Christmas Cheer Fills the Air at Branson Shows

What do Branson and the North Pole have in common? They both fill people with the Christmas spirit.

The North Pole does it with Santa Claus, elves and reindeer. Branson does it with the almost endless variety of holiday entertainment.

With 53 theaters and 59,757 seats, there is more than enough Christmas music, comedy and lights to even fill the Grinch with holiday cheer.

Here are a few of the area Branson Christmas shows:

•The Hughes Brothers — Head to the Hughes Brothers Theatre in Branson and enjoy the Christmas season with the Hughes Brothers.

These young, energetic and multi-talented brothers celebrate Christmas and the New Year as only they can do. Join Marty, Jason, Ryan and Andy as they combine rich, tight harmonies with dynamic dance numbers and hilarious antics to create a show the whole family will love.

•SIX at the Hughes Brothers Theatre — Celebrate Christmas with SIX. You won’t believe what comes out of the mouths of this vocal band.

The group SIX is made up of six real brothers — Barry, Kevin, Lynn, Jak, Owen and Curtis Knudsen. The group members use their voices to produce all the instrumentation, rhythms and harmonics of the band and vocals.

•Shoji Tabuchi — The Shoji Tabuchi Christmas Show offers a wide variety of entertainment, from classic holiday favorites to contemporary hits. Join Shoji Tabuchi, his wife Dorothy, and their daughter, Christina.

The family plays, sings and dances for the audience. The show is highlighted by the talented violin playing of Shoji Tabuchi. Visitors are guaranteed to get into the holiday spirit.

•Andy Williams — It is definitely “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” at the Andy Williams Christmas Show at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson.

Williams performs some of the holiday hits that made him a music legend. He is also joined by a strong supporting cast. Dean Church is another of Branson’s finest entertainers. For years Church has brought audiences to their feet with his musical talent and energy.

Bob Anderson is a world class singer, comedian, impressionist and all around entertainer. During the show, he performs his tribute to “The Golden Age of Music.” He will take you on a musical journey with his impressions of “The Rat Pack,” Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Tom Jones, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Presley.

The husband and wife variety dance team of Pasha and Aliona will also entertain you with elegance, humor and unique acrobatic choreography.

These are just a few of the many holiday shows that are sure to have you overflowing with Christmas cheer.

Information courtesy of Branson Daily News

Christmas in Branson is a Winter Wonderland of Fun

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Branson, Missouri.

Twenty years ago, the entertainment district in this resort town in the Ozarks shut down for the season. Then, one by one, the attractions realized what a draw the Christmas holiday would be and now hundreds of thousands of visitors brave the chilly weather to flock to Branson in November and December.

Singer Andy Williams truly represents the classic American Christmas show for most folks over the age of 40.

His Christmas show in 2008 keeps that spirit alive. Mixing in some familiar favorites like "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", Williams sings and dances with the energy of someone 20 years his junior.

The show has great music and laughter. Willims does a bit with Bob Anderson, a world class singer and impressionist. Anderson is dead on in impersonations of a drunken Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Nat King Cole and last but in no way least - Andy Williams.

Williams sings while Anderson mocks his mannerism behind his back on stage. The kicker is when Williams and Anderson - impersonating Williams - sing a duet.

Williams foregoes an intermission to get as much Christmas spirit into one show.

Williams does two shows - one at 3 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. - from Monday to Saturday every day from Nov. 1 to Dec. 13. The theater is closed on Nov. 26 - the day before Thanksgiving. There are no matinees on Nov. 24-27.

What a country!

Yakov Smirnoff loves America. And he loves Christmas.

His Christmas show in November and December packs them in even though the shows are in the afternoons and morning. The Russian jokester’s monologues and film clips chronicle a career of standup comedy and work on TV and film. In one clip he plays, he tells the late Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show that America has a lot of things you can’t find in the former Soviet Union.
Like warning shots.

Yakov has a nice blend of spontaneous comments and audience participation. In a mock presidential news conference, he takes questions from the audience while pretending to be the president. And as funny as the show is, Yakov tells a sentimental story of his first Christmas in America and how through the generosity of three perfect strangers, he found some new friends in the New World.

Yakov performs his Christmas shows at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 and 20 and December 2-3 and 9-10. He does only the 9:30 a.m. show on November 15, 19, 22, 25-26 and 29 and Dec. 4, 6-7 and 11-12. On the following dates, he has only one 3 p.m. show - Nov. 16, 21, 23 and 30 and December 5.

An Irish Christmas

A dozen talented vocalists - some from Ireland and a few from America - put on an amazing vocal show during the Christmas season at Branson.

The Branson Variety Theatre hosts sold-out crowds for this group of singers and dancers.
Beside some familiar Christmas tunes, the 12 Irish Tenors sing old favorites, including "Danny Boy", "That’s Life", "You Raise Me Up", "Hey Jude", "Twist and Shout", "Yesterday", "Cockles and Mussels", “Nessun Dorma," "Music of the Night" and more.

Their rendition of Danny Boy alone is worth the price of admission.

