Dueling piano show entertains TMAC crowd

By Gabrielle KuholskiJune 20, 2013

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Members of the audience participate in one of several planned activities during Saturday night's special event. Attendees also periodically came up to request songs during the program. Jefrey Taylor and Nate Sangsland from Dueling Pianos Internationa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Huachuca, AZ. - The Thunder Mountain Activity Centre came alive Saturday night as loud music emanated from the building. Even louder laughter and cheering came from the crowd as a packed room found itself entertained by the show, "Dueling Pianos." Unlike a traditional piano bar show with two grand pianos, this was a two-man show featuring musicians on keyboards. Both men played the music, sang and took turns as emcees for the entire event.

Similar to piano-bar style entertainment, the audience became part of the show. In front of the crowd, the performers announced names of attendees celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, and the people whose names were announced were sometimes lightly teased and mocked. Participants from the audience took part in sing-alongs, short activities and dances with direction from the pianists.

For some audience members like military spouse Crystal Horton, this was a new experience.

"I've seen [piano bar shows] on TV, but I've never seen one in person," Horton said. She added that she found the entire show very entertaining.

Toward the end of the program, it was apparent the audience wanted to stand up and move around rather than remain seated. At one point during the show, certain "party" tables were designated to start a conga line, which also drew participants from the other tables in the room.

"I liked how they got the entire audience involved as much as they could," said Gregory Birch, one of the Soldiers in Saturday's audience. "The performers, they did a pretty good job of actually getting everyone involved throughout the entire thing,"

Jefrey Taylor and Nate Sangsland from Dueling Pianos International headlined the evening. They travel around the country bringing "Dueling Pianos" to different venues and said this was their first time visiting Fort Huachuca.

"It was a great room and good group of people ready to have a good time," Sangland said.

Their performance was so appreciated that during the finale, members of the audience requested an encore. Sangsland and Taylor played the Beatles' song, "Hey Jude," which ended the show.

"Dueling Pianos" was presented by Army Entertainment and the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate. It is one of a number of special activities FMWR brings to Fort Huachuca to both entertain and raise morale.