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

Jim has been paired with a professional dancer from the famed Shoji Tabuchi Show, Ms. Ashley Gadd.  Together Ashley and Jim will compete with a fun, high-energy dance routine that they think the audience will really enjoy.

As a comedian, it feels great when the audience laughs at me… in the Dancing With The Stars of Branson Competition however, I’m worried that they’ll really be laughing AT ME!  It’s going to be a great event and I’m honored to have been asked to provide some laughs… er, to compete! To quote a good friend of mine, I’m going to “Dance like no one is watching!” – Jim Barber

Event coordinator Bob Nichols returns to produce the second annual Dancing With The Stars of Branson with his line up of Branson Celebrities and professional dancers for a night of fun, entertainment, and fund-raising for children in our community through the Branson Arts Council and Branson High School Project Graduation! Video Production will again be sponsored by The Vacation Channel.

Last Year’s winners were Tom Boyce and Shanda Watts. Who will take the title in 2011? It’s up to you!
Stars of this year’s Show include, Tony Orlando, Paul Harris, Steve Willoughby, Jim Barber, Bucky Heard, Fotsch, Bill Tirone, Billie Naioti, Laveeta VanBuren, Police Officer Teitsort and more! Don’t Miss this Fabulous Line Up!

Tickets are on sale now at the Dick Clark Theatre box office!

• The show is at 7 PM, Wednesday February 16th.
• General Admission tickets are only $10.

Come support Jim and Ashley by purchasing your general admission or VIP tickets directly from them at the Hamner Barber Theater Box Office. 417-334-4363

Be a VIP Supporter of Branson Dancing With The Stars

General admission tickets are $10, but if you really want to get in on the fun you might consider purchasing a VIP Supporter Ticket for $50 directly from Jim Barber.  As a VIP Supporter, you will be invited to an exclusive VIP Mixer before the event at 5:30pm and be pampered with awesome catering by the Catering Divas. All while mixing with the Stars and Pros, who will be dancing later that night. You’ll have exclusive table seating in the VIP area for the show. There are only a limited supply of these VIP tickets left for this special, pre-show, event, so head on over to the Hamner Barber Theater Box Office and ask for your pass today!  The VIP Tickets are $50 each, and remember, the proceeds go to the Branson Arts Council and Branson High School’s Project Graduation.

SPECIAL BONUS OFFER…

For any donation of $100 or more, you will also receive a FREE DVD of the entire Dancing With The Stars of Branson event provided courtesy of The Vacation Channel.

This will be a great benefit, an excellent networking opportunity, and a super way to provide artistic opportunities for the children of our community.

Official Website: DancingWithTheStarsOfBranson.com

The Hamner Barber Theater is honored to host this year’s Tri-Lakes Community Theatre production of Oliver! The Musical.

Now in its 28th season, 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.

Performances at the Hamner Barber Theater:

• Friday, January 28th – 7:00pm
• Saturday, January 29th – 7:00pm
• Sunday, January 30th – 2:00pm
• Friday, February 4th – 7:00pm
• Saturday, February 5th – 7:00pm
• Sunday, February 6th – 2:00pm

Oliver is a musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic tale of an orphan who runs away from the orphanage and hooks up with a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor.

Oliver Twist is sold to an undertaker after asking for more dinner at the orphanage. Escaping to London he is taken in by Fagin to join his gang of child pickpockets. Wrongly accused of a theft he meets a more kindly gentleman who takes him in, to the concern of one of Fagin’s old pupils, the violent Bill Sykes. In the middle is Nancy, Sykes’ girl whom Oliver has come to trust.

The production features memorable hit songs including “Food Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” “I’ll Do Anything (For You),” “Pick A Pocket Or Two,” and many, many more.

The Tri-Lakes Community Theatre production is under the direction of Stephen Jay and produced by Jordan Hawkins and Glenda Justus.

Lead cast members include Jack Cathcart and Madeline Sparks as Oliver Twist, John Spencer as Fagin, Topher James as the Artful Dodger, Kristen Cartwright as Nancy, and Richard Daum as Bill Sykes.

