American Kids Inc., the nation’s only little league of entertainers, is holding open auditions for the 2009 children’s cast of its patriotic musical Raising America at the Branson Mall Theatre on Jan. 31 (inclement weather date Feb. 7.

Registration, on site, opens at 12:30 p.m. in the theatre’s lobby. Singers, dancers, boys and girls, ages 8-18, are needed.

“The show has more than 25 appearances booked in Branson for 2009. This is a great opportunity for young people to share their talent gifts for the benefit of others as many of the shows are for the nation’s veterans,” said American Kids Inc. Founder Dr. Dale Smith, who along with his wife, Kathy, are rebuilding and managing the cast of singers and dancers. Brandi Ely, an alumna of American Kids Inc., will assist them.

Smith, a retired Air Force Major and a seasoned entertainer, created Raising America as an avenue for young people to develop a personal sense of patriotism and, through this exciting, fast-paced, original music show, share their talents with all types of audiences from veterans groups to mall shoppers.

“We teach patriotism and all that it entails honor, respect, loyalty, commitment, courage, self-discipline and faith,” Smith said. “After seeing a past stage show, a veteran of three tours of conflict came up to the cast and said, ‘You kids were worth all I’ve been through, I served for you.’ The stunned and grateful cast gathered in prayer backstage with an even deeper commitment to show their appreciation to those who have been in military service.”

For more information and pre-registration call Brenda Hoffstatter at the national office at 417-337-8964.

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The 27-year-old American Kids Inc. is the nation’s only ‘little league’ of entertainers celebrating what’s right about America promoting drug-free lifestyles, patriotism and community service. The group’s founder, Dr. Dale Smith, holds a doctorate in administration-education and masters in music education. Young people, ages 3 to high school seniors join American Kids just like adults join a civic club. In the program, they find a peer group all involved in making a difference in the world by using the performing arts as the vehicle. Competition is held on a local to state to national level. Shows range from fairs, festivals and theme parks on a national and international scale to the touring cast of Raising America, a patriotic musical. Members enjoy exposure, growth, character development and opportunity. Because of the experience gained from being on stage, members are better prepared for whatever they choose to do in life. Many members are performing on Broadway and on tour, with Disney and in Branson and Nashville: Kristin Chenoweth, Bryan White, Jarrod Neimann and Blake Shelton are alumni. The group is affiliated with Ed McMahon, Barbara Fairchild, Randy Earhart and Taco Mayo, Steve Weyher and Golden Corral.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1/26/09

BRANSON, MO. – Branson’s first and only Internet radio network, BRANSON WORLD RADIO, is pleased to announce the welcome addition of the Cromwell Radio Group to its growing list of air radio affiliates. With their main studios at WMCI(FM) in Mattoon, Illinois, Cromwell Radio is a group of 23 radio stations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and will be broadcasting “BWR Newsradio” to their listeners, as part of our national Branson vacation promotion.

“BWR Newsradio”, a locally produced News program, is a daily 5 minute feature on the events and happenings in Branson, and the Ozarks of S.W. Missouri AND N.W. Arkansas. The focus of “BWR Newsradio” is on the special shows, guest stars, area events and developments across the Ozarks. In addition to the hourly web casts on BRANSON WORLD RADIO, “BWR Newsradio” is broadcast on air radio stations in key market areas throughout the Midwest.

Rated as the #2 Hot Country Radio Station on the Internet, BRANSON WORLD RADIO is heard over the “Live365” Network. With thousands of stations and more than 4 million listeners a month, Live365 is the world’s largest Internet radio network. Live365 is a two-time winner of the Best Radio Website Award from the Web Marketing Association, a two-time winner of the People’s Voice award for Best Music Site at the Webby Awards (2001, 2002), a winner of the Webby’s People’s Voice Award for Best Radio Site (2004), and has received Best-of-Web designations from Forbes.com and the San Francisco Chronicle. Since 1999, BRANSON WORLD RADIO now serves air radio stations in more than 50 markets, and has established a loyal Internet fan base in 43 states and 33 countries around the world.

Find out more about this powerful marketing opportunity for the 2009 season by contacting us through the BWR website at www.bransonworldradio.com, Email at [email protected], or call us at (870) 743-1311.

Just as a reminder, we are beginning our monthly Partners in Education meetings this Wednesday, February 4th from 2:30 – 3:30 pm at the Taney County Airport. These meetings will be similar to the Partners in Progress, but we will be discussing upcoming education related issues.

