18th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show Heats Up Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater’s Stage.

Branson, Missouri, dubbed the “live music show capital of the world”, is the perfect place to escape the winter blues during January and February and Branson’s 18th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show is the perfect event to sample a wide variety of shows and performers jam-packed into one exciting show. Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater will be sizzling on Monday, February 6, at 7:00 pm with an exciting line-up of Branson stars and shows.

The Hot Winter Fun Big Show provides the audience an opportunity to see portions of several shows that are open during the winter months of January, February and March. The Big Show will be emceed by popular Branson entertainer, Bob Leftridge of the Baldknobbers Jamboree. Shows on stage include Legends In Concert, it from the Hughes Brothers Theatre, Doug Gabriel’s #1 Hits Tribute Show, SIX, Joseph Hall’s Tribute to the King, Grand Jubilee, Hamner Barber Variety Show, Take It To The Limit-Eagles Tribute, Comedy Jamboree, Tribute To Marty Robins, Todd Oliver & Friends, Baldknobbers Jamboree, and more.

Tickets for Branson’s 18th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater directly at 417-339-3003.

“The Big Show has become a tradition for many visitors who plan their trip to Branson around the event. It’s also something local residents enjoy because they get to see some of their favorite shows and because the proceeds are used to help market the Branson/Lakes Area,” says Jim Barber, President of The League of Branson Theatre Owners & Show Producers (The Branson Show League) and nationally known ventriloquist and co-owner of the Hamner Barber Variety Show and Theater.

“Marketing the months of January, February, and March as Hot Winter Fun started in 1994 as a way to let our guests know they could enjoy the Branson experience year ‘round,” says Cindy Merry, marketing chair for The Branson Show League. “The Hot Winter Fun Big Show was created to raise funds to market Branson. We hope to create funds to allow us to run a good television schedule in one of our target markets, similar to what we did in 2009 where we ran a $300,000 TV ad buy in the Dallas market. It was a cooperative marketing program with the Branson Airport and the Branson/Lakes Area CVB.”

The Branson Show League sponsors the annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show. All of the entertainers donate their performances and many volunteers and local businesses including the News-Leader, KY3.com, Branson Tri-Lakes News, Ozark Mountain Newspaper and others help to market and sponsor the show.

For tickets call 417-339-3003 today. Tickets are $30 plus tax and service charge for adults, $ 9.95 plus tax and service charge for children ages 4 through 12.

About The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers (The Branson Show League)

The Branson Show League works to increase the success and well-being of the theatrical industry in the “Live Music Show Capital of the World” — Branson, Missouri. With over 100 live shows featuring music, comedy, magic, dancing, acrobats, theatrical plays, and more, the diversity and variety of choices of live shows make Branson a unique and fun-filled family friendly vacation destination. The League strives to increase interest in Branson shows and show attendance, increase profitability for the Branson show community, and to promote communications between the shows and theaters as well as throughout the Branson community.

For more information visit: ShowsInBranson.com

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.