Over 50 local area actors, many under the age of ten, make up the rest of this amazing cast of talented performers who will sing, dance and act their way into your hearts. To top it all off, a large orchestra of live musicians will have you tapping your feet and singing along with the musical score.

Don’t miss this incredible theatrical production of Oliver at the Hamner Barber Theater in Branson!

Call 417-335-4241 For Tickets!

Adults $15.00, Student/Child $7.00

Tickets may be purchased at the Hamner Barber Theater Box Office beginning Wednesday, January 26th at 9:00am.

Visit the Tri-Lakes Community Theatre – Official Website

Oliver Promotions, Ltd
Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart
Licensed by arrangement with Oliver Productions, Ltd.

Past TLC Productions in Branson

Listed as follows: Show Name (Show Dates)

Play It Again, Sam (Mar 8-10, 1984)
Arsenic And Old Lace (Dec 6-9, 1984)
Once Upon A Mattress (Mar 14-17, 1985)
Prisoner Of Second Avenue (Nov 21-24, 1985)
One-Acts Playwriting Contest (Jan 23-26, 1986)
1940′s Radio Hour (Mar 6-9, 1986)
Harvey (Dec 4-7, 1986)
Reader’s Theater Playwriting Contest (Feb 7, 1987)
Man Of La Mancha (Mar 5-8, 1987)
The Secret Affairs Of Mildred Wild (Dec 10-13, 1987)
Greater Tuna (Jan 28-31, 1988)
The Fantasticks (Mar 17-20, 1988)
Hound Of The Baskervilles (Dec 15-18, 1988)
World Of Carl Sandburg (Feb 5,10,12, 1989)
Tucker (Mar 11-12, 1989)
The Gin Game (Dec 7-10, 1989)
The Odd Couple (Feb 1-4, 1990)
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Mar 16-20, 1990)
Godspell (Jan 17-20, 1991)
The Toby Show (Feb 9, 1991)
The Lion In Winter (Mar 7-10, 1991)
Nunsense (Jan 16-19, 1992)
The Toby Show (1992)
Neighborhood Watch (Mar 12-15, 1992)
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1993)
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Dec 10-12, 1993)
You Can’t Take It With You (Feb 4-6, 1994)
1776 (Jan 26-29, 1995)
The Foreigner (Mar 3-5, 1995)
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Jan 25-28, 1996)
See How They Run (1996)
Little Shop Of Horrors (Jan 24-Feb 1, 1997)
Quilters (Mar 7-11, 1997)
Oliver (1998)
Steel Magnolias (1998)
South Pacific (Jan 22-24 & 29-31, 1999)
A Company Of Wayward Saints (Feb 25-28, 1999)
Fiddler On The Roof (Feb 4-6 & 11-13, 2000)
Barefoot In The Park (2000)
Guys And Dolls (Jan 26-28, Feb 2-4, 2001)
Our Town (Feb 16-28 & 23-25, 2001)
Art (2001)
Li’l Abner (Jan 25-27, Feb 1-3, 2002)
Plaza Suite (Feb 15-17 & 22-24, 2002)
Salon’s Selectives (Mar 1-3 & 8-10, 2002)
Play It Again, Sam revival (Jan 10-12 & 17-19, 2003)
Music Man (Jan 31, Feb 1-2 & 7-9, 2003)
Branson Follies (Mar 23, 2003)
Branson Follies 2 (Jan 17, 2004)
Bye-Bye Birdie (Jan 31-31, Feb 1 & 6-8, 2004)
Of Mice And Men (Feb 20-22 & 27-Mar 1, 2004)
Branson Follies 3 (Jan 15, 2005)
Big River (Jan 28-30 & Feb 4-6, 2005)
Bus Stop (Feb 18-20 & 25-27, 2005)
Branson Follies 4 (Jan 14, 2006)
Annie (Jan 27-29 & Feb 3-5, 2006)
Cheaper By The Dozen (Feb 24-26 & Mar 3-5, 2006)
The Sound Of Music (Jan 26-28, Feb 2-4, 2007)
The Crucible (Feb 16-18 & 23-25, 2007)
Grease (Jan 25-27 & Feb 1-3, 2008)
Noises Off (Feb 14-17, 2008)
Into The Woods (Jan 30-Feb 1 & Feb 6-8, 2009)
Agatha Cristie’s The Mousetrap (Mar 5-8, 2009)
Pirates of Penzance (Jan 29-31 & Feb 5-7, 2010)
A Night of One-Acts (Feb 19-21, 2010)
“What Did You Say What For”, “The Bachelor’s Holiday” & “This Is A Play”

