Comedy and Magic
Branson’s entertainment emphasis has attracted a cadre of comedians and magicians, who have come to town to complement the town’s music scene.
Among the most recognizable faces in town is Yakov Smirnoff, a Russian comedian who made a big splash in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the Yakov show in Branson features the performer surrounded by costumes, props and special effects. The show always includes a group of Russian dancers, a trip to the “Laboratory of Laughter” and Yakov’s signature “Only in America” routine.
Another comedy godfather performs in the Jim Stafford Show. Stafford made his mark as a musical comedian, combining homespun personality and humor with guitar skills, and producing hits such as “Spiders and Snakes,” “Cow Patti” and “My Girl Bill.” During his Branson show, Stafford performs his hits along with classical guitar numbers and heartwarming human-interest stories. The antics are complimented by a variety of special effects, which include holograms, black lights and 3D imagery.
Magic comes in droves at the Kirby VanBurch Show. Billed as the world’s largest magic show, this performance features white tigers, leopards, lions and other exotic animals. VanBurch, who trained with Las Vegas magicians Siegfried and Roy, also does a number of close-up magic tricks during the show. The final act features a large-scale illusion that makes a full-size helicopter appear inside the theater in a matter of seconds.
Acrobatics
Some of the area’s most exciting new shows fall outside the traditional lines of Branson musical reviews, focusing instead on amazing feats of human acrobatics.
Acrobats of China, featuring the New Shanghai Circus brings a centuries-old Chinese tradition to the American Midwest. More than 40 performers who come straight from Shanghai display mesmerizing flexibility, strength and skill in a variety of acts that include dance, plate-spinning, aerial ballet and flying trapeze. The acts include several death-defying stunts as well as numerous representations of traditional Chinese music and costume.
Another new show, “The Legend of Kung Fu,” also features the artistic and athletic traditions of the Far East. Unlike some other Branson acts, this show has a plot that follows a young boy as he learns the art of kung fu from an old master. More than 50 Chinese performers take the stage during the show, demonstrating a variety of martial arts maneuvers, skills and feats of strength.
Thanks to the surging popularity of the Cirque du Soleil style of acrobatic show in North America, Branson has its own otherworldly acrobatic show, Cirque Montage. The cast includes a number of performers who formerly toured with Cirque du Soleil. Visitors will experience a mix of original music, art and acrobatics during the performance, which features aerial chiffon dances, pole climbers, contortionists and other wonders.
Larger than life
A number of companies have taken the tradition of Branson showmanship and amplified it into a larger-than-life experience that encompasses more than a concert or comedy performance.
Quickly becoming a classic, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede combines music, dance, comedy, trick riding and horseback competition. Guests who attend Dixie Stampede eat a full meal with their bare hands and cheer on teams of professional competitors as the North takes on the South in a number of races and trick-riding contests. Visitors often end up in the arena themselves, as audience participation is a big part of the show.
The Showboat Branson Belle gives groups another immersive experience, combining classical showmanship with a two-hour paddleboat ride on Table Rock Lake. Visitors eat aboard the boat and enjoy a number of music, magic and comedy performances during the ride. Guests are always welcome to view the Ozark scenery from the outdoor balconies of the boat and can also enjoy shopping at the boat’s landing.
One of the biggest newsmakers in Branson was the 2009 arrival of Sight and Sound Theatre, a company with a 35-year history of creating Broadway-caliber faith-based musicals in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The theater opened with a run of “Noah,” an epic musical about the Genesis flood. For 2012, the company will present “Joseph,” another original musical that features 45 professional actors, dozens of animals and a score of 20 original songs, all taking place on a 300-foot wrap-around stage.
