Dancers: AJ Heard & Ken Brown

In addition to their incredible dancing at the Hamner Barber Variety Show, cast members A.J. Heard and Ken Brown will be performing in 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 focuses on teaching children about social and environmental responsibility.

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 begin July 16, 2009 with shows scheduled on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:00am. This is a 5-week, limited engagement.

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

Texas Swing Music is alive and well in Branson!

Ricky Boen and Texas Mud have been entertaining and amazing audiences for the past three years in Branson. However, when you visit the Hamner Barber Theater and Ricky and Texas Mud take the stage you will not hear the Big Band sound with clarinets, saxophones and horns driving the music. This is Texas Swing….music driven primarily by the string sound, predominately fiddles, steel guitar and guitars. Remember though this is Texas Swing and of course that means twin fiddles!

Ricky Boen is one of the most energetic, talented musicians to grace a stage. This 1983 World Champion fiddle player leads this incredibly gifted group of musicians which includes Mark Boyd on guitar and vocals, Ricky’s dad, Darrell Boen also on vocals and guitar, Mark Pearman is the other “half” of the twin fiddles, Casey Robertson keeps the beat on the drums, Mark Abbott is on the upright bass and vocals and polishing off that Texas Swing sound is Dave Musgrave on the steel guitar. After just one song audiences will not be surprised to learn that Ricky Boen and Texas Mud were named Western Swing Group of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists in 2001 and were honored with the coveted Will Rogers’ Award.

Joining Ricky and the boys is eleven-year-old Brooke Hale. Brooke’s powerhouse voice and her lively dance moves bring just a little feminine touch to this group. And ready or not Branson’s only female comedian “Ida Claire” is in the house! You never know what Ida is up to on any given day and generally neither does Ricky and the boys.

This unique Texas Swing Variety show definitely has something for everyone. Between their blend of amazing instrumental talent, vocal harmony, lots of laughter and fun, it is easy to see why it is definitely Texas Swing Done Right!

Related Websites: TexasMud.com, BransonWebcast.com|Ricky Boen

Related Articles: Ricky Boen Honored in Hometown, Hamner Barber Welcomes Texas Mud, Texas Mud Video Promo

Ricky Boen & Texas Mud