Magic, comedy, dance and delicious food from Qdoba Mexican Grill are all in store for those who attend the Hamner Barber New Year’s Eve Fiesta in Branson tomorrow night!  The theater is filling up, but there are still several great seats available for this incredible evening of fun and entertainment. There is not a bad seat in the house, and there has never been a New Year’s Eve Celebration like this in Branson before!

Family Friendly Games & Prizes!

This is the perfect way for families, couples and even singles to ring in the New Year in Branson, Missouri.  In addition to the award-winning Hamner Barber Variety Show, we’ll also have some fun games with terrific prizes for those who win.  You won’t want to miss the Qdoba Frozen T-Shirt Competition and the wild and crazy Burrito Eating Contest which will send the winners home with some fantastic prizes (can’t give it away here)!

Here’s a sneak preview of tomorrow night’s event… we hope you will join us!

Come Party With The Parrots!

This New Year’s Eve in Branson, there is no better way for you and your family to wind up this stressful past year than to laugh, dance and sing the night away at the First Annual Hamner Barber Theater New Year’s Eve Fiesta on December 31, 2010.

Not only will we serve up an extra special serving of our incredible magical illusions and hilarious comedy, but to add to the festive fiesta theme, we’ll have lots of fabulous, fresh food from Qdoba Mexican Grill of Springfield!

It’s a fantastic night out for singles, and a great way for couples and families alike to share in the fun of welcoming the New Year of 2011.

The Fun Begins at 9:00pm

At 9:00pm the curtain opens on an expanded version of the Hamner Barber Variety Show starring illusionists The Hamners and their beautiful tropical parrots that magically appear and fly over the heads of our astonished guests. Co-Star ventriloquist Jim Barber and his wacky cast of characters will have you laughing so hard you’ll bust your burrito! There will be lots of new surprises that you won’t see in the regular season show, so don’t blink or you’ll miss something incredible!

In addition to the amazing production show, we will have fun contests with fabulous prizes, festive party favors, and of course, lots of fantastic food and drinks for all. Since we are encouraging families with children to also attend this event, the wide-variety of delicious delicacies from Qdoba Mexican Grill are easy to hold and enjoy, and of course, all our drinks are alcohol free just in case “Junior” decides to drive home himself.

A Magical Toast at Midnight!

The magic, comedy, music, fun and games will continue all the way up to our magical countdown to 2011 and the beginning of a brand new year of fun here at the Hamner Barber Theater!

This event will be the highlight of our seventh season in Branson and we invite you, your friends, and entire family to celebrate with our terrific cast, crew, staff, and of course… our own families as well!

Hint For Families: As many of our own staff and crew are parents, we understand how tough it can be to keep the little one’s awake late at night. We recommend encouraging your kids to take a nap the afternoon of the event (good luck with that)… otherwise, in addition to our Qdoba Mexican Dinner, we’ll have plenty of candy, popcorn and soda at the refreshment stand to keep them going ’till midnight. Whoopee…!!!

New Year’s Eve in Branson… A Great Way To Celebrate!

We recommend reserving your tickets as soon as possible as we are expecting a full house and the best seats will go early. Call our Box Office at 417-334-4363 or 888-335-2080 (toll free) and get your tickets for one of the most festive and fun events in Branson this New Year’s Eve!

