This weekend, the Druids have been hard at work keeping their lead in Div. II, and the corps' administration has been making some last minute changes for this Season and next.

First, Mr. Olmstead announces a new show theme for Season 11.

"It was not a quick decision or one that was made with ease," he sighed, and yet was smiling to the .

"But I believe deeply that this show I have newly planned needs to happen. I don't want to lead a corps' design program that is typecast as "dark". We need to open our repertoire. I even was able to incorporate some of the jazz themes that members of the corps and community were excited to hear-- so there is that."

So here it is-- the Druids new show theme for Season 11

The Druids S11 Present—
“Season of Love”
The Druids, known for their dark sound and darker show themes, open their hearts to the audience with this show about the stages of love. In this production, the Druids allowed ONE woman dancer into the guard for the first time ever in the corps’ history.

Movement One: Puppy Love – “” by Sam Wright (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DukqMmz2cEM)
The show starts with the corps lined up on the back side line. The guard is hidden behind equipment screens by the pit. A lone mellophone walks out while the marimbas set up the calypso beat of this classic love song. The corps member, our lover, begins to play as the woman of his dreams (played by our one and only “Brittany”, the only female corps member) dances down field. The corps begins to file in, building as chords and harmonies add over the solo, the guard marching without equipment-- encouraging our lover to “kiss the girl”, which in the end, (and with a brief flash of a heart-shaped drill, for a fleeting moment) he finally does. The movement ends to a single heart beat in the bass drum.

Movement Two : Lust and Heart Break – “Speed Jazz” by The Thrill, “Poker Face” by Stefani Germanotta, “Tarkus” by ELP, and “Nitro” by Ticheli (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXksbb-BKpM&feature=player_embedded and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH4LAitSXCM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPAdZWbhKsk)
The feature opens with a flurry of drums as all the other guard men pick up auxiliary equipment and the show of rifles and sabers begins. During the beginning of the Speed Jazz medley with Poker Face, “Brittany” dances her way across the field, pulling along a solo soprano, baritone, and even winds up in the pit in the middle of an electric clarinet and piano duet. The heat builds as Tarkus starts, the corps dropping their equipment and running, jumping, and performing acrobatics over the drumline. The energy never stops—the members return to their horns for the dramatic suspension chord as “Brittany” holds her hands out to the mellophone, and just as he approaches and the chord releases with a toss of lip-shaped flags, she pulls away and Nitro finishes us off feeling used—the entire corps minus our mello hero falling over with the last gong hit.

Movement Three : True Love – “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” by Elvis Presley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqv5b0UjR4g)
The pit begins this soft ballad with chords and arpeggios, the mellophone player looking about for his love with no hope. He sits on a park bench brought out by baritone players. The mello starts in with a solo, and soon the baritone players join for a brilliant, middle-range trio of this classic. The guard and rest of the corps trickle back on field in ones and twos, building the sound—the guard holding flags with broken hearts on them. In the end, the mellophone sees “Brittany” is lost, as she wanders over to the park bench. He takes off from the rest of the corps as they play the last phrase, and he embraces her, the couple standing on the park bench, as pair of guard tosses a newly assembled heart-shaped flag over them.

Movement Four : Unconditional Love – “I’m a Believer” by Smash Mouth, “Accidentally in Love” by Counting Crows
The closing medley brings us together—“Brittany” is handed a soprano and stars in a duet with her love.
But of course, the Druids never end anything until the last show! Stay tuned for the full closer!

On the note of this change, the Druids have happily employed the mind of David M. Smith to design a uniform that says "class" and still keeps the Druids' heritage. Presenting the NEW Druids uniform, just in time for Season 10 finals!

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x364/davidmsmith87/another3-1.png

Some notable facts--
1) Classic aussie, now with green plume.
2) Suit and tie-based uniform
3) Big gauntlets with shamrock buttons
4) Striped half-kilt on right leg
5) Uniform on the right with sequin red sash, for Season 11 love show

Thanks again to David M. Smith for his amazing work! See you on the field, folks, for Season 10 Finals!

Oh, and as always, there's more info on the Druid's at http://thedruidsdrumcorps.webs.com/home.htm

did you here the news someone took your equipment truck

Hum?

You are most welcome! This will be a great push into the finals an for next year! Excited to see the uniform on the field I designed!