The Branson Tri-Lakes Community Theatre production of “HELLO, DOLLY!” will be presented January 27, 28, 29 and February 3, 4, 5 (Friday and Saturday – 7pm, Sunday 2pm) at the Starlite Theatre on 76 Country Boulevard.

Help promote the show: Download a printable Hello Dolly! poster!

Now in it’s 29th season, the Tri-Lakes Communtiy Theatre is a non-profit 501c3 organization supported solely by donations of patrons and ticket sales of its productions.  It is based upon the principles of Entertainment, Opportunity and Education and has distributed approximately $30 thousand in scholarships for area youth over the last fifteen years.

HELLO, DOLLY! is an ebullient and irresistible story of the joy of living, glittering with happy songs, shining with loving scenes, alive with the personality of one of the most fabulous characters on the musical stage…Dolly Gallagher Levi!

Classic musical numbers include Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Ribbons Down My Back, Before the Parade Passes By, Elegance, It Only Takes A Moment, So Long, Dearie… and the well known classic theme song made famous by Louis Armstrong, Hello Dolly!

The musical is produced by Kim Hale and directed by Trisha Garrison.  Assistant producers are Lisa Murphy and Gail Tilden.  Musical Director is Danielle Ryan with Choreography by Michelle Willadson and Matthew Mattney.

Branson resident Diane Barber is cast in the leading role as Dolly Levi. Diane has an extensive background in musical theater having performed in many regional theaters along the East Coast Circuit including the Bucks County Playhouse, Poconos Playhouse, Bristol Riverside Theatre and the Falmouth Playhouse in Massachusetts.

She studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute and the Terri Schreiber Studio as well as vocal performance with Patricia Carey and Bob Marks in New York City. She earned her Bachelors of Music Education in Music Thearapy from the University of Kansas as well as a Masters Degree in Dance Education from Temple University in Philadelphia.

In November and December of each year, Diane performs along with her husband, comedian Jim Barber and illusionist Dave Hamner in the holiday production The Wings of Christmas at the Hamner Barber Theater and is a full-time interior decorator and owner of Interiors by Decorating Den.

In addition to the role of Dolly Levi, there are many enjoyable leading characters in the musical production that are portrayed by very talented actors and singers from around the Branson Tri-Lakes area. These performers include:

Norman Cochran as Horace Vandergelder
Nathan Sutherland as Cornelius Hackl
Michael Phillips as Barnaby Tucker
Brianne McGill as Irene Molloy
Somer Jones as Minnie Fay
Greg Lilley as Ambrose Kemper
Heather Beyer as Ermengarde
Marla Sullivan as Ernestina
Jim Ellis as Rudolph Reisenweber
Trey Hale as Stanley
Paul Gibbs as the Judge
Sean Myers as the Policeman
Corey James as the Clerk and Bandleader, as well as dozens of other actors of all ages playing the townspeople, waiters and chorus.

Special Gala and Silent Auction

New this year is the first annual Tri-Lakes Community Theatre Gala! and Silent Auction to be held on Saturday, February 4th at 5:30pm in the atrium of the Starlite Theatre.  The price for this special Gala! event is $25.00 and includes dinner, entertainment and VIP Seating to the production of “Hello Dolly!” in the main theater at 6:30pm.  Semi-formal to formal attire is suggested for women, with Black Tie optional for men.

Tickets on Sale January 25th

Mark your calendars! Beginning January 25th tickets can be obtained by calling the Starlite Theatre box office at 417-335-4241. Adults are $15 and children $8.

For the Gala! and Silent Auction VIP reservations, call 417-546-0095.

Related Links: Tri-Lakes Community Theatre

Area Appreciation through December 11th

The Hamner Barber Theater is offering a special area appreciation rate for Branson residents and/or employees working in Stone and Taney Counties. Starting today through December 11th, area residents can attend the Hamner Barber Variety Show and it’s magical holiday production The Wings of Christmas for just $5.00 (plus tax). This is your last opportunity to see this wonderful show in 2011.

The first half features the best of theaward winning Hamner Barber Variety Show, featuring the incredible magic illusions of The Hamners, as seen on NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic” and other TV specials.

Co-star Jim Barber will have you rolling in the aisles with his inventive comedy ventriloquism. Jim has been featured on many television programs including, CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman.”

The first half finale is a magical, multimedia Tribute to American Veterans that will bring the audience to it’s feet in applause while at the same time filling their hearts with pride for our Country.

The second half is pure imagination and whimsical fun.  As the curtain opens on the second half, the audience is transported through the magic of multimedia to an animated world of childhood Christmas memories. The entire cast performs favorite cartoon classics from A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Jim Barber as “The Grinch” is engaging and creative as he dances in and out of a video screen while singing the holiday classic from the film of the same name.

