Contact

Accolades:

WGI PIA Finalist

Show Synopsis:

What does it mean to reach beyond ourselves? Contact begins with the haunting piano from James Newton Howard’s Signs soundtrack, paired with a narration that sets the tone: “You’re an interesting species. An interesting mix. You’re capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. There’s nothing man fears more than the touch of the unknown.” From there, the ensemble explodes into motion with the driving intensity of Signs – Main Titles, conjuring the urgency and awe of trying to connect with something far beyond our world. The music twists between wonder and fear as satellite towers loom over the performers, symbols of mankind’s restless desire to communicate across the void.

The storm of sound eventually gives way to light as the ensemble breaks into an uplifting arrangement of Dave Matthews’ Satellite. This moment is hopeful, playful, and human, culminating in a stunning trust fall from the top of a radio tower prop that embodies both faith and vulnerability. The final section returns to Howard’s Signs with Hand of Fate, where chaos surges but resolves into clarity. At the height of the storm, the narration reminds us: “See in all our searching, the only thing we found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other.” The show concludes with the full Carl Sagan quote, leaving the audience with an impassioned and uplifting reminder: in all our longing for contact beyond the stars, the most profound connection we can make is with one another.

Instrumentation:

• Snares
• Tenors (6)
• Basses (5)
• Cymbals
• Glock/Xylo (One Player)
• Vibes 1*
• Vibes 2
• Vibes 3
• Marimba 1
• Marimba 2
• Marimba 3
• Synthesizer 1**
• Synthesizer 2**
• Bass Guitar/Electric Guitar (One Player)
• Drumset
• Percussion 1
• Percussion 2

* Vibes 1 part was originally written for a 4-octave vibraphone. If one is not available, make the proper octave adjustments in the part.

** MainStage parts require use of some East West sample libraries that are available for a monthly/yearly subscription. Contact us for more information.