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Enjoy Summer Even More at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky

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Here’s an interesting interview with Bill Minihan from Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Bill talks about the shows that are being put on at Badgett Playhouse. Every show being put on this summer is an absolute winner and I guarantee you’ll have the time of your life.

After watching the video, check out Grand Rivers Variety for upcoming shows and specials. Also, click HERE for my review of Red, White, and Tuna – an absolutely side-splitting and hilarious show who’s time is running out! Catch these zany and colorful characters while you have a chance. Unless, of course, two hours of laughter and fun doesn’t appeal to you…

Filed Under: Entertainment, Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety, Summertime in Kentucky Tagged With:

Kentucky State Fair: They’re Going ALL Out this Year!

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Kentucky State Fair 2011

The Kentucky State Fair, a tradition since 1902, is merely days away. The 2011 Kentucky State Fair will run from Thursday, August 18 to Sunday, August 28. I couldn’t possibly go into all of the different attractions, performances, shows, rides, food, and exhibits, so I’ll just hit on a couple and leave you with links to more information. After all, it took the Kentucky State Fair an entire website to cover everything, it’d be crazy for me to attempt it within one post!

One of the exhibits is called Main Street Kentucky and sounds like something every Kentuckian would really enjoy:

Housed inside the air-conditioned South Wing, Main Street Kentucky offers exhibits that represent the cultural heritage and diversity of the Bluegrass State. The exhibit’s creative displays provide numerous hands-on activities for fair-goers of all ages and interests. Main Street Kentucky’s exhibitors offer information on anything from education and government to the environment and arts. – Ky State Fair.org

Free Concerts at the Kentucky State Fair 2011:

  • The Oak Ridge Boys with The Grascals
  • Ted Nugent
  • Joe Nichols with special guest Phil Vassar
  • Boyz II Men
  • Candlebox with Cowboy Mouth
  • John Michael Montgomery with special guest Lorrie Morgan
  • Luke Bryan
  • And more!

Main Stage Concerts:

(Tickets for the Kentucky State Fair Main Stage Series events will be available at Kentucky Exposition Center Ticket Office, KFC YUM! Center Ticket Office, Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) Ticket Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.)

  • Jason Aldean with Chris Young and Thompson Square
  • Lady Antebellum with Lee Brice
  • Def Leppard with Heart
  • Maroon 5 and Train with Matt Nathanson

Civil War Buffs, You’re Going to Love This:

Visitors will be able to watch a Civil War re-enactment as  a tribute to the 150th anniversary of the war. The exhibit is titled “United We Stand, Divided We Fall: Kentucky and the Civil War + 150,” and will include a 10,000-square-foot exhibition featuring encampments as settings for living history re-enactors.

Other features will include touch-screen interactive stations, a communication exhibit outlining major advances such as the development of the telegraph and a floor map that is 32 feet wide and contains graphics and images of state-specific Civil War scenes and sites.

What’s more, an original mini-musical, “Kentucky’s Civil War Song: From Reveille to Tattoo,” will be performed on an adjacent stage. The production was written and produced by faculty, alumni and students of Louisville’s Youth Performing Arts School.

For more information, head over to the colorful and fun Kentucky State Fair website.  You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Filed Under: Country Music, Entertainment, Events, Kentucky's History, Louisville, Summertime in Kentucky Tagged With: ,

Red, White, and Tuna: You’ll Laugh Until You Cry and That’s a Promise

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Red White and Tuna Grand Rivers Variety

I sat at my computer (much needed coffee cup to the left, much beloved cat to the right) for about 10 minutes this morning trying to think of an appropriate opening sentence for this review.  You see, I’m impossibly obsessed with the Greater Tuna shows at Grand Rivers Variety.  And this isn’t just any review, this is a Tuna Review. Everything has to be just right!

Here’s the thing. One of my most defining characteristics is this: I love to laugh – the more the better.  Got it from my dad. He was incredibly generous with laughs and I’m not the least bit stingy with mine.  Naturally, a lifelong lover of laugher is drawn to things that make them burst out with CRAZY laughter – the kind that makes everything in the world disappear.  Everything except the raining endorphins brought on by laughter.

The Greater Tuna shows put on at Grand Rivers Variety don’t just rain laughter, they cause floods.  It may not have been on the news, but there was a flood in Grand Rivers last night. Fortunately, we were all washed away by “feel good” endorphins as opposed to “get wet” water.

