Raised Voices: Trio Brings Energetic, Spiritual Show to Branson

By Dave Woods, Joplin Globe

BRANSON, Mo. — Delora Johnson raised her hands and shouted "amen" as she praised Voices of Glory.

"I'm here, and I'm excited," said the 64-year-old following the first half of "AYO," the talented trio's new show at the Hughes Brothers Theatre in Branson. "We are a Christian family that loves the Lord. It's just a grand show."

Delora, of Kokomo, Ind., said she was drawn to see the show during her trip to Branson because of the group's back story. She and her family remembered the three young entertainers from "America's Got Talent," where they placed in the top five during the show's talent search in the 2009 season.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.joplinglobe.com/lifestyles/x2002151381/Raised-voices-Trio-brings-energetic-spiritual-show-to-Branson

 

New Tricks For Branson Mainstay - Kirby VanBurch's Branson Show

The man known as the “Prince of Magic” has some new tricks up his sleeve in this year’s show, including a couple of acts, that while impressive, could actually not be called “magic” at all.

Kirby VanBurch said he generally tries to change about a quarter of his show every season, both to stay competitive and keep his repeat guests entertained.

Shortly after greeting a young fan and his father backstage, VanBurch said, “They’ve seen me three years in a row. I try to stay updated for these kids who come back every year.”

He said the theme of his 2011 show is based on wishing, à la Aladdin and his magic lamp. The production starts off with a bang, literally, as a “genie” flies out of a larger-than-life lamp and darts around the stage.

After settling down a bit, she welcomes the audience with VanBurch’s new theme song, an adaptation of “Arabian Nights” from Disney’s “Aladdin.”  To read the rest of the story click here: http://bransontrilakesnews.com/entertainment/article_0990934a-88a0-11e0-8be7-001cc4c002e0.html

Bandy eases out, Short slides on in

By Tyler Francke for the Branson Tri-Lakes News

Longtime Branson entertainer Moe Bandy has decided he will not perform at the Jim Stafford Theatre this season as he had planned, and the “Top 10 Rock and Roll Revue,” a tribute show that recently began its third season at the Branson Mall, will take his place.

Cindy Merry, Bandy’s publicist, said his touring schedule and some other projects he is working on forced him to push his opening date at the Jim Stafford Theatre back to Sept. 4. Merry, who is also Stafford’s marketing consultant, said the theater was having difficulty finding an act that would agree to perform at the time slot only for the next few months.

“Moe Bandy and the Staffords are really good friends,” Merry said. “And when Moe found out nobody wanted the spot if they couldn’t go all year, he was gracious enough to give it up.”

She said Bandy has not yet canceled his Branson show dates after Sept. 4, and he has been considering several venues as a possibility for those performances.

“As it stands right now, he has not canceled his fall and Christmas schedule,” Merry said. “There are some groups that he already has reserved for those dates.”

Marvin Short, one of the performers and co-owners of “Top 10 Rock and Roll Revue,” said the move is a bit of a homecoming for both him and the show’s other co-owner, Darrell Croy.

“We both have a really good rapport with Jim and Ann (Stafford) from our work with them in the past,” Short said Tuesday.

Croy, a pianist and Jerry Lee Lewis tribute artist in the Revue, was a musical director for “The Jim Stafford Show,” and Short said he performed at the theater as part of a different show for several years.

“They expressed interest in our show, because they had a timeslot opening up,” Short said of the Staffords. “Then they came out and saw the show and loved it, and the rest is history.”

Short said the move will give the Revue more exposure and be a good opportunity for it to grow. He and Croy also expect to be able to focus on the show a bit more, as marketing will now be handled by the theater staff instead of by them.

“With Jim being the Branson entertainer and entrepreneur that he is, his marketing team is fantastic,” Short said. “Everybody at the theater does their jobs really well. We’re excited to be part of that team.”

Jim Stafford will become the revue’s executive producer, while Short and Croy remain its owners. Short said the show’s name is also being changed to “Top 10 Rock and Roll Revue Presents Rockit,” which will eventually be shortened to “Rockit.”

Short said he fully expected to finish the season at the Branson Mall Music Theatre, but decided moving would be best for the show. He said the mall and the revue parted ways on good terms.

Short said the show’s cast will remain intact after the move. Short and Croy are joined on stage in the two-hour show with vocalists and dancers David Lawrence and Samantha Feller, guitarist Steve Ragsdale, bassist Randy Hall and drummer Mike Lacey.

The revue will perform six times a week at the Jim Stafford Theatre: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.

Last Thursday was its first night in the new venue.

“We’re excited about the move and very thankful for Jim and Ann,” Short said. “It’s definitely looking like this could be a permanent location for us. We’re hopeful that it will be.”

A Trip To Branson Goes Way Beyond the Expected

Good article by Amy Bertrand for the St Louis Post-Dispatch. Read all about it here: http://www.stltoday.com/travel/article_47df42eb-394b-5ef5-92e7-3d347ce747b9.html

About Fred Hoppe's sculptures including those in the Veterans Memorial Museum in Branson

News anchor conquers fear of heights on new zipline adventure near Branson MO

by Paul Adler, KY3 News
Published: Apr 29, 2010 at 7:42 AM CDT

See the video here: http://www.ky3.com/news/local/92405309.html

WALNUT SHADE, Mo. -- A new attraction opens this weekend just north of Branson. It takes you zipping above the tree lines. For some, that sounds like a blast. For KY3 News anchor Maria Neider, it's just downright scary. Here's her experience on the zipline ride.

"Go ahead and step into the harness," guide Robert Cameron instructed.

When you suffer from acrophobia, strapping in for this ride will cause the sweat to break out. Neider has it -- bad.

"Are you nervous?" she was asked.

"Paul, of course, I'm nervous. That's crazy," she replied.

Neider has a severe anxiety about heights.

"Are you going to laugh at Maria?" a reprter asked General Manager Emma Hamilton.

"No, I won't laugh. I've been there too. I totally understand," said Hamilton.

"This is the tether; this connects to the actual zipline and the trolley," said Cameron.

Neider and I planned to test out the new ziplines. Ziplines are wires that you ride. They're some 50, 60, 70 feet in the air, above the trees.

"The helmet is for if something were to fall from above. It's not necessarily because we think you're going to fall," said Hamilton.

"I need that reassurance. That's a good thing," said Neider.

Before we went up, we signed waivers, got some instructions and climbed to the first tower. Neider's knuckles turned white as she got ready.

"We're going to connect you right up here, so move forward," said Hamilton.

"It's my lifeline," said Neider.

As we move closer, Neider looked like she was walking the plank on a pirate ship.

"You'll love it!" said Hamilton.

At the word "Go," I was off and flying. Neider was left standing on the platform with the clock ticking.

"Are you ready?" Hamilton asked.

"Yeah, I'm as ready as I'm going to get, if I can release my white knuckle grip," said Neider.

She finally jumped.

"Oh my god! Whoooooooo! Oh my god!" she said.

"It was totally frightening, letting go. I don't know how you can let go so fast. Oh, it was fun."

"So, you were able to face your fears today?" she was asked.

"I did it. Yes, I did. I do have a fear of heights still, but it was fun. I felt totally secure," said Neider.

The tours range in cost from $40 to $100. It opens Saturday, although the first couple of weeks are sold out, so call ahead or check the Branson Zipline Canopy Tours Web site before you go.

http://www.bransonzipline.com/

"Come Fly With Us" - Branson Zipline & Canopy Tours