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Ventriloquism Workshop with Jim Barber Announced

Have you ever wondered how ventriloquists like Darci Lynn (America’s Got Talent) and Jeff Dunham (Comedy Central) are able to “throw their voices” and make their puppets talk clearly without moving their lips? Well here is your chance to participate in a fun and educational ventriloquism workshop at the Historic Owen Theatre in Branson, Missouri.

Professional ventriloquist Jim Barber has agreed to personally teach this course as a fundraiser benefiting the Branson Regional Arts Council.

The workshop will be held over 3 Saturdays in March 2018, for a total of 9 hours of intensive education and technical training.

  • COST: $149 (per person, includes all 3 sessions)
  • DATE: Saturdays, March 17, 24, 31
  • TIME: 9am – 12pm (3 hours each session)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Jim will not only share his personal vocal techniques that he developed over his successful 40 year career, but he will also include an intensive overview of the official Maher Ventrilquist Studios Course of Ventriloquism, which has launched the careers of thousands of ventriloquists around the world since 1934.

Inclusion of this course is made possible by professional ventriloquist Tom Crowl, who owns and operates the famous Maher Studios.

KIDS OF ALL AGES… GREAT GIFT FOR YOUR CHILD, GRANDCHILD, OR YOURSELF!

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Jim Barber’s unique blend of comedy, ventriloquism, and vocal music have taken him around the world as a featured entertainer for International corporate events, major cruise lines, and as host of USO shows for our military families stationed across the United States and in the Mediterranean.  Based in Branson, Missouri, Jim is now the Executive Director of the Arts Council and will be appearing in his own show at the Shepherd of the Hills Attraction in a remodeled, indoor theatre this summer. Throughout his career, Jim has shared stage and toured with many celebrities including Glen Campbell, The Osmonds, Tony Orlando, The Bellamy Brothers, Jim Stafford, Eddy Rabbitt, Yakov Smirnoff and many others. His unique act has been featured on many national television shows including the Late Show with David Letterman. Jim also serves as an advisor for Vent Haven Museum in Ft. Mitchell, KY. Vent Haven is the world’s largest museum dedicated to the art of ventriloquism.

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Valentines Cabaret Show This Friday Evening

Love is complicated… Love is forgiving… Love is for fools… or is it?

Forte Theatrical Productions returns to the Historic Owen Theatre in Branson, Missouri for ONE SHOW ONLY this Friday evening, 8pm, with a series of musical duets and solos that will make you fall in love… with LOVE!

The large talented cast of Love Is… includes Melissa Rivera – Emcee, Tom Hallett, Tiffany and Conrad Bear, Michael Parrott, Karrah Fleshman, Tobias Nordlund, Michael Sager, Tina Cool Anderson, DeAnna Bruce, Dan Culleny, Josh and Charis Boulden, Ashlee Heyward, Justin and Kristen Ables, Mary Huff, Jenny Day, Olivia Farrell, accompaniment by Danielle Hardin, Jessica Brown, Perry Harper and Kevin Day.

This is a perfect show for couples, singles, or even entire families. As a performing troupe, Forte was featured in last summer’s Branson Regional Arts Council production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as the featured entertainment at the Arts Council’s recent New Years Eve Gala in celebration of their move into the Historic Owen Theatre.

Advance tickets are on sale now at BransonArts.org.  General Admission is $10 per person, and active Art Council Members are only $8.00. 

I WANT LOVE IS... TICKETS NOW!

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New Young Actors Musical Theatre Workshop Announced

The Branson Regional Arts Council is excited to announce a new Musical Theatre Workshop Class that begins this weekend (Feb 10, 2018)

This Young Actors Workshop is taught by Branson based actor and director Jacob Estes. The workshop will be held over a four week period, with classes on Saturday mornings from 10am until 12pm at the Historic Owen Theatre in Branson, Missouri.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP

This class is designed for students ages 12-18. Students close to that age range will be considered at the discretion of the director.

In this class, students will explore the various components required to become a musical theatre performer. Students will train in various areas of Musical Theatre including singing, dancing, and acting through a variety of games, lessons, and intensive style workshops. In addition, the students will get a one-on-one audition workshop and feedback with the director! This class will prepare young actors with a secure feeling to take to the stage!

Jacob has traveled America performing and directing in various theatres throughout his professional career. Some of his favorite credits include Next to Normal (Dan), Les Miserables (Javert), Peter Pan (Captain Hook), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) and Young Frankenstein (The Monster).

Currently, Jacob can be found directing and choreographing The Little Mermaid for Forsyth High school and Co-Directing Annie for The Branson Regional Arts Council at the Historic Owen Theatre.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP

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Tri-Lakes Community Theatre Merges With Branson Regional Arts Council

In an official announcement, the Branson Regional Arts Council announces that they have merged Tri-Lakes Community Theatre into their organization.

State of Missouri Secretary of State, John Ashcroft, signed the merger as official on January 23, 2018 after several months of discussion and preparation between both non-profit organizations, as well as unanimous votes of support from their active members.

“When the Branson Regional Arts Council entered into our agreement last Fall to assume operations of the Historic Owen Theatre, we knew this would create an opportunity to provide a permanent home venue for community theatre in the Branson Tri-Lakes Area,” stated BRAC Executive Director Jim Barber. ” TLC (Tri-Lakes Community Theatre) has struggled in recent years to find available performance space, and therefore, financial support to sustain it’s operations into the future. We felt that this merger, with the goal of preserving the amazing 34 year history of TLC productions, would be very beneficial to our community, and provide TLC with additional management and marketing support.  I want to thank Jean Cantwell, Harry Styron, Phoebe Fox-Head, Sean Neil Myers, Della Mason Stacy, and the Branson Regional Arts Council board, for their cooperation and vision during this merger process.” added Barber.

