1945 W. 76 Country Blvd.
Branson, MO 65616
417-335-2484 – Reservations
417-336-5829 – Fax

Recorded LIVE on Friday night at 10:30 PM
This show is broadcast on radio stations around the country.
Airing Saturday nights at 7:00 PM on KRZK – 106.3 in Branson, Mo.
And — Sunday nights at 9:00 PM. on KHOZ – 102.9 in Harrison, Ar.,

You can also listen via the internet.
Show airs at 7:00pm (CST) every Saturday night.
www.BransonCountryUSA.net

FFA Workshop Slated for Area High School Students
By: Jacob McCauley

College of the Ozarks Agriculture Department will host a FFA workshop for area high school students on March 3, 2012, in the Youngman Agriculture Center from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The event will include workshops on livestock, dairy products, entomology, meats, dairy cattle, nursery and landscaping, agronomy, forestry, poultry, horses, floriculture and soils. In 2011, the event brought more than 2,500 students from over 90 different schools in the southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas regions, making it one of Missouri’s larger agricultural events.

Registration is for area high school FFA students and sponsors. Registration forms are located on the C of O website and must be completed by February 24, 2012. An additional $15 late fee will be charged for late registration. Workshop participants can pick up their workshop forms beginning at 7:45 a.m. in the Youngman Agriculture Center; contests begin at 8:15 a.m. and workshops at 8:30 a.m.

For more information, visit www.cofo.edu, or call Donn Russell, event coordinator, at 417-690-3348.

Mel Tillis Press Release

Clay Cooper is thrilled to announce MEL TILLIS will be performing at the Clay Cooper Theatre September 6-December 6 for the 2012 season. Mel and his cast can be seen primarily Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons at 2 pm. Clay said, “Mel Tillis is a country music legend…an incredible songwriter, singer, and entertainer. I have always enjoyed listening to his music and I admire his talent as a songwriter. I am honored to have him perform at my theatre this year!”

Mel Tillis has been in the music business for over 60 years. He began singing in the early 50’s with a group called “The Westerners” while serving as a baker in the United States Air Force, stationed in Okinawa. Since that time, Mel has recorded over 60 albums with over thirty-six Top Ten Singles, and nine of these songs made it to Number One! Mel and his band, The Statesiders, have had the opportunity to perform in all 50 states, Canada, England, and several other countries during his career.

Mel has received many awards for singing and songwriting including the Nashville Songwriter’s International Hall of Fame Award and CMA Entertainer of the Year Award (both awards received in 1976). He was inducted in the Grand Old Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, and received Comedian of the Year for six years in a row in the 1970’s.

Mel wrote over 1,000 different songs and 600 of these songs were recorded by major artists. His first song, “I’m Tired”, was recorded by Webb Pierce in 1956 and that recording actually launched his musical career! His most famous song, Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, sung by Kenny Rogers, received over 3 Million broadcast performances.

Along with his musical career, Mel also found a love for acting! He appeared in numerous featured films including Any Which Way but Loose with Clint Eastwood, Cannon Ball Run I and II, and Smokey and the Bandit I and II with Burt Reynolds. He starred in several television shows and acted as the spokesman in many commercials for several companies including Babcock Furniture, Fina Oil Co., and Whataburger.

Tillis first arrived in Branson on a permanent basis in 1990, leased what is now the Yakov Theater for two years, built the Will Rogers Theater in 1992 with partner Melvin Hall, and then eventually built the Mel Tillis Theater, in 1994. He sold his theater to Hobby Lobby, Inc. in 2002, who transformed it into what is now Tri-Lakes Church, where he continued performing until December 2010. Mel has performed over 4,000 shows in Branson for millions of visitors and will continue to be one of Branson’s most successful entertainers!

College of the Ozarks Presents “Little Women”
By: Ashley Bench

College of the Ozarks’ departments of Theatre and Music will present the spring musical, “Little Women,” at 7:30 p.m., on March 2, 3, 5 and 6. A Sunday matinee will begin at 2:30 p.m., on March 4.

Produced by a special arrangement with Music Theatre International, “Little Women,” with music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, effectively displays the hardships of a family of four sisters and their mother, the Marches, during the civil war. Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, the March family develops a bond that can never be broken and learn to have a hopeful endurance with every situation life brings. Playwright Allan Knee seeks to touch the hearts of many through the emotional heartaches and the joys of each sister.

C of O sophomore Matt Matney will play the part of Mr. Laurence, a wealthy neighbor to the March family. “For years young women have read the stories of Jo and dreamed of being one of the March sisters in ‘Little Women,’ and I think that’s one of the best concepts of this musical,” says Matney. “It takes the classic story so many young girls connect with and combines it with a beautiful score that adults will enjoy as well. It truly is a family event that intrigues several generations of avid readers and theatre patrons.”

Regular adult tickets are $15. Tickets for senior citizens are $13, students are $13 and children 12 and under are $11. C of O Associates will receive free admission to one performance upon presentation of their Associates Card. Guests of Associates are $5.

The Keeter Center’s Dobyns Dining Room is offering a special dinner and show package for $35 per person. Guests will enjoy a three-course dinner and be provided with preferred seating for the production. On Friday and Saturday only, there will be a special dessert reception during intermission for the guests who purchased the dinner and show package. The Keeter Center is also offering a special lodging package that includes tickets to the show.

For further information or to make a reservation for the dinner and show package or for more information on the special lodging package, please call The Keeter Center at 690-2146 or visit the website at www.keetercenter.edu. This production is open to the public and requires advance ticket reservations by calling the Theatre Box Office at (417) 690-2626.

In the picture from left to right: Shonna Hawks Admissions Representative, Marci Linson Dean of Admissions, Michael Lewis Admissions Representative.

The 43 Annual American Advertising Federation awarded the College of the Ozarks viewbook, an information publication for prospective students, with the Gold ADDY® Award (the highest award), Best of Category ADDY®, which considers all materials submitted and Judges Choice Award ADDY®. The viewbook also accrued the highest rated points of any entry in the competition. There were more than 300 total entries submitted in this year’s competition.

The ADDY® awards competition is a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation. It is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.

The viewbook publication is produced by the Office of Admissions through Corcoran Communications, a company that provides marketing services for the education community.

“We are very honored to partner with Corcoran on our design and content efforts,” Dean of Admissions Marci Linson said. “It is an added bonus when your hard work is rewarded by the professional advertising industry.”

For more information, contact the C of O Admissions Office at 417-690-2636.

The College of the Ozarks Music Department will host a student music recital on February 22, at 4 p.m., in the Newman Recital Hall. The recital will include performances from student soloists and ensembles, instrumental and vocal.

“These recitals are a great way for students to gain experience in a professional setting,” says C of O music department student worker Andy Petry. “As the semester progresses audiences can expect the students involved in the concerts to grow and become better performers.”

Students will be allowed priority seating for the event, but any seats left open will be available to the public free of charge. For more information, please call the Music Department at (417) 690-2244.