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!

Branson, Missouri must be the magician and ventriloquist capital in the area of the country I live in. There are more ventriloquist and magicians performing there than I have ever seen. Currently there are five magicians performing there as well as three top quality professional ventriloquists.

One of the Magicians performing there this year is world renown magician Brett Daniels, who is performing at the Grand Palace Theater. His show is a true magic work of theatrical art and entertainment. It is a very entertaining two hour show which has everything in it from huge illusions such as making a fighter jet appear on stage to simple sleight of hand routines with cards. After watching his show it is easy to see why he has such acclaimed fame as a performer.

Darren Romeo, the singing magician is also there, and you can see a magic show at the mall theater next to Wal-Mart. Kirby VanBurch still draws audiences to his theater.

The Hamners who are at the Victorian Theater (on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway) do a variety of illusions that blend wonderful theatrics and their work with birds. At this same show you will also find Branson’s top ventriloquist performing, Jim Barber. This is a must see show if you get to the area. It is a wild mixture of Jim’s humor and creativity. The theater sits off the road and behind the Victorian Shop/Inn and is close to the Shoji Tabuchi Theater. But once you get there and the show starts you will be given a true treat to see two top quality acts combined together for one unique show!

Jim truly shows why he is one of America’s premier ventriloquist with his quality vent control and voice range as well as his wacky sense of humor. He also conbines puppetry and a magical illusion for a routine with one of Axtell’s ape puppets that truly is unique and very funny. Jim also uses Chico the Chihuahua, the Baby, Seville, and the Norwegian Orangutan. Jim also does a hilarious Austin Powers spoof that truly is right on.

Jim and the Hamners also will have a Christmas show playing in November and December called “The Wings of Christmas.” So if you ever decide to go to the Branson area, make sure you check out Jim’s show. Your funny bone will thank you!

Also in Branson you will find two other ventriloquist – Patty Davidson and Todd Oliver. Both are also great ventriloquist and worth the effort to check out. Patty is working at the Dalena Ditto show at Mickey Gilley’s Theater (on the main strip), and Todd is still out on the Branson Belle with his unique vent dog act.

Branson is truly a fun place to visit but be warned – the traffic is even more fun to drive in, Ha! If you want to learn patience, try driving from one end of the strip to the other in the middle of the summer. It is also about as bad in the Fall so do not be in a big hurry to get anywhere fast because you won’t.

While I was at the Hamner Barber show, I got to talk a short while with Jim. It was fun talking to him. He reminds me of myself a lot with his creative ideas and love of ventriloquism and magic. I found out from Jim that two of his puppet characters were made by none other than Verna Finly, Chico the Chihuahua and Baby, which would explain the unique characters of these two puppets. So go to Branson and have loads of fun! There are fun Fall festivities coming up.

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