Friday night, my Husband (Michael) and I took his brother and his wife to Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.  We see shows at Badgett on a regular basis and wanted them to see what they were missing out on.   Some of our favorite Badgett Playhouse shows have been (you can click each title for my review)…..

• The Fabulous 50’s Show
• Bus Stop (I still smile when I think about this one – outrageously good)
• The Variety! Show Christmas Spectacular
• The Greater Tuna Shows (only for people who want to laugh so much their sides ache)
• The Variety! Music, Memories & More Show
• It’s a Wonderful Life (loved it!)

I’m certain I have other reviews floating around the site (along with the standard praises for catfish at Willow Pond and our State Park system).  What can I say, we love to smile, laugh, and have a great time.  We also love (make that LOVE) the concept of supporting fellow Kentuckians and businesses in our beautiful state.  Why take our hard-earned money to other states on a regular basis?

Outrageous!

The fact that there are so many wonderful places to eat, smile, and laugh within the Bluegrass helps our cause considerably.   The men and women at Badgett Playhouse take a great deal of pride in the shows they produce and the building in which they perform them.  You can tell in each and every detail that there is a great level of pride and integrity.  From the musicians, singers and dancers to the uncommonly friendly women at the ticket office, the usher, and concession stand workers… each individual obviously has one goal: To make this particular night one that each guest will remember with a smile on his or her face.

Like my car driving to Starbucks, they hit their mark every time.

Here’s just a tiny illustration.  After the four of us sat down Friday night, we were looking around – taking in the beauty of the theater and the decorations.  An older (I mean, older, older, older) gentleman came through a side door.  The usher went directly to him to help him find his seat.  That might be kind of expected, but then he offered to let the little guy hold onto his arm.  I thought that was very considerate, very friendly, very Kentucky.

I have to tell you this quick little story:  As the usher and the little old (old, old, old) man were passing in front of us, I caught the older gentleman’s’ eye and gave him my biggest, “By gosh,  you’re cute!” smile.  He returned it.  Then, he stopped in front of me and my husband and said in a voice that started off faint, then rose at the end, “Whoever said these were the golden years…. didn’t know what the hell he was talking about!”

Some things, I’m convinced, only happen within the state borders of Kentucky.

Something else I’m convinced of  – If you have never been to a show at Badgett Playhouse, you MUST head directly to their website, view their schedule and order your tickets right away.  If the trip is one you can make in a day, go early and eat at one of the spectacular nearby restaurants.   Another one of my favorite things about having Genuine Kentucky is that I get do a lot of restaurant reviews.  If you click the link, you can find plenty of restaurants in the vicinity – I have pages of restaurants reviewed, so you’re sure to find one you’ll love.

If you can make it to one of the Always, Patsy Cline shows, you won’t be disappointed.  The story is a beautiful and emotional one and the two ladies (Erica Delkou as Patsy Cline and Sara Minihan as Louise) who make up the cast do a wonderful job – they’ll make you sing along, laugh, smile, cry, and leave with a heart filled with wonderful memories.

You can read my original review of the Always, Patsy Cline show at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.  The only things that have changed between that particular show and this one was the singer portraying Patsy Cline (Patsy is now brought to life by Erica Delkou – pictured on the left) and the wonderful addition of Eddie Dunlap on the steel guitar (he did an outstanding job and I hope he’ll be featured in many upcoming shows).

Sara Minihan (pictured above – on the right) was outrageously hilarious, as always, but don’t let her comic talents take attention away from her voice. She has an outstanding singing voice.  In Always, Patsy Cline you only get a hint of this talent, so you’ll have to grab tickets for some of the other shows as well! She’ll blow you away in the Variety! Music, Memories, and More Show, Pickin’ and Grinnin’, as well as The Fabulous 50’s Show with her singing and dancing.  If you ever get a chance to see her in Bus Stop, you won’t want to miss that either.  I know there are only so many shows they can put on at the Badgett Playhouse, so I’ll try to ease up with my campaigns for more Greater Tuna shows and the return of Bus Stop.  (Do you think the airplane banners, megaphones, and Goodyear blimp were overkill?)  One of my other absolute favorites, The Fabulous 50’s Show, is featured prominently on the schedule.  You can’t miss this one.

Something else that’s fascinating about Sara…get this, the lady makes the gorgeous costumes that you see in these shows.  No wonder she dances as well as she does, with that much talent coursing through your body, it must be hard to stand still.

I was also very impressed with the singer portraying Patsy Cline – native Texan Erica Delkou.  Erica has a beautiful voice and I would absolutely love to hear her sing more.  She made the Patsy Cline classics seem contemporary, like you could hear them on the radio today.  Walkin’ After Midnight and Stupid Cupid were a few of my favorites, though they were all memorable and beautiful.

The band -Thomas Michael, Eddie Hall,  Scott Durham, and Eddie Dunlap – made the evening complete. I wish I had a cd of the evening right now to listen to, actually!

Always Patsy Cline will be running through March 20. Pickin’ and Grinnin’ will run from March 27 – May 1. Click the link for more information on Pickin’ and Grinnin’.

