Comedian ventriloquist Jim Barber (Hamner Barber Variety Show) put down his dummy and picked up his mojo as he and his professional dance partner Ashley Gadd (Shoji Tabuchi Show) volunteered their time and talents as contestants in front of the full-house audience at the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre.  While Jim and Ashley didn’t walk away with the large mirror ball trophy, they did have a great time and presented an entertaining routine (despite a very noticeable wardrobe malfunction seen in the video clip below).

The coveted Champion Mirror Ball trophy went to Bill Tirone of The Hilton Convention Center and his professional partner Jody Kosterlitz from the Shoji Tabuchi Show. The award was presented by Branson Mayor Raeanne Presely along with, Producer and host of the show, Bob Nichols. The real winners of the night were the children of our community who will benefit from the more than $13,400 which is projected to have been raised from the night of fun and entertainment.

Dancing with the Stars of Branson™ is an Associated Artists Production under the direction of Bob Nichols. Special thanks to Dance Captain Shanda Stringer for coordinating all of the performers, and also to Touch of Class, The Vacation Channel, and the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre for providing the costumes, video production, venue and stage crew.

View more great photos of the event in the Dancing With The Stars Photo Gallery courtesy of Meadows Images. All profits from print and digital download sales will be donated to Branson High School’s Project Graduation & the Branson Arts Council. Take a look and thank you for your support!

For more information: DancingWithTheStarsOfBranson.com, Bob Nichols Company

View This Video on YouTube.com

On Monday, June 7, 2009 at 6:45 pm (audience requested to arrive no later than 6:30pm), many of Branson’s best performers will come together to present an unforgettable show that will not only entertain and inspire, but also assist a worthy organization working hard to assist military personnel and their families throughout Southwest Missouri.

The event was originated by Tom Brett of the Brett Family Singers with the assistance of Denise Greeno of Ozarks Kirkwood Tour & Travel.  Dave Hamner and Jim Barber of the Hamner Barber Variety Show are once again hosting the event at no charge to the organization, as they have done every year since it began in 1994.

Admission is only $10.00 Adults and $5.00 Children with 100% of the ticket proceeds going to the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 913.

Performers donating their time and talents for the special event include: The Brett Family Singers, Hamner & Barber, Penny Gilley, The Keatings, Ricky Boen, The Hughes Brothers, Jeerk, The Cat’s Pajama’s and Allen Edwards.

Chris Dodson will serve as emcee and Ambrus Presley will present the national anthem.

Pastor Don Brezavar of Branson’s Church of the Harvest will bring the invocation and the Branson VVA will provide the color guard at 6:45pm.

For advanced reservations call the Hamner Barber Theater at 417-334-4363 or purchase tickets at the theater box office located at 3090 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson.

The Keatings, came to Branson in 2009 and were immediately touched by the feeling of “community” they found here.  In an effort to give back to the community that has made them feel so much a part of it, in such a short time, Ken and Josh are offering a FREE TICKET to their show on Friday, May 21st at 3:00PM to anyone who will bring a donation of canned goods to help supply the food pantry at Christian Action Ministries.  Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your neighbors and a few canned goods for each ticket.   Let’s make this a real “celebration of community;” helping CAM help those in need.  All donations must be made at the theater. For details or to reserve great seats call the box office at Hamner Barber Theater, phone 417-334-4363.

The Keatings 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 made 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.

Mark Your Calendars for This Wednesday, February 24th at 6:49PM to attend the First Annual Branson Gong Show at the Legends In Concert Theatre in the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Complex. Then get ready to laugh your head off while raising funds to help assist our area Senior Citizens who have difficulty getting around town on their own.

There’s never been a show like this in Branson before!

Jim Barber and Dave Hamner are volunteering to raise funds for the Branson Senior Center’s Meals-On-Wheels program.  Joining them in this worth while effort as judges are one of the greatest impressionists in the world, Bob Anderson, the beautiful and multi-talented singer, Dalena Ditto, and the incredibly gifted banjo king, Buck Trent.

Under the direction of veteran TV producer Harry Waterson (“Golden Girls,” “Benson,” “Evis: Aloha From Hawaii”) the First Annual Branson Gong Show will feature a dazzling array of amazing and not-so-amazing (but great fun) family friendly acts from across the Ozarks.  The performers will be competing for cash prizes and the chance to be the reigning Branson Gong Show Champion.

