Tuesday, April 21st is opening day for the 2009 season at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre. Bill Haley’s Original Comets perform at 2pm. Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley, featuring McKenna Medley, will be sharing the stage with Paul Revere and the Raiders at 7pm.

Area appreciation shows begin Tuesday, April 21st and run through April 30th. “Rock Around the Clock” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll” down a musical memory lane with the Comets, the group that started it all. Then have dinner at the Moon River Grill and come back for more great music with Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Bill Medley with songs like “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling, “Unchained Melody” and “I’ve Had the Time of my Life”. The crazy comedy of Paul Revere and the Raiders will keep you laughing. And their hits “Kicks” and “Indian Reservation” will keep you reminiscing.

You don’t want to miss all the fun this season at the Moon River Theatre

Moon River Theatre Presents
Righteous Brother Bill Medley
And Paul Revere and The Raiders

Area appreciation shows April 21-30 for those who work or live in counties of Stone, Taney, Greene, Christian, Barry, Ozark, Boone or Carroll. Tickets for Righteoous Brother Bill Medley and Paul Revere and the Raiders are $10 each (7 p.m. show)
Walk ups only the day of the show. No phone calls please

Andy Williams Moon River Theatre
Before or after the show, visit Moon River Grill for dinner, dessert and refreshments. For dinner reservations 417-337-9539

Righteous Brother Bill MedleyAnd Paul Revere and The Raiders

Andy Williams Moon River Theatre

Area appreciation shows April 21-30 for those who work or live in counties of Stone, Taney, Greene, Christian, Barry, Ozark, Boone or Carroll. Tickets for Righteous Brother Bill Medley and Paul Revere and the Raiders are $10 each (7 p.m. show).

Walk ups only the day of the show. No phone calls please.

Before or after the show, visit Moon River Grill for dinner, dessert and refreshments. For dinner reservations 417-337-9539

The Community is invited to see a free showing of the 2008 hit film Fireproof on Friday, April 17th at 7PM at Branson United Methodist.
====
The following description is from the DVD case:

Inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives the old firefighter’s adage: Never Leave Your Partner Behind. In hte cooling embers of his marriage, it’s another story. As he and his wife prepare to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb’s dad asks his son to try an experiment: The Love Dare. But is it too late to fireproof his marriage?

His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb must face his toughest job ever… rescuing his wife’s heart.
====
Childcare will be provided by certified providers.

Coffee, tea & other snacks will be served afterward.

There will be giveaway copies of the Love Dare book from the film, DVD copies of the film and more.

Please join us for this FAMILY event; bring your teens, children, etc. and have a night out as a family on us!

Contact the church office at 417.334.3423 to reserve your seats!

The team at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen announces a grand opening event on Monday, April 20 at the new Luigi’s restaurant, located at 3452 W. 76 Country Boulevard in Branson, next to the Dutton Family Theatre, across from White Water and Mickey Gilley’s.  Community members are encouraged to come see the new location and enjoy a complimentary slice of pizza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Luigi’s on the 76 Strip will be giving away free slices of pizza Monday afternoon (one per person) with no purchase necessary. Additionally, from 3 p.m. until closing time, Luigi’s is offering large specialty (classic or gourmet) pizzas for 50 percent off.  These specials cannot be combined with other offers, discounts or coupons and are available at the 76 Strip location for dine-in or carryout orders only.

It might seem strange that a local, independent restaurant owner would give food away and cut his prices in half during what many consider to be harsh economic times.  Chris Jordan, owner of Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen in Branson and Nixa, has a philosophy of his own.

“Above all else, we are enthusiastic, positive and grateful. We’re excited about our new location because it’s going to open so many more doors for us, and we know that we wouldn’t have been able to do this without the support of the community at large. The locals keep us in business and give us the opportunity to grow and expand.  This is our way of celebrating a new beginning, saying thanks to the community that has supported us for more than 10 years, and introducing ourselves to people who may not know about us yet,” Jordan said.

Branson’s River Run Outfitters is celebrating their 10th Anniversary on Saturday April 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at their store located at 2626 State Highway 165 just north of the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery. In its ten year history River Run Outfitters won the national “Orvis Outfitter of the Year Award” in 2006 and the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce “Small Business of the Year Award” in 2007.

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, a free lunch of hot dogs and brats, cooked by “Frick and Frack,” will be served from 11:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. In addition there will be hourly drawings for prizes, casting clinics, and games.

Representatives from Winston, Sage, Orvis, and TFO rods will be on hand to answer questions. River Run’s guides will be available to give advice on fly tying and fly fishing for trout in Lake Taneycomo.

