John Denver Tribute, Shanghai Acrobats; Branson, MO – 3/12/2015

John Denver Tribute, Shanghai Acrobats; Branson, MO – 3/12/2015
Of course they build this tower one chair and person at a time. You wonder when they will stop.

March 12, 2015 (Thursday)

Usual morning – coffee, cereal, computer. We left around 9:30 AM to go to the Little Opry Theatre to see “A Tribute to John Denver” that started at 10:00 AM. We were told (on Sunday when we went to see “A Tribute to Marty Robbins”)  that we could use our tickets from that show to get a $10.00 discount of any other live show. (The tickets are normally $27.00.) They have several shows at this particular small theater, but “A Tribute to John Denver” sounded good and the timing worked for us.

We went inside the theater and got our tickets. We had to wait just a few minutes so we walked around the theater. It has a great music place where they make guitars and things. Really quite interesting. There are also stores and an IMAX theater inside. There is also a nice little area for veterans’ pictures and testimonials.

The do a fair number of tributes at this theater.
They do a fair number of tributes at this theater.
No Branson wall is complete without a tip of the hat to veterans.
No Branson wall is complete without a tip of the hat to veterans.
Veteran's rule in Branson.
Veteran’s rule in Branson.
It is a big place with several stores, eateries and shops.
It is a big place with several stores, eateries and shops.

IMG_5499

IMG_5511

Very nice detailed hand carving.
Very nice detailed hand carving.
Interesting things in wood in this corner of the theater complex.
Interesting things in wood in this corner of the theater complex.

IMG_5510

Guitar and violin manufacturing and repair.
Guitar and violin manufacturing and repair.

IMG_5505

IMG_5504

I think that is Jerry.
I think that is Jerry.

 

When we got to our seat, we noticed there were a total of about forty of us.  James Garrett came out on stage and explained how he knew John Denver. He also mentioned he did another tribute show in the afternoon for some other country star (George Strait). He had a bass player and a fiddle player who were excellent and funny. James Garrett sang many John Denver songs, as well as a few others. Michael and I both really enjoyed hearing the songs and a little bit of the history behind the making of the song.

James Garrett has a good voice and is an excellent guitar player.
James Garrett has a good voice and is an excellent guitar player.
Good singer and bass player, comes from a family band that did gospel music.
Good singer and bass player, comes from a family band that did gospel music.
Main guy on the left.  The mandolin player was very funny playing the hillbilly role.  Said, "the tornado hit my place and my insurance agent said it did $5,000 dollars worth of improvements."
The mandolin player was very funny playing the hillbilly role. Said, “the tornado hit my place and my insurance agent said it did $5,000 dollars worth of improvements.”
A guest gospel singer.
A guest gospel singer.

 

There was one guy in the audience who had met John Denver, and who had played music with him years ago. Love things like that. James Garrett was so fun and interacted with the small audience, which is always nice. The show lasted almost two hours, with a short intermission after the first hour.

When we got back to our “home” after the show, we walked over to the registration building and into the room where the ticket person works. I used our $50.00 certificate (from the horrible timeshare presentation we went to) to get tickets to the “Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai.” (We ended up paying $6.00 for the balance of the tickets.) The “Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai” theater is just a short distance down the street. We were able to get a little bite to eat and rest a little bit before we left, around 2:15 PM.

Michael had wanted to go see “Queen Elizabeth,” store (AKA “Dressing Gaudy”) as he had heard so much from Aunt Gail and from me about it. We went there (just a short drive down the street from our home) and he walked in and started taking pictures.  The main lady that works there asked him all kinds of questions about the pictures, why, who, etc. I thought she was going to call the police but it all turned out good and we had a nice conversation about travel and interesting places. She was very protective, which is a good thing.

We are well warned.
We are well warned.
Edie's new favorite Branson store.
Edie’s new favorite Branson store.
Pretty woman ushering me in.
Pretty woman ushering me in.
Gaudy is not necessarily cheap.
Gaudy is not necessarily cheap.
Edie and Aunt Gail really like this store.  I am practicing being polite.
Edie and Aunt Gail really like this store. I am practicing being polite.
Although some of it is intriguing to me.
Although some of it is intriguing to me.
It does rise to the level of art in some cases.
It does rise to the level of art in some cases.
This is it, Edie would love it and hate me if I bought it for her.  I habitually err on the side of caution...too many years in the prison business.
This is it, Edie would love it and hate me if I bought it for her. I habitually err on the side of caution…too many years in the prison business.
Nice ensembles.
Nice ensembles.
This is a very girly place.
This is a very girly place.

We left there and headed to the Shanghai Theater to watch the show. There was a small gift shop, an area where someone was making jewelry and doing calligraphy, and a small snack bar. We got into our seats and waited for the 3:00 PM showtime to start, but it started about fifteen minutes late. The show was “amazing” in that these kids (and they were all quite young) did things that looked very dangerous but they made them look easy. They balanced on chairs high in the air, jumped through loops back and forth, juggled, and so much more that was mind boggling. After the show they all go out into the lobby and you can take pictures with them. It was then that we realized just how young they all were. Would highly recommend the show as it was excellent.

Not far from our house.  We saw Chinese acrobats in Beijing so were interested to compare.
Not far from our house. We saw Chinese acrobats in Beijing so were interested to compare.
The call them Dragon Rocks.  From China, spectacular.
The call them Dragon Rocks. From China.  Spectacular.
replica of the Terra cotta warriors.  Pretty cool.
Replica of the Terra cotta warriors. Pretty cool.
Lots of physical ability on display.
Lots of physical ability on display.
This woman would snake in folded over, then work her way out.  Almost a human octopus.
This woman would snake in folded over, then work her way out. Almost a human octopus.
A very good foot juggler.
A very good foot juggler.
Flipping it, twirling it, impressive.
Flipping it, twirling it, impressive.
Hat juggling in a pyramid.
Hat juggling in a pyramid.
A twirling stick and string thing that did things that did not look likely or possible.
A twirling stick and string thing that did things that did not look likely or possible.
Chinese motif is nicely done.
Chinese motif is nicely done.
Of course they build this tower one chair and person at a time.  You wonder when they will stop.
Of course they build this tower one chair and person at a time. You wonder when they will stop.
This guy was funny and the buffest of all.  Very good on the tetter totter.
This guy was funny and the buffest of all. Very good on the tetter totter.
He stacked the bowls on the end of his foot board and with a snappy movement flipped them into the air and then caught them all on his head.  Good grief.
He stacked the bowls on the end of his foot board and with a snappy movement flipped them into the air and then caught them all on his head. Good grief.

IMG_5646

Cirque du Soleil has taken over.  This was a nice flying and powerful performance.
Cirque du Soleil has taken over. This was a nice flying and powerful performance.

IMG_5657

At the end of the show we met the kids in the lobby, and they were all kids!
At the end of the show we met the kids in the lobby, and they were all kids!
On the right, in white, she was a star.
On the right, in white, she was a star.
Very young and very disciplined.
Very young and very disciplined.

We went back to our home and just vegged out. We ate leftovers and worked on the computer. That was our day. Hope yours was great!