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You are here: Home / Archives for News

Christmas Takes Center Stage in Kentucky

December 12, 2008 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

I have written, at length, about the wonderful plays and musical programs put on at Badgett Playhouse in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky. I wouldn’t hesitate for one second to recommend EVERY show they put on. The talented individuals in these programs seem incapable of doing anything less than perfectly. Whether it’s making you laugh so hard your sides hurt, sing along with songs you’ve loved all your life, or wipe tears away as a song and sentiments are poured out about “Mary’s Son.”

On all of my blogs, and in life for that matter, I could easily be accused of not taking things very seriously. I got my sense of humor from my dad. He pretty much thought all things were funny, and I look at the world through the same glasses. So, when I wax serious -you know I mean it.

Each Christmas season has at least 5 strong memories that attach themselves to your life. They’ll reappear during the year, sometimes, but they mostly rerun during future Christmases.

I remember baking cookies and making fudge, divinity, and other candies with my mom – and I remember baking the same goodies with my own 3 daughters (each year!). I remember the first Christmas after my husband and I started dating. I stayed up until 5 am in the morning making him a cute little gingerbread house. My Siamese cat, Solo, kept me company.

I have a gazillion other memories, which is remarkable for someone who is only 29 (shhhhhhh), but these come to mind right away. I know for a fact that a few of the programs we’ve seen in Grand Rivers, Kentucky will play out in future memories. Tuna Christmas will forever be remembered with a smile, and the Variety! Christmas program and It’s a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show will be warmly remembered as well.

If you want to make some special new Christmas memories for yourself, I urge you to go to their website, check their schedule and get to as many shows as you possibly can.

Christmas Takes Center Stage in Other Parts of Kentucky as Well

Wherever you live, you’re sure to find a great Christmas play or program to attend this season.  It’s an excellent way to take part in and support your community.  It’ll be an experience you’ll enjoy so much, you’ll wonder why you haven’t taken advantage of these entertaining experiences before.

Below are some that you can look into (in addition to the ones at Grand Rivers!):

The Louisville Ballet's Nutcracker
The Louisville Ballet presents The Nutcracker

  • The Louisville Ballet teams up with The Louisville Orchestra to present Nutcracker at the Kentucky Center. This production, which gets nothing but stellar reviews, runs until December 21.  Tickets are available by calling (502)584-7777 or by visiting www.louisvilleballet.org.
  • The Lexington Ballet Company presents Clara and the Mouse King at the Lexington Opera House from December 12 to December 18.Ã?  For tickets, call (589)233-3925 or visit www.lexingtonoperahouse.com.
  • The Hardin County PAC will present Nutcracker on December 20, followed by an opportunity for kids and adults to “meet” their favorite Nutcracker characters by having hot chocolate and sweets with them.  How cool is that?!  For more information, visit www.thepac.net.
  • The Actors Theatre of Louisville will present A Christmas Carol through December 23. Call (502)584-1205 or visit www.actorstheatre.org for ticket information.
  • My hometown, Owensboro, will give the classic tale of A Christmas Carol a little twist at the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro through December 21. Call (270)683-5333 or visit www.theatreworkshop.org for tickets.
  • The hilarious play “Christmas Belles” will run through December 21 at Bunbury Theatre in Louisville.  The play involves a southern church’s Christmas program spinning out of control. Sounds like something that’d happen in Tuna!  Visit www.bunburytheater.org for more information.  Apparently the play will also take place at the Kentucky Respertory Theatre in Horse Cave.  See www.kentuckyrep.org for more information.

I hope you and your loved ones are having a breathtakingly beautiful Christmas season and that each day just gets sweeter. You can pretty much ensure that it will if you take in as many of these amazing shows as you possibly can.

