By Joseph McDonough
Enquirer contributor

DAYTON - Blast has blasted into the brand-new Schuster Performing Arts Center.

The touring musical is basically a super-charged, super-inventive drum and bugle corps revue performed by a talented cast of 54 musicians, mostly in their 20s.

The show, which had a New York run a couple of years ago and has been on the road ever since, is not your typical football halftime routine. You won't see any band uniforms or hear any cover versions of Broadway show tunes.

The emphasis of Blast (under the artistic direction of James Mason) is equally focused on musicianship (directed by James Prime) and movement (energetically choreographed by Jonathan Vanderkolff, George Pinney and Jim Moore).

The show opens with Ravel's "Bolero," which builds to an elegant fusion of brass sound and precise flowing movement, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

Jazzy highlight

A highlight of the first act is a jazzy "Everybody Loves the Blues" featuring Adan Rapa on trumpet, backed by a horn section that brings the house down.

The mood then slows down for a beautifully soulful "Loss," this time with Frank Sullivan leading on trumpet.

The audience favorite is the "Battery Battle," showcasing Nicholas E. Angelis and David Brent Ellis on dueling snare drums. These guys aren't just amazing drummers - they're jugglers, acrobats and comedians, showing off their skills and milking it all for laughs.

Big horns featured

Also fun is Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe," led by Amy Sanchez on solo French horn, Jeremy Grange on the tuba and Sullivan on the solo fluegelhorn.

This piece also features the sensual dancing of Deborah Barrigan and Jerimiah T. Huber.

Marching band music, however well done, doesn't fit every musical occasion. A few of the show's performance pieces (notably the two "Color Wheel" numbers) are emotionally flat, lacking the power and attitude that blast through many of the other segments.

But the best part of watching Blast is seeing how much fun the performers are having doing their thing. On Tuesday's opening night, a few even came out in the lobby at intermission and did an impromptu drumming on stools routine.

And the entire smiling cast was at the exits after the curtain call to talk with the audience and to thank them for coming.

Blast, through April 20, Schuster Center, Dayton, (888) 228-3630.