Controversial DCI (Finals) Shows

[wolfgang]

9 minutes ago, Jurassic Lancer said:

I would also point to Garfield Cadets’ 1971-72 No More War show, complete with a large peace sign formation 

Didn't Suncoast Sound have a similar controversy in their 1984 show?

[verzephobe]

2 minutes ago, KVG_DC said:

There have been a few ruffled feathers more recently here regarding the themes of Boston's Wicked Games, Mandarins' Sinnerman, and Troopers' Dance with the Devil regarding whether "DCI designers are celebrating satanic worship."  

Blue Devils When a Man Loves a Woman rose eyebrows for some of the choreography and costuming considering the age of performers.   Which has been a reoccurring and ongoing issue at times.  Particularly given the prevalence of sexual abuse in the activity.

AHHH!!! Thank you for reminding me of the Sinnerman / Dance with the Devil controversy! I have spent countless hours writing up my little essay about the story of Sinnerman and how it isn't satanic!!! 

Also I had no blue about BD; I've been researching sexual abuse in drum corps (for my own safety, in all honesty). I think that may be a bit too heavy for the project (I'm creating a little lecture to show to middle schoolers who want to march at my current HS/ do drum corps), but I REALLY need to look more into that!

[MGCtimp]

1993 Star of Indiana received a lot of boos
2005 Cadets was also very controversial with the vocals / characters

2004 Crown/Boston also because of the singing
2005 BD because of the constant voice over

[Jurassic Lancer]

4 minutes ago, wolfgang said:

Didn't Suncoast Sound have a similar controversy in their 1984 show?

Sure did … their Vietnam show, complete with the Memorial

[verzephobe]

7 minutes ago, MGCtimp said:

2005 Cadets was also very controversial with the vocals / characters

Cadets!!! I really need to do more research into that mid-late 2000s era of them, I know their narration tends to be a point of controversy (even if I really like 07's, lol)

[Terri Schehr]

1 hour ago, wolfgang said:

As a historical context for your project, either early DCI or pre-DCI, the Madison Scouts had a female play Alice for Alice in Wonderland.

Aside from having a lady in an all-male corps, the introduction of a themed show was itself controversial. Old timers, pkease elaborate.

That and the Cavaliers circus show. They made t shirts with a clown dancing on a headstone that said Drum Corps RIP 1971. A guy I marched with in 1972 wore it a lot. 

[Standrews]

Nobody comes close to 1971 St. Rita's.

[Lance]

93 Star.  A lot of people came around over the years, but it was about equal within people thinking it was great or at least interesting and half thinking it "wasn't drum corps".  

[keystone3ply]

2 hours ago, wolfgang said:

Didn't Suncoast Sound have a similar controversy in their 1984 show?

 

2 hours ago, Jurassic Lancer said:

Sure did … their Vietnam show, complete with the Memorial

The grumbling I heard in the stands that season was the use of the replica 'Arlington Cemetery' cross headstone props in the ballad. Overall I thought it was ok & effective, but they didn't like the way they were handled or removed after the ballad.        

[brassboy]

Depending on how you’re defining controversial, I think Suncoast Sound’s 1988 show “Symphonic Dances for the Contemporary Child” might fit (besides being outside of your designated time period). It was a particularly challenging show for audiences, which therefore led to very polarized opinions. 

You can read more about it here:

https://dci.org/news/spotlight-of-the-week-1988-suncoast-sound