The boys (Bill Minihan and Steve Sherling) were all over their game last night.  These two incredibly talented and hilarious actors could hold their own with anyone – Steve Carell, Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr., Dane Cook… In fact, and this is no lie – as much as I love this list of comic actors (each are personal favorites), I had just as soon see a Greater Tuna show in Grand Rivers as one of their movies.  I’m not sure how we, as Kentuckians, got such a lucky draw. These guys could be in Hollywood right now, in movies or on tv, making millions do the CRAZY laugh – as opposed to working their mojo in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky.

We got VERY lucky.

Even though it was a Wednesday, the crowd last night was really good.  I was afraid that the middle of the week would cause a problem, but apparently I’m not the only one who loves to laugh.  The crowd (of all ages) was practically in a fit of laughter the entire time.  Some who were sitting around us had never seen a Greater Tuna show and I felt like looking at them and going, “I know, right?!” but it’s hard to speak when you’re doubled over laughing.

Speaking of crazy laughter – why, when we’re in fits of laughter do we hold our cheeks or cover our mouths? Are we attempting to keep our facial parts in place?  I understand the doubling over. One has to find a position in which they can breath. Such gyrations!

At one point, I even slapped my husband’s arm – as though it was his fault I was being swept away in a fit of laughter.  Fortunately he has big arms and was busy laughing, himself.

A little background, in case you aren’t familiar with the Greater Tuna shows. Two actors (the aforementioned Bill Minihan and Steve Sherling) brilliantly portray a town of colorful nuts and hysterical misfits from the fictional town of Greater Tuna, Texas.  When the boys step out in drag, they literally have to wait to say their lines after the laughter dies down.  Words cannot possibly do their characters or their performances justice.   I’ve seen a great number of bucket lists and “Things to See Before You Die” books, but I’d respectfully suggest each one add this one: See Bill Minnihan and Steve Sherling as the ladies (ladies???) of Greater Tuna.

Visions you’ll never, ever forget. Bill makes a lot of woman… a whole lot of woman, and Steve’s footwear was absolutely killer.  The thought of him strutting around in heels makes me laugh even now.  These two performers lose themselves in these deliciously outrageous characters the way LeBron James loses himself in basketball, John Grisham loses himself in writing, and Halle Berry loses herself in hotness.  They are willing to go to any and all lengths to entertain their crowds – and that’s just what they do.

It’s as though laughter is their life source and the more laughter they bring about, the longer they’re allowed to live.  If there’s truth behind this theory, apparently these boys want to live forever.

From Grand Rivers Variety’s website: The much anticipated third installment in the Tuna trilogy takes the audience through another satirical ride into the hearts and minds of the polyester-clad citizens of Texas’ third smallest town. Along with Tuna’s perennial favorites, some new Tuna denizens burst into the 4th of July Tuna High School Class Reunion. This sets the stage for a show full of fireworks and fun!

Fireworks, fun, and a flood.  They forgot to mention the flood.

During the first fifteen minutes, I kept trying to remember favorite, classic lines to tell my daughters (and to include in this post).  However, after about 20 minutes into the show, I’d ran out of fingers to count them on as well as the ability to reason.  It’s all good, though.  Crazy laughter can sweep me away anytime it wants.  I was delighted to see that some new insanely funny characters had been added, but even more thrilled to see old favorites back – more deliciously entertaining than ever.

My husband told me that he’d heard that this one was EVEN funnier than the others.  I kind of scoffed and thought, “As if. Nothing could be funnier than the other Greater Tuna shows.”  At one point (it was either right after I popped my husband’s arm or right at the time the stranger beside me slapped mine), I stopped scoffing and conceded that this one was, indeed, the funniest one yet.

If the thought of three hours of GREAT entertainment, CRAZY laughter, and rushing floods of endorphins sounds like a good time to you, I strongly urge you to head over to Grand Rivers Variety and buy tickets.  Pronto! There aren’t many shows left and this is one you’d be a nut to let get away.

As we were leaving, I noticed that (like us) everyone else was still laughing – and most of us were holding our stomachs. Laughter is such a glorious ab workout.

One final thought: It doesn’t matter what age you are, Greater Tuna will give you an evening you’ll never forget.  Directly in front of us were two rows of high school kids.  They spent the evening doubled over laughing hysterically.  Directly beside us (and in the row behind us) were people who… well, let’s just say they’d been out of high school longer than Elton John’s been out of the closet.  They were also lost in fits of crazy laughter.  All of us had the time of our lives and felt it from our heads to our toes.

