On April 24, 2010 Mr. Wackerly presented the award to Jim Barber onstage during their evening performance of the Hamner Barber Variety Show.

He is an independent reviewer who relies on his background in education and his personal experiences of viewing every possible show in Branson, Missouri multiple times to determine his selections each year.

“No matter how many times you see this show something always strikes you as amazing or funny.  Jim has the knack of bringing his constant smile to every audience.  His enormous talent as a ventriloquist is remarkable.  That is why he won the Best Specialty Act of 2009.”

Gary Wackerly, BransonShowAwards.com

More information: The Keatings – A Father & Son Experience

Direct from Branson, Missouri, comedian, singer and ventriloquist Jim Barber is thrilled to be returning to his hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota on December 31st to ring in the New Year with the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Bruce Knowles.

This will be the second time that Barber will be a featured guest artist with the Symphony, having performed here with his wife Diane (Wallahan) Barber in mid-1980′s.  Now, over twenty-years later, the Barbers return to perform some highlights from their popular Hamner Barber Variety Show in Branson, as well as new selections worked up especially for this concert.

A 1978 graduate of Rapid City Central High School, Jim began his performing career as a young teen entertaining civic groups and various organizations around the Rapid City area.  Active in both theater and band, Jim also performed as a percussionist with the Symphony Orchestra for a couple seasons.

He attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology his first year of college, then transferred to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where he majored in broadcasting and theater arts. While based in the Twin Cities, Jim co-produced and co-hosted a popular local childrens television show and also toured extensively around the world entertaining troops for the USO. He later accepted a two-year contract to perform aboard the “General Jackson Showboat” at Opryland in Nashville which led to headlining comedy clubs throughout the Midwest and featured performances at approximately 2000 colleges and universities around the country.

Country music superstar Glen Campbell introduced Jim to Branson audiences as part of his Glen Campbell Goodtime Show, which featured Jim’s comedy for 3 years.  He then went on to appear in other Branson productions starring Eddie Rabbitt, The Osmonds, Tony Orlando, Bobby Vinton and others.  His Hamner Barber Variety Show celebrates it’s 7th season at the Hamner Barber Theater in 2010.

Diane Barber graduated from Rapid City Stevens High in 1980 and had leading roles in many musical theater and dance concerts while living in Rapid City.  Diane has a Masters Degree in Dance Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, Undergraduate Degree in Music Therapy from Kansas University in Lawrence, KS and studied theater in New York City at the Lee Strasberg Institute and the Terry Schreiber Studio.  She has performed leading roles in various musical theater productions in New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and also performs in the Hamner Barber Theater holiday production, The Wings of Christmas in Branson.  Diane is also a successful Interior Designer with her own company, Decorating Den Interiors.

Black Hills Symphony Orchestra Conductor Bruce Knowles was selected to lead the orchestra in May 2009.  He served as the assistant conductor of the orchestra from 2000 – 2004 and as associate conductor from 2004 – 2008.  He has directed the Rapid City Central High School Orchestras since 1982, during which time the Central orchestra and chamber orchestra have achieved regional and national acclaim.

The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra began its 75th season on October 24, 2009, in the Rapid City Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theatre. For more information about the orchestra or this New Year’s Eve concert, visit the orchestra’s web site at www.bhsymphony.org.

New Show at the Hamner Barber Theater in 2010!

The Hamner Barber Theater is proud to announce that The Keatings… A Father and Son Musical Experience will be joining their line-up of top quality, family entertainment in 2010.  They will perform at 3:oo PM on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays beginning April 28, 2010.

Also featured at the theater in 2010 will be the Hamner Barber Variety Show starring illusionists The Hamners and comedian ventriloquist Jim Barber.

Returning for their 4th season in Branson is Ricky Boen & Texas Mud presenting World Championship Western Swing Music mornings at Hamner Barber Theater.

“We feel the Keatings are a perfect fit for our theater and we know that our guests will fall in love with not only their beautiful voices, but with them as well.  They are friendly, genuine and extremely gifted performers.  When we first heard them sing, they knocked our socks off!  Their live band of musicians are top pros in the business, and the back up singers are stand outs themselves.  It’s going to be an entertaining show that audiences of any age will enjoy.  We are honored to have them appearing at our venue in 2010.”

Dave Hamner and Jim Barber

The Keatings, Ken and Josh, take audiences on a musical journey that spans numerous genres including pop, jazz, rock, country, opera, Broadway, standards, and even gospel. Audiences are captivated by the unique combination of powerful voices from a father and his 18 year old son. Recently, The Keatings performed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and in February, 2010 they will be making their debut appearance on a world-class Crystal Cruise Lines ship.

Ken Keating is an accomplished vocalist and pianist. Ken was one of the original winners of the Liberace scholarship for both the piano and voice categories in 1981. Ken has been performing since he was a teenager. By the age of 18, he was playing with his show band in lounges around the Las Vegas strip.

Ken has done extensive vocal work with critically acclaimed groups such as the William Hall Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops. He has performed in such places as the Hollywood Bowl and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and has worked with celebrities such as Celine Dion, Carol Burnett and Hal Linden.

By the age of 11, Josh Keating was already performing on stage in Las Vegas and developing his craft. In 2005, at the age of 14, Josh auditioned alongside hundreds of other singers ranging in age from 14 to 28 for Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam to Stardom competition. After several rounds of auditions, performances, and eliminations, Josh was selected by a panel of celebrity judges as one of the three chosen singers to be sent to Malibu, CA to meet with Grammy Award winning producer, David Foster.

Josh was invited to perform as a special guest at a charity event in Las Vegas called “An Evening With Tony Bennett And The Stars”. Josh performed along with an array of stars and received a standing ovation started by Mr. Bennett himself.

Related Websites: ExperienceTheKeatings.com, KenKeating.net,  HamnerBarber.com