You Can SEE Music at ArcAttack in Modesto, California

We were on a 1-hour drive to Modesto. Our plan was to see the famed show Arcattack. Previously, we had only seen classical music, so we weren’t sure how this would turn out, but we were eager for what was next. As we drove through downtown, something seemed similar. The atmosphere was similar to that of home, “old-time” and antique. As we stepped into the Gallo Center for the Arts, we were greeted by a sprawling lobby. The whole place had a neat, orderly air to it. At last, the people were ready to admit us. We passed our tickets to him, and someone ushered us inside. The place was huge, with 3 stories, and perhaps 350 seats! We got ourselves comfortable and talked in muted, excited voices.

          Suddenly, the lights dimmed. A hush fell over the crowd. People started to take notice of the odd objects sitting around the stage. Then, unexpectedly, we heard a loud crackling noise from the stage. People were startled. I almost fell out of my seat! When I looked at the stage, I saw something amazing. There was literally lightning shooting out of these two machines! It looked like something out of a science fiction movie. And what’s more, they were making MUSIC!

          After 5 minutes of pure awesomeness, 3 people came onto the stage. They introduced themselves and said their roles in the play. They also explained what they would show. It would be 70 minutes of an insane mashup with music and science.

First, they showed us the making behind the lightning-shooters. Then, they told us about engineering and the scientific process. They even programmed a robot to rap about it! Also, they showed us a horde of other cool contraptions and gizmos that made music. The engineers also showed us the works behind all of them. Lastly, they had free time, so they played classic nerdy songs on their lightning machines, like The Imperial March and Super Mario Bros. Theme.

          The play was an enjoyable experience for me. Although it lacked the formal aspect of a true play, it was a casual, chill environment with interesting events one after the other, keeping you on the edge of your seat for the whole production.