The Hamners rekindle fond memories of early Christmas presents as they magically produce some magical toys that when combined with Dave Hamner’s imagination, become real and bigger than life.

Music is the thread that weaves this production together. Featured are the beautiful vocals of both Dave Hamner and Jim Barber. Also featured is Jim’s talented wife Diane Barber. The Barber’s magically appear and serenade each other with a cleverly revised version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” A terrific troupe of singing dancers rounds out the cast.

The spectacular finale will bring you to your feet with applause, featuring our theme song written by T.J. Kuenster especially for this production. T.J. has been the musical conductor for Country Music Hall of Famer, Glen Campbell for over 30 years. He has also written musical scores for many animated feature films including “All Dogs Go To Heaven” and “Rock-A-Doodle”. His original score, “Wings of Christmas” is the perfect piece to conclude this spectacular production.

The entire cast joins Dave Hamner and Jim Barber onstage as a large flock of beautiful birds appear flying to center stage over the heads of the amazed audience. Many folks may not appreciate the intense training that it took for this spectacular fly-in, but they are stunned and delighted at the shear beauty and the power of the experience.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see the Wings of Christmas at the Hamner Barber Theater on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway.

Call the theater box office at 417-334-4363 for best seating and reservations. Area appreciation through December 11th.

(Joplin, Mo. 10-25-2011)

With the presentation of $159,785.44 to St. John’s Mercy Hospital-Joplin, Branson Cares for Joplin saw the fulfillment of their original goal to “help our neighbors”. This message was delivered during the live Branson Cares For Joplin Benefit Concert & Telethon sponsored by the League of Branson Theatre Owners & Show Producers (The Branson Show League). At that time it was announced that over $221,000 was pledged to help the Joplin School’s music program and St John’s Mercy Hospital-Joplin.

Jim Barber, Gary Pulsipher, Danny Thomas, Susan Weimer, Cindy Merry, Gene Bicknell

Jim Barber, of the Hamner Barber Variety Theater and President of The Branson Show League said, “To date we’ve raised $223,463.68 and donations are still arriving. Of the monies already collected we’ve distributed $45,000 to the Joplin Band Booster account, $5000 to St Mary’s Catholic Music program, and $1,000 dollars each to Palen Music and Hoover Music for instrument repair (over 300 instruments valued at $100,000 dollars were also donated). This donation today of $159,785.44 to St. John’s Mercy Hospital-Joplin goes to help support Mercy Health keep their over 2,000 workers employed as the hospital is being rebuilt. On behalf of the Branson Community, and the many, many participants in raising and donating these funds, it’s an honor to be able to help our neighbors in Joplin.”

“We are humbled and thankful for this amazing donation of $159,785.44 to our rebuilding efforts,” said Gary Pulsipher, St John’s Mercy Hospital president / CEO. “As we remain committed to keeping all co-workers on the payroll and to investing more than $950 million to rebuild health services in the community, philanthropic support such as this is crucial to help us sustain the ministry.” Barber noted that “there are some monies yet be donated to the All City Music Choir, after that, any remaining funds and pledged donations that continue to arrive will be donated to St John’s. We hope with those additional dollars that this will be the largest gift to-date.” Donations may still be made on-line at JoplinBenefit.com.

The check presentation took place at a special ceremony today in Joplin at the site of the temporary hospital. In his welcoming comments emcee Danny Thomas (who was instrumental in bringing Branson Cares For Joplin together with St. John’s and the Joplin Schools), KOAM-TV president / general manager and St John’s Mercy Hospital board chairman said, “The results of the Branson Cares telethon provides further proof of both the generosity of the Branson entertainers and businesses as well as their popularity with fans across the country. We can’t thank them enough for sharing their incredible talents and going above and beyond to help the people of Joplin.” Barber said, “The entire Branson community helped make this happen. There are so many people and businesses like RFD-TV, Summer Winds Resort, CenturyLink, Gene Bicknell, The Mansion Theatre, and more that we’d like to thank, and while we can’t name all of them in this press release we do want to continually acknowledge the support of so many. In particular we want to thank all of the generous people who responded to our request to “help Joplin now” by donating money and instruments. From performing on stage at the concert to answering phones in the telethon room to helping to collect the pledges, the one constant that we kept seeing was the big hearts that our visitors from across the country have. Frankly it was an amazing experience for us.”

Donations to the Joplin relief effort may be made to:
Branson Cares Joplin Benefit
c/o The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers
Post Office Box 5083, Branson, Missouri 65615 or by visiting JoplinBenefit.com