Dancers: AJ Heard & Ken Brown

Hamner Barber Variety Show cast members A.J. Heard and Ken Brown have opened their second season of Rock-U-Mentally, a refreshingly creative new morning show designed especially for kids at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater.

Rock-U-Mentally is a hip, educational musical for kid’s of all ages that teaches children about social and environmental responsibility in a fun and exciting way.

Original songs written and performed by the shows cast include “Don’t Stand By, Stand Up,” H2OH Is The Way To Go,” “Find A Grown Up You Know,” and many, many more.

In addition to A.J. and Ken, the cast includes AJ’s husband Bucky Heard, Chris Skillern and his wife Angie Skillern. Chris Skillern is the co-producer along with Bucky Heard and also serves as the music director for the shows original tunes.

Reminiscent of the old “School House Rock” TV Series (remember…”Conjunction Junction, what’s your function…”), Rock-U-Mentally is produced with today’s youth in mind and focuses on the types of issues and concerns that they deal with in a fun, safe and interactive way.

Performances at the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri began July 17, 2010 with shows scheduled on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:00am through September 4th.

For more information visit RockUMentally.com or call 417-339-3003 for tickets and information.

Branson, Missouri area visitors once again have an opportunity to vote for their favorite shows, restaurants, shopping and attractions in the second annual “Visitor Choice Awards” sponsored by The Vacation Channel’s ViewBranson.com.

The Hamner Barber Theater is honored to be included in the Favorite Shows category and we appreciate the support of our friends and fans who have attended our magical variety show at some point during the past seven years.

Since 1989, The Vacation Channel has provided the information tourists depend on to make the best use of their time and money while visiting Ozark Mountain Country. Now the Branson area’s “televised tour guide” is giving visitors the chance to be heard, voice their opinion, and help their favorite businesses receive the recognition they deserve.

“No one knows better than our guests, which hospitality and entertainment businesses best meet their needs for outstanding service, quality entertainment and exceptional value.  Now it will be easy for visitors to vote for what they like best of all and for those most popular venues to be recognized and rewarded for their efforts.”

Scott Earls, Owner & General Manager – The Vacation Channel, Inc.

All voting for The Visitor Choice Awards takes place on-line. Ballots are tabulated by an outside company that specializes in data collection and management. Visitors (and residents alike) simply go to www.ViewBranson.com and click The Visitor Choice Award link to vote. One ballot per computer, per month, is allowed. Visitors may select their favorites in each of these six categories: shows, shopping, dining, attractions, lodging and customer service. Only one vote for each category, per month.

Be a part of great rewards that are given to the category winners and vote for your favorites today!

Thanks to Branson TRAVELHOST Magazine for featuring the following article (reprinted with permission) in their July/August 2010 Issue.

TRAVELHOST of Branson recommends the best the community has to offer… it is all about experiencing a great trip! Their goal is to serve you as you make decisions about where you choose to travel, how you choose to get there and what you do once you arrive.
Download PDF Reprint of Full Article

“As published in Travelhost Magazine of Branson July 2010.”

Hamner Barber Variety Show

An Outrageously Funny & Magical Show That’s Pure Fun For Everyone

Illusionists Dave & Denise Hamner have teamed up with ventriloquist Jim Barber, and an award-winning song & dance troupe, for one outrageously funny, magical show that is truly fun for all ages!

The hilariously talented Jim Barber will absolutely blow your mind!  Barber captivates audiences as he interacts with a host of clever characters from “Chico Pete” the Chihuahua to “the Baby”, The extraordinary “Barber & Seville,” act puts Jim in the role of the “dummy” leaving audience members simultaneously awestruck and laughing hysterically!  In fact, it was the popular “Barber & Seville” act that captured the attention of millions of television viewers, when Barber performed during “Ventriloquist Week” on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Jim Barber is recognized as one of the world’s great ventriloquists, he regularly appears in Las Vegas and Reno and his participation in USO shows has taken him around the globe.  Jim has appeared on numerous television shows for NBC, ABC, Fox, A&E and The Nashville Network, and performed at the 2006 Academy Awards Ceremonies.

