Below
is the initial update of Branson 2012-Winter. If you haven't reviewed it before, you
might check it out for current information in Branson
Newly
Updated for Branson 2012-Winter, January 6
Branson 2012 here we come and the Branson shuffle begins
as entertainers make their annual efforts at making a better show at a better
venue. As I write, the 2011 season has
not yet ended and the moves are being planned. The winter season in Branson is
not dull, it's invigorating, just like the planting plans with the new seed
catalogues. The fun is just beginning.
Let's begin with some Branson 2012-Winter shopping news. The Branson Tri-Lakes News and the Branson Daily Independent tell us that the Factory Merchants Mall (Red Roof Mall) will be closing in 6 months. Simon Property Group, Inc. who owns the mall also owns the Shoppes at Branson Meadows on Gretna Road and will put their focus toward that enterprise. Most of the shops will find new homes for 2012. No decision has been made on plans for the Factory Merchants Mall property
Branson 2012 is Branson's centennial and 2012 should bring a host of great celebrations and activities for visitors this year. Continue to check our site for Branson info, Ozarks history, travel and new Ozarks roadtrips & daytrips that are planned for this site. To keep up with the Branson Centennial activities you can check a new site Branson100.org.
Winter is a slower time in Branson but there is still plenty to do in our area. Weather is always a question to address before traveling, but the Ozarks usually has a majority of decent traveling days (65 degrees today Jan 6) and when you get here you'll find plenty to do.
Shopping is still big in the winter and most stores continue to be open. Winter is also a great time to stay indoors and enjoy the numerous museums and attractions in the Branson area. The locals still eat so many of the restaurants stay open even when the traffic in town is down. And of course you can still catch a round of golf, hike the trails, roadtrip the Ozarks or fish the lakes
Though, many shows close for a few weeks after New Years, Branson 2012-Winter still offers a variety to keep you happy day or night. The following theaters and shows are open in January and February:
Branson 2012-Winter News at Grand Country Music Hall
Amazing Pets - Sat & Sun in
February at 10 AM
Comedy Jubilee - 3 PM shows in Jan
& Feb
Grand Jubilee - 7:30 PM shows in Jan
& Feb
Branson Country USA Radio show - Fri
10:30 PM in Feb
Sunday Gospel Jubilee - Sundays 2 PM
starting Feb 13
Ozark Mountain Jubilee - Sundays 7 PM
starting Feb 13
Branson 2012-Winter News at Imax's Little Opry Theater
A Tribute to Classic Country - Mon-Sat
12 PM thru Feb 25
Hank Williams Revisited - Daily at 2
PM thru Feb 26 and Sun-Thur at 7 PM thru Feb 23
Ozark Bluegrass Music Revue - Daily at
5 PM thru Feb 26
The Peterson Family Bluegrass Band -
Fr- & Sat 7 PM thru Feb 25
The
Branson 2012-Winter News: Entertainer moves
There is a lot to report even at this early date in
December 2011 and there will be more to come so let's get started
The Haygoods will be moving to RFD-TV The Theater in 2012 after 2 years at the New
Americana Theater. The Haygoods also began their new reality show
featured on RFD-TV in November 2012. They are the second Branson entertainment
show to have their own show on the popular RFD-TV joining the Presley's who
began their show on Saturday nights on RFD-TV earlier this year
The Roy Rogers Jr. Show moves to RFD-TV The Theater in 2012 celebrating the 100th birthday of
both Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Starting in mid April 2012, Roy Rogers, Jr.
(Dusty), his son Dustin Roy Rogers and his band (the High Riders) will perform
the classic cowboy and western music reminiscent of The Sons of the Pioneers,
the group his Dad started 75 years ago. Showtime for 2012 will be Monday thru
Friday at 2 PM
Don't miss the RFD-TV float in the Tournament of Roses
Parade January 2nd, 2012 where Dusty, Dustin and The High Riders will ride the
float and sing Happy Trails to celebrate Roy's 100th birthday. The float will
be escorted by 100 golden Palomino's
Also new at the RFDTV-the Theater is Buck Trent . Buck
moves his morning show from the New Clay Cooper Theater to RFD-TV the Theater for 2012. To Buck Trent fans "Thumbs
up" and "Oh Yeah!
