Festival of the arts

OVERVIEW

The U.S. Army Festival of The Arts & Recreation Program Events Competition was established to recognize and encourage distinguished achievement in entertainment and recreation programming and productions. The Festival program annually spotlights the dedication, quality of execution, and the immeasurable extent of commitment made by members of the military, their Families, civilian volunteers and staff who contribute to the quality of life within their garrison communities.

Festival competitions allow participating garrisons the opportunity to produce and develop a broad range of programs with limited or existing resources. These unique events and activities provide an awareness of the importance of embedding recurring Arts and Recreation programs within a military community. They are the cornerstone of the foundation of support that Family and MWR services provide around the world and at home.

Professionals specializing in entertainment production, direction, music and recreation programs are present to judge each event. They meet with performers, production personnel, staff and volunteers to thank staff for the countless hours of planning and program execution.

In addition to the performance events, non-competitive musical and theatrical workshops are available to provide participants with performance consultations, audition preparation and improvisational theatre techniques. The workshops are designed to highlight self confidence, performance awareness and promote the development of music and theatre programs at garrisons desiring to restore or create new programs for their communities.

The U.S. Army Festival of The Arts and Recreation Program Events Competition continues to enlighten and encourage performers to engage Soldiers, Family members and community volunteers. Garrison performance art and recreation activities enhance core Family and MWR objectives and support Army Family Covenant initiatives around the world.

HISTORY

Soldier generated entertainment had its earliest origins in the American Revolution and the Civil War. Army camp shows were often spontaneously organized in companies, battalions or other units with volunteer Soldier entertainers. In 1917, Irving Berlin’s “Yip, Yip, Yaphank” with its all Soldier cast, provided rallying and rousing patriotic music for Soldiers and civilians alike as troop entertainment became an essential morale booster during World War I.

During World War II, draftees provided the talent and inspiration for Mr. Berlin’s Broadway Soldier Show, “This Is The Army.” By 1942, Special Service companies of Soldiers were formed to sustain troop morale. The Entertainment Section prepared scripts for musical revues in booklets entitled “Soldier Shows Blueprint Specials — By the Men … for the Men in Service.”

Celebrity draftees, such as Mickey Rooney, and others entertained troops in stateside training camps, staging areas and overseas units. Soldier “Jeep Shows” and Special Service Soldier entertainment programs led to the hiring of “CATS” (Civilian Actress Technicians) in 1945. These professionals served in the Pacific and European theaters to organize, direct, perform in and present musical variety shows and theatrical productions by and for Soldiers.

In the 1950’s, entertainment platoons of the 10th Special Services Company in Korea toured the country by train, doing trackside entertainment shows. In the late 60’s and 70’s in Vietnam, concert versions of musicals toured the country by helicopter and live theatre productions were mounted on flat-bed trailer trucks and lit with jeep lights. In the U.S. in the 60’s, Army Music & Theatre Programs at most American military garrisons were coming of age, with organized seasons and permanent theatrical venues. The programs played an essential role in the off duty lives of Soldiers and their Families, providing outlets for creative expression through performing arts and recreation programs.

Today, the U.S. Army Entertainment Division (USAED) is the largest producer of live entertainment in the world. At garrisons worldwide and in the field, Soldiers have carried on the tradition of Irving Berlin’s motto “Entertainment for the Soldier, By the Soldier” through local Army Community Theatre productions, the Army theatrical touring company, BRAVO!; The Army Concert Tour; The USA Express Show Band, and the U.S. Army Soldier Show, a high-energy, 90-minute musical review that’s performed entirely by active-duty Soldiers who travel more than 25,000 miles performing for audiences, totaling more than 100,000 each year.

Army Community Theatres annually stage more than 900 shows worldwide for audiences numbering more than a quarter of a million. Army Entertainment also promotes Soldier-based entertainment competitions that have included the Battle of the Bands; Stars of Tomorrow; Military Idol; Operation Rising Star and the U.S. Army Festival of The Arts & Recreation Program as part of the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. These competitive events encourage local participation and often lead to opportunities in USAED’s many Soldier-based programs, providing solid performance platforms for future participants.