Trailing a little ways back and scoring 71.10 for third place was the DCI touring musical circus, AKA, the Star of Indiana. In their initial outing of the season, Star marched 65 brass, 25 color guard, 28 percussion and one drum major, but also seen on the field was a tiger (train), dancing bears, circus performers (jugglers), pink elephants, et. al. They are blessed with superb talent in both the percussion and brass groups. New cummerbunds with white pants as well as new guard uniforms improve their overall look and help their visual score. The opener of Barnum & Bailey's Favorites is exciting and really exemplifies the talented middle and upper voices of the brass segment. The second number, Circus Suite, needs work - Ah, opening night jitters! The percussion feature is outstanding and is reminiscent of the Bridgemen in 1980 with their standing drums and cymbals at the front. The keyboards and snares are excellent and watch the quads - WOW! The closer of Thunder and Blazes is well done and includes the guard (after donning their old uniform skirts) dancing like butterflies, the emergence of cavorting bears and pink elephants, a star drill set and some beautiful brass control. Watch/listen for the ending fanfare and those nifty elephant flags.

    1 Cavaliers                                  80.2
    2 Madison Scouts                             76.0
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            71.1
    4 Bluecoats                                  68.8
    5 Phantom Regiment                           68.7
    6 Sky Ryders                                 62.4
    7 Brass, Inc.                                44.2
    8 Colts                                      41.9
    9 Knights                                    38.8
   10 Glassmen                                   31.4
   11 Northern Aurora                            30.7

Sunday, June 21, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Normal, IL

Star of Indiana has pulled out all the stops, uh. . . props this year for their circus production and managed to slip by the Madison Scouts this evening with a strong second place finish. Very reminiscent of the great 1980 Bridgemen circus production, the corps is quite entertaining with lots of crowd appeal. Star's visual score sank to fifth place this evening, evidence of room for easy improvement later in the season 74.70.

    1 Cavaliers                                  80.6
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            74.7
    3 Madison Scouts                             73.1
    4 Bluecoats                                  72.5
    5 Phantom Regiment                           72.2
    6 Glassmen                                   38.4
    7 Northern Aurora                            33.3
    8 CapitolAires                               23.5

Tuesday, June 23, 1987
Innovations in Brass (DCM)
Canton, OH

Star of Indiana entertained a large gathering of drum corps fans with their circus show theme for a very narrow win over the Phantom Regiment. The 14th edition of Innovations in Brass featured eight corps with judging by Drum Corps Midwest. The Bluecoats always run a top notch show and tonight was no exception. Star of Indiana pushed everyone back just a little as they open with a fanfare of piercing brilliants and a huge resonant bass sound. Star's big edge on Phantom thus far is the percussion section as they had a one point advantage in that caption tonight. This was evident by their active solo that got a standing ovation.

    1 STAR OF INDIANA                            74.5
    2 Phantom Regiment                           74.4
    3 Bluecoats                                  70.9
    4 Troopers                                   59.8
    5 Glassmen                                   42.7
    6 Northern Aurora                            38.3
    7 Madison Jr. Scouts                         26.0
    8 CapitolAires                               19.0

Thursday, June 25, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Austintown, OH

    1 Phantom Regiment                           77.4
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            73.8
    3 Bluecoats                                  70.9
    4 Troopers                                   61.1
    5 Glassmen                                   39.0
    6 Northern Aurora                            35.9
    7 Madison Jr. Scouts                         25.6

Friday, June 26, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Toledo, OH

    1 Phantom Regiment                           77.4
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            74.9
    3 Bluecoats                                  73.2
    4 Troopers                                   61.2
    5 Northern Aurora                            39.4
    6 Madison Jr. Scouts                         29.3

Saturday, June 27, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Saginaw, MI

    1 Phantom Regiment                           76.7
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            76.2
    3 Bluecoats                                  73.3
    4 Northern Aurora                            42.6
    5 Glassmen                                   42.2
    6 Madison Jr. Scouts                         30.0

Monday, June 29, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Terre Haute, IN

The battle of fire and ice continued in Terre Haute as Star of Indiana's blazing and thunderous circus edged Phantom's icy Winter Palace performance. Star's 77.90 show featured jugglers, clowns, dancing bears, a 20-yard tiger and all the fun and excitement of a trip to the Big Top. Their horns can stand and play with the best of them.