Tickets: New Year’s Eve Fiesta & Qdoba Mexican Dinner

Call Box Office Direct for our Family Pass (2 Adults and up to 3 Children) $112.00 plus tax

Special Discounted Group Rates Available for Parties of 15 or More!

Great idea for Church or Youth Groups! Call for more information!

A special invitation for our friends who perform magic!

Hamner Barber Theater

Sunday, September 12, 2010

5:30pm (immediately following the Hamner Barber Show)

$15.00 per person at the door (Lecture Only)

Special Offer: SAVE $5.00 on the Lecture with your Hamner Barber Ticket Stub! (same day show)

Are You Ready To Be Amazed?

Join us for a special afternoon of incredible magical illusions of the Hamners, the hilarious comedy ventriloquism of Jim Barber, and top it all off with the fantastic Jay Scott Berry in a rare Branson appearance.

Jay Scott Berry is counted among the world’s finest performers and creators of magic.  For over 20 years his lectures and performances have received rave reviews and standing ovations around the globe.  As such, Jay is one of the pioneers and architects of the current state-of-the-art.  It is often said that his presentations are “as close to real magic as you will ever see.”

The Hamner Barber Theater is proud to host Jay Scott Berry and his new lecture, “The Delicate Sound of Wonder”.  In this lecture, Jay will explore and redefine the boundaries of the Art of Magic and Illusion.

“You’ve got to see this guy, he’s a great magician!” - Donald Trump

“Impeccable magic, absolutely wondrous!” - Channing Pollack

“In my entire career, I have never seen anything as convincing.  It was real magic, delivered with precision timing and consumate skill.” - Mark Wilson

“Jay stands alongside the all-time greats; in the same league as Slydini.” – Ed Rosenthall

“Over the past 70 years, I have seen almost every great magician in the world.  I would rank Jay as one of the top 3.” – Heinz Philipp, Friend and mentor of Siegfried and Roy

Don’t miss this amazing evening of magical fun in Branson!

Experience the incredible illusions of the Hamners, the hilarious comedy ventriloquism of Jim Barber, and top it all off with a fantastic private lecture with Jay Scott Berry in this rare area appearance.

To purchase tickets for the Hamner Barber Variety Show and save $5.00 on Jay’s lecture, call our Box Office at 417-334-4363.  Branson area resident rates available. Call early for best seats!!

COME SUPPORT MAGIC IN BRANSON… AND LEARN FROM ONE OF THE GREAT MASTERS OF THE ART!

Weblinks: HamnerBarber.com, JayScottBerry.com

Branson, Missouri is a sure bet for a winning Labor Day weekend getaway for you and your family.  Nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Southwest Missouri, Branson is less than a days drive from most of the country and the new Branson Airport offers incredibly low priced airfare from many major travel hubs across the country.

The three day Labor Day weekend is an especially great time to travel to Branson as all the shows, attractions, restaurants, shopping and outdoor activities are open and bustling with fun, excitement and entertainment galore!

This may be the last opportunity until the Christmas holiday season, for families to take a break from school and work to enjoy a short, inexpensive weekend getaway together in this entertainment mecca, the Live Music Show Capital of the World.  The Branson Chamber of Commerce and CVB website offers information on current Branson Events, and also special discounts on Branson Shows, Attractions and Lodging.

Recommended Show For Great Family Fun

The Hamner Barber Variety Show is one Branson show production that families will enjoy together, as it designed to offer something for every age group, yet is enjoyed from start to finish by the entire family.

From amazing magical illusions and hilarious comedy ventriloquism, to beautiful and talented dancers, the Hamner Barber Variety Show is a must see attraction during your Branson vacation.

Everyone including the youngest of children will be mesmerized by the beautiful tropical birds and comical puppet characters.  Teens and young adults will be on the edge of their seats as Dave Hamner suspends his wife fifteen feet in the air above a bed of dangerous steel spikes.  They will also enjoy Jim Barber’s spot-on impersonation of Austin Powers as the opening of the wild-and-crazy second half.  It even includes a game show where audience contestants compete for a chance to win some special prizes.