 

Filed Under: Events, Grand Rivers Variety, Holidays in Kentucky Tagged With: Christmas in Kentucky, Louisville, the Louisville Ballet's Nutcracker

It’s a Wonderful Life (A Live Radio Play) is a Very Special Treat

December 9, 2008 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

My husband, Michael, and I went to see It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky Sunday afternoon. It’s a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite movies EVER. In fact, when I watch it each year around Christmas (admittedly about 12 times), I know the lines before the characters say them. It’s one of the best movies ever made and James Stewart and Henry Travers (Clarence) never fail to amaze me.

By the way, do you recognize Gloria Graham (Violet) as being the same ADORABLE actress who was Ado Annie in Oklahoma? Love her muchly.

As you can tell, I could talk for two forevers about It’s a Wonderful Life.  Don’t even get me started on Bert and Ernie (the police officers…).

With my obsession with the movie, you can understand why I was so anxious to see this particular tribute to the movie. I had no idea what to expect, really, I guess I thought the actors would all be sitting on stools in front of microphones – reading their lines.

I was a little bit right – but mostly wrong.

The actors and actresses did read their lines, but they were more in character as their radio star characters than the ones in the movie. It made it even more entertaining, actually.  They bring the characters to the forefront and breathe fresh new life into them.

I recommend you see this adorable and entertaining show this Christmas season. Each person involved does an outstanding job. I’ve come to expect that from the Variety! cast. Each had quite a few “characters” and “voices” to portray and they didn’t slip once.

When you go, be sure to get a seat where you can see the entire stage. You don’t want to miss what any of the actors are doing. You’ll want to keep both eyes on the lovely brunette who portrays, among others, Violet. She’s priceless. Price-less.

Each cast member was priceless, truth be told and I loved every entertaining second.

It’s a Wonderful Life will be shown once in 2013, so order your tickets early!

Click HERE for more information.

Filed Under: Grand Rivers Variety, Holidays in Kentucky, Reviews Tagged With: and More, It's a Wonderful Life, Memories, Variety! Music

Why You Should Serve Tuna on Thanksgiving Night

November 25, 2008 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Would you love to throw something extremely fun and, even, unexpected at your family this Thanksgiving? You know, the sort of thing that’ll have them talking for months and months?

Take them to see Tuna Christmas on Thanksgiving night. Once they stop laughing, they’ll thank you for giving them the funnest Thanksgiving they’ve ever had. This I promise you.

Click HERE for more information.

Filed Under: Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety, Holidays in Kentucky Tagged With: Grand Rivers Variety, Tuna Christmas

A Tuna Christmas in Grand Rivers, Kentucky

November 22, 2008 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Tuna Christmas at Badgett PlayhouseSome things just crack me up. Okay, A LOT of things crack me up. I love nothing more than a good laugh (not even coffee).  But, you know how there are just certain people or situations that send you into fits of laughter every single time?

In addition to my goofy family, things that tickle my funny bone the most are Jack Black (one look – that’s all it takes), Lucille Ball, and every single Andy Griffth show ever made.

But none of them crack me up any faster than Steve Sherling and Bill Minihan do, especially when they’re getting their Tuna on.

We saw A Tuna Christmas a few nights ago.  There was a really good crowd there and everyone laughed until they ached.

Before the show began, while the stage was dark, I could see Steve and Bill coming out all decked out in a couple of their Tuna characters.

Sure enough, I started laughing even before the lights came on – and long before either spoke. I thought, “Great, the people around me are going to think I’m three sheets to the wind.” (Which would be a pretty wild trick for me to pull off since the strongest thing I drink is coffee.)

Fortunately, a few other people had seen “Greater Tuna” earlier this year, too, and were laughing early as well.  That, or they were laughing at the crazy lady on the second row.

Not only did the laughs not stop until the show was over, they never slowed down. Literally, people were still laughing during intermission as they were talking about what they’d seen so far. These two guys are absolutely hysterical.  We saw the show on opening night and they pulled it off flawlessly.  With all the lines, all the costume changes, all the set changes, etc. I thought there’d be a misstep.  I guess I assumed these guys were human.

