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”

2010 promises to be the biggest and best season so far for the Hamner Barber Theater.  The Branson venue on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway is celebrating 15 years of presenting great family entertainment and the 7th year under the Hamner Barber ownership and name.

We feature three full time production shows and several other benefit or special event programs throughout the year.  Sign up for our FREE newsletter to stay up to date on all the latest news and reviews!

Hamner Barber Variety Show (evenings)

An incredible evening of fun featuring amazing magical illusions, hilarious comedy, dance and more.  Stars of NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic,” The Hamners present their award winning illusions.  Jim Barber is considered one of the world’s great ventriloquists and was recently featured on CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman.”

More Information on Hamner Barber Variety Show

The Keatings, A Father & Son Musical Experience (afternoons)

The Keatings, Ken and Josh, 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 talented 18 year old son.

More Information on The Keatings Show

Ricky Boen & Texas Mud (mornings)

Branson’s hottest morning show offers the best way to start your day! “World Champion Fiddler” Ricky Boen and his “Western Swing Group of the Year” Texas Mud presents the most “toe-tapping” show in town. Incredible twin fiddles, harmonized vocals, gut-busting comedy of Branson’s only female comedian “Ida Claire” and the charming vocals of 11-year-old  Brooke Hale.

More information on Ricky Boen & Texas Mud Show

PURCHASE TICKETS TO ALL HAMNER BARBER SHOWS!

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

DUKE and DAISY – Submitted by Brandy Ely of Branson, Missouri!

Even though we had so many entries from all across the country, the favorite pair of names as selected by our staff and employees at the Hamner Barber Theater was overwhelmingly DUKE and DAISY.

Thank you to all the contestants for entering the contest.  We hope you had a little fun in coming up with all of the creative names (posted below).  The TOP 5 pairs of names are highlighted in RED.  Brandy, your prize package will be delivered very soon!  Enjoy!

Duke & Daisy (winner)
Tim MaCaw & Maggie MaCaw
Simon & Garfunkel
Irish & Zazu
Candace(for Edgar Bergen’s daughter) & Harry (for the Blackstones)
Red & Fred
Greenie & Flye
Cheese & Crackers
Ozzie and Sharon
Hammie & Barbie
Tic & Tac
Obi & Juan
Saltine & Crackers
Coco & Nut
Echo & Repeat
Loco & Motion
Zigfield & Follies
Izzy & Iggy
Roy & Gene
Lucy & Ricky
Fred & Barnie
Yogi & BoBo
Dog & Cat
Up & Down
Me & You
Ooooh! & Ahhhh!
Fruitloop & Ringo
Skipper & Gilligan
Chase & Sanborn
Starsky & Hutch
Tigger & Pooh Bear
Patrick & Sponge Bob
Bonnie & Clyde
Chi Chi & Chunx
Heckle & Jekyll
Barb & Ham
Muttons (Mut) & Jefferson (Jeff)
Frankie & Johnnie
Rosi and Red Skeleton
Popeye & Olive Oyl
Denise & Denephew
Macy & Gracie
Jane & Dear
Brandi & Sonny
Sadie & Sarge
JoJo & Jake
Name them after the Jackson 5
Fields & Clover
Ma Caw & Pa Caw
Mac & Greenwing
Kinzie & Kadence
Dave & Denise
Rosie & Rascal
Teddy & Rose – in honor of the late Senator Ted (Teddy) Kennedy and his Mother “Rose Kennedy
Firebee & Rocket
Mojo & Mystic
Sam(for Uncle Sam) & Angel(for God and Heaven)
Abra & Cadabra
Ziggy & Fanta
Sophie & Stewart
Bamner & Harber (Bam and Har)
Ham & Barb
Captain Jack & Lady Swann
Scarlet O’feathera & Sam PeckNClaw
Clint Beakwood & Redda Headworth
Phineus & Pherb

Before the screaming jet engines and the plumes of dense smoke, there was a modestly quaint and colorful performance happening nightly over the heads of astonished Branson theater goers.  The act was called the “Pirate Parrot Act” and was developed over many years of intense training, love and dedication by professional illusionists Dave and Denise Hamner who came to the Ozarks from their ranch home in Southern California where they raised their birds by hand and tended to them kindly as if they were their own children.    In their one-of-a-kind act, a beautiful bevy of exotic, tropical parrots appear from nowhere, flying low enough over the audience as to rustle the hair of anyone in their path.  There are macaws, cockatoos and even white doves creating a seemingly endless array of feathered fun to the delight of those looking up from below.  The giddy laughs of amazement and vocal cheers from the crowd is testament to the sheer magnificence of their original routine.  Branson audiences had never seen anything like this before.

The Hamners were receiving high recognition for their magical effects, long before bringing them to Branson.  In addition to appearances across the country, they’ve performed at major attractions such as Disneyland and Hollywood’s Magic Castle.  After a performance in Las Vegas, entertainment Superstars Siegfried and Roy presented the Hamners with their prestigious Bronze Lion Award for excellence and shortly thereafter, they were asked to perform with their beautiful birds on NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic” TV special which has been aired around the world numerous times.  Host John Ritter introduced the Hamners as “the most amazing bird act in all of magic.”

When the Hamners were hired to perform at a theater in the Mutton Hollow Theme Park in Branson, Missouri (most recently known as Celebration City), they were so taken by the beauty of the Ozarks, that  they sought out other opportunities to stay in the area.  After an invitation from Jimmy Osmond to join him and his talented brothers at the Osmond Family Theater, The Hamners began to earn a reputation around Branson as one of the most amazing support acts in town.  When their contract at the Osmond Theater expired, Dave and Denise were offered a featured role in a new production show called “Branson City Lights” which then led to an opportunity to finally headline their own “Magic of the Night” spectacular at the Remington Theatre.  A couple years later, they once again teamed up with Jimmy Osmond to perform in the “American Jukebox Show” where they shared a dressing room with comedian, ventriloquist Jim Barber who had also been cast in the new show.  Although the Hamners and Jim Barber had been friends for many years prior, this opportunity to appear in the same show brought them much closer together.

After a successful two-season run, the plug was pulled on the American Jukebox Show creating an opportunity for the performers to move on to new ventures.  Jimmy Osmond traveled to England to produce and star in various projects, and in the Spring  of 2004, Jim Barber and The Hamners were offered an opportunity to co-star in their very own “Hamner Barber Variety Show” at another venue that they now own together, the Hamner Barber Theater on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway.  In 2010, the award-winning variety show will celebrate it’s seventh-season as Branson’s most unique family show featuring magic, comedy, music and dance.

In addition to their magical feathered friends, the Hamners have also invented and developed many never-before-seen stage illusions that can only be experienced at their Branson show.  In the world of illusion, The Hamners are true originals in every sense of the word.  As long as they continue to step out onto the stage of the Hamner Barber Theater, there will be magic in the air above 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

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