I’ll keep you informed on upcoming shows and announcements. I do know there are upcoming dates for The Big Band Show, The Fabulous 50’s Show, Pickin’ and Grinnin’, and the Variety! Memories, & More Show.  Smoke on the Mountain will be back in September.  Also, at the risk of getting way ahead of myself, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will return in November and, yes as a matter of fact, I’m already looking forward to it.  It’s another CAN’T MISS show.

The beautiful weather we’ve been enjoying the past few days has everyone thinking about grilling out, baseball, and summer fun in the sun. Fortunately, we have plenty of places to choose from here in Kentucky to enjoy all the fun we can handle. Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, Kentucky is a great option. Resorts and Lodges.com didn’t just rank Green Turtle Bay in their Top 10 Kentucky Family Resorts, they ranked them #1.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to visit Green Turtle Bay, watch the video above to get an idea about what you’ve been missing.

If you’ve never had the privilege of seeing Always, Patsy Cline performed at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, here’s your chance. Always Patsy Cline returns to the  Badgett Playhouse February 26 through March 20.

Always Patsy Cline is an outstanding and very touching story that the talented performers of Grand Rivers Variety turn into an outstanding and very touching show.  I strongly urge you to go – more than that, I strongly urge you to fill your car up with others and give them a night they’ll long remember as well.  You can read my own personal review of Always Patsy Cline by clicking the link.  I wrote this review on July 4, 2008 and titled it “Always Patsy Cline Will Never Be Forgotten!”   Two things stand out to me about the title of the review:

1. I seldom ever use exclamation points in the title of my articles or posts.  I use them freely in my writing (lots, actually!) but hardly ever in titles.  I just rarely, rarely, rarely ever do it.  However, there’s a big old exclamation mark at the end of this article’s title.  I was… as we say in Kentucky…  worked up when I wrote it.  Great food, great coffee, and/or great entertainment work me up and the exclamation points fly like arrows from an bow.
2. I was right. It’s been nearly a year and 7 months and I still recall what a wonderful experience it was.    We go to Grand Rivers Variety Shows often enough to know that the music, the costumes, the singing, the dancing, the popcorn, the coffee, the performances…. everything… will surpass our hopes and expectations every single time.  Everyone associated with Grand Rivers Variety seems to subscribe to the concept of giving their guests more than they paid for.  They do it each and every time and no one ever leaves thinking otherwise.  We expected that,  but we didn’t expect for the show to be so funny!  It’s hilarious – in addition to being very moving.  And the singing… exceptional.

Visit Grand Rivers Variety for more information.  You can launch your own exclamation points!

I still can’t believe what a beautiful day it was in Grand Rivers, Kentucky on Marina Day. Enjoy the pictures and highlights of Grand River’s Marina Day 2009.

Green Turtle Bay is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully scenic places you could ever hope to be.

Friendly people, too!

Lake Barkley is, without a doubt, one of Kentucky’s crown jewels. If you want to see a Kentuckian sit a little taller, just mention Lake Barkley.  Like UK Basketball, Mammoth Cave, and Kentucky Lake – we’re understandably proud.

Below are some bits and pieces of Lake Barkley trivia that you might not have known.

• Lake Barkley has 57,900 acres of water and 1,004 miles of shoreline.
• Lake Barkley was named for the 35^th Vice-President, Alben Barkley. Prior to the Vice Presidency, Barkley served in the U. S. Senate from Kentucky for over twenty years. Alben Barkley was born in a log cabin near Lowes, Graves County, Kentucky.  He worked his way through college as a janitor.  After passing the bar, he practiced law in Paducah, Kentucky.
• Alben Barkley coined the term “Give ‘em hell, Harry” as President Truman was leaving Washington on his “whistle-stop” train across the country.  Barkley was popularly known as “the Veep” thanks to his young grandson, Stephen M. Truitt.  Stephen preferred the shortened name to “Mr. Vice President.”  When Alben Barkley told the press about his grandson’s phrasing, the newspapers printed it, and the title stuck. Alben Barkley’s successor as vice president, Richard Nixon, declined the nickname, saying that it had been bestowed on Barkley affectionately and, therefore, belonged to him. However, the term didn’t die, and it’s used to this day.
• Construction of Barkley Dam began in 1959 on the Cumberland River.
• Lake Barkley’s Maximum depth is 68 feet.
• Lake Barkley’s Minimum depth is 12 feet.
• Lake Barkley is known for its Stripers as well as its Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.  Other fish in Lake Barkley include Crappie (Black and White), Redear Sunfish, Sauger, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, and White Bass.

For more information about Lake Barkley:

Download Lake Barkley Vacation Guide (PDF)

The Village Between the Lakes (Grand Rivers)

Green Turtle Bay (Resort and Marina on Lake Barkley)

Grand Rivers, Kentucky has a lot going on in the upcoming weeks, so maybe we’d better take this one at a time.

KWW Labor Day Weekend Arts and Crafts Festival

When? September 5 (Saturday) through September 7 (Monday)
Where? Downtown Grand Rivers.
What? Handmade jewelry, furniture, baskets, quilts, pottery, lace, clothing, belts and wooden decorative items are featured along with stained glass designs, and paintings. Over 100 different artisan and craftsman booths.
Who? Call Kentucky’s Western Waterlands for more information at 270-928-4411.

