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BY BOB LINDSEY

Normally our early November trip to Branson for the Ozark Mountain Christmas press weekend has warm weather and the fall foliage is still brilliant with color. Not this year, with temperatures in the 30s, Christmas seemed nearer than ever before— especially as we walked through the sparkling light displays of Silver Dollar City where, no matter what the weather, will get you into the holiday mood.

It’s amazing how every time we visit Branson there are new shows and some we haven’t seen before. Such was the case this year as all the theater venues were also new to us.

Noah, the Musical

The biggest and newest offering is the massive Sight and Sound Theatre, which is playing a non-Christmas production with Noah, the Musical through Dec. 15. Still the huge Christmas tree under one of three exterior domes let’s you know it’s the season.

Noah, the Musical is an interpretation of the Book of Genesis story of Noah and the flood. Obviously they take some liberties with the Biblical version for drama sake as we learn how Noah was told by God to prepare the Ark and gather the animals in twos for a future journey to save mankind from all the decadence in the world. But it’s the animals, both real and animatronic, that steal the show as Noah and his family set out to gather the flock after building the ark.

The six-story Sight and Sound theater has to be the largest indoor theater in the country (they have another one in Lancaster, PA., the original theater). The 40-foot-tall stage in the first act is much larger that the St. Louis Fox Theater, but it’s in the second act that it becomes apparent that there’s nothing like this anywhere.

The second act takes you inside the ark as the theater extends to surround the audience on three sides with stalls for the animals. There are live horses, llamas and camels intermixed with moving animatronic hippos, elephants, lions and other of God creatures they couldn’t actually get in life form on stage.

The music, written by commissioned composers, is not of the Andrew Lloyd Weber style that becomes entrenched in your brain. There is one very upbeat song, What do you do on a Rainy Day in the Ark sung by the women that’s catchy. The elaborate sets and costumes and amazing special effects are what give the theater its name, Sight and Sound.

For more information on Noah and future Biblical productions call 800-377-1277 or visit www.sight-sound.com.

Silver Dollar City

An Old Time Christmas runs at Silver Dollar City now through Dec. 30 (except Dec. 24 and 25) with new shows, old favorites, Christmas on Main Street and the Holiday Parade. This year, special energy saving ‘LED’ lights and all new wrapping for the 40-foot tall tree enhance the event. There are over than four million lights and 1,000 decorated trees, making the holiday season one of the ten best holiday events in the country.

We’ve seen Silver Dollar City’s version of A Dickens Christmas Carol twice before and each year it’s different and a little better as Ebenezer Scrooge changes his “bah-humbug” atitude after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. The entrances of flying ghosts and pyrotechnics makes the Dickens’ classic more special this year. There are Christmas shows throughout the City, the Living Nativity, the sing-along Christmas train, the Frontier Fa-la-la Follies and the Holiday Lights Parade that travels the streets twice nightly. One of our favorites, Cedric Benoit and the Cajun Connection Christmas show with a Louisiana touch, is back.

New this holiday season at Silver Dollar City is Frosty, an interactive musical for kids, and the Culinary & Craft School cooking up holiday and SDC favorite recipes in the new 3,000 square-foot timber frame building with a state-of-the-art kitchen. Beside the usual fare on the Silver Dollar City grounds, there are apple dumplings, hot chocolate and wassail and a Christmas dinner and all the trimmings.

For more information, tickets and Culinary & Craft classes call 800-831-FUN or visit www.silverdollarcity.com.

New this holiday season at Silver Dollar City is Frosty, an interactive musical for kids, and the Culinary & Craft School cooking up holiday and SDC favorite recipes in the new 3,000 square-foot timber frame building with a state-of-the-art kitchen. Beside the usual fare on the Silver Dollar City grounds, there are apple dumplings, hot chocolate and wassail and a Christmas dinner and all the trimmings with indoor seating.

For more information, tickets and Culinary & Craft classes call 800-831-FUN or visit www.silverdollarcity.com.

