From a Glassmen press release: The Glassmen celebrated family day over the weekend, marking the end of three full weeks of everyday rehearsals, and sending the corps off on tour. Hundreds of family members, alumni and fans came to watch the corps perform at the Glasmen west rehearsal facility Sunday afternoon. Even dark clouds held back and allowed the corps to complete a full concert for the crowd, as well as a performance in uniform of the 2005 production, "A New World."
Alumni were asked to step onto the field as the corps surrounded them to play the corps song, "Madre." Many more alumni have returned to see the corps during the family day event, as the Glasssmen "family" grows every year. The alumni and the corps history play an important ceremonial part in sending the corps off on the road, as the members learn where they've come from - and look towards what's coming in the season ahead. There are several opportunities coming up for alumni to reunite and relive "where they've come from" -- read on! The Glassmen will rehearse for another week while on the road, and then perform in Elizabeth, Pa., before heading back to Toledo for their home show, the All-Star Review on Saturday, June 18. If you missed family day, this will be your chance to get in on the fun! It will be a full weekend of events for the Glassmen, beginning with an alumni party at 7 p.m. Friday night at the Glassmen east bingo hall, including free food, fun, and friends - and lots of memorabilia, including videos! The party moves on the next day to the University of Toledo Glass Bowl Stadium where the alumni reunion will be in full swing at the Alumni Tent from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Glassmen will be rehearsing in the stadium during the day, and will present a free "Entertrainment" clinic from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Gates will reopen at 6 p.m. to prepare for the evening's highlight, the All-Star Review competition at 7:30 p.m. The show will feature the Glassmen, The Cavaliers, The Cadets, Bluecoats, Capital Regiment, and Southwind, plus a souvenir and sponsor marketplace, concessions, entertainment and more! Thousands of people travel the country to attend this major early season event - not to mention the hundreds of performers on the field. It's truly an evening that shouldn't be missed! As if preparing for all of these events and the upcoming season weren't already enough, executive director Brian Hickman announced over the weekend that the Glassmen will be traveling to Europe for two weeks in late June of 2006 for a series of concerts, clinics and competitions. The corps was elated by the news, and Hickman was just as excited to finally make the announcement. "We've been working on this project for almost a year now, and I am delighted that everything has lined up for the corps to be able to travel to Europe next year. Our partnership with Dynasty and the increasingly popular "Entertrainment" clinics have grown these last few years, and having the ability to expand this series into the international arena was a natural step in its evolution. It's a very exciting time for the corps, and a great opportunity for all of our young men and women." Look for more exciting information on glassmen.org.