    1 STAR OF INDIANA                            78.2
    2 Phantom Regiment                           77.0
    3 Bluecoats                                  74.1
    4 Troopers                                   61.6
    5 Kingsmen, IL                               20.9

Thursday, July 2, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Streator, IL

Everyone was psyched for the Star of Indiana's version of the "Greatest Show on Turf." With the circus visuals, you could feel yourself in the front row for a three-ring circus. With the power of 62 horns and drum line of 30 strong, they came out with a truly unique show. As usual, overall field coverage was superb with end to end formations including the longest tiger this writer has ever seen. Their use of Sabre Dance was entertaining and thrilled everyone. The excellent execution of the snare line has to be up there with some of the finest. Their use of the panda bears, a magic show and everything else imaginable, including an authentic juggling act, says they truly have what it takes this year. Back with their original "star skirts", they mellowed the crowd with their fine ending of Thunder and Blazes, a dazzling circus march with, of course, pink elephants. Just what I needed tonight! WOW, what a show. A third place finish of 80.20 was awarded to Star.

    1 Cavaliers                                  87.6
    2 Phantom Regiment                           83.7
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            80.2
    4 Bluecoats                                  78.4
    5 Sky Ryders                                 74.3
    6 Troopers                                   70.3
    7 Knights                                    50.2
    8 Glassmen                                   46.5
    9 Northern Aurora                            45.5
   10 CapitolAires                               25.6

Friday, July 3, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Rockford, IL

Rockford fans have been treated to many great performances over the years and both Star of Indiana and Bluecoats generated as much crowd enthusiasm tonight as for any previous corps' performances. With or without the circus props, Star can crank out the applause with its brass musicianship and percussion GE alone. But, with the props added and used to their fullest potential, Star of Indiana may yet turn out to be "the greatest (corps) show on earth." Wherever one looks, the action of a real circus is evident. The pit percussionists dress in costumes of circus performers and sideshow barkers. Jugglers and clowns seem to be everywhere and the world's largest tiger headlines a menagerie that also includes a panda, polar bear and lots of elephants - including pink ones.

    1 Phantom Regiment                           86.3
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            83.2
    3 Bluecoats                                  80.1
    4 Knights                                    54.8
    5 Glassmen                                   46.3
    6 Guardsmen                                  46.1
    7 Northern Aurora                            44.3
    8 Black Knights                              28.5

Friday, July 17, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Sun Prairie, WI

    1 Cavaliers                                  85.9
    2 Madison Scouts                             83.7
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            80.6
    4 Bluecoats                                  76.7
    5 Phantom Reg. Cadets                        42.8
    6 Madison Jr. Scouts                         37.6
    7 CapitolAires                               30.0
    8 Pioneer                                    28.5

Saturday, July 18, 1987
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Championship
DeKalb, IL

    1 Cavaliers                                  88.8
    2 Phantom Regiment                           87.5
    3 Madison Scouts                             84.3
    4 STAR OF INDIANA                            83.7
    5 Bluecoats                                  80.5
    6 Colts                                      65.1

Monday, July 20, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Indianapolis, IN

    1 Cavaliers                                  85.9
    2 Phantom Regiment                           82.6
    3 Madison Scouts                             81.2
    4 STAR OF INDIANA                            80.0
    5 Sky Ryders                                 73.6

Tuesday, July 21, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Springfield, MI

    1 Cavaliers                                  87.8
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            82.6
    3 Sky Ryders                                 76.8
    4 Colts                                      63.6
    5 Knights                                    59.6
    6 Black Gold                                 25.1

Wednesday, July 22, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Lawrence, KS

    1 Cavaliers                                  84.5
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            78.1
    3 Sky Ryders                                 70.0
    4 Colts                                      67.1
    5 Knights                                    63.3

Thursday, July 23, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Wichita, KS