The Hamners are world renowned for their incredible illusions using a variety of exotic birds.  Beautiful Macaws and Cockatoos seem to appear out of thin air before soaring high above a cheering audience.  Along with up-close, slight-of-hand maneuvers, the Hamners pull off a rapid-fire succession of elaborate, dangerous and mystifying illusions that are choreographed with spectacular dance numbers, keeping the audience entranced and amazed.

The Hamner’s illusion, “Secrets of the Lost Ark,” takes the audience on a magical journey back through time, in a stirring production that will touch your heart.

The Hamners have performed around the world and have received numerous awards, including being selected for the “Magic Masters Award” by their peers in Las Vegas, and being honored by magicians Siegfried and Roy, who presented them with their “Bronze Lion Head Award” for performance excellence.  You may have seen them on NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic” or on specials produced for the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

The Hamner Barber Variety Show also features an incredibly powerful salute to our country’s veterans.  With video footage from some of America’s greatest heroes, it’s one of the most touching and memorable tributes you’ll ever see.

Ricky Boen & Texas Mud are back, livening up the morning at the Hamner Barber Theater.  Join “World Champion Fiddler” Ricky Boen and his “Western Swing Group of the Year,” Texas Mud as they present the most “toe-tapping” show in town!  Fans of Texas Swing will enoy twin fiddles, harmonized vocals, gut-busting comedy and the incredible vocals of 11-year old singing sensation Brooke Hale.

Keep up to date with all things “Branson” with Dave Hamner and Jim Barber’s latest venture, BransonWebcast.com.  The website features news articles and stories of interest for Branson visitors and locals, along with audio and video interviews of some of Branson’s biggest celebrities, movers and shakers.  BransonWebcast.com has an easy to search database and visitors may subscribe to the free webcasts by email or via an RSS reader.

Don’t miss all the fun at the Hamner Barber Theater!  Located at 3090 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway (Next to Victorian Village Shops).

The Hamner Barber Variety Show performs at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday.  See Ricky Boen and Texas Mud Monday through Friday at 10 a.m.

For information and reservations phone 417-334-4363 or visit their web site at www.HamnerBarber.com.

Award Winning Magic and Comedy in Branson!

Dave & Denise Hamner and Jim Barber are certainly recognized worldwide by their peers. Individually and jointly, these masters of variety entertainment have received many of the top honors delegated only to the best in their industry.

Branson audiences are in for a treat when they experience the original and unique award-winning routines of the Hamner Barber Variety Show.  There’s no other show like it in the world!

HAMNER BARBER SHOW AWARDS

Below are some recent honors awarded the Hamner Barber Variety Show:

• “2010 National Telly Award” – Video Excellence – “Veterans Tribute” (read article)
• “Best Branson Variety Show” - Branson Christian News 2007 & 2008 (read article)
• “Must See Show of the Year” - BransonCritic.com 2005 (read article)
  

THE HAMNERS AWARDS

Below are some of the individual honors awarded to the Hamners:

• “Entertainers of the Year” International Magicians Society Merlin Award - 2006 (read article)
• “Magic Masters Award” - World Magic Seminar, Las Vegas – 2002
• “Best Manipulation” International Magicians Society Merlin Award – 1999
• Siegfried & Roy “Bronze Lion Award” – World Magic Stage Competition, Las Vegas – 1997
• 1st Place – Stage Competition – Texas Association of Magicians – 1994
• 1st Place – Stage Competition – Abbotts Magic Competition – 1994

JIM BARBER AWARDS

Below are some of the individual honors awarded to Jim Barber:

• “Best Specialty Act” – WWS Branson Show Awards – 2008 & 2009 (read article)
  
• “Ventriloquist of the Year” International Magicians Society Merlin Award – 2006 (read article)
  
• “Ventriloquist of the Year” – Vent Haven International Convention – 1994
• “Comedy Entertainer of the Year” – National Association of Campus Activities – 1989
• “Funniest Person In America” – (Tennessee) – Showtime The Movie Channel – 1985
• 1st Place – Pepsi’s Mid-South Laff-Off – Nashville – 1984
• 1st Place – Senior Ventriloquist Contest – Vent Haven International Convention – 1984

Related Information: The Hamners Biography, Jim Barber Biography

The Saint Louis Cardinals recently announced the Stand For Stan Campaign to convince President Barack Obama to award Stan Musial the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, for his lifetime of service and achievement.