For additional information please call River Run Outfitters at 417- 332-0460

Raise your flags high as Branson honors Purple Heart Recipients April 24th & 25th.

This event is for those who were wounded in combat. Lets see flags flying high all over our city showing how much we appreciate those who gave so much!

Kids of all ages are invited to Kids Rock, an outdoor festival of live music, food, sports competitions, video games and much more from 2:00p.m. to midnight, Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Area 57, next to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater in Branson. Presented by the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks to benefit the Club’s after-school and summer programs, Kids Rock will include musical performances by American Kids, Rock U Mentally, Retro, Mile Zero and the Thundering Red Rockets.

The festival will also feature Guitar Hero® Showdowns, 3-on-3 Streetball Tournaments and Ping Pong Championships for both youths and adults. Children will enjoy inflatable fun, the rock climbing wall and the Pit-Stop Challenge. Works of art by Boys & Girls Club members will be judged and on display. The first, second and third place winners in each category will have an opportunity to advance to the National Boys & Girls Clubs of America Fine Arts contest.

Tickets to Kids Rock are available for $10 per person at any Boys & Girls Club or Country Mart location or at the gate on the day of the event. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. For more information, contact Natalie Snyder at 417.335.2089 x 230 or visit the Club’s website at www.bgcozarks.org.

About the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks
In 2008, the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks served more than 1,250 school-age youth through after-school, summer and outreach programs at its three locations. In addition to quality programs and activities, Boys & Girls Club members can receive a nutritious meal or snack, academic assistance and age-appropriate personal growth opportunities for only $25 per school year.

# # #
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks or the Kids Rock event, please contact Autumn Page at 417.335.2089 x 225 or 417.496.9404.

The Voice of Branson Allen Edwards is the next guest on the Gene Williams Country Music TV Show that is taped live in Branson, Mo., telecast nationwide to more than 100 markets and can also be seen in Canada.
“My friend Allen Edwards is known as the voice of Branson. He is a former Houston law enforcement officer and now in his 15th season in Branson. Allen headlines breakfast, lunch, and dinner shows at the World’s Largest Golden Corral, in his own dining showroom. His is a great talent,” said Gene Williams, the star and creator of the Telly Award-winning show that was taped live at the 50’s at the Hop Theatre at the Shoppes at Branson Meadows.

The TV show with Edwards will be telecast April 18 and 19.

Williams will be taking a short break from the hectic schedule he has had for eight years in Branson due to health problems. A hiatus from taping his live show to help fix the problem has been recommended. The Gene Williams Country Music TV Show will continue to be aired in Springfield, Branson, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Ark., Nashville, St. Louis, Decatur, Ill., Ada and Ardmore, Okla., Sherman/Denison, Texas, plus on RTN which is over 100 stations including 11 of the top 30 markets in the nation.

Williams began his country music television show in Arkansas almost 50 years ago and for the past eight years has taped the show in Branson live before a studio audience. Guests have included Ed McMahon, Mickey Gilley, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, Johnny Lee, Barbara Fairchild, Sons of the Pioneers, the Osmonds, Johnny Cash’s band The Tennessee Three, the Blackwood Brothers, Helen Cornelius, Leona Williams, Charlie Louvin, Mary Lou Turner, Cal Smith, Stonewall Jackson, Norma Jean, “Diamond” Dave Somerville, Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, Jim Owen, Buck Trent and Wanda Jackson.

Williams’ co-host Katie Lynn has received the Branson Entertainment Awards Best Support Vocalist twice for her work in the “Mickey Gilley Show.” She has worked with Gilley for more than eight years and also worked with Jim Owen for seven years. In addition to her singing career, she is a real estate agent. She and the guest stars perform weekly on the television show with the Country Junction Band.

On Saturday, April 11, from 7:00am to 7:00pm, the Branson Veterans Task Force will honor the Persian Gulf War veterans at the Factory Merchants Mall (Red Roof Mall) in Branson, MO.

Opening with a continental breakfast from 7:00am-8:00am, the day-long event features hourly (on-the-hour) prayer by local members of the clergy followed by a Moment of Silence to honor those who served in that war.

“We invite people to stop by and help us honor these young veterans,” said Tom Goldsworthy, chairman of the event. “The local clergy have generously volunteered their time to lead us in prayer and we hope to have a group of people in attendance each hour.”

Located next to Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, displays will include the Battlefield Cross and a Missing Man Table. The Missouri Veterans Commission will host a booth to answer questions regarding veteran benefits and issues.

The Branson Veterans Task Force hosts veteran events throughout the year. For more information, visit www.bransonveterans.com or call 417.337.8387.