Tops in Blue dazzle Laughlin crowd

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Charlie Miller
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- --  Tops in Blue brought the bright lights and glamour of Broadway to Laughlin, along with a seemingly endless amount of energy, to dazzle a crowd of nearly 600 at the T-6 Weather Shelter here Feb. 25.

Known as the Air Forces' Expeditionary Entertainers, Tops in Blue has performed more than 7,000 shows world over during the last 56 years.

For Tamica Phillips, wife of Staff Sgt. Derek Phillips, 47th Security Forces Squadron, this is her second time seeing the performers this tour season.

"I saw them at Royal Air Force Alconbury, England and they were so good, so entertaining that I brought a friend to this show," she said. She also brought her two children, Kyra, 7 and Caleb, 5.

Her friend, Laura Delcastillo, whose husband, Sgt. Jorge Delcastillo, is a U. S. Marine Corps recruiter here, brought her son Jacob, 3. All three of the children happily danced and hopped through most of the nearly two-hour show, which included numerous costume changes by the performers and musicians. 

A huge, custom-designed rig framed the stage and, with its hundreds of colored, flashing and rotating lights, painted the walls, floor and ceiling of the shelter. Two large screens to either side of the stage helped those sitting in the back to see. According to the Tops in Blue website, each performance requires more than two miles of electrical cables.

For 2nd Lt. Scott Platow, a Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training student, his wife, Crystal, an education assistant at the Education Center and three-year-old daughter, Allyson, this was their first time seeing Tops in Blue.

"It was awesome and I liked the old-school movie themes and musical numbers, especially the tribute to 'Hairspray'," said the lieutenant.

Crystal Platow said she was glad the show was so child orientated with the Disney-themed songs.

"The music and dancing from 'Footloose' was the best," she said.

Although Tops in Blue is mainly a musical show, several parts of the show consisted of a comedian who imitated several well-known entertainers as well as fictional characters.

"The lady who did Minnie Pearl and all the other characters was great," added Lt. Platow. 

Immediately after the show, the performers and musicians formed a receiving line to talk with concert-goers and signed autographs.

Airman First Class Henry Robinson, III, bass guitarist for Tops in Blue, received a glowing compliment from a member of the audience who also asked him about the type of bass he played. 

"The audience tonight was great," Airman Robinson said. "We could tell they enjoyed our show and talking with us. We enjoyed playing here at Laughlin."

At least six times during the show the performers came into the audience dancing and singing. Sometimes they would grab an audience member and dance with them where they sat or, for two lucky gentlemen, make them part of the show on stage. 

A Laughlin audience that spanned all ages left the Weather Shelter knowing that they had enjoyed a performance by an elite group, composed of some of the most talented vocalists, musicians, dancers and entertainers in the Air Force.