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Grand Rivers Variety Has Love, Laughs, and Legends in Store for 2011

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Johnny Cash Ring of Fire at Grand Rivers Variety

If you’ve read many of my articles on Genuine Kentucky, you already know that I love, love, love Grand Rivers Variety.  We’ve seen just about every show put on at the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky and never leave without a smile on our face, song in our heart, and coffee on our breath.  Okay, I have coffee breath – my husband, not so much.

In the video below, the ridiculously talented couple behind Grand Rivers Variety (Bill and Sara Minihan) will tell you all about the wonderful shows coming up this year.  I’m especially excited about the “Legends.”  There will be two new shows which pay tribute to a couple of music’s biggest legends… giants, actually: Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.   The Johnny Cash tribute is called Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show. It’ll run during the months of March and April as well as the first few weeks of May.

The Hank Williams Tribute is called Hank Williams: Lost Highway and will run through May and the first week of June.

I’m a HUGE fan of Johnny Cash (as well as June Carter Cash), so I’m really looking forward to this one.  My husband and I will be at one of the first Ring of Fire shows – and we’re bringing friends!

As I was looking over the schedule, I nearly chocked on my coffee (…and, no, as a matter of fact I don’t drink coffee all the time. I have to sleep sometimes you know.).   The third part of the Tuna Trilogy is coming to Grand Rivers.  I’d try to tell you how much I enjoy the Tuna shows, but we’d be here seven and a half days.  Since that’s even longer than it took God to create the world, I’ll just sum it up by saying this:  I love myself some Tuna shows like my cat loves herself some tuna fish.

From Grand Rivers Variety:  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!

From Joi:  Booyah!

Red, White, and Tuna will run during July and August and y’all know I’ll be reminding you a million times between now and then.  That’s how I roll. With a drift toward the obsessive.

Vacation, Eat, Stay, and Play in Kentucky This Year!

As I sit looking out the window beside my computer, I see patches of snow on the ground trying to hold on for dear life as the bright sun (and my willpower) tries to wipe it off the earth. The weather will soon be beautiful again – and, come on, there’s nothing quite like spring and summer in Kentucky.  I can’t wait to start traveling around our beautiful state again, hitting different Kentucky State Parks, historical landmarks, museums, restaurants, Land Between the Lakes, stores, etc.  You always meet the warmest and most colorful people when you travel around Kentucky.  We all share a special bond:  This is our home and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our oldest daughter Emily heard me boasting about Chili’s Restaurant a few days ago. She told us that there’s a Chili’s in Evansville, Indiana.  My husband half-kiddingly told her that we keep our money in the south.  I’m even worse than him – I try my darnedest to keep my money in the state of Kentucky.  That’s not always possible, of course, but it’s more possible than you might imagine.

I hope you’ll take advantage of Kentucky’s beautiful scenery, wildlife, and very special places this year.  Grand Rivers Variety – and the entire Land Between the Lakes region – proves that you can have the time of your life without ever leaving home.  You keep your money in the state and support your neighbors in the process.

Now, what part of that isn’t beautiful?

I’ll remind you frequently about the Grand Rivers Variety shows.  I hope you’ll round up a group of family and friends and see as many shows as you possibly can.  It would make an outstanding trip for a church group, or any group for that matter.

Red White and Tuna at Grand Rivers Variety

Filed Under: Blog, Country Music, Entertainment, Events, Featured, Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety

Variety! Music, Memories, and More 2010 Christmas Spectacular

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What’s not to love about this time of year? Starbucks unveils their amazing seasonal drinks and desserts, the trees put on their Sunday best, the air is brisk, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, UK Basketball comes back to life, and you can realistically start talking about Christmas.

Granted, I’m one of those people who talks about Christmas year-round. But, right around this time of year, people stop looking at me like I have two heads when I bring the subject up.

The annual Variety! Christmas Show just adds to the excitement of the season.  When I read the following on their Facebook page, I couldn’t help get a little giddy and I’ll confess I started humming Christmas tunes. Truth be told, I think I’ll toss in a Christmas cd after my husband leaves for work (the whole two heads thing, you know).

Do what you have to do, see who you have to see, and drive as long as you have to drive to make it to the Variety! Christmas Show 2010 opening night.  It’s Thursday November 4th at 7:00 and I’m giving you plenty of notice, so I’ll see you at the concession stand.  I’ll even let you in front of me if you promise to leave me some hot chocolate.

From Variety! Music, Memories & More in Grand Rivers, KY

Variety! Christmas Show 2010. Opening Night Special ONLY $5!! Thursday November 4th at 7:00. All Proceeds will Benefit the Guatemalan Exchange Student – Valeriano Chub – who is currently attending Murray State University and is sponsored solely by donations from patrons of the Badgett Playhoue. Valeriano is studying to be an english teacher in his home country at a school in eastern Guatemala called Ak’Tenamit (www.aktenamit.org). A silent auction will be held and a donation will be taken that night. AND…..FREE MILK AND COOKIES FOR EVERYONE for that night only.

Cookies?!?!?  About letting you in front of me……

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

Patsy Cline is Back in Grand Rivers Kentucky!

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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)…..

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.

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

Always Patsy Cline Returns to Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers Kentucky

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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!

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

With The Fabulous 50′s Show, Fabulous is an Understatement

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The Fabulous 50s Show at Grand Rivers Variety

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.

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

Greater Tuna is Back in Grand Rivers Kentucky and All Is Right in Joi’s World

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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…..

Filed Under: Blog, Entertainment, Events, Featured, Grand Rivers Variety, New

The Fabulous 50′s Show at Grand Rivers Variety

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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!

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety, New Tagged With: , , ,

Another Grand Rivers Kentucky Video

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Filed Under: Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety, Videos Tagged With: ,

Miles of Smiles in Grand Rivers, Kentucky

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My husband made three videos last night – and the one above might just be my favorite (though I love them all). This one features the beautiful people of Grand Rivers, Kentucky and the vocals of Thomas Michaels. The song is Ramblin’ Fever and it’s currently my favorite song, thank you very much.

I could listen to it all day long.

I’ll post the other videos on the blog this afternoon. They’re all fantastic – love it when the hubby waxes brilliant.

I set up a YouTube channel for Genuine Kentucky to feature all of the videos we make. Click the link above to access the full set.

Filed Under: Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety, Videos Tagged With: ,

The Big Band Show at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers Kentucky

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I could honestly listen to this music all day. If they make a cd, I’ll buy two I’ll have my husband buy me two. I’ll even let him have one.

The Big Band Show will play at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers from April 3rd to May 30th. Visit their colorful and fun website for the exact dates.

Filed Under: Grand Rivers Variety, LBL
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