Tickets prices for adults: $10, kids: $5 and family: $25. There will be giveways and surprises during the show. Cash Prizes for the winning contestants are: 1st Place $500.17, 2nd Place $101 and 3rd Place: $49.99.  This promises to be a terrific evening of fun and all for a great cause!

Related Websites: Harry Waterson Credits, Hamner Barber Variety Show, Bob Anderson, Dalena Ditto, Buck Trent, Branson Tri-Lakes News Article

The Hamner Barber Theater is honored to have been selected as a nominee in the “Shine A Light” Promotion from American Express in association with NBC Universal.

UPDATE 9-24-09

Thanks for everyone who endorsed our business which gave us more than the required votes to be included in the judging portion of the competition.  While we didn’t make the final 3 nominees, we were honored to be one of only a few Missouri businesses to receive enough endorsements for consideration.  We were the only business in Branson considered for judging. Please visit the ShineALight site and cast your vote for one of the final three before October 16, 2009.  Thank You!

Read Our Nominating Story Here | We have also posted it locally HERE.

The Branson based entertainment venue was nominated by Laura Parramore, Director of Operations for Image Works, Inc., a full service multimedia company.

“Shine A Light,” calls for people across the country to nominate and vote for the small business story that most inspires them. Now more than ever, people cherish the small businesses in their neighborhood, and through this program, they can spotlight small business owners for all that they do, and the role they play in driving economic recovery.

“Shine A Light,” which marks the largest ever cross property campaign at NBCU, will award the winning small business with $100,000 in grant and marketing support from American Express, and the people who nominate the three small business finalists will each receive a $3,000 American Express Gift Card.

People are encouraged to participate in the program by nominating, “spotlighting” and voting at shinealight.ivillage.com, a microsite developed and hosted by iVillage.

The nominations will be vetted by NBCU and American Express and then judged by talk show host and entrepreneur Ellen DeGeneres, fashion designer and entrepreneur Diane von Furstenberg, and MSNBC`s small business expert and host JJ Ramberg, to narrow the field to three finalists. The public will ultimately vote for the winning small business to be announced on October 19. The winning small business will receive a $50,000 grant and $50,000 marketing support from American Express and will be featured on MSNBC`s small business show, “Your Business.”

“People across the country care about the local shop down the street and the restaurant downtown – these are places where relationships are formed, memories are made and dreams are realized,” said Nancy Smith, Vice President, Global Media, Content and Community, American Express. “The passion, dedication and resilience of these business owners are especially relevant in times like these – they are the key drivers of economic recovery, and through this program, we look forward to spotlighting the wonderful work that they do every day.”

“We`re thrilled to join forces with American Express to help celebrate and
support America`s small businesses,” added Mike Pilot, President of Sales and Marketing, NBC Universal. “We`re extremely proud of this campaign which shows how collaboration with a client and their agencies can lead to a smart, layered and custom enterprise marketing solution that covers everything from talent to technology. `Shine A Light` highlights the full scope of our capabilities, using the diverse platforms of NBCU to deliver a unique and creative solution that engages consumers and delivers the targeted results our clients are looking for.”

Multi-Channel Media Integration to Drive Awareness and Engagement

The “Shine A Light” campaign will include significant on-air and online
promotion, in-show integrations on NBC Local Media`s “First Look” as well as series of custom videos that will air on multiple NBCU networks and online properties. The videos will feature various NBCU personalities such as chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur Tom Colicchio and Law & Order`s S. Epatha Merkerson discussing small businesses that have inspired them and encouraging participation across media platforms. iVillage has built the entire community platform at nbc.com/shinealight, where all promotional elements will drive consumers to nominate, “spotlight” and vote. The program will be heavily promoted on iVillage, where a series of articles with small business insights and tips will run throughout the next three months.

“Shine A Light” on the Most Inspiring Small Business: Get Involved Today

Now through September 13, the public is invited to participate by nominating and voting for the small business that most inspires them at nbc.com/shinealight. The process is simple: a written nomination, accompanied by photography and video if desired, may be submitted online. Visitors to the site will review the written nominations, share feedback and shine a digital “spotlight” on one small business story.