Tony Roi who is known for his Elvis Experience show will be moving to the Caravelle Theater replacing the Osmonds who go on their world tour in 2012. #1 Hits of the 60's will remain at the Caravelle for 2012.
The A cappella group Cat's Pajamas
will move to Andy William's Moon River Theater in March
2012. This will include a morning Christmas show during the Christmas
season
Beginning in April 2012, another A cappella group, SIX will move to the Mickey Gilley
Theater, doing both afternoon and Evening shows. Mickey will continue
his shows for 2012
Red Hot and Blue will leave the Americana Theater and
move to the New Clay Cooper Theater in 2012
Also moving to the New Clay Cooper
Theater are the Rankin Brothers leaving their 2011
home at Mickey Gilley's
The Icon Theater welcomes the Liverpool Legends who performed at The Mansion
Theater in 2012
Also leaving The Mansion Theater, The 3 Redneck
Tenors will take up residence on the strip at the Americana
Theater.
Ventriloquist Todd Oliver &
Friends will also be moving to the Americana
Theater in 2012. Todd performed at The Jim Stafford
Theater in 2011. Cassandre Haygood and Joseph
Hall in his Elvis Tribute will continue to perform at the Americana Theater in 2012.
Comedian Joey Riley the funny sidekick
to Mickey Gilley will move his own afternoon show to Music City
Center for 2012. Doug Gabriel and magician Taylor Reed will continue to perform at Music City Center in
2012.
That's it for now, though the shuffle will undoubtedly
continue. We'll add to our list as it happens.
The
Branson 2012-Winter News:New entertainment
As always, new entertainment will arrive on the Branson
2012 scene. Announcements so far,
include:
The Hughes Brothers have replaced
their regular Hughes Brothers Show with a new show named "It". "It" still
features the Hughes Brothers and family with music and dance but they have not
announced the highlight of this show. The Hughes Brothers
Theater has been renamed The Hughes American Family
Theater.
Barry Williams, former sitcom star of
the Brady Bunch has signed a 5 year contract at Yakov
Smirnoff's theater after a short run during the latter part of 2011.
The new show called The Brady Brunch features his live
5-piece band and his multi-media show that was specially created for Branson
audiences. His 10 AM show will run from April 11 through December 8,
2012.
Yakov will also return with a 2 PM
show and Yakov's Dinner Adventure will be back in 2012 for a 5 PM show. After
completing the 2012 season, Yakov plans to take his show on the road. Although
he will still live in Branson and be actively involved in both the theater and
the community his desire is to use his master's degree in psychology and his
comedy to bring more love and laughter into the lives of people around the
country.
Sight & Sound Theater has brought
the production Noah to Branson audiences since 2007, but
2012 brings the new production about the biblical story of Joseph.
Silver Dollar City features Diamond Rio and Pam Tillis the 2nd
weekend in September.
Branson 2012 includes even more big name stars according
to the Branson Tri-Lakes News. Up Close Concerts will be
working with the God and Country Theatre to bring several
big name entertainers to the stage in 2012. Up Close Concerts will continue to
bring big name concerts to the Tri-Lakes Center in 2012 as it has in the past
but will further live up to its name with the 400 seat venues at God
and Country Theater.
The
Branson 2012-Winter News:
At Tri-Lakes Center for Branson
2012:
Sat. May 5, 2012 at 7 PM - Ray Price and BJ
Thomas
Sat. September 29, 2012 at 7 PM – Herman's Hermits
starring
Peter
Noone and Monkees lead singer Mickey Dolenz
Sat. October 6, 2012 at 7 PM – Don Williams
Fri. Oct 19, 2012 at 8 PM – Lonestar w/ original
lead singer Richie McDonald
At God & Country Theatre for
Branson 2012:
Sat. May 12 at 3 PM & 8 PM – John Conlee and
Bobby Bare
Sat. June 2 at 3 PM & 8 PM – Ronnie
Milsap
Sat. Sept. 22 at 3 PM & 8 PM – Restless
Heart
Sat. Oct 13 at 3 PM & 8 PM – David Frizzell
and Shelly West
Sat. Oct 20 at 3 PM & 8 PM – Jim Ed Brown
and Helen Cornelius
Sat. Oct 27 at 3 PM & 8 PM – Janie
Fricke
Sat. Nov 10 at 3 PM & 8 PM – Crystal
Gayle
At Branson Variety Theater
Two new shows will debut in Branson. The
Songs of the Four Seasons and the Beach Boys opens March 18, 2012. The Miniature Pet Circus billed as the "happiest family
fun summer show" will will run May through August 2012. Returning for
another season at the Branson Variety Theater are
"The Twelve Irish Tenors", "Shake Rattle &
Roll" and "Hooray for Hollywood".