At one point (and it’s worth noting that we were only an hour into the hilarity) a woman behind me laughed so hard she snorted.  It was after one of Bill Minihan’s big women sashayed onto the stage.  The lady told her husband, “I’ve never laughed so much in all my life!”  They both just kept laughing and laughing – along with everyone else in the theater.  A bunch of red-faced, doubled-over, laughing, snorting, people having the time of their lives.  People who, if they could take the time to think and reason, would feel woefully sorry for anyone and everyone on the outside of the theater.   There was so much happiness and fun in the air that it crackled.

That, dear readers, is what you can expect from a trip to Greater Tuna.

Again, please go to Grand Rivers Variety and order your tickets right now.  I want YOU to have the same wonderful time we all did last night. I want YOU to remember what it’s like to get so swept away by laughter and fun that everything else slides away.  It’s a natural high that even caffeine can’t touch.

Also, if you’re on Twitter… and you really should be!… follow Grand Rivers Variety (@GRVariety). They’ll keep you updated on new shows, show times, and a lot more.

 

Filed Under: Entertainment, Grand Rivers Variety, Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Summertime in Greenville Means Saturdays on the Square!

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Saturdays on the Square Greenville Kentucky

The weather’s warm, baseball’s in full swing,  and everyone’s swapping grilling techniques. It must be summertime!  In Greenville, Kentucky that means it’s time to hit the square and shake what your mother gave you!

Satudays on the Square is back for the third year in a row in the friendly little town of Greenville.  The popular outdoor concert series will take place each Saturday night in July and August. The concerts are held on the Veteran’s Plaza Stage between the Courthouse and Judicial Center.

From Tour Greenville’s website: During this nine-week period a different genre of music will be featured each week ranging from southern gospel and classic rock to Motown and dance. Each performance will begin at 8:00 pm with the exception of Bluegrass night which will begin earlier to accommodate two acts (click on schedule below for details). Attendees should bring their lawn chairs and friends and plan to have a great time as they listen to free live music, kick up their heels, visit with old friends, make new friends, enjoy some good eats and just basically have a fun Saturday on the Square!

In the event of rain, the show must go on! The location for any rained out concerts with the exception of gospel night and the grand finale will be at Muhlenberg County High School, East Campus at 2900 State Route 176 in Greenville. In the event of a rain out on gospel night the concert will be moved to the Multi-Ministry Building of Second Baptist Church at 217 West Depot Street, Greenville. On finale night, the concert will take place on the square rain or shine.

For the full schedule and performers, you’ll want to visit Tour Greenville Saturdays on the Square.

Photo Credit: Tour Greenville

Filed Under: Bluegrass Music, Greenville, Summertime in Kentucky

Red, White, and Tuna at Grand Rivers Variety

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Red White and Tuna Grand Rivers Variety

Are you ready to find out what “rolling on the floor laughing your butt off” really feels like?  If your butt’s game, here’s your chance. A “Greater Tuna” show is back in all of its hilarious glory at Grand Rivers Variety in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.  If you’ve read Genuine Kentucky for very long (and if not, where have you been?!), you’ve no doubt read my Greater Tuna reviews and are well aware that they act upon my funny-bone the way catnip acts upon a cat.

About Red, White, and Tuna:

The much anticipated third installment in the Tuna trilogy takes the audience through another satirical ride into the hearts and minds of the polyester-clad citizens of Texas’ third smallest town. Along with Tuna’s perennial favorites, some new Tuna denizens burst into the 4th of July Tuna High School Class Reunion. This sets the stage for a show full of fireworks and fun!  – Grand Rivers Variety

The writing is outrageously funny and the performances are even funnier.  These shows make you miss the good old days of comedy – when writers and actors depended on humor to get a reaction, rather than shock value.

You’ll lose yourself in the fictional and deliciously zany little town of Tuna as the town’s outrageous characters (male and female) are hilariously brought to life by Bill Minihan and Steve Sherling. I’ve often wished that Grand Rivers Variety had each of their Tuna shows on dvd – they’d make excellent Christmas presents for people who love to laugh!