The 12 Irish Tenors perform their Christmas show at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on November 16, 23 and 30 and Dec. 7. The show is at 10 a.m. only on Nov. 18 and 20 and Dec. 2, 4, 9 and 11. The shows are presented at 3 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, 5, 8, 12, 14 and 19-20. The show is at 3 p.m. only on Nov. 25 and 27 and Dec. 16-18. There is only one 8 p.m. show on Nov. 19, 26 and 28 and Dec. 3 and 10.

An Old Time Christmas

Much of the history of Branson revolves around Silver Dollar City and the rich Ozark Mountain heritage. That theme is in full swing this November and December with Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas.

The 1880s-style theme park has more than 4.5 million Christmas lights. The Square has more than a million lights alone. There are 350 miles of lights plus more than 1,000 decorated Christmas trees.

The 50-foot tall Christmas tree on the Square has 350,000 LED lights. The Christmas on Main Street show is incredibly synchronized - to one hundredth of a second. There are 100 light changes every second.

“With the addition of even more lights and effects, we’ve dramatically enhanced the atmosphere of the Square,” said Trudie Kelly, Silver Dollar City visual supervisor. “The LED lights also help to cut back on energy consumption throughout the park.”

For the adventurous, the park’s roller coasters are open at night for a spectacular view of the lights. Inside, the Broadway-style production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol adds to the Christmas spirit. This is an original adaptation of the classic story.

Also, at Silver Dollar City, the employees can say, “Merry Christmas” instead of just “Happy Holidays.” Silver Dollar City is open Wednesdays through Sundays in November, Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 14 and open daily December 18-23 and December 26-30. On most days, the hours are 1-9 p.m.

Festival of Lights

The Branson Area Festival of Lights started on Nov. 1 and stays until New Year’s Eve.
The drive through the display is on the Shepherd of the Hills Expressway Lane, across from the new Sight & Sound Theatre (home of Noah, the Musical).

The festival begins with a one-mile drive with more than 230 colorful light displays and almost one million lights. The festival is open daily from dusk to 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and from dusk to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Branson Landing

We stayed at the Hilton Promenade on Branson Landing. That puts you right in the center of one of the most scenic parts of town and in the middle of a convenient shopping district.

It’s a great place to plan to watch the 60th Annual Adoration Parade and Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7.

The two-mile parade route goes right through history downtown Branson.

Titanic Display

A small wicker suitcase that once belonged to Millvina Dean - the only living survivor of the Titanic disaster - will be on display at the Titanic Museum in Branson until Dec. 31.

“This will be the world’s first look at an important piece of Titanic history, one that’s not been seen by the public for 96 years,” said John Joslyn, owner of the museum. “We feel privileged to be given this unique opportunity to honor Millvina Dean and her contributions to Titanic’s legacy and to showcase one of her most valued possessions - a small, memory-filled suitcase.”

Dean was a baby girl when the unsinkable Titanic sank 96 years ago. Her mother and young brother survived while her father perished. Arriving in New York with nothing but the clothes on their backs, a stranger gave this small suitcase filled with donated clothing.

The museum has a treasure of artifacts, photos, history and memorabilia of the Titanic plus a full display of the Titanic movie.

More than a million visitors have come to Branson to see this museum.

Information courtesy of Tulsa Beacon

Branson's Holiday Promenade of Stars Parade set for November 1st

Ozark Mountain Christmas is right around the corner.

The Holiday Promenade of Stars Parade, set for Nov. 1 at Branson Landing, will mark the kick-off for Ozark Mountain Christmas.

The event, the first of the 2008 festivities for Ozark Mountain Christmas, is set for 10 a.m., and officials said it will feature many Branson entertainers, a marching band, dancers, acrobats, drummers and more.

“This is going to be a wonderful event,” said Gary Bartlett, CEO of Midwest Concerts, who is helping organize the event. “Last year, we had between 2,000 and 3,000 people there. This year, we are expecting there to be a lot more people there.”

Grand Marshall for this year’s parade will be world-famous entertainer Andy Williams. Later in November, Williams will take to the world stage as he is scheduled to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

“(Williams) will be singing ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’” said Gail Joist, with the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre.

Back in Branson on Nov. 1, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the north end of the Landing, near the Belk Department Store. The parade will move along the thoroughfare until it arrives in Town Square.

Along with the parade, there will be two live performance stages — one at the Landing Town Square and one near Bass Pro Shops.

“There is going to be a lot of entertainment and I think people are going to really enjoy who we are bringing in,” Bartlett said.

The entertainment lineup includes Andy Williams, American Idol contestant Jason Yeager, Star Search winner Jake Simpson, and local entertainers Bob Anderson, Moe Bandy, the Lennon Sisters, the cast of SIX, the Liverpool Legends, and more.

“There is definitely a wide variety of entertainment set for this event,” Bartlett said. “It’s going to be awesome.”

Bartlett said some bleacher seating would be available near both stages. He also encouraged those people coming to the event to bring their own folding chairs.

Information courtesy of Branson Daily News