Rob Dixon, Director, Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce, 417.334.3050

Baby it’s cold outside…
Looking for somewhere warm to spend a Sunday afternoon?

New for this season the Springfield Symphony is delighted to introduce a special Sunday Brunch Concert Series featuring the Springfield Symphony, conducted by Ron Spigelman, coupled with the famed Sunday Brunch at the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. Each concert will last approximately 1 hour and will include music from our Classics series as well as surprise works that can only be heard at these concerts!

The sumptuous Brunch is served buffet style in the elegantly rustic Dobyns Dining Room from 10:30am to 2:00pm and includes full breakfast selections (including personalized omelets and waffles), hand-cut fresh seasonal fruits, domestic and imported cheese, crudités’ and made to order Caesar salads along with original seafood creations, southern fried chicken and carved award-winning College of the Ozarks smoked ham. The concert begins at 2:15pm and is in the auditorium right next door.

Tickets are available for the brunch and concert combined or just the concert alone. So in keeping with our season’s theme we invite you to come and spend a Sunday with the Symphony and enjoy what promises to be a true feast for the senses!

Sunday February 15, 2009
Featuring Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue

Sunday March 15, 2009
Music by Respighi and Mozart

Brunch and Concert – $40
Concert only – $15

For tickets – please contact the Symphony Office at
(417) 864-6683

March Schwartz—a Steelers aficionado and Carol Sanders—a Cardinals buff, have placed a bet on the most important day of their life- their wedding day. Winner pays all expenses for wedding costs and wedding dress.

This Super Bowl season, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will definitely raise some interesting bets. But none of these bets can compare to the one made between March Schwartz, a Steelers fan, and his wife to-be Carol Sanders, a Cardinals fan, both residents of Lake Havasu City.
So what’s at stake for Schwartz and Sanders ell, the cost of their wedding!

The wedding is planned to take place in Catalina Beach, Long Beach in early April. The lavish event is a ways from home and the travel cost are not lost on the happy couple. Their plan to battle the high costs is sure to make the winner one happy but very poor man. Schwartz is certain the Steelers will win; he is just sorry the outcome has to be against the Cardinals.

“I’m a big Cardinals fan,” he said. “I live in Arizona, and it would not kill me to see the Cardinals win, but once a Steeler, always a Steeler.”

He said. “Carol has a small quote: Growing up in Arizona, we’ve been starving for this.”

“I’m happy for Cardinals’ fans, having grown up in Pittsburgh and attending two Super Bowls, I know the feeling of excitement Cards fans are feeling for the first time and the pride a Super Bowl champion can bring to a city and state. I want Cardinal fans to experience that feeling, just not today.”

Schwartz became a Cardinals fan with the help of his fiancé, Sanders. But his appreciation for the team many be short lived as he’s made it clear he has no vexed loyalties. Even though he wore a Cardinals Jersey over a Steelers one for the NFC Championship in Phoenix a few weeks ago, when ot comes down to choosing sides, Swartz in a Steelers man all the way.
“Although my body resides in Havasu, my heart still lives in Pittsburgh.” He Said.

Tonight the couple will be attending a Super Bowl Party at their friend’s house. At the party Schwartz will probably be the only Steelers fan in the room. He said that he will sit in harm’s way just in case fists might fly. He is predicting a 40-10 blowout, in favor of his Steelers, but out of kindness, he is giving his fiancée the seven-point spread odds-makers in Las Vegas are predicting.

Schwartz and Sanders are both well employed. Schwartz works for Fedex and Sanders is a realtor at Above All Realty in Lake Havasu City. Nevertheless, the weddings costs are not something they take lightly. Though times are bad economically, they are are still interested in a big family wedding, though Sanders has her doubts on how they will they pay for their wedding. They idea for this bet came after both their favorite teams won the league championship.
This could look odd to people on the outside looking in but to this couple it’s only natural.
“I believe timing is everything,” Schwartz said. “It just happened because the circumstances dictated it. We met at a Super Bowl party two years ago, so it just seemed logical.”

Schwartz is not new to gambling as he is a big poker fan and player. He even attended the World Series of Poker in 2006. He is going to use his poker skills to predict the smartest bet, the Steelers.

Schwartz and Sanders might look as if they are against each other, but really are both taking this risk for the greater good, Love. Win or lose, this couple is going for the real prize of eternal marriage.