The seasonal shows at Grand Rivers Variety are just that – seasonal…… as in you’d better act now or they won’t just be gone, they’ll be long gone. Trust me, this one’s far too fun to let get away.  There are only 5 shows for Red, White, and Tuna on the schedule: July 13, 20, and 27 and August 3 and 10. Each of these shows is on a Wednesday and, mark it down, you’ll still be talking about it when the next Wednesday rolls around.

True story: A few days ago, my husband Michael told me the official opening date of Red, White, and Tuna and I laughed.  I said, “I’m laughing already!“  Still am…. yeah, they’re that funny.

Visit Grand Rivers Variety’s website for ticket information now!

Filed Under: Entertainment, Grand Rivers Variety, Summertime in Kentucky Tagged With: , ,

Lake Barkley Hosts Chautauqua Appearance of Grandpa Jones

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Grandpa Jones
Beautiful Lake Barkley State Resort Park will host a Kentucky Chautauqua presentation June 18 about country musician and comic Grandpa Jones.

Born Louis Marshall Jones in Henderson County, Ky., to sharecroppers, Jones was a singer, banjo picker, song writer and later in life television star on “Hee Haw.” Grandpa Jones was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1978. He never retired and died in 1998.

David Hurt portrays Grandpa Jones for Kentucky Chautauqua, a program sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council. Hurt has played the guitar and banjo across the state and has acted at Stage One in Louisville and in Lexington theaters.

The June 18 appearance at Lake Barkley will begin at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call the park at 1-800-325-1708.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park is the largest state resort park in Kentucky and features a lodge, cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. The park is located at 3500 State Park Road in Cadiz. From I-24, take the Highway 68 exit west toward Cadiz.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Famous Kentuckians, Lake Barkley SRP Tagged With:

Always Patsy Cline, Back By Popular Demand, at Grand Rivers Badgett Playhouse

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Always Patsy Cline

“Always…Patsy Cline” returns to Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky this weekend – back by popular demand! That, alone, should tell you how wonderful the show is and how much you should grab your tickets as soon as possible. Whenever something is “Back by Popular Demand,” you’d better believe it’s worth seeing.

Three or four times even.

Always… Patsy Cline is a very moving tribute to the late, great Patsy Cline. Patsy Cline, who many of today’s artists claim had the greatest voice ever is an American icon. Patsy died tragically in a plane crash in 1963. She was only 30 years old.

This beautiful musical/comedy (ironically, there’s a great deal of humor) is based on a true story about Patsy Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger. The two colorful ladies struck up a unique friendship in a Texas honky-tonk in l961, and continued to correspond right up till the horrible plane crash took Patsy Cline’s life. The show’s title, itself, comes straight from Cline’s letters to Seger, which were consistently signed “Love ALWAYS… Patsy Cline.”

Well, I don’t know if that last sentence is completely true. As long as there are Patsy Cline CDs (one of my personal favorite, and most often played cds is a Patsy Cline cd), Patsy Cline videos, and entertaining shows like “Always.. Patsy Cline,” her life hasn’t been completely taken from us at all. We can relive the magic that was Patsy Cline anytime we choose to!

Relive many of her unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Waking After Midnight in Always… Patsy Cline. The show features 27 songs in all – each beautifully performed by the singer as well as the band.

As you may have guessed, I’m a huge fan of Patsy Cline (Click the following link to read a special post I wrote about Patsy Cline on my Golden Age of Hollywood and Entertainment blog). Her music takes me to a whole other place that I never tire of visiting. Shows like this one are a dream come true for Patsy Cline fans – take it from me.

Useful Information:

My Review of Always… Patsy Cline at Badgett Playhouse

Order Tickets to Always Patsy Cline at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers (They’ll go fast, you literally need to order them as soon as possible!)

Filed Under: Bluegrass Music, Country Music, Entertainment, Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety Tagged With: , ,

A Pickin’ Party at The Homeplace in Land Between the Lakes!

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Ox from The Homeplace, Land Between the Lakes

The beautiful ox above is one of The Homeplace’s prized residents.  If I do say so myself, my husband takes amazing pictures! This one’s a favorite.

There’s nothing about the Land Between the Lakes that I don’t love (except maybe for the fact that there are no Starbucks). An animal lover since before I was born – don’t ask how I know, I just do – I love the Nature Station, the Bison and Elk Prairie, and the endless opportunities to see birds, butterflies, and wildlife.

Another favorite destination in the wonderful Land Between the Lakes region is the Homeplace. Once again, there are plenty of animals for me to ooooh and ahhhh over. I’m all about the oooohs and the ahhhhs.

