The amazing Cathy Rigby flies through the audience in Peter Pan at The Mansion theater in Branson.

By Bob Lindsey

After we went to the lobby following both the Nathan Burton and Terry Fator shows, it struck me how  more and more shows and attractions found in both Las Vegas and Branson  are similar.

There was Burton at the Flamingo  and Factor at the Mirage  meeting the audience, signing autographs and having videos available for sale. I thought for a moment I was in Branson. Some of the Las Vegas shows are now saluting the veterans in the audience.

Thus it seems like a good time to look, at some of similarities between these two entertainment giants.

Singing Impersonators

The Legends has several troupes with a variety of impersonators that rotate between Branson and Las Vegas with troupes that also play some other cities.

We recently saw the Branson show featuring Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline, Stevie Wonders and those delightful Blues Brothers, plus Elvis in his younger years.  Like previous Legends shows they were all featured the showmanship and voices of the originals. (www.legendsinconcert.com)

Rat Pack impersonators featuring Frank, Dean, Joey and Sammy play both cities. Both have MoTown revues and Branson offers The Eagles, John Denver and Neil Diamond tribute shows.

Family friendly magic shows like Lance Burton and Nathan Burton (no relationship) play Vegas, while Kirby  Van Burch and Hamner Barber are in Branson. The never aging Van Burch  ( now without Bambi Burch whose gone on her own)  astonishes audiences with his disappearing acts where humans are replaced with live tigers, assistants are cut in half yet still moving, and a helicopter appears in 3 seconds flat.

At the Hamner Barber Variety Show show, exotic birds instead of tigers appear and fly over the audience. Barber also provides the vocals and is one of the more unique ventriloquists with his changing places with the dummy act. (www.hamnerbarber.com)

Tony Romeo, a protegee of Siegfield and Roy, played Branson for a few years.  The famous lion-tamers were in the audience one night when we saw the talented singing-magician Tony Romeo in Branson.  Penn and Teller at the Rio are strictly Las Vegas in style.

Many entertainers have played both cities including Andy Williams, Wayne Newton, Tony Orlando and the Osmonds.   Donny and Marie are  playing the Flamingo showroom in Vegas at various times this year, while the Osmond Brothers are back in Branson doing their Christmas show.

There are several country and western shows (more in Branson), comedians (more risqué in Vegas), Divas singing groups and rock shows in both cities.  Both cities have outstanding Beatles productions, but George Harrison’s sister produces the outstanding Liverpool Legends in Branson. She is usually present after the show to tell her own personal stories about the Fab Four.

Elvis is still king in Vegas with several good impersonators, but Tony Roi’s Elvis Experience can hold his own with the best of them. Next year, the Elvis Cirque de Soleil will open at the new  $9 billion City Center. The new version of Cirque de Soleil will be among a half-dozen of these shows in Vegas.

Branson also has more family musical/variety show, while Vegas has more Broadway shows that play for long engagement such as Jersey Boys, Lion King, and Phantom . While Jersey Boys has its own theater at the new Palazzo Hotel featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Branson now has the music of Neil Sedaka in Breaking Up is Hard to Do.

Peter Pan Comes to Branson

Branson has opened  Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby who has played the role longer than anyone with over 3,000 and can she can still sing, use her gymnastic skills in the show and of course, fly like Peter Pan.  At age 59, it’s hard to believe her athleticism as she maneuvers round the stage at the stunning Mansion Theater with the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and other pirates and her friends Wendy and her Darling brothers.

Rigby is involved in every aspect of the show, from the special scenery to the choreography, catapulting on stage like she was still a World-Class gymnast. Peter Pan will continue through Dec. 12 and plans call for the show to be back in the Spring.

Rigby hopes bring a Broadway-style show to Branson will pave the way for more high-concept musical theater there.

Rock ‘n Roll Originals

On any particular day, you can find some of the early R&B and rock original performers in both cities such as the Platters and Bill Medley with Paul Revere and the Raiders in Branson.

Nightlife and the clubs are a mainstay in Vegas, while still in their infancy in Branson. Branson’s Landing has a few clubs similar to what you would find in St. Louis, The Landing has recently add the Branson Landing Winery with wines, cheese, soup,  salad  and sandwiches.

There are some attractions in Branson that will likely never be in Las Vegas and vice-versa.  The gigantic Sights and Sounds Theater with the wrap-around stage is larger than any hotel-casino theater. The musicals at Sight and Sound Theater are strictly Christian from Noah the Musical which just completed a long run in Branson to The Miracle of Christmas that is on stage until Dec. 19.

Christmas shows are obviously bigger in Branson and they all deliver the message of the season. Daytime and  morning shows are throughout Branson, while Vegas has a few family-friendly afternoon shows.

Special Attractions

Las Vegas has the new Madame Tussauds, while Branson has a smaller, but just as realistic, Hollywood Wax Museum.

Las Vegas just added a Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibition at the Luxor complete with hundreds of recovered items from the ship, a 25-ton section of the starboard hull and a replica of the Grand Staircase, just like the one in Branson. The Luxor exhibition is inside the casino/hotel, while Branson’s Titanic is a half-size replica of the ship that sites on Highway 76 and contains hundreds of relics.

And of course, there’s nothing like Silver Dollar City anywhere.  This is perhaps the most authentic amusement park in the country and the staff and craftsmen are the real daal.  Vegas does has a roller coaster at New York, New York and a swing that dangle 1,000 over the side of the rooftop at Stratosphere.

Overall, while there are more similarities, there are still several  distinct differences in the two cities.

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