There were some interesting connections between the two organizations that made this merger a natural progression.  Both groups were founded by long-time Branson resident Jean Cantwell and other area arts enthusiasts.  The Branson Regional Arts Council was founded 53 years ago in 1965 as the Taney Arts Council, and Tri-Lakes Community Theatre is now celebrating it’s 35th year having been formed in 1983.  Jean was extremely excited to learn that both organizations she help give life to, would now continue forward as one, combining her love of the visual arts and live community theatre.

The Arts Council plans to document and preserve every past TLC production on it’s website, thereby preserving the historic roots of community theatre in our area.

Excitement is high for this opportunity to improve the quality of community theatre in the Branson area.  Audition turnout for the first 2018 season production of Annie, was much higher than expected, with an enthusiastic and extremely talented team of actors, directors, musicians, set designers, electricians and painters, who understand and want to participate in building a thriving theatre arts community in Historic downtown Branson.

Area businesses or individuals interested in underwriting portions of this and other theatre productions are asked to contact the Arts Council at info@bransonarts.org.

Public performances of Annie run March 8-11th at the Historic Owen Theatre.  Tickets are on sale now, and expected to sell out for each performance. Visit BransonArts.org/tix to reserve seats before they are all gone.

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Master Storyteller Featured This Saturday in Branson

Paul Haygood brings his imaginative Storytelling Workshop and Performance to the Historic Owen Theatre this Saturday, February 10, 2018. (UPDATE: This event is postponed due to bad weather, rescheduled date TBA)

BRAC Executive Director Jim Barber welcomes Paul Haygood

Storytelling is one of the earliest artforms, stimulating the creative imagination and building a sense of community between the teller and listeners. It fosters an appreciation for one’s own culture and history, while at the same time, allowing us to learn about other peoples and places.

“Paul Haygood is a master storyteller. His stories are well-researched and engaging.” – Joshua Heston, StateOfTheOzarks

Each of us has a story in the making, and the 2pm afternoon workshop will help your own stories come to life. Participants will have fun learning story preparation, picture thinking, and the difference between acting and storytelling. Finding the raw material of a story, listening as a skill, dramatic facial expression and body language will also be included. 

The 7pm evening concert performance will include a variety of engaging stories, skillfully presented by Mr. Haygood. These may include: “The Water of Life,” from Grimm’s Fairy Tales; “Iduna and the Golden Apples,” from the Norse tradition (Thor, Loki, etc); and “The Boatman and the Bear,” improbable adventures with a paddle-wheeler, a bear and a catfish, on a flatboat between St. Louis and New Orleans.

Paul Haygood was born and raised in the nature and story-rich Islands of Hawaii, and has shared his stories around the world, from New Zealand to New York. He is related to the famous Haygood family of entertainers, so you know that he is a creative performer at heart.

We are thrilled to present his inventive and entertaining storytelling right here at the Historic Owen Theatre in Branson.

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Branson Area Students Experience Symphonic Music

On Tuesday, January 30, 2018, nearly 800 young students from several Branson area schools attended a live music concert with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra as part of an annual Young People’s Concert program that the Branson Regional Arts Council has coordinated on behalf of our area youth.

The concert is provided free of charge to our area schools and is specifically designed to be an in-depth learning experience.  This year’s concert featured guest soloist Richard Todd Payne who combined his commanding and dramatic Baritone voice with the symphony to present a series of Black American masterpieces, including a moving rendition of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.  A native of Memphis Tennessee, and Assistant Professor of Voice at Missouri State University, Mr. Payne’s voice has been described as “Magnificent”,  “Impassioned”, and “Stentorian”.  He is sought after nationally for his commanding presence and ringing tones in both Opera and Oratorio.  

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Branson schools appreciate all you have done. – Sarah Ver Steegt Kirk

Each year, the Young People’s Concerts have educated approximately 4,000 fourth grade children from the Springfield and Branson area school districts, and students from private, parochial and home schools, to listen to live symphonic music and gain valuable exposure to the elements of musical styles and eras.

My students have been learning about the 1960’s and the Civil Rights Movement.  We had listened to Dr. King’s speech a few weeks ago. The LOVED to hear it set to music and to hear some of the stories behind the pieces chosen. Thank you so much Branson Regional Arts Council for this opportunity for our students!!! – Kellsey Howerton Bradley

On the day of the performance, the children arrived at the Hughes Brothers Theatre on the the famous Branson Strip by school busses, seated together by classes with their teachers, and treated to an enriching cultural experience. The music was interspersed with entertaining facts about each composition. Musical instrumentation was explained, as were the differences in musical styles.

Following each performance, the teachers follow up with each class attending in discussing important elements of the musical experience so as to integrate the concert experience into the students’ curriculum.

Major sponsors of this year’s concert were the Branson Regional Arts Council, the Titanic Museum Attraction, the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors, the Missouri Arts Council, and a handful of individual donors including Mary Kellogg, Jim Barber, Pam Davis, Craig Burnett, Leah Horn, Patty Tweedle, and Jeff Turner. This year’s event wouldn’t have been possible without their generous assistance.

 

THE FOLLOWING MAJOR SPONSORS OF THIS EVENT APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.  PLEASE THANK THEM FOR THEIR FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN OUR AREA YOUTH!


   

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