Produced by Andy Williams and Steve Drummond, the
Andy Williams Moon River Theatre presents The
Finalists Live for their summer production. The show features 5
finalists who made the Top 10 in the singing competition of the show
"American Idol". This will include a rotating cast of 5 finalist per
show.
More entertainers for the Branson 2012 season will be
announced at a later date.
The
Branson 2012-Winter News: Performers not Returning
As with each season there will be those who will be
moving on to new horizons. We hope and expect that they will return sometime in
the future
The Swedish group Jeerk that spent
much of the 2011 season at the Hughes Brothers Theater has moved on. We're
sorry to see them go. They were a huge hit in Branson. You can keep up with
them at their website Jeerk.com.
After several seasons Marty Haggard
will be moving on. Marty is a great talent and we hope he returns soon. He will
be at the Paramount Theatre in Casa Grande, AZ for much of the early part of
2012. You can check out his plans at martyhaggard.com.
The Osmonds begin a world tour in
2012. The Osmonds have been a Branson mainstay for many years and we feel sure
we'll see them again. You can keep up with them at Osmond.com.
The
Branson 2012-Winter News: See the World in Branson
The annual month long event See the World in
Branson begins April 1, 2012 and lasts through May 6, 2012. This
event allows visitors to enjoy multiple cultural and International experiences
in entertainment and tradition.
Local businesses will be representing countries from
around the world during this international festival. New for this year, the
Welk Resorts Branson will host the See the World in Branson Music
Fest April 25 & 26, 2012.
The music fest will include more than 40 booths representing 30 countries.
Local entertainers and acts will be featured in a music showcase.
You'll want to make plans for this great festival. More
information is available at seetheworldinbranson.com. To find information about
the Welk Resort go to welkbranson.com.
Coinciding with the See the World in
Branson is the World Fest at Silver
Dollar City, America's largest International Festival with
performances from around the world. Go to bransonsilverdollarcity.com for more
information.
The
Branson 2012-Winter News: Opening dates for
Coming Soon we will provide a list of
opening dates for Branson 2012 entertainment. Thanks for visiting
Much of the information for the Branson 2012-Winter Newa has come from
the pages of The Branson Tri-Lakes News (Bransontrilakesnews.com) and the
Branson Daily Independent. We have also added additional information from the
websites of the theatres and entertainers. If you would like to search for more
information, we have provided a list of those noted on this page.
The
Branson 2012-Winter News: Theater web addresses
Theamericanatheatre.com
Andywilliams.com (Moon River Theatre)
bransonimax.com
bransonvarietytheater.com
Caravellc.com (Caravelle Theater)
Claycoopertheatre.com
Gacbranson.com (God & Country Theater)
Gilleys.com (Mickey Gilley theater)
grandcountry.com
Hughes-brothers.com (Hughes American Family Theater)
Theicontheatre.com
Themansiontheatre.com
Musiccitycenter.com
Rfdtvthetheatre.com
Sight-sound-branson.com
Bransonsilverdollarcity.com
Yakov.com (Yakov Smirnoff Theatre)
The
Branson 2012-Winter News: Entertainers on the web
1hitsofthe60s.com
3rednecktenors.com
Barrywilliams.com
Bucktrent.com
Diamondrio.com
Douggabriel.com
Funnydog.com (Todd Oliver)
Thehaygoods.com
Hughes-brothers.com
Joeyriley.net
Josephhallbransonelvis.com
Liverpoollegends.com
Pamtillis.com
Rankinbrothers.com
Redhotblue.com
Royrogers.com
Sixtheshow.com
Taylorreed.com
Tonyroielvisexperience.com
Upcloseconcerts.com
Vocalmeow.com (Cats Pajamas)
Thevoiceofanangel.com (Cassandre)
Yakov.com