Flanked by members of the ISU marching band, "The View" cohost and Iowa native Sara Haines shows off her "Iowans Do It Butter" T-shirt following the live show Sept. 16. Photo by Jeff Neira, ABC TV.
Thirty members of the Cyclone marching band enjoyed an 11th-hour trip to New York City last week at the invitation of ABC Television's "The View" talk show. Co-hosts wanted to surprise their colleague and Newton native Sara Haines with an Iowa-themed birthday celebration at the end of the Sept. 16 show. The phone call came to Simon Estes Music Hall Monday morning, Sept. 12: Could the Iowa State band fly in to help with the task?
"We responded with enthusiasm to this opportunity and arranged the entire trip in about 24 hours," said Brad Dell, chair of the music and theatre department. "It was a thrilling adventure."
Associate director of bands Christian Carichner selected section captains and other top musicians for a small but mighty representation of the full band. They represented about 8% of the marching band.
Band members participated in a three-hour rehearsal Thursday afternoon and were treated to the Broadway musical "Beetlejuice" Thursday evening before performing live on "The View" Friday morning.
Full disclosure: The View's producer extended the same invitation to the University of Iowa marching band. Turns out, Cyclones are quicker and more decisive than Hawkeyes . . .
The set of ABC TV's "The View" following a 15-second transformation to Iowa State Fair theme, including the arrival of the Cyclone marching band. Photo by Jeff Neira, ABC TV.
Brad Dell (center), music and theatre department chair, and Christian Carichner (right), director of the Cyclone marching band, presented several Cyclone gifts to "The View" cohost Sara Haines. Photo by Jeff Neira, ABC TV.