All participants including those who nominate and the nominated small business owners are encouraged to rally their networks to get as many “spotlights” as possible. Nominated small businesses require a minimum of 50 “spotlights” on the site to advance in the campaign. Nominees will be able to find several promotional tools on the web site to help them raise awareness for the program and encourage online voting, such as widgets and badges that may be posted on sites like Facebook and MySpace.

On September 24, three finalists will be announced, and voting to determine the winner will last until October 16. The winner will be announced on October 19, 2009. To nominate, vote or to obtain more information, please visit nbc.com/shinealight.

About NBC Universal

NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

About American Express

American Express Company is a leading global payments and travel company founded in 1850. For more information, visit http://www.americanexpress.com.

Read Full Press Release

The event is the brainchild of Tom Brett of the Brett Family Singers with the assistance of Denise Greeno of Ozarks Kirkwood Tour & Travel. Together with Dave Hamner and Jim Barber of the Hamner Barber Variety Show, they have hosted the annual event since 1994.

Admission is only $10.00 Adults and $5.00 Children with 100% of the ticket proceeds going to the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 913.

Performers for the special event include: The Brett Family Singers, Hamner & Barber, #1 Hits of the 60s, Clay Cooper, Ricky Boen, Barbara Fairchild, Joi Christensen, Allen Edwards, Wade Landry and Doug Gabriel. The hilarious Tom Mulica returns as emcee and Ambrus Presley will present the national anthem. Pastor Don Brezavar of Branson’s Church of the Harvest will bring the invocation and the Branson VVA will provide the color guard.

For advanced reservations call the Hamner Barber Theater at 417-334-4363 or purchase tickets at the theater box office located at 3090 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson.

This is the second year in a row that the Hamner Barber Theater has opened the curtains for this important event and this year’s Master of Ceremonies will be the hilarious Tom Mullica performing as Red Skelton.

“Proceeds will be used to assist our military personnel and families deployed to Iraq. This is within the guidelines of the organization’s founding principle ‘Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another.’ The VVA relies totally on private contributions for its revenue and does not receive any funding from federal, state or local governments. The entertainers are donating their time for this show.

Call 417-334-4363 for advance reservations. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children,” said Tom Brett of the Brett Family, who is organizing the show.

The Branson chapter is one of 525 local chapters of the national non-profit organization with more than 50,000 individual members in 43 state councils. Founded in 1978, the VVA is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA’s goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. Its first principle is that the organization is measured by deeds and openness as evidence of the core values of justice, integrity, and meaningful achievement.

Among its special programs are government relations advocacy on the range of veterans issues, a national task force for homeless veterans, health care for veterans including disabled veterans, issues pertaining to women and minority veterans, a national scholarship fund and a program providing assistance to veterans seeking benefits/services from the government.

The Veterans Center in Springfield provides assistance with housing, counseling, application for disability compensation, medical care through the VA and assistance to any needy veterans in this area. VVA Chapter 913 meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Golden Corral. Vietnam era veterans are welcome. For more information call 417-479-0799.

“Proceeds will be used to assist our military personnel and families deployed to Iraq. This is within the guidelines of the organization’s founding principle ‘Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another.’ The VVA relies totally on private contributions for its revenue and does not receive any funding from federal, state or local governments. The entertainers are donating their time for this show.

Call 417-334-4363 for advance reservations. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children,” said Tom Brett of the Brett Family, who is organizing the show.

The Branson chapter is one of 525 local chapters of the national non-profit organization with more than 50,000 individual members in 43 state councils. Founded in 1978, the VVA is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA’s goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. Its first principle is that the organization is measured by deeds and openness as evidence of the core values of justice, integrity, and meaningful achievement.

Among its special programs are government relations advocacy on the range of veterans issues, a national task force for homeless veterans, health care for veterans including disabled veterans, issues pertaining to women and minority veterans, a national scholarship fund and a program providing assistance to veterans seeking benefits/services from the government.

The Veterans Center in Springfield provides assistance with housing, counseling, application for disability compensation, medical care through the VA and assistance to any needy veterans in this area. VVA Chapter 913 meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Golden Corral. Vietnam era veterans are welcome.