Naperville Central's Drumshow promises groove, happiness

Imagine a combination of Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group and superb musicianship and you'll at least have an inkling of what to expect this weekend when Naperville Central High School presents its NCHS Drumshow 2010.

Given all you're going to see and hear during the 95-minute performance - and trust us, it's going to be a loud performance - it probably wouldn't hurt to pack a couple aspirin and maybe even a set of earplugs, just in case your seat finds you in front of the speakers.

(Yes, the drums are miked, not because they need to be any louder but to improve the overall sound quality.)

Ben Wahlund, who's directing the show for the fifth straight year, says the theme pretty much says it all: A circus of groove and happiness.

The 18-person cast features 13 drummers, a string quartet and a bass player, along with some guest performers who will take the Central stage at 440 W. Aurora Ave. at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, April 17, and at 3 p.m. Saturday for a matinee.

Their set list will be nothing if not eclectic, ranging from the "Gahu Dance" from Ghana to "Super Mario Brothers" in which some audience members will play the 1980s video game on a giant screen while the musicians perform and provide sound effects.

Wahlund says the student musicians also will provide plenty of mainstream concert percussion (what he calls "fluffy" percussion), one number that includes a guest appearance by Chicago jazz drummer Jeff Stitely and another that includes a performance by dancers from Bollywood Rhythms in Naperville.

This is the 14th year Central musicians have performed their drumshow and the school's band director, Scott Silder, has seen the past eight. He's always stunned by the talent on display.

"It's pretty amazing," he says. "My favorite part is just watching the incredible young people. Man, to look at freshmen through seniors performing at that level blows my mind and makes me very proud of them."

Wahlund and his assistant directors, Brad Stirtz and Maggie Bergren, pretty much feel the same way.

"I love to see the kids finding a way to express themselves in a positive way," says Wahlund, who also teaches at North Central College and at his own studio.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. New this year is the chance to score your tickets on the Web at nchsdrumshow.com. You better hurry, though, because the evening performances always sell out and this year's shows will be no different.

Given the show's track record, Wahlund and Silder both say they're confident audience members will leave with smiles on their faces - even if there's a little ringing in their ears.

"I'm always most excited about how happy people in the audience are," Wahlund says.

Silder takes it one step further.

"Just to watch the whole audience erupt," he says. "It's just great."

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News"><b>What:</b> NCHS Drumshow 2010</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7:30 p.m. today; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave., Naperville</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $10 for adults, $8 for students</p>

<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://nchsdrumshow.com" target="new">nchsdrumshow.com</a> </p>