Comedian Jim Barber and illusionist team The Hamners announce today that they have purchased“The Victorian Theater” next to the Victorian Shopping Center on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson, Missouri.

In 2005 the venue will be officially renamed, the“HAMNER BARBER THEATER,” and will be the permanent home to their magical variety show featuring the award winning illusions of Dave and Denise Hamner as well as the vocal comedy of internationally recognized ventriloquist Jim Barber.

There are plans to upgrade many aspects of the theater including the addition of a new marquee sign in front of the theater on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway.

Continuing their long run at the theater will be one of Branson’s original productions, the Braschler Music Show. For over 22 years, the Braschlers have entertained audiences across America. Their repertoire includes country, bluegrass, gospel tunes, and comedy featuring the vocals of Cliff Braschler, Tommy Fairchild, Paul Braschler, Brad Bacon, Sherri Braschler Weiss, Jan Braschler, Merissa Stacy, Gil Stockebrand, Tim Brooks, and Cortlandt Ingram.

“We are honored and thrilled that the Braschler family will remain an integral part of our theater line-up and we look forward to many years of sharing their awesome musical talent with Branson audiences,” stated Jim Barber. “We are also excited that Jan Braschler will remain in place as the theater’s box office manager,” added Dave Hamner.

Throughout the performance season, The Hamners will continue to host their “Solid Gospel Sundays” at the theater every Sunday morning at 10:00am. The free, non-denominational worship service will feature a variety of local performers along with inspiring sermons and speakers.

During November and December the theater will take on a decorative holiday flair and feature not only the Braschler’s Christmas show but also an expanded version of the Hamner Barber production, “The Wings of Christmas.” This new musical production is both magical and inspirational and stars Dave Hamner and Jim Barber in featured performance roles.

A special addition to the holiday show are original songs by T.J. Kuenster, longtime music conductor for Glen Campbell. T.J. wrote Glen’s top ten contemporary gospel hit, “The Greatest Gift of All,” and was the music composer for Don Bluth’s classic animated films “All Dogs Go To Heaven,” and “Rock-A-Doodle.” Also featured in the holiday production are Diane Barber, Denise Hamner, A. J. Heard, Ken Brown and Tim Lewis.

“We wish to thank the thousands of visitors and local area residents who came to watch our new production this year and especially thank all the wonderful ticket outlets, hotels, and travel groups who believe in our talents and promoted our show so well. We love Branson and are so gratefull to have this opportunity to settle down in such a beautiful facility and focus on producing the best family show possible for many years to come!”

- The Hamners and The Barbers

Contact Information:
Hamner Barber Theater
3090 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway
Branson, MO 65616
417-334-4363 - Box Office

Jan Braschler - Theater Box Office Manager
417-334-4363

For Advance Ticket Reservations:
Vance L. Hebblethwaite - Administrative Assistant
1-888-335-2080 toll-free
417-334-4363

David and Denise Hamner have headlined many major production shows around the world, presenting their award winning and original feats of magic. Venues include not only Las Vegas, Disneyland and Hollywood’s famous “Magic Castle” but also Branson where they starred in the productions Branson City All Star Revue and Magic of the Night which earned them multiple “Featured Performance” honors in the Branson All American Entertainment Awards. They were recently presented the prestigious “Magic Masters Award” by their magical piers in Las Vegas as well as the “Merlin Award” for “Best Manipulation.” Internationally know magicians Siegfried and Roy personally honored the Hamners by presenting them with their “Bronze Lion Head Award” for performance excellence.

The Hamners are best known for their one of a kind act in which they produce ten enormous exotic birds. Their beautiful Macaws and Cockatoos appear amid flying cards, flaming swords, falling coins and jewels and then perform an incredible flight over and around the audience before gracefully returning to the stage. Other original illusions to be featured in the new variety show include The Stargate, The Lightning Levitation, The Syringe Impailment, and Vertigo: The Fall of Death. The Hamners have performed these effects on many national television shows including NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic” and on specials produced for the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Dave Hamner is also an ordained Minister with extensive educational training. He and his wife Denise have held special theater worship services in Branson whenever they appear here locally. The Hamners are excited and feel blessed to once again have the opportunity of preaching the gospel each Sunday morning at 10:00am at The Victorian.

Jim Barber is recognized as one of the world’s great ventriloquists and has been honored as the “International Ventriloquist of the Year,” “Comedy Entertainer of the Year,” by the National Association of Campus Activities and Showtime, the Movie Channel named him one of the “Funniest People in America,” for his creative approach to the art of ventriloquism.

Jim was first introduced to Branson as the featured comedian in Glen Campbell’s Goodtime Show. He has since been featured in other successful Branson productions with The Osmonds, Tony Orlando, Kirby VanBurch and the late Eddie Rabbitt. He served as a national co-host for the Jerry Lewis “Stars Across America” Labor Day Telethon and has appeared on many national television shows on The Nashville Network, A&E, Fox, ABC, and NBC. Jim appears regularly in Las Vegas, Reno and major resort destinations performing for national corporate events and his participation in USO shows have taken him around the world entertaining our troops. He is also a favorite aboard cruise ships and was recently a featured artist for the maiden Caribbean voyage of the world’s largest cruise liner, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

Beyond his reputation as an area performer, Jim also combines his creativity with computers as co-owner of Image Works, Inc., a video production, graphic design and publishing company. Jim has extensive training and experience in multimedia and has personally developed projects for Silver Dollar City, Big Cedar Lodge, Glen Campbell, Jimmy Osmond, Yakov Smirnoff, Pierce Arrow, Paul Harris and many other businesses in the Branson area and around the country. He also is honored to serve on the board of directors for “Mountain Country Habitat For Humanity” and his family are members of First Presbyterian Church of Branson. Jim’s wife Diane has an extensive musical theater background and will perform in the new show’s holiday production, “The Wings of Christmas” during November and December.

Related Websites:

Hamner Barber Variety Show Site
www.hamnerbarber.com

Jim Barber’s Sites
www.jimbarber.com
www.imageinc.biz