FORT BENNING, Ga. (Aug. 13, 2014) -- Weekend rainfall didn't stop the 2014 Soldier Show from entertaining a crowd of Fort Benning Soldiers, Family members and civilians Aug. 9 at Wetherby Field.
Originally scheduled for Aug. 8, the show was postponed a day due to inclement weather. As part of its tour across more than 30 installations, the Soldier Show features a cast 19 Soldiers and crew members delivering the "Stand Strong" theme to exemplify Army values.
Sgt. 1st Class Frederick McDuffy, noncommissioned officer in charge for the Soldier Show, said the event is centered around Army messages that all Soldiers and Family members can relate to. It also provides entertainment the entire community can enjoy, he said.
"I wanted them to see that Soldiers in the Army have more talent than meets the eye," he said. "They have talents that they can showcase, they do their own original choreography and songs and spread the Army's message to other Soldiers."
Highlights of the show included a variety of Broadway-style songs, Top 40 hits and patriotic tunes in celebration of the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner. Before performers kicked off the show, Soldiers from the crowd were invited to take the stage and show off a few of their own talents.
Pvt. Daniel Woods, with C Company, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment, said the impromptu performances from his fellow trainees was his favorite part of the show.
"It brought a lot of energy and uplifted me, so now I'm pumped going back to the barracks," he said. "It's definitely something that I would come back to. It shows we can all come together as one team and one fighting force, regardless of our (military occupational specialties)."
Despite more than 15 hours of stage production and rehearsal time per show, McDuffy said the audiences keep each cast member motivated and confident to continue.
"What drives them most is after the show when they see the audience and shake their hands and see the impact they leave on people's lives," he said.
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