    1 Cavaliers                                  84.8
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            78.5
    3 Sky Ryders                                 72.1
    4 Colts                                      66.0
    5 Knights                                    59.2

Monday, July 27, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Tulsa, OK

    1 Blue Devils                                90.5
    2 Cavaliers                                  89.5
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            84.3
    4 Colts                                      69.5
    5 Spartans, WA                               62.5
    6 Argonauts                                  55.2
    7 Black Gold                                 39.8

Tuesday, July 28, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Wichita Falls, TX

    1 Blue Devils                                90.5
    2 Cavaliers                                  89.9
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            85.2
    4 Colts                                      68.6
    5 Spartans, WA                               61.6
    6 Black Gold                                 36.9

Thursday, July 30, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Dallas, TX

The entertainment started a little early as the Star of Indiana took the opportunity to do some light calisthenics as they were doing their backfield warm-up involving a lot of bending. This mostly Texan audience has never seen Star in Texas before, but with their highly entertaining and involving circus show, Indiana had no problem making new friends with the Texans! The giant tiger received lots of oohs and aahs then applause when it broke into about a dozen or more flags. The cymbal line got their chance to shine as they posed as body builders eliciting whistles and cheers from the females in the audience. As a result of their phenomenal brass, percussion and guard, Star of Indiana received a standing ovation and a score of 86.40, putting them in third place.

    1 Blue Devils                                92.1
    2 Cavaliers                                  91.2
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            86.4
    4 Colts                                      70.9
    5 Spartans, WA                               62.6
    6 Argonauts                                  52.1

Saturday, August 1, 1987
DCI South Prelims
Birmingham, AL

Star of Indiana's circus came to town with its one-two punch, a combination of traditional drum corps and the excitement of watching jugglers, animals and clowns. On the starting line, the military look of Star's brass section was countered by the antics of clowns playing hide and seek among the ranks - and the "seeker" appeared dangerous with his drum corps rifle. All clowning ended with the first note of Barnum & Bailey's Favorites, presented with an impressively creative bag of marching and general effect tricks among the brass and percussion sections. Much has been written about Star's unique and often expensive-looking props, but mention must be made about a flag used in Fire Dance. It is the colors of a bright flame and, when twirled, the fabric real Iy appears ablaze. Changes have been made in the show's use of circus props. The magnificent "biggest tiger in the world" now rushes out from behind the backdrop, with an animal trainer cracking his colorful whip to add extra drama.

    1 Blue Devils                                90.7
    2 Phantom Regiment                           90.2
    3 Cavaliers                                  89.6
    4 Spirit of Atlanta                          86.5
    5 STAR OF INDIANA                            85.3
    6 Bluecoats                                  81.0
    7 Florida Wave                               75.0
    8 Dutch Boy                                  74.3
    9 Troopers                                   71.3
   10 Colts                                      66.6
   11 Spartans, WA                               59.7

Saturday, August 1, 1987
DCI South Finals
Birmingham, AL

    1 Blue Devils                                92.3
    2 Phantom Regiment                           92.2
    3 Cavaliers                                  91.5
    4 Spirit of Atlanta                          88.9
    5 STAR OF INDIANA                            85.5
    6 Bluecoats                                  84.3
    7 Dutch Boy                                  77.6
    8 Florida Wave                               76.5

Monday, August 3, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Sevierville, TN

    1 Blue Devils                                93.0
    2 Spirit of Atlanta                          89.5
    3 Madison Scouts                             88.8
    4 STAR OF INDIANA                            87.9
    5 Dutch Boy                                  80.1
    6 Florida Wave                               76.7
    7 Knights                                    63.9

Wednesday, August 5, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Lexington, KY

    1 Cavaliers                                  90.9
    2 Spirit of Atlanta                          89.1
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            87.4
    4 Florida Wave                               78.5
    5 Spartans, WA                               65.6
    6 Knights                                    63.4

Thursday, August 6, 1987
Pride of Indiana VI (DCI)
Bloomington, IN

    1 Santa Clara Vanguard                       94.9
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            88.8
    3 Velvet Knights                             88.4
    4 Dutch Boy                                  78.2
    ^ Troopers                                   78.2
    6 Boston Crusaders                           74.0
    7 Colts                                      73.7

