FORT RUCKER, Ala. (August 12, 2015) -- People in the Wiregrass are in for a treat when the 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show returns to entertain and inform the surrounding communities through song and dance.
There will be two shows at the Enterprise High School Performing Arts Center Aug. 20 and 21, with show time at 7 p.m. each day, said Kristi Fink, DFMWR special events coordinator.
This year's show, sponsored by GM Military Discount and CHASE, and put on by Army Entertainment and the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, promises a high-octane show featuring some of the Army's best singers and dancers, she said.
"This is an important event for both our military community, as well as the surrounding community to have the opportunity to see a fantastic show put on by some of the Army's finest," said Fink. "The Soldier Show provides important information that is creatively shown throughout the performance to help people better understand Army life."
All performers in the show are active-duty military members and fulfill a one-year temporary duty to perform for the Soldier Show. The performing Soldiers come from all aspects of life and various military occupation specialties. The show provides a different avenue that allows the Soldiers to showcase their other talents outside of their everyday jobs, said Fink.
The show is a 90-minute, song-and-dance production for the Soldier, by the Soldier, said the special events coordinator, and each Soldier is selected through a rigorous audition process, and the ensemble spends months training and rehearsing before hitting the road to tour the country.
"We always try to offer several fun, energizing events for our Soldiers, families, retirees and civilians in the Wiregrass," added Janice Erdlitz, DFMWR marketing director. "We know we have a diverse community and we always want to offer something everyone can enjoy."
Although the show is meant as an amazing form of entertainment, it's also meant to educate, said Erdlitz.
The theme for this year's show is "We Serve," and will feature current hits "Uptown Funk," "Bang Bang" and "Turn Down for What," along with the Army classic "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." The show will also pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Ia Drang Valley, one of the bloodiest conflicts during the Vietnam War, according to Fink.
The Broadway-style production will explore the foundational elements of what it means to serve in the military, both in and out of uniform, as well as to showcase how the country serves the Soldiers in return.
"The 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show honors our Army's continued service, resilience and strength with its mission to effectively inform, educate and inspire our audiences into action," reads the DFMWR website. "It celebrates this great nation, our Army, and the families and communities that serve and support our service members in return, and we are honored to share this experience of service with (the community) and are confident that the performance of 'We Serve' will leave behind a positive and uplifting reminder of what makes our Soldiers and our Army Family 'Army Strong.'"
"We are very proud to be able to share with the entire Wiregrass community the experience of the U.S. Army Soldier Show," said Erdlitz. "We hope everyone will be able to take in one of the two performances being held. It's a great show, and a wonderful opportunity to show your support for the talented Soldier cast and the U.S. Army."
The show is free and open to the public. For more information, call 255-9810.
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