The Cardinals are asking fans and friends across the country to show their support by visiting the Official Stand for Stan Website where they can sign a petition to the President, print out and post their own photo with “Flat Stan the Man” or make your own online film in tribute to Flat Stan himself.

Hamner Barber theater’s own Vance Hebblethwaite is a huge Cardinals fan and submitted the photos of our star performers, Dave Hamner, Jim Barber, and Ricky Boen posing with “Stan.”  These pictures are already posted on the official campaign website.

Jim Barber, Dave Hamner and Ricky Boen show their support to Stan Musial

Why not take a few minutes and post your own photo with Flat Stan the Man?

The Hamner Barber Theater is proud to once again host the Annual Vietnam Veterans Benefit Show for the 7th year in a row.

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.

What’s the best way to prepare for your upcoming vacation trip to Branson, Missouri? A Google search of course! You’ll find all sorts of fun adventures awaiting you and your family just by typing in a few keystrokes.

Sticks And Stones…

People are calling us names, and it’s not always Hamner Barber.   We don’t really mind however, because we are glad that people are talking about our Branson show.  However you spell it… our name means Fun Family Entertainment!

As we enter into the middle of our 7th successful season in Branson, the mispellings and pronunciations are fewer and farther between, yet they do continue to pop up both online and in person.  The name we hear most often is “Hanna Barbera” and they always wonder if Yogi Bear or the Flintstones will come walking out on stage.  Other names include “Hamer and Barber,” “Hammer Barber,” “Hammer Bobber,” “Hamner Baker,” and “Hammer Barker.“ 

Just in case you didn’t make the connection, our name comes from the combination of the last names of our featured, headline performers: Dave & Denise Hamner and Jim Barber.

If you are visiting Branson, Missouri and were really looking forward to seeing the “Hanna Barbera Show,” we recommend you pack up the kids and head over to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ … formerly Shoals Bend RV Resort just minutes from downtown Branson!  It’s a great place to camp out in your RV or rent one of their cozy cabins.  Then, of course, head over to the Hamner Barber Theater so the kids (and the adults) can enjoy all the amazing magic, comedy, tropical birds, dancers and fun of the one and only “Hamner Barber Variety Show.“

Hand In Hand: Branson Honors Purple Heart Veterans

April 22 (Thursday) – April 24(Saturday), 2010

Hand In Hand… Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients is an unforgettable event produced by Branson.com to pay tribute to our Nation’s heroes who were injured in the line of duty while defending our great Country.

The Hamner Barber Theater is honored to have been asked once again to host the opening ceremonies and the gala entertainment show for the second annual event.  Last year’s event was overwhelmingly successful, and this years gathering is expected to exceed the previous attendance record.

The event is for Purple Heart Recipients, all Veterans, and the general public as well.

For more information: Hand In Hand… Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients

The April 2010 edition of the Ozarks Christian News features the Hamner Barber Variety Show as the cover story entitled “An Act of Faith!”

Ozarks Christian News is available at news stands throughout the Ozarks including Branson and Springfield, Missouri.  Download a free copy to read this and other great articles in this fine publication published by John and Lila Sacoulas.

Also, for a limited time, visit their main website page to see an opening video featuring a familiar character that you might see onstage at the Hamner Barber Variety Show… it’s our very own Huston Towers (Austin Powers third cousin twice-removed)!

Listen to the Ozarks Christian News Radio Jingle Below!