Friday, August 7, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Lexington, KY

    1 Cavaliers                                  90.9
    2 Spirit of Atlanta                          89.1
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            87.4
    4 Florida Wave                               78.5
    5 Spartans, WA                               65.6
    6 Knights                                    63.4

Saturday, August 8, 1987
DCI Midwest Prelims
Saint Louis, MO

    1 Santa Clara Vanguard                       94.8
    2 Garfield Cadets                            93.6
    3 Cavaliers                                  92.7
    4 Spirit of Atlanta                          88.2
    5 STAR OF INDIANA                            88.0
    6 Madison Scouts                             87.6
    7 Sky Ryders                                 81.7
    8 Florida Wave                               80.8
    9 Dutch Boy                                  79.4
   10 Boston Crusaders                           79.1

Monday, August 10, 1987
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Port Huron, MI

    1 Phantom Regiment                           96.1
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            90.6
    3 Velvet Knights                             90.3
    4 Suncoast Sound                             89.6
    5 Bluecoats                                  87.0
    6 Troopers                                   83.4
    7 New York Lancers                           77.0
    8 Spartans, WA                               68.0
    9 Diplomats                                  67.2
   10 Canadian Knights                           63.7

Friday, August 14, 1987
DCI World Championship Semifinals
Madison, WI

    1 Garfield Cadets                            97.0
    2 Santa Clara Vanguard                       96.5
    3 Phantom Regiment                           95.6
    4 Blue Devils                                95.0
    5 Cavaliers                                  93.9
    6 STAR OF INDIANA                            90.3
    7 Madison Scouts                             89.4
    8 Suncoast Sound                             89.2
    ^ Velvet Knights                             89.2
   10 Spirit of Atlanta                          89.1
   11 Bluecoats                                  89.0
   12 Sky Ryders                                 85.3
   13 Florida Wave                               84.7
   14 Boston Crusaders                           82.8
   15 Dutch Boy                                  82.1
   16 Crossmen                                   81.6
   17 Troopers                                   81.0
   18 Marauders                                  78.2
   19 Freelancers                                77.9
   20 Colts                                      76.5
   21 Connexion Quebec                           76.4
   22 Blue Knights                               73.4
   23 Spartans, WA                               69.8
   24 Ventures                                   69.7
   25 Knights                                    67.2

Saturday, August 15, 1987
DCI World Championship Finals
Madison, WI

For the kid in every one of us, there must have been more than just a tinge of envy for the members of Bloomington, Indiana's Star of Indiana, as they took 0l' P.T. Barnum's advice and joined the circus. In what must have been one of the most photographable shows of the season, Star's circus train contained every character, sight and sound, and memory. From the thundering fanfare, through "Thunder and Blazes," this third edition of "Star" was a bigger-than-life big top of excitement and fun. Barnum and Bailey's "Favorite" introduced the ringmaster for this "Circus of the Stars," before the animal tamer had to deal with a 40-yard tiger attack to "Sabre Dance." The clowns and two cute-as-can-be Pandas took over for some comic relief, then the tightrope walkers glided gracefully around the field. As the introductory strains of "Thunder and Blazes" enveloped the crowd, "Star's" instructors must have wondered what they had forgotten. Elephants! And with that, out appeared two pink ones, before the guard swept up some cleverly designed elephant windsocks. And for championship week, "Star" went for the jugular as hundreds of oversized balloons rose into the Madison night, signaling the third all-out success of Bloomington's brightest star.

    1 Garfield Cadets                            97.9
    2 Santa Clara Vanguard                       97.8
    3 Cavaliers                                  94.7
    4 Blue Devils                                94.4
    5 Phantom Regiment                           94.3
    6 Madison Scouts                             90.4
    7 Velvet Knights                             90.0
    ^ STAR OF INDIANA                            90.0
    9 Suncoast Sound                             88.8
   10 Spirit of Atlanta                          87.6
   11 Bluecoats                                  85.7
   12 Sky Ryders                                 81.9