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.

College of the Ozarks Keeter Center Culinary Team Members Win “Best” at Chocolate Competition

C of O Keeter Center Kitchen Supervisors Nancy Frew and Chris Freeman received first place awards at the “Art and Romance of Chocolate” show and competition. The event was held at the Brick City Gallery in Springfield, Missouri, on January 22, 2012, and was sponsored by the Friends of the Springfield Art Museum.

Participants representing 18 different restaurants, candy shoppes and bakeries competed in six different categories. College of the Ozarks won first place in two out of the six categories. Frew won the “Best Dessert” award for her Chocolate Coconut Butter Cake, often found on the dessert buffet at Dobyns Dining Room’s sunday brunch.

“This is the second year in a row the Dobyns Culinary Team has won the “Best Dessert” award in this competition,” says Executive Chef Robert Stricklin. In addition, Freeman sculpted a two-foot tall replica of the Eiffel Tower using Barry Callebaut semi-sweet Belgian chocolate. The original edible art, made completely from chocolate and for show, won the award for “Best Chocolate Showpiece.”

Chef Stricklin also recruited three culinary arts majors as volunteers to assist with The Keeter Center display. They served 200 guests, who enjoyed chocolate-themed treats. Students Hannah Burke from Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Eva Creech from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Alyssa Long from Mt. Vernon, Missouri, served a steady stream of guests.

“The show and competition, which served as a great opportunity to promote The Keeter Center as a dining destination, gave the culinary team members the opportunity to sharpen their skills through competition,” says Chef Stricklin. “It also gave students the opportunity to learn skills in catering, special event operations and guest service.”

For more information, call Associate Professor of Hotel and Restaurant Management Jerry Shackette at (417) 690-2119 or e-mail [email protected].

Student’s Dream To Be An Author Becomes Reality

Veteran John Primerano with Cailin Casey during Pariotic Education Trip to France, Belgium and Germany.

Senior Cailin Casey says that she has always wanted be an author of fiction books. These days, she says all she wants to write about are real heroes. Last spring, Casey and 16 other College of the Ozarks students accompanied six WWII Veterans to battle sites in Europe as part of the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program, which is designed so that students learn about history and sacrifice from the men and women who lived it. During the trip she became inspired, so much, that upon her return, she wrote a short book about stories the Veterans shared with her.

The book, Twice as Brave, is a collection of the true stories of six WWII Veterans, Andy Anderson (5th Engineers Special Brigade), Bill Kamsler (102nd Infantry Division), Ned Knapp (75th Infantry Division), John Primerano (101st Airborne), Lou Rabesa (Army Air Force), and Bryan Sperry (75th Infantry Division).

EXCERPT (Casey, page 1): “Below John Primerano’s dangling boots were 450 feet of nothing but air. All the guys had told him, ‘You don’t want to get hung up in the trees.’ The distance between his feet and those tall poplars was becoming steadily shorter. Before the jump, he couldn’t pass up the treat of a whole tin of peaches and sat with his buddies beneath the wing of the plane and ate every bite. Those peaches were more appetizing going down than coming back up all over his jumpsuit. Still it seemed he was headed right for those trees. In moments, he was sure his chute would be caught in them and he would be stuck like a feather in a barbed wire fence.”

Individuals interested in obtaining a copy of the book may purchase one for $9.99 at The Keeter Center Gift Shop at College of the Ozarks (417) 690-2110. Casey is donating all of the proceeds to the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program. On May 12, from 1-3 p.m., the College plans to host a book signing event for Casey at The Keeter Center. Book clubs or other groups may request her to share about Twice as Brave at one of their meetings by calling (417) 690-2276.

Twice as Brave may be small (less than 50 pages), but is the beginning of something much bigger for Casey. One of the Veterans John Primerano, whom she accompanied on the trip, asked Casey if she would write his biography. She accepted his offer and will begin writing his memoir this summer, after she graduates from College of the Ozarks. “I always thought I would write fiction,” Casey said, “but sometimes truth is more fascinating than fiction.”

College of the Ozarks to Sponsor Blood Drive
By: Chelsea Kliethermes

On Thursday, February 16, 2012, the Bonner Community Service Program at College of the Ozarks will sponsor a blood drive for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. The blood drive is from noon to 6 p.m., in the Keeter Gymnasium.

Each donor will receive a free t-shirt for his/her contribution. Every donation has the potential to make a difference in someone’s life.

