Like a clever coach designing the perfect play, the Blue Stars found subtle, brilliant ways to weave nods to their history, leaders and hometown roots directly into the fabric of their 2025 athletic-themed production, “Spectator Sport.”
We’re pulling back the curtain on the subtle set pieces, uniforms, and props that flew right under the radar. Get ready to check the instant replay. Here are five hidden easter eggs you may have just been too out of breath to notice.
1. Right out of the Gate
Blue Stars didn’t hate to offer a subtle salute to its organization’s foundation. The corps’ La Crosse, Wisconsin hometown — which has been its hometown since its 1964 inception — happened to connect perfectly with the show’s material.
When Blue Stars were announced as taking the field — ”from La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Blue Stars!” — several color guard members could be seen holding lacrosse sticks.
2. Life Experiences
In one of Blue Stars’ many nods to varied sports throughout the corps’ production, an opportunity arose to allow one member to connect to his true athletic roots.
A featured hurdler during an up-beat section of Blue Stars’ production, trumpet player Matthew Valenta competed on his school’s award-winning track and field and cross country teams.
3. Fitting Attire
Many of Blue Stars’ color guard members wore costumes that creatively and artistically emulated various sports’ uniforms from gymnastics to boxing.
But one certainly stood out as a unique recognition of the intersections of drum corps and team sports.
Blue Stars’ sabre soloist — whom corps director Brad Harris noted as Tom Fiddman, a member from the United Kingdom — donned a costumed designed to look like a fencing uniform for his featured “sword” moment.
4. Past meets Future
One of Blue Stars’ more widely-remembered productions, performed 17 years prior to “Spectator Sport,” parlayed perfectly with the corps’ 2025 production in terms of its subject matter.
As such, the corps saw fit to pull directly from that show’s creative elements. Blue Stars’ 2008 program, “Le Tour: Every Second Counts,” centered around cycling, and, namely, the Tour de France.
Near the end of this year’s show, a performer entered the field riding a bicycle, wearing the same costume that was worn in 2008.
5. Directors in the Details
Corps members who wore “sports jerseys” in Blue Stars’ show had the distinct opportunity to represent the leaders of their organization.
Three in particular could be seen in the program:
- A softball uniform, featuring the name Miller and the number 49, paid homage to Lizzie Miller, the corps’ director of organizational leadership
- “Harris, 82″ — on a football jersey — made reference to corps director Brad Harris
- Corps member Dominic Furlano, nephew of CEO Brad Furlano, wore a baseball jersey featuring his and his uncle’s last name, as well as the number of 64, a nod to the corps’ 1964 founding
6. The Playbook
Several large sets of bleachers served as centerpiece props for Blue Stars’ 2025 production. The back of those bleachers featured chalkboards, akin to a locker room or team film room.
While much of the writing on these boards was designed to look like “plays,” Harris said there were also references to Blue Stars lore and traditions, including the corps’ motto, “FCO” — which stands for “finis coronat opus,” a Latin phrase meaning, “the end crowns the work” — and a Blue Stars logo.