At one point, one of Steve’s delightful characters, Charlene, is talking to her buxom mom (Bill).  She’s sort of thinking out loud, kind of like a “I wonder….”  When there was a pause, I thought, “Uh oh, he’s human after all…”

Nah.  He was simply, in character, searching for his… her… next thought.

I have no idea how they remember all of these lines.  I mean, it’s two actors portraying an entire town of the most colorful characters you’ve ever seen.

Tuna Christmas is incredibly, incredibly funny.  You have to go check this out for yourself.  I guarantee, you’ve never seen anything even remotely like this.  If you’re as fond of movies and acting as I am – and if you like to laugh anywhere near as much as I do, you’re in for the time of your life.

I read a lot of biographies about actors/actresses for my own enjoyment and for my  Hollywood blog.  I read a bio about the amazing Rex Harrison once.  He was talking about the importance of a stage actor remembering one thing:  “Never leave anything on the stage.”

Bill Minihan and Steve Sherling certainly don’t leave anything on the stage.  They give all they’ve got to the audience, and then some.

The only thing is, I’m a little worried about these guys.  You see, I also remember a quote by Owensboro, Kentucky’s own Johnny Depp.  The Depp said, “With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it’s just not acting. It’s lying.”

So, there’s, among others, a little Didi Snavely, Vera Carp, Petey Fisk, Charlene, Arles, and Stanley in Steve Sherling?

And there’s, among others, a little Pearl, Bertha Bumiller, Sherrif Givens, and Thurston Wheelis in Bill Minihan.

The conversations that must go on in their minds!

See the play. See the play. See the play. Click HERE for the 2013 dates. Then see the play.

Filed Under: Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety, Holidays in Kentucky, Reviews Tagged With: Grand Rivers, Greater Tuna, Kentucky, Tuna Christmas, Variety Music Memories and More

The Variety! Christmas Spectacular in Grand Rivers Was Just That… Spectacular!

November 18, 2008 by Joi Sigers 1 Comment

Grand Rivers Variety! Christmas Spectacular
 

Saturday night, Michael (aka the husband) and I went to the Variety Christmas Show at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.  Everyone involved in this extremely entertaining production should be highly commended. Awarded. Applauded. Taken to dinner…

You get the idea.

The decorations were stunning (all of Grand Rivers was lit up and took my breath away) and the costumes? I have no idea where they come up with the gorgeous, adorable clothes they wear at these Variety! shows.

Every single detail smacks of perfection.

Speaking of perfection, the cast is ridiculously talented, and filled with so much energy! They earned the standing ovation they received and then some. Actually, several of us gave them two standing ovations – one, of course, at the very end of the show and one at the end of a very special performance of Mary, Did You Know?

Those of us who were standing were somehow managing to wipe tears and clap at the same time.

Amazing what you can do when your emotions are moved further than they’ve gone in a while.

You’re well aware, if you’ve read any of my reviews, that I have thoroughly loved each and every play and musical performance at Badgett Playhouse. Every song, every joke, every dance, every cup of coffee… Everything.  This particular show was one of the best yet. Michael said, “This is the best one yet” at one point. I’m not sure if it was during the first standing ovation or the second.

Personally, I love little more in life than a good laugh, so I’m going to go with a tie – I tie it with Greater Tuna and Bus Stop.  If you didn’t see Bus Stop, you might want to somehow find a way to kick yourself.

If you didn’t see Greater Tuna, hold the kick.  You still have time to see the Tuna Christmas Show!  We’re going Thursday night and I couldn’t be more excited.

But back to Variety Christmas. As a web publisher, I write for hours each and every day As a female, I talk for even more hours each and every day. Yet, I find myself at a loss to convey to you just how special, not only this particular show was, but how VERY special the singers, dancers, and musicians are.

Let me try it from another angle.  Whenever I see a Johnny Deppmovie, I wonder, “Is this man even capable of a sub-par performance?”

Whenever I eat at Willow Pond in Aurora or Willow Pond in Calvert City, I wonder, “Could they make bad catfish if they absolutely had to?”

