‘Gymnastics Goes Broadway,’ 99th Annual Springfield College Show
October 10, 2008SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 10, 2008 – Springfield College will present the 99th annual Springfield College Gymnastics Exhibition Show on Friday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m., in Blake Arena, on the campus, choreographed to the music of top Broadway musicals of the past 40 years.
To dynamic sound, striking lighting effects, and stylish costumes, Springfield College students will perform on a full range of apparatus in floor exercises and dance routines. A highlight of the evening will be the tableaux, the event’s traditional finale of living statues by gymnasts in silver body paint.
This year’s show will open with students demonstrating a range of skills to the music of “Cabaret.” “West Side Story” will feature fast-pace tumbling; and “Chicago” will be a dance presentation with gymnasts performing on the floor and in hoops suspended from above. In “Barnum,” students will build a human pyramid and perform high tosses, twists and somersaults. “Wicked” will feature vaulting and feats on the mini trampoline.
In “Stomp,” male gymnasts will perform fast-paced calisthenics in a construction work scene with heavy sounds of trash cans, drills, hammers and other percussion. “Electricity” will feature male gymnasts on various parallel bars, rings, and the pommel horse. Other performances will feature climbing, spinning, juggling, and various gymnastic precision moves.
New tableaux this year will salute medal-winning performances by U.S. athletes in the 2008 Olympic Games. Portrayed will be eight-time gold-medal swimmer Michael Phelps, gold-medal decathlete Bryan Clay, the gold-medal men’s basketball and volleyball teams, gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, and gymnast Nastia Liukin, who won one gold and two silver medals, and silver-medal winning gymnast Jonathan Horton.
Performing in the show will be Springfield College All-America gymnasts Josh Fox, Andy Kelly and Keith Stumpf, and Second Team All America gymnasts Jeanna Bradle, Brittany Davis and Jackie Mazzola. Fox was named for the honor in the high bar, floor exercise and all around categories; Kelly in parallel bars; and Stumpf in vaulting. Bradle received the honor in uneven parallel bars, and Davis and Mazzola in vaulting. Last year, the Springfield College Men’s Gymnastics Team placed fourth the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships.
Tickets will be on sale at the door one hour before performances, and in advance, Oct. 13 to 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Cheney Hall, and 5 to 6 p.m., in Blake Arena, on the campus. Prices are $4 for children under age 12 and $8 for adults.