Grand Rivers Southern Storytelling Event

When? September 11 (Saturday) and September 12 (Sunday)   7:00 pm
Where? Badgett Playhouse Theater – Grand Rivers, Kentucky
What? Michael Reno Harrel,Kim Weitkamp, and Mitch Capel will transport you to a simpler time when good old fashioned stories were the best kind of entertainment.  Truth be told, stories are still pretty hard to beat.

Get to know the storytellers better courtesy of the Grand Rivers, Kentucky newsletter:

Michael Reno Harrell

Back for a second year by popular demand, Michael Reno Harrell is an award winning songwriter, as well as a veteran storyteller and entertainer.

• Kim Weitkamp

A commanding presence, beautiful singing voice, impeccable comedic timing, and perfectly woven stories makes Kim a must see.

• Mitch Capel

Mitch Capel is a storyteller, recording artist, poet, actor and author who has been bringing stories to life and delighting audiences with his warmth, wit and compelling storytelling style since 1985.

There were a couple of standing ovations, dancing in the aisles, and an audience full of happy, twisting, singing, laughing,  clapping, and thrilled individuals who were having the time of their lives.

It wasn’t a Montgomery Gentry concert or a Johnny Depp autograph signing.  And it wasn’t even me in a Starbucks, though the description’s fitting.  It all went down in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky at Badgett Playhouse.   The Fabulous 50’s Show lived up to its name and then some.

The dance numbers were fantastic and the singing was even better.  As always, there was plenty of humor and remarkable chemistry among the cast members.  The majority of the audience (except for, maybe, 10 of us) lived through the 50’s the first time around and seemed to be totally enthralled by the lovely trip home afforded by this extremely talented group of performers.

I’ve always loved 50’s music and these singers brought it to life as beautifully as anyone could have.  Michael Inge was so powerfully moving during one of his ballads that we all gave him a standing ovation.  As you know, I’ve been to The Grand Ole Opry on a number of occassions and I can tell you, truthfully, I’ve never heard anything any better.  Ever.

I loved the entire show, as did the sold out crowd. There were a few great  films during the show as well.  One showed several commercials from the 50’s and they were beyond hilarious.  I kept thinking, “Are you kidding me?!” – You’ll have to see them to believe them!

The costumes were also incredible, as were the sets.  A very, very friendly couple who sat beside us (from Paducah) were saying how everything was “just right.” The lady said, “It was just like that.”  I think she was especially moved by the fact that, according to her, Bill Minihan’s character was “exactly” like her husband was.  She even used the word “cocky!”  I loved it.  When I was leaving, I wanted to have a chance to tell each of the performers how amazing they were but they were, literally, swarmed with ecstatic men and women who were doing just that. Ironically, the couple beside us were talking to the Minihan’s (Bill and Sara) and I didn’t want to interrupt.  So I just floated outside and watched, joyfully, as others came floating out – each a little happier than the last.

The smiles?  They lit up the little town of Grand Rivers.

You have one more opportunity to see The Fabulous 50’s Show this year – on September 4.    Please click HERE for ticket information.  If you know anyone who lived during the 50’s or anyone who wished they’d seen the fun firsthand, invite them along.  I promise you, you’ll all have the time of your life.

In fact, any time you get a chance to see a show at Grand Rivers Variety, don’t hesitate for even a second.  Get thyself to The Badgett Playhouse Theater in Grand Rivers, Kentucky every chance you get.  You’ll never be disappointed.  Their always entertaining Variety! Music, Memories & More show is currently running – it’s definitely a must-see.  Check out the full schedule on GrandRiversVariety.com and grab your tickets ahead of time.  It’ll be the smartest thing you did since you began drinking coffee.

If you read any of my articles on Genuine Kentucky, you know that I LOVE the Greater Tuna shows at Grand Rivers Variety. They’re simply hilarious and as entertaining as sitting in a roomful of chocolate. Alone.

Oddly, there weren’t any Greater Tuna shows on the schedule all year – something that never set right with me or my funny bone. I mean I didn’t send them any threatening letters or anything… but I didn’t exactly remember them in my prayers either.

Last night, I was in the kitchen doing kitchen-y things when my husband called out to me. I didn’t hear everything he said but I definitely made out the words, “Greater Tuna.” So I asked him to repeat himself. He said that Greater Tuna would be back on the schedule. I asked for hard, cold proof. He showed me the proof and if I weren’t already married to the man, I’d have proposed at that moment.

Sure enough, Greater Tuna will be playing at Grand Rivers Variety during the month of October. Click HERE for the complete schedule. Round up your family, your friends, your friends’ family, and your family’s friends and come fall in love with this outrageously fun show. Of course, if outrageous fun isn’t your thing…..

Grand Rivers Variety has added two encore showings of The fabulous 50’s Show. Apparently it has been a fabulous success. If you haven’t caught the show yet, you have two more chances to do so: September 28th and October 4.

The 50’s are all gussied up and waiting for you at the Badgett Playhouse in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Click HERE for more information. See you there!