Christmas Shows

Branson, which boasts more theater seats than Manhattan, has dozens of holiday shows each season, most offering a regular show and a Christmas production in the same show. The sets always feature elaborate holiday decorations. We had the chance to see three Christmas shows this time: the Magnificent Seven, Dino and the 12 Irish Tenors.

The Magnificent Seven at the White House was a typical two-part Branson holiday show. The first half was the usual show, during which the talented cast takes you through the music of the last seven decades starting with the 1940s. Then the Christmas sets appear in the second half, which is a holiday show of traditional and religious music. Anyone who’s been to Branson this time of the year knows that all the Christmas shows also celebrate the Birth of Jesus and not just Jingle Bells.

Husband and wife Tamra Holden and Joe Tinoco and the others in the Magnificent Seven perform the seven-decade show year round. They even have their three-year-old involved in the production this year. Information: 877-487-2386 or www.bransonwhitehousetheatre.com.

Dino, the Greek pianist has been in Branson for the past 18 years, but this was the first time we saw his show at the Tri-Lakes Center. His Christmas on a Grand Scale plays now through Dec. 4 evenings except Wednesday and Sunday. During the Branson off-season, Dino and his wife Cheryl, who live in the Branson area year-round, take their show on the road a few weeks later.

Dino likes to tell the story of how he started playing on an old piano when he was only three years old. Today, he can plays the keys just much like Liberace did. Dino mixes Broadway and the classics with Christmas music concluding with an elaborate set for traditional Christmas carols. Again the message comes through loud and clear that most of Branson is all about the Birth and Life of Jesus Christ. Ticket information 417-336-0219 or www.trilakescenter.com.

Dino, who professes culinary talents, has recently opened at cakery in Hollister noted for his famous carrot cake. We didn’t have time to visit the cakery, but folks trying the carrot cake at intermission were raving about it.

The 12 Irish Tenors perform morning, afternoon and evening shows (different nights) at the Branson Variety Theater. The Christmas show mixes holiday songs and carols with a variety of musical fare. These talented guys—half of them Irish-Americans— don’t just sing Irish folk songs and lullabies. They are exceptional whether singing Danny Boy or songs by Elton John, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra or Queen. For tickets or schedules call 417-334-2500 or visit” www.bransonvarietytheater.com

I don’t know which show by wife Pat liked the best. She fell in love with 12 Irish Tenors last year when we saw the show, but she was always a Bobby Vinton fan. It was a thrill for her to see that despite his age (he has to be in his upper 60s). He still looks great and almost has that same teenage voice. Like many performers in Branson, Vinton is joined on stage with his four daughters, a son and grandchildren. His show is now at the Mansion Theater after years playing at the theater that once bore his name.

Vinton was in town this holiday season backed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the greatest Big Band of them all. Obviously, the musicians are not from the original band, but this group has the Glenn Miller sound down to perfection and Vinton plays right into it.

This is one of the few shows playing Branson during November that didn’t have any Christmas music, but it really didn’t need to with Vinton and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Branson’s Landing, now in its fourth year, is all dressed up for the holidays. The “Winter Wonder Landing” on the waterfront has many specialty shops, dining and nightclub entertainment, a beautiful 3-story Christmas Tree and a water and fire spectacular that dances to the sounds of the season in the Town Square. The Hilton Promenade Hotel is located right on the Landing for those who like the convenience of walking out their hotel door to all the action.

By spending an extra full-day in Branson this year, we had time to take another trip around the amazing Titantic and the Oscar-winning movie experience, visit the Hollywood Wax Museum with its many wonderful life-like and a drive through Festival of Lights at night. Of course all your holiday favorites are back with new Christmas shows this year including Andy Williams (he’s taking the ten months of next year off to complete his book), Shoji Tabuchi, Tony Orlando with the Lennon Sisters, magician Kirby VanBurch, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and the Showboat Branson Belle.

For more information on Branson activities call the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-214-3661 or visit www.explorebranson.com

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