The Homeplace

The Homeplace is, essentially, a step back in time. Located in the Tennessee portion of Land Between the Lakes, The Homeplace is as educational as it is entertaining.  There’s also an outstanding gift shop that has just about everything you could hope for from a gift shop.  To read more about The Homeplace and its history, please click the link.

A Pickin’ Party on the Horizon!

Anytime The Homeplace hosts a party, it’s one for the books and, trust me, when there’s food involved, you’ll want to invite everyone you know.  The food is always positively mind-boggling – as delicious as food can possibly be.  As you’ll notice in the blurb below, food will be available for purchase (insert a BOO-YAH right about here). The Pickin’ Party will be in full swing (literally) on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29.

From LBL.org: Born of the heartland, raised in the river valleys, old-time country music this weekend will once again echo in the hills and hollows of LBL. For two days, experience the best of old-time music through workshops, pickin’ sessions, and energized performances of old-time fiddle, banjo, and bluegrass music. Bring your banjo, guitar, fiddle, or harmonica and join in on the fun during daily open mic sessions. Enjoy weekend performances of folk singer and fretless banjo picker, Mark Dvorak, old time string band, The Dixie Volunteers and Cumberland River Plow Boys, Celtic music by Red River Breeze and the best of old time and bluegrass music. Throughout the day, stroll through the historic buildings, fields and gardens, and talk with the 1850s farm family as they go about their daily chores. 1850s children’s activities will be provided throughout the weekend.Festival food and ice-cold drinks will be available for purchase. Bring lawn chairs or ground blankets.

Saturday-Adults $6/Children $4; Sunday-Adults $5/Children $3. Includes same day HP admission. For more information, call 931-232-6457.

Click HERE for performer’s descriptions and schedule.

Filed Under: Bluegrass Music, Country Music, LBL, Springtime in Kentucky, Summertime in Kentucky, The Homeplace Tagged With: , , , ,

Owensboro’s Ultimate Live Music Festival

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Owensboro's Ultimate Live Music Festival

Owensboro has been looking forward to the 2011 Ultimate Live Music Festival for a long time. It’s almost hard to believe it’s this weekend! Downtown Owensboro will be rocking like it hasn’t rocked in a long time at Rivermont Park on May 21, 2011. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the music will begin one hour later.

Check out the lineup:

  • Montgomery Gentry
  • Rodney Atkins
  • Kellie Pickler
  • Jason Michael Carroll
  • LoCash Cowboys
  • Jaclyn Graves
  • Brett Eldridge

Click HERE for more information.

For the best places to eat in Owensboro Kentucky, check out my recommendations.  After all, I live here, I know the best spots in town!

Filed Under: Country Music, Montgomery Gentry, Owensboro Tagged With: , ,

The Hank Williams Experience at Grand Rivers Variety: WOW!

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Hank Williams Lost Highway at Grand Rivers Variety

I laughed. I cried.  My goosebumps had goosebumps.  So, how was your Saturday?

My husband, Michael, our close friend, Trapper,  and I were out late last night. We didn’t just tear up the town, we tore up several towns. We threw back the drinks, ate too much, laughed, told stories (a few even may have been true), and had a great time.  Okay, so the only drinks we threw back were coffee, and eating too much is expected when it’s catfish at Willow Pond and coffee and desserts at Kentucky Dam Village.  Truth be told, I had coffee at every stop we made – that’s how I roll… highly caffeinated.

Michael and I got back home to Owensboro really late.  I stayed up a little bit talking to our youngest daughter, Stephany, so by the time I got to sleep, Granny Clampett was somewhere waking up.  There’s no way I should already be up drinking coffee (yes, I’m addicted) and eating a piece of leftover catfish (yes, I’m nuts) – yet, here I sit.

Here’s the thing: Before our tour of catfish, coffee, and chocolate began, the three of us saw Hank Williams: Lost Highway in Grand Rivers at the Badgett Playhouse.  I was SO impressed and SO moved that I couldn’t wait to get up and write about it.  We go to a lot of different entertainment venues.  We catch shows at The Grand Ole Opry regularly and we’ve seen every show put on at the Badgett Playhouse (they serve really good coffee, by the way).  We’ve even seen the Broadway musical CATS (If you ever get the chance, GO!  Take everyone you know and half the people you don’t know!)

