By George Hopkins; originally posted on yea.org (Editor's note: "Blast!" runs in New Jersey through April 6) This past Tuesday evening, I had the pleasure to witness "Blast!" for perhaps the fourth or fifth time. Perhaps more than ever I found the evening to be fabulous! Great music, great visual, great effects, and -- well -- great, great performers. There are a number of current performers who are past members of the Cadets. Jonathan Schwartz, a long-time Cadet, an original "Blast!" cast member and a tremendous person, is part of the show. So are Amy Hernandez and Dave Millen (past drum majors for the Cadets), Brad Green (another past drum major) and Frank Sullivan (a past member of the Cadets' brass staff). There are wonderful performances by Jeff Queen, Nick Angelo, Debbie Barrington and so many more. I took with me, two "newbies," including some key corporate supporters of YEA!, and they found the evening exhilarating. We forget how those unfamiliar with the activity simply have no idea of what "we" can do -- and thus, to do it in a Broadway-style venue with the lights and the sound, is just a magnificent experience. SO -- if you are a band director -- you need to go, and you really should take your students! One of the keys to our success is creating MUSIC as the thing to do, and this show, and these people -- they do show us, over and over again, that MUSIC IS MOST DEFINITLY COOL! For tickets --- call toll free, 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722). The NJPAC Phone Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. TTY Patrons: 877.866.5722. You can also get tickets online at www.njpac.org.