Fort Hood; Leon is a member of B Company, 536th FSB, Texas National Guard. The return to the Lone Star State is especially nice for Leon, who will spend the upcoming mid-tour leave with his wife and two sons.

“This will be the first time I’ve seen my family in months,” Leon said. “I missed my youngest son’s first step and his first words because I was traveling with the Soldier Show, so it will be nice to be with them and make up for some of that lost time.”

A member of the audio team as well as a performer, Leon said the best part of being in the show is “being around such creative people who share your interests and passions.” He said he has made friends among the cast that he will stay in contact with for life.

For Melcher, the best part of being in the Soldier Show is meeting the audience after each show. “I love standing in the receiving line and talking to the people who come to see us,” she said. “I am always amazed how much everyone enjoys the show and how much it means to them.

“To see the look on their faces and to hear how much they appreciate what we do – it lets you know that what we do really makes a difference.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 12, 2004

Sgt. Kevin Cherry dances across the stage. The cast and crew of the 2004 Soldier Show greet the audience following a per-formance at Fort Bliss. The show ends with the entire casting singing “The Heart of a Soldier.” Spc. Korey McAleesejergins and Sgt. Brian E. Archer work to set up the stage for Saturday’s performance. Spc. Emily Plasterer raises a light into place at Soldier Hall <map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	STAFF SGT. MARK PORTER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SUSAN LAVEN Pfc. Clarence Reeves III does his best Prince impersonation during a show at Soldier Hall Saturday. The cast presented two shows at Fort Bliss and will perform 110 shows across the country and around the world during their tour. To those on the outside, the Soldier Show must seem like easy duty: all bright lights and cheering crowds. And, while there is plenty of that – in fact, the cast received a standing ovation following each of their shows here last weekend — Soldiers who make up the traveling troupe say those who think the Soldier Show is all play and no work don’t know the whole story. Performers say people don’t take into account the months spent far from home and family, and the countless hours spent on a bus traveling from show to show. They do not know that the cast doesn’t sleep in until show time, but gets to the theater early to set up the stage set and lighting system – and then stays late after the final show at each site, tearing down and packing up the equipment before leaving for their next destination. The 28 Soldiers who make up the cast and crew are not complaining, though. While all agree membership in this special unit is challenging, they add that they would not trade the experience for anything. Spc. Korey McAleesejergins, Spc. David Clemo and Sgt. Abimael Leon sing “Yest-erday” at the Soldier Show’s Saturday per-formance at Soldier Hall. “This is definitely a special group and it is an honor to be part of it,” said 1st Lt. Meredith Melcher, the only officer in the troupe. Spectators at the Saturday and Sunday shows at Soldier Hall agreed that this group is special. Following a 90-minute show packed with Country, Motown, rock and patriotic music (and even a touch of opera and gospel), audience members came away impressed with the talent on display. “I was really surprised by how good some of the Soldiers were,” said Kelly Howard, a military spouse who saw Saturday’s show. “Some of them were so good, you wonder why they joined the Army at all. They sound as good as the people I hear on the radio.” Melcher was not surprised by how good the Soldier Show cast could be. A member of the Medical Services Corps, Melcher said she saw the Soldier Show as a civilian and “had it in the back of her mind to try out for a spot” when she received her commission. But deployment to Kuwait and Iraq forced her to postpone those dreams. Once she returned, Melcher said making the cast was her number one priority. Since final auditions in March, she and the other members of the troupe have come together as a unit. Now, approximately halfway through their 110-show tour, everyone is comfortable with the routine and knows what it takes to be a member of this elite group. “I think the biggest surprise and the biggest adjustment was learning the technical side of a show,” Melcher said. “We are our own road crew. On a performance day, we normally get to the theater by 8 a.m. to start setting up. To get all the sets together and all the lights in place takes about four hours. “Then after the final show at each location, we have to stay and take everything down again, pack it up and get ready to leave for the next show.” Despite the hard work and long hours, most agree it is a fair trade for the chance to perform and to travel the world. So far, in addition to shows throughout the United States, the Soldier Show has performed in Germany, Italy and Cuba. For two members of the cast, the local shows were a homecoming of sorts. Melcher and Sgt. Abimael Leon were serving in Texas when they joined the cast: Melcher was with the 546th ASMC at Fort Hood; Leon is a member of B Company, 536th FSB, Texas National Guard. The return to the Lone Star State is especially nice for Leon, who will spend the upcoming mid-tour leave with his wife and two sons. “This will be the first time I’ve seen my family in months,” Leon said. “I missed my youngest son’s first step and his first words because I was traveling with the Soldier Show, so it will be nice to be with them and make up for some of that lost time.” A member of the audio team as well as a performer, Leon said the best part of being in the show is “being around such creative people who share your interests and passions.” He said he has made friends among the cast that he will stay in contact with for life. For Melcher, the best part of being in the Soldier Show is meeting the audience after each show. “I love standing in the receiving line and talking to the people who come to see us,” she said. “I am always amazed how much everyone enjoys the show and how much it means to them. “To see the look on their faces and to hear how much they appreciate what we do – it lets you know that what we do really makes a difference.”