I’m not being boasty or toasty – I’m just setting the stage.  So to speak.

I’ve never seen any show, production, or performance that left me any more speechless or moved me any further than Hank Williams: Lost Highway at Badgett Playhouse.  A couple of times I’m pretty sure that my mouth was gaping open as tears filled my eyes.  Not a particularly good look for me, but it was beyond my control.

For my 12 websites and blogs, I write many (MANY) reviews each week (are you beginning to understand the coffee fetish?).  I’ve found that it’s much easier to write about books, restaurants, products, or shows that you’re lukewarm about.  It’s even easier for me to write about ones I hate.  I don’t.  But the ones that blow me completely away?  It’s as though my words fail to show up because they know they’re going to be inadequate anyway.  I also fear leaving something out.  It’s like having a fantastic meal at a fantastic restaurant – how can you give equal praise to each item on your plate AND the friendly server AND the ambiance?  How can you make sure you cover everything and attempt to do it all justice?

My approach?  Take a big swill of coffee, roll your sleeves up,  jump in feet first, and do your darnedest.

I’ve loved every show we’ve ever seen from Grand Rivers Variety.  I’m blown away each time – wondering how we got so lucky and blessed to have so much talent accumulated right here in Kentucky.  Each time we go, I spend the entire ride home wondering how I can spread the word about the shows at Badgett Playhouse.  To date, I”ve written many articles here on Genuine Kentucky about Grand Rivers Variety AND I’ve written letters to quite a few local (and not so local) newspapers.   Most newspapers have it set up to do so on their websites, and I’ve done just that.  That reminds me, it’s been about a year, I think it’s time to make the rounds again.

If they ever print up t-shirts, I’ll be first in line to buy seven – one for each member of my immediate family. We all gadabout all over Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana and we’d let our t-shirts spread the message.

What can I say? I’m a huge fan.

I’m an even bigger fan after last night.  Hank Williams: Lost Highway was one of the best shows I’ve ever, ever seen at Badgett Playhouse – or anywhere else for that matter. I’m as obsessed with the Greater Tuna shows as I am with coffee, so I can’t put it above them, but it sits at the top of the rest. It was THAT special, THAT entertaining, THAT moving, and THAT remarkable.  If you don’t grab tickets for Hank Williams: Lost Highway immediately and see it right away, you’ll be making one of the biggest mistakes of your life.   It doesn’t matter if you were a huge Hank Williams fan or not.  Heck, it doesn’t matter if you really aren’t even sure who Hank Williams was.

It doesn’t even matter if you think of Monday Night Football when you hear the name!  (It was his son, by the way, but really it doesn’t matter).

Everyone involved with Hank Williams: Lost Highway deserves pages of accolades and heaps of praise. A great, great, great deal of work, effort, time, and talent obviously went into the production, the gorgeous costumes, the songs, the music, the lines, the directing, and so forth.  This is an exceptionally well-done show and it’s abundantly obvious that everyone connected to Grand Rivers Variety busted their backsides to contribute.  Excellence doesn’t just happen. Excellence is earned.

Here’s a list of the cast, a partial list of those who chased (and caught) excellence:

Ross Bolen – Hank Williams

Stephen D. Keene – Tee Tot

Kirsten Cannon – an adorable waitress! Kirsten is what you call a scene-stealer and she was PERFECT for the role.

Scot Durham - Pappy (I’ve seen Scot in many different roles at Grand Rivers Variety and this was, in my opinion, him at his best. Great job!)

Sara Lynn Minihan - Audrey (Remarkably talented and hilarious as always – and the girl makes the costumes, too. I’m never less than totally amazed by her.)

Kay Scarbrough – Hank Williams Sr.’s mother (This, along with Bus Stop was one of the best shows at Grand Rivers Variety and Kay was absolutely priceless in each.)

Steve Sherling and Barry Jobe - Hank Williams Sr.’s friends and band members.  They delivered the perfect amount of humor to offset the drama of the show. They were brilliant! If you love the Greater Tuna shows as much as I do (not sure anyone could love them quite as much as me, but we won’t split hairs), you’ll recognize Steve Sherling. It’s Steve (along with the equally hilarious Bill Minihan) who makes these tuna shows so outrageously priceless.

And, of course, the irreplaceable and talented musicians Eddie Holland and Thomas Michael. Flawless as always.  I think we all are spoiled by their greatness – something that can be said of everyone associated with Grand Rivers Variety.

