Courtesy Myrtle Beach Area CVB
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Visitors to the Grand Strand area of South Carolina — which includes Myrtle Beach and surrounding towns — have enjoyed live entertainment for more than a quarter of a century.
“It started about 26 years ago, when the first live-entertainment theater opened — Calvin Gilmore’s Carolina Opry,” said Kimberly Miles, public relations representative for the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Gilmore had played at the Grand Ole Opry, and he wanted to have a permanent base here. So he opened up a show in Myrtle Beach in the model of the Branson theaters.”
In the years since it opened, other shows have come to town as well, including dinner-and-tournament style shows such as Medieval Times and Dixie Stampede. Last year, Dolly Parton and company turned Dixie Stampede into Pirates Voyage, a show with a nautical theme that takes place around a giant water tank.
Other music and variety shows have joined the lineup as well. Today, groups in the Grand Strand can see a tribute show at Legends in Concert and a traditional music review at the Alabama Theatre. The Palace Theatre features two shows: Grand Cirque and Hooray for Hollywood.
Myrtle Beach also has a number of other entertainment options, such as a comedy improvisation troupe that has proven popular with groups.
“Carolina Improv is owned by a woman who studied at Second City in Chicago,” Miles said. “They can come do custom performances for groups that are completely based on the group’s needs. They can come do a show at your hotel, and they incorporate people into their games and skits.”
www.visitmyrtlebeach.com
Orlando, Florida
A number of high-profile theme parks have made Orlando one of the most popular vacation destinations in the South. Groups that visit the city will find plenty of entertainment options, both at the parks and at other sites around the city.
Many church groups enjoy the shows at Holy Land Experience.
“Holy Land Experience is a fabulous attraction that re-creates the city of Jerusalem and its religious importance,” said Zita Steglich, director of convention sales for Visit Orlando. “They have a daily schedule of praise and worship and several live dramas. One of the dramas that they’re currently performing is about four different women who loved Jesus.”
Universal Orlando has several entertainment options as well. The park is home to one of the famous Blue Man Group troupes, who put on wild and colorful shows filled with splashing paint and homemade percussion instruments. Once a year, Universal hosts Rock the Universe, a music festival featuring contemporary Christian artists. Nearby, Disneyworld holds a similar event each year called Night of Joy.
Orlando’s House of Blues gives visitors a place to hear rock and blues artists from around the region, as well as nationally touring acts. On Sunday mornings, they host a high-energy gospel brunch, where performers put an edgy spin on classic gospel songs.
Groups spending time in Orlando can also attend a number of dinner shows, including Pirates Dinner Adventure, Medieval Times and Arabian Nights.