Each drink of a Starbucks drink (pick one) causes me to ask, “Where have you been all my life?”

And whenever I see a performance at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, I wonder “What are these people doing in Kentucky?!”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m THRILLED that we have them – I’ve gotten countless hours of amazing entertainment from them (and have even marked my calendar for upcoming entertainment!).  I’m delighted that their vehicles don’t know the way to Nashville, NYC, or Los Angeles. And, selfishly, I’m delighted that the big wigs in those big wigged towns don’t know the talent that abounds in the beautiful village of Grand Rivers Kentucky. They’d come looking for them! So, shhhhhh….

I listen to far less people on the radio every day and watch people on TV who don’t have an ounce of the charisma, spark, or talent that these performers have.  At one point, beautiful Dana Poulson was singing a song and I mentally began counting the people on the radio I’d listened to that day, alone, who didn’t sound nearly as good as she did.

Casie Janet is another very lovely young lady with an absolutely amazing voice.  Like Dana, she can dance as well as sing – and for someone who can do neither, I’m blown away.  Her family and friends were in the audience and were, understandably, very proud. They, too, gave two tearful ovations.

The young man who sang Mary, Did You Know with Casie was a new addition to the cast – and he was an instant, powerful hit.  He hails from Tennessee and his name is, hopefully, Michael Inge. (I say “hopefully” because my husband and I couldn’t totally agree on what we’d heard him introduced as. He isn’t listed in the playbill I got and he isn’t on the Variety! website yet.) After his first solo, my husband said, “He’s a great addition.”  I would have answered, but my jaw was on the ground.  This young man has an incredible voice and I hope we get to see a lot more of him.

He. Sang. His. Face. Off.

Thomas Michaels – he of the wicked guitar playing – actually sang during the Variety! Christmas show.  Wow!  I had no idea he had such a good voice. He’s been hiding a great set of pipes!

He continues to impress me, too.  We always knew he was to a guitar what I am to a car (i.e. he dangerously drives the heck out of it) but he keeps proving himself in other areas.  In Bus Stop, he acted for the first time and came across as though he’d been doing it all of his life.  Now, what does he do?  He shows off a great singing voice!

You have to see this show if for no other reason than to see Bill Minihan coax Willie Nelson out of Thomas Michaels by holding his nose.  It wasn’t the first time in the evening I laughed so hard I had to set my coffee down.  And, no, I don’t often set my coffee down.

Speaking of Bill Minihan…  This ridiculously talented man and his ridiculously talented and beautiful wife Sara beat all I ever saw.  Total Characters.  They convey so many emotions with so few facial movements that it’s really something to behold.  They pull the audience in unlike any performers I’ve ever seen.  You instantly adore them, the minute they hit the stage.  They dance beautifully and they obviously have wonderful voices.  They’re a beautiful and talented young couple – but that’s not where their magic lies. The thing that makes them so extremely special, and the thing that would make me drive anywhere in the country to watch them perform is a unique “thing” that can’t be taught.  It’s something that can’t be coached and can’t be practiced.

Charisma is something you either have or you don’t.

For my Self Help Blog, I was once sent a book by a wonderful author. He even autographed it for me which was pretty darn cool. I loved the book so much that I raved in the review how that it was a beautiful thing to see someone doing what they were meant to do in life. This author has such talent and is so inspiring and motivating that it’s obvious: He’s doing what he’s meant to do in life. His level of talent is a perfect fit with what he does for a living.

You don’t often come across people doing what they do so well that you think, “They’re doing what they were meant to do.” There’s something magical about the rare people that do elicit such a response.

Bill and Sara Minihan are such people. And the real beauty… the real magic… lies in what they were meant to do: Bring smiles to people’s faces and make them feel good. There’s no better mission in life!

And the Minihan’s? They nail it down.

Filed Under: Grand Rivers Variety, Holidays in Kentucky Tagged With: Grand Rivers Kentucky, Variety! Christmas Spectacular

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