Legends in Concert, The World’s Greatest Live Tribute Show, at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, announces area appreciation to our friends and families who live or work in Stone or Taney County. Tickets will be $5.00 plus tax on February 24 for the 8 p.m. show and February 25 & 26th for both the 3 & 8 p.m. shows. Come see Shania Twain, Marilyn Monroe, Barry White, The Blues Brothers and Elvis in one incredible theatrical production including the Legends in Concert band and fabulous singers and dancers.
The charisma of two locally known talents, Bucky Heard and Justin Clark, combine for a high-energy, highly entertaining Blues Brothers performance. They are mainstays at the Legends in Concert show along with Elvis Presley. Portrayed by Dean Z, this act is sure to bring you a rock-a-billy good time! Experience the soul and funk of bass vocalist Barry White; let the “First Lady of Country Music”, Shania Twain, capture your heart with her award-winning ballads; and watch the sultry comedy and alluring mannerisms of the super starlet Marilyn Monroe come to life – all in ONE SHOW at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater.
Don’t miss this spectacular spring line-up during our area appreciation on February 24, 25 & 26th! Proof of residency or employment required at time of purchase. Tickets available day of show only and can be purchased at the Legends Box Office.

For more information, call 417-339-3003 or visit www.legendsinconcert.com.

Area young people across Stone and Taney County are invited to a special Town Hall Meeting just for youth. “Ozark Mountain Country’s Youth are our area’s future leaders and we as a community want to encourage our youth to “Champion the Charge” for a better tomorrow,” said Jory Rolf, Ozark Mountain Legacy Director.

“Our goal is to listen to our area youth and equip and empower our future generation to lead toward a positive and preferred future,” Rolf said. The Legacy Youth Initiative Catalyst Team will host this special evening for area youth to participate in round-table discussions, answer questions and share their views on various issues facing our community, our youth culture and our future.

“We want to hear the input on life in the Ozarks, as young people see it,” said Dr. Sue Head, College of the Ozarks Keeter Center for Character Education. “We want to partner with our youth to help them see how they can truly make a difference in Ozark Mountain Country.”

Leaders and youth influencers from various sectors throughout our community will also be on hand to listen, encourage and help facilitate this important community conversation.

This special Youth Town Hall Meeting will be held February 23rd, 6-7:30pm, at the Branson Community Center on Compton Drive. A follow up meeting on March 1st is planned to share the survey results of this meeting with attendees and our community.

The Legacy Youth Catalyst Team is also partnering with community leaders and youth influencers to offer the Legacy Youth Leadership Institute for outstanding area youth, beginning this spring.

For more information about the Legacy Youth Initiative or to RSVP an area youth to participate, please call or text 417/598-1314 or email [email protected].

The Branson chapter of the Missouri Employer Committee (MEC), along with the Missouri Career Center and the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, will host a job fair at the Branson Convention Center, 200 Sycamore St., on Saturday, March 10th 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

More than 40 area employers will be on site to meet with prospective employees. In recent years approximately 800 job seekers have attended the annual fair now in its 20th year. Job fair attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes and work histories with them to the event. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

For more information contact the Branson Career Center at 417-334-4156.

Ozark Murder Mysteries will present “Marriage Is Murder” for the 2012 Spring season!

Branson’s most unique dinner show, Ozark Murder Mysteries, will be opening a brand new show entitled “Marriage Is Murder” for the Spring of 2012 in their new home at the Branson Central Theatre at 625 Hwy 165 in Branson, MO.

Since the day they made the honeymoon reservation, everyone at the Lakeside Bed & Breakfast has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Hollywood newlyweds, Stanley and Jolene Pitt. When the day finally dawns, the lovable innkeeper, Pat Daniels, does everything in her power to make sure the blockbuster stars have a fun, relaxing evening. Things don’t go as planned, however, when chaos breaks out and someone mysteriously dies! Frightened of the bad publicity, Pat calls in her old friend and novelist, Angela Fletcher, to help figure out ‘whodunnit’ before the tabloids get a hold of the story. There is an array of suspects as Angela nitpicks her way to a solution, but not without a little help from the audience.

“Marriage Is Murder” was written, directed, and produced by the criminally clever Fred Athay and features the top notch talents of several local actors including Liarra Bartlett, Robert Montgomery, Helena Lee, Pamela McCord, Tim Adkins, Jessica Nordberg, Joe Martin, Ray Jones, Jim and Colleen Ellis, and Kerry and Karen Richardson

Long time cast member, Joe Martin, boasts, “I am proud to be a part of this new show. To miss it would be a crime!” Colleen Ellis, the newest addition to Ozark Murder Mysteries exclaims, “I am excited about being a part of Ozark Murder Mysteries this year and about making my debut in Marriage Is Murder. I truly believe that this is the best thing Ozark Murder Mysteries has presented yet.”

“Marriage Is Murder” is now playing and will continue to run through May 27. Ozark Murder Mysteries will debut another brand new show in the Summer entitled, “Murder at the Hop!,” a fifties inspired murder mystery musical.

Tickets and more information can be obtained by calling the box office at 1.800.678.6179 or at the official Ozark Murder Mysteries website at www.killerflea.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ozarkmysteries.

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.