For more information, please contact the C of O Bonner Community Service Program at 417-690-3450 or e-mail Director of Bonner Program Nancy Finn at [email protected]

The Mansion Theatre will play host to America’s most beloved comedian, Bill Cosby, for one night only, on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 8 pm. Bill Cosby has captivated generations of fans with his comedy routines, iconic albums, best-selling books such as “Fatherhood” and groundbreaking television like “The Cosby Show.” His comedy transcends age, gender and cultural barriers.

Cosby broke television’s racial barrier with I Spy, becoming the first African American to costar on a television series while winning three consecutive Emmys. He created and produced the Emmy-winning cartoon Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which began airing in the 1970’s and was made into a film in 2004. The show, based on Cosby’s childhood in Philadelphia, was designed to educate and entertain.

The former Navy serviceman’s illustrious list of accomplishments includes roles on the children’s educational show Electric Company and creating and producing the Emmy award winning Little Bill, which is based on his bestselling book series.

Perhaps Cosby’s greatest contribution to American entertainment and culture is The Cosby Show, about a close-knit, upper class black family. Cosby said his intent was to portray an American family. Time magazine called the show “an encouraging sign of maturity in matters of race.” The Cosby Show dominated the No. 1 spot for years, earning nearly unanimous critical praise. Life magazine described the program as “a gentle, whimsical, warmhearted” show whose “delicious ordinariness of its pleasures and tribulations has given millions a fresh, laughter-splashed perspective on their own domestic lives.”

Bill Cosby’s next book, I Didn’t Ask to Be Born, But I’m Glad I Was, was released by the Hachette Book Group on November 1, 2011 and a New York Times best seller. Cosby talks about the Bible, being a grandfather and his first love in his humorous and insightful manner.

Cosby has received the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (America’s highest civilian honor), “The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor” and the “Marian Anderson Award.”

Cosby’s been busy raising a family, too. He married the former Camille Hanks on January 25, 1964, while she was still a student at the University of Maryland. They raised four daughters (Erika, Erinn, Ensa and Evin) and one son (Ennis) and now have three grandchildren. The family resides in New England.

For detailed ticket information, please call (866) 707-4100 or (417) 239-1333.

Legends in Concert is excited to announce that they will open their 2012 season at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater with a new state-of-the-art stage set! The set was created by All Access Inc., a set construction company specializing in staging for touring, film & television, and special events such as movie premiers, festivals and even the Super Bowl Half-Time Show. Recently used at Madison Square Gardens during a performance by Latin Grammy Award-winning Brazilian singer/songwriter Ivete Sangalo, the set was intended to be taken on tour. However, shortly following the Madison Square Gardens performance, Sagalo canceled her tour, and thus the set was available for purchase.
Now filling the stage at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, this state-of-the-art set will give Legends in Concert a fresh look for 2012. “The energy of the show will truly be enhanced by this set. It is unlike anything I have ever seen in Branson. This will take our production to a whole new level”, says Jeannie Horton, General Manager for Legends in Concert. Legends in Concert opens on February 9th for the 2012 season and will perform shows through December 31st, 2012. Be the first to see the Legends in Concert show unlike you have EVER seen it before!

Show times are 3 & 8 p.m. For more information, call 417-335-STAR or visit www.legendsinconcert.com

PRESS RELEASE
(IMMEDIATE)

January 31, 2012

Hollister MO, On Wednesday February 1st and possibly Thursday February 2nd Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Inc. will be conducting routine maintenance on gas lines. This maintenance may create an odor. Citizens should not be alarmed as this should be minimal. Please direct concerns or comments to Hollister City Hall, 417-334-3262.

BRANSON, MO – Over 25 different countries will be represented in Branson at the 2012 See The World in Branson Music Fest. This 1st annual event will be held at the Welk Resort April 25 – 26, 2012 and will provide a sampling of the internationally flavored entertainment that is found in Branson.

Attendees will have the opportunity to stroll through booths in the Marketplace tent, each representing Countries from around the World. Experience the costumes, history and culture as well as participate in games, prizes and autograph sessions.

The highlight of this two-day festival is the Music Showcase. Close to 20 different Branson shows will take the stage each day at 2PM in the Welk Theatre lending the audience to the greatest exposure of non-stop, back-to-back, entertainment on a Branson stage.

See The World In Branson is an area wide festival highlighting the vast amount of Internationally inspired entertainment, attractions, and cuisine available to visitors in the Branson area. See The World In Branson is held annually during the months of April and May. It is one of the special events featured during our Ozark Mountain Spring.

Admission to the Marketplace Tent is free. Tickets to See The World Music Fest can be made by contacting a Branson Receptive or by calling the Welk Resort at 800-808-9355.