While I’d love to spend the entire day applauding each member of the cast and crew – I think my readers would begin to tune out after page 7 or 8.  So, I’m going to give my attention to the two of the cast members who are totally new to me.  As for the “regulars” who are anything but just regular, you were amazing as always.  Flawless, prepared, professional, engaging, entertaining, and a credit to artistic performers everywhere.  You’re so freaking amazing that it’s becoming kind of old hat, you know?   You people remind me of watching a Johnny Depp movie. Of course the Depp’s going to be devastatingly amazing.  He’d incapable of anything less.

Ditto to each and every one of you.  You’re sailing excellent waters with Captain Jack Sparrow.  How’s that working for you?

I’ll turn my attention to the two crew members who are new to me.  Mind you they aren’t newcomers or stowaways – I’ve simply never had the pleasure of seeing (or hearing) them in action.  God willing, it won’t be my last time either.  Stephen D. Keene and Ross Bolen made an embarrassing wrong turn, you see.  These young men should be in Nashville making records and playing before sold out crowds at The Grand Old Opry.  Let’s not tell them that Grand Rivers isn’t Nashville and Badgett Playhouse isn’t The Grand Ole Opry – because, frankly, when they’re on stage it feels like they are.

Truth be told, the same could be said about quite a few of the performers at Grand Rivers Variety, but remember, I’m trying to stay within a reasonable word count here.

Ross Bolen didn’t just “play” the role of Hank Williams, he as much as became Hank Williams.  He is the embodiment of Hank Williams – right to the core. The demons that tore through Williams seemed to be tearing right through Ross Bolen.  At one point,  some of the most mesmerizing and intoxicating music I’ve ever heard filled the playhouse as the equally mesmerizing and intoxicating Stephen D. Keene sang (seriously, man… where are your CD’s..).  Ross Bolen’s Hank Williams sat on the stage, sort of writing as the demons were winning the battle.  This was one of the times I got goosebumps.  They accompanied the gaping mouth and tear-filled eyes.  At one point I realized I was holding my breath.

That sort of thing’s expected when you’re transfixed.

The show opened beautifully and emotionally and it never missed a beat.  They spellbound you from the very start and don’t release you until you walk out the front doors.

In case you couldn’t notice, I’m sort of scrambling for words here.  I work with words all day, every day and yet here I am…. chasing them around my home on an early Sunday morning!  Where are the words that can tell you just how powerful Ross Bolen was as Hank Williams and how otherworldly Stephen D. Keene’s voice is? When he first opened his mouth and this AMAZING voice came out,my husband leaned over to me and said, “If James Earl Jones could sing, THAT’S what he’d want to sound like!”  I can’t argue with that, and Mr. Jones wouldn’t be alone.

Ross Bolen and Stephen D. Keene blew me so far away that I’m not expected back for days.  As always, when you leave Badgett Playhouse, the audience is able to shake the performers hands and say a few words before leaving.  There was quite a crowd, so unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to shake each person’s hand.  I did make my way to Mr. Keene, however.  As I shook his large hand and looked up into his smiling face, I felt like a giddy fan, backstage at a concert.  All the great, profound words at my disposal flew out the window and all I could do was giggle and say, “I could listen to you sing all day!”

Seriously? That’s all I had?

I guess I should say, that’s all I had left.

Hank Williams: Lost Highway isn’t just a great show.  It isn’t just a series of outstanding performances.  It isn’t just an eye-popping production with gorgeous costumes.  It isn’t just 2 hours of heart-thumping excitement and heart-touching emotion.  It isn’t just an excellent way to see how you look when you’re transfixed (as enlightening as that is).  Hank Williams: Lost Highway at Grand Rivers Variety is a once in a lifetime experience that’s waiting for you.

Useful information and links:

Click the following link to learn more about Hank Williams: Lost Highway and it’s excellent cast.

Click here for other shows and dates at Grand Rivers Variety.

Dates for Hank Williams: Lost Highway

  • May 20 at 7:00 pm
  • May 27 at 7:00 pm
  • May 28 at 2:00 pm
  • June 3 at 7:00 pm

As you can see, your opportunities are limited – so please don’t miss your chance to see this extraordinary show. Go to Grand Rivers Variety’s website right now and grab your tickets.  You have the chance right now, so GO!  Take everyone you know and half the people you don’t know!

 

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Grand Rivers Variety, Reviews
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