The show is full of great music, including some classic favorites from the early 1900′s all the way up to today as parodied by comedian ventriloquist Jim Barber with his creative ventriloquist characters.  Everything about this show is original from the performers themselves, to the spectacular magical illusions of Dave and Denise Hamner.  This is not your typical magic show… this is a show with heart that reaches out and touches the audience in a way that rarely happens in this industry.

Award-Winning Magical Tribute to Veterans

The Hamner Barber show finale has been referred to by many visitors, and long time locals alike, as the best performance tribute to Veterans ever to be produced in Branson.  The tribute was three years in the making and incorporates an award-winning multimedia video projected onto three large screens, an original musical score produced especially for this production, and a spectacular magic effect that brings the audience to their feet in supportive applause for our active military and retired veterans who understand that freedom isn’t free.

Extra Performance Added This Labor Day Weekend

With all the various entertainment options to choose from this Labor Day Weekend in Branson, the Hamner Barber Theater is adding an additional performance of the Hamner Barber Variety Show on Sunday evening so visitors are easily able to add the show to their schedule of activities.

Show times this Labor Day weekend include: Saturday 8pm, Sunday 3pm and Sunday 8pm.

Hamner Barber Show tickets may be purchased online by secured credit card transaction, or by calling the theater Box Office toll-free at 1-888-335-2080.

The Hamner Barber Theater will be featured on the back cover of each issue with the tongue-in-cheek title, THE HAMNER BARBER BACKSIDER.

The new magazine is published by Performance Media, who promote Branson area attractions and shows via several printed and online publications:

• BransonSavings.com
• BransonFamilyValues.com
• BransonChurchGroups.com

The new format is unique among all others in Branson as it is purposely designed to appeal to Branson show goers looking for fun and excitement in a format that is reminiscent of celebrity news and gossip tabloids of the 1950′s such as Confidential Magazine.

The new BRANSON INSIDER magazine hits Ozarks area newsstands today, and features INSIDE BUZZ (Rumors, Whispers, Back Stage Drama), STUFF HAPPENS (Current News in Branson), SHOW GUIDE (Mood Finder for Shows, Branson Guest Stars, Seasonal Shows, the Complete Branson Show Schedule, Insider Show Picks), ATTRACTIONS GUIDE (Mood Finders for Fun), DINING GUIDE (Recipes of the Stars, Quick Pick Dining Grid, Food Finder/Mood Finder, Menus), SHOPPING GUIDE (Shows and Attractions Map, Dining Guide Map), INSIDER CROSSWORD (Joey’s Solution)… and of course the HAMNER BARBER BACKSIDER ad on the flipside!

Branson, Missouri is without a doubt the most family friendly travel destination in the entire country, and for good reason.  The live entertainment and production shows, theme parks, water attractions, go-carts, miniature golf, regulation golf, boating, fishing and lots of unique museums all add up to a great family vacation experience.  It’s no wonder that Branson has become one of the hottest spots in the nation for family reunions and vacations. Where else can a small or large family gathering all participate in a shared experience that each and every member of the group will enjoy and remember for years to come?  Kids, teens, parents and grandparents alike will all have the opportunity to play together in the Live Music Show Capital of the World. Many Branson shows such as the Hamner Barber Variety Show pay extra special attention to family reunion groups and give them a big shout out greeting during the performance welcoming them to the show.  It’s not uncommon for some of the family members to even be included in one of the show’s fun audience participation segments creating yet another memorable experience for the family to enjoy.  After the show, the stars of the show will even take pictures with your family and spend time chatting and signing autographs.

Branson is Affordable Family Fun!

Branson is a great destination choice for families looking to maximize their fun while saving money at the same time.  Hotel, attraction and show prices in Branson are generally much lower than other major tourist destinations and family reunion groups especially can save because they qualify for low group rates for nearly all of the services Branson has to offer. For more information on money saving ticket purchase opportunities at the Hamner Barber Theater for your family or reunion group, please call our Group Sales Department toll-free at 1-888-335-2080.