Don Roberts never pictured himself being pulled from his high school band director position to arrange the music for a major motion picture. But that's just what happened.
Dallas Austin, a Grammy Award-winning producer, came to Roberts' summer band camp in the late 1990s. Austin explained that he was doing research for a potential movie about marching bands.
"He was so impressed from the product that he saw, he offered me the job immediately," Roberts said. "I actually got the phone call from 20th Century Fox in 2002. I really thought it was a joke because it was so long ago that I had talked to Dallas."
Austin asked Roberts to help in making "Drumline" true to marching band form, style and etiquette.
"From that preparation came the opportunity in which I was responsible for the training of the actors," Roberts said. "I was responsible for rehearsing every aspect of music. In the studio. Out of the studio. Lining the drills for the show. I selected the college bands that were in the movie. Everything that was band pretty much came through my way before it went anywhere. I was even called in for final editing."
From there, Roberts moved on to "Drumline Live," which will be making a stop at John R. Emens Auditorium tonight, in hopes of raising spirits and giving those in attendance a uniquely entertaining performance.
"If you were feeling good before you got to our show, you're going to feel great," he said. "If the promoters allowed me to, I would tell the audience that you could get your money back if you're not pleased with this show. That's how confident I am about it."
The 38-person cast takes the audience back in time to the origins of the drum in Africa. It then ventures into the Big Band era of music, eventually reaching modern day radio hits.
"What people don't understand is, before there was hip hop, before there were all these popular songs that you hear with Jay-Z that are on the radio right now, there was rhythm and blues, from the '60s and the '70s," Roberts said. "That was the Temptations. That was James Brown. That was Aretha Franklin. That was Tina Turner. Ray Charles. That was the music of the day. That was the dance music. So we go into that historical aspect in terms of the show and we take you all the way up to present day and the latest sounds that you hear today."
Auditions for the production spanned the country in order to find the most solid musicians and performers.
Junior music education major Eric Meginnis played on the Ball State drumline this past season. In addition, he has tried out for a drum corps.
"I tried out for the Bluecoats and it made me realize how much better people are at drums than me," Meginnis said. "I didn't make the cut but it was a very eye-opening experience for me. It was good because it helped me be able to gauge how good I am and how much I actually need to practice."
John Radomski, sophomore music education major, is the percussion director at Southport High School in Indianapolis. Juggling this role with his love for drumming, Radomski has found time to try out for the Bluecoats during his senior year of high school.
"I learned a lot and became a better player in that area of percussion. I haven't auditioned since because I am currently the director of the Southport High School Drumline and Pit ... but am planning on taking a summer off and auditioning for the Bluecoats and a couple other groups next year."
Robert Myers, director of Emens and Pruis Hall, hopes "Drumline Live" will showcase an alternative theatrical performance to Ball State students.
"Although I played trombone in marching band, that was not a significant influencing factor in the decision to present ‘Drumline Live,'" Myers said. "Much more relevant was the potential appeal of this show to a diverse audience and the opportunity to increase awareness of this entertaining art form."
Roberts expects a diverse audience to enjoy the show since it will appeal to everyone.
"It's for all ages. I mean, I have kids and I'll take them to see ‘Dora the Explorer.' This is a show for the kids. You'll be totally fulfilled whether you're 4 years old or 80 years old," he said. "It's an educational show for music educators and band directors, chorus teachers."
Although Roberts does not see himself as a "Hollywood guy," he has truly enjoyed every opportunity that has come his way.
"The best part of it is doing something that you absolutely love," Roberts said. "I went to college to become a high school band director. Since I have become a high school band director, it has exceeded my expectations. I've had the opportunity to work on a major motion picture. I'm working on a theatrical production that's traveling internationally. I've done a Super Bowl commercial with a band before.
"So with ‘Drumline Live,' it's really not a job. It's a hobby."
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