Andy Williams, who will open his 2008 Branson season at his Moon River Theatre on April 4, will be a presenter on Sunday”s 50th annual Grammy Awards to air on CBS.

Williams, who hosted the first seven Grammy Awards, will be joined onstage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles by singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado to present the prestigious Song of the Year award, said William’s spokesman Paul Shefrin.

Williams has had five Grammy nominations during his career. He’ll open his Branson season performing with the cast of “The Entertainers,” a show produced last season in his theater. Beginning June 6, Williams will share the stage with legendary performer Ann-Margret, who also has become a Branson favorite.

This year, four of the five Grammy nominated songs were also sung by the songwriters including Plain White T’s Tom Higgenson for “Hey There Delilah,” Corinne Bailey Rae for “Like A Star,” Amy Winehouse for “Rehab” and Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, for being a co-writer of “Umbrella,” performed by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z. Songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins are nominated for Carrie Underwood’s recording of “Before He Cheats.”

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Here’s a handy reference guide of important emergency phone numbers for your next trip to Branson.

• Emergency: 911
• Branson Police Department: 417-334-3300
• Branson Fire Department: 417-337-8580
• Skaggs Hospital: 417-335-7000
• Taney County Sheriff: 417-546-7250
• Taney County Ambulance: 417-334-1441

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One of the more popular times to vacation in Branson in March is during Spring Break. With the weather comfortable and with the majority of the shows and attractions open for the year, it is a perfect time to get away for a little rest and relaxation before the new year is in full-swing.

Not only are there great show and entertainment options, but the shopping and outdoors provide hours of fun and enjoyment!

From fishing to hiking, shopping to attractions, there really is something for everyone to do in Branson!

Related Articles & Links

• Branson offers students access to entertainment during Spring Break
• Branson Spring Break packages

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The Branson Festival of Arts 2008 to be held Oct. 9 through 11 is bound to make history, says Bob Cohn, president of the Branson Arts Council. And now’s the time for artists to register for the juried show.

There are several reasons Cohn predicts the three-day indoor festival will become a landmark annual event. First, Branson is a city known for fostering artists and artisans since it first beckoned visitors in the early 1950s.

The event will be held in the new Branson Convention Center. The building is spectacular and inviting, designed to pay homage to the natural beauty of the Ozarks with a curved glass front reflecting nearby Lake Taneycomo. The extensive use of wood creates a warm ambiance. And the convention center adjoins Branson Landing, the new $420 million lifestyle center with shopping, restaurants, the Fountains of Fire and a stunning lakefront boardwalk.

While first-time art festivals may suffer a shortage of spectators, Branson now attracts nearly eight million visitors a year, and autumn is one of the busiest times. They come for the live entertainment bonanza, the many choices for active relaxation on three lakes and wooded trails and the friendly Ozarks” hospitality.

The Branson Festival of Arts will soon be another annual attraction, Cohn says.

“Artists will come to be part of a high-quality, juried fine arts show in a brand new facility on beautiful Branson Landing,” Cohn said. “And the spectators are already there.”

The show is limited to 100 artists. Frank Neef has already been accepted. Neef specializes in crystalline glazed and pierced porcelain at his studio in Highlandville. He travels to shows in states including Texas, Illinois, Michigan and Colorado, “…so anytime I have the opportunity to market more locally, I’m willing to give it a try,” Neef said.

“It’s taking place at the Landing, which is a very happening place right now, and has quite a good buzz, and the fall is always a big time in that area,” Neef said.

Neef began his art career nearly 30 years ago at Branson’s flagship theme park, Silver Dollar City.

“Fall was always the biggest time of year there with the color reaching its peak. And people come from all over the country at that time,” Neef said.

Silver Dollar City’s National Harvest Festival draws thousands of visitors to its arts and crafts, and that festival will be in progress during the Branson Festival of Arts, ensuring art lovers will be in town.

“It’s just an opportunity close to home that wouldn’t cost much as far as hotel and travel expenses, so why not try it?” Neef said.

Neef said he did a major show in a large city, “and it was a bust. With the economy being in question right now, it’s probably easier to stay closer to home and not risk as much.”

Branson Festival of Arts:

Date: Oct. 9-11

Hours: Thursday, Meet-The-Artist Reception, 5 to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with teardown at Saturday close

Setup: Wednesday, Oct. 8, until noon Thursday

Festival admission: $5

Fee: $250; Jury Fee: $25

Prize money: $3,250

Register at www.bransonartscouncil.org. Call 417-335-6636. Email: [email protected] Write: R.Cohn, 89 Westwood Dr., Branson MO 65616.

Branson Has Always Welcomed Artists

* One of the first attractions in Branson, Shepherd of the Hills Homestead and Outdoor Drama, held a contest in the early 1950s with the backing of the community and invited artists to paint a model for sculptors to use in creating statues of the best-selling book’s characters. The contest was judged by Missouri muralist Thomas Hart Benton. It was won by 15-year-old Wally Nickel, a high school student at School of the Ozarks, now College of the Ozarks, according to author Kathleen Van Buskirk in the book, “In The Heart of Ozark Mountain Country.” Springfield art teacher Roberta Stoneman Baker sculpted the seven-foot figure of The Shepherd, which was placed on display in 1954.

* In 1960, the popular theme park Silver Dollar City opened, designed to resemble an 1890’s Ozark village. Among the first craftsman there was woodcarver Peter Engler. As word of Engler’s work spread, other carvers were attracted to the Ozarks. It wasn’t long before their work gained national attention, and Branson became known for its fine woodcarvers. Other artisans also gathered at Silver Dollar City and spread into other area attractions including the Engler Block.

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Imagine witnessing the most beloved stories of the Bible come to life on one of the largest stages in the country. Sight & Sound Theatres(R), described by some as “the Christian
Broadway,” will premiere the epic Bible story of Noah on May 24, 2008, at its new theatre in Branson, Mo., a month ahead of the originally scheduled
opening.

The new Branson theatre, located at 1001 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, is 339,000 square feet with a stage area of 26,550 square feet
and seating for 2,085 patrons.

The production’s 300-foot stage that wraps around three sides of the audience, 40-foot high sets, cast of 45 actors, elaborate costumes,
breathtaking special effects, and hundreds of live and animatronic animals captivate and transport audience members as they experience Noah and his
family’s journey of persecution, faithfulness, hope and redemption.

Sight & Sound Theatres is the nation’s largest professional Christian theatre company and one of the most-attended live theatres on the East
Coast. Founded in 1976 by Glenn and Shirley Eshelman, Sight & Sound Theatres has produced spectacular, epic stories of the Bible at its
original location in Lancaster County, Pa., where more than 800,000 theatergoers from across the country and around the world attend shows
annually.

“We are committed to remaining on the forefront of bringing the word of God to life with exceptional quality, honoring God and encouraging the
faith of our guests,” said Eshelman.

About Sight & Sound Theatres:

The name “Sight & Sound” was inspired by the teaching of Jesus found in Matthew 13:10-23 where Jesus explains to the disciples why he spoke to the
people in parables or stories.

Sight & Sound’s purpose is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ by visualizing and dramatizing the scriptures, through inspirational
productions, encouraging others and seeking always to be dedicated and wise stewards of God-given talents and resources.

While it is a ministry, the company is not affiliated with any external organization or any particular church denomination. It is a for-profit
organization and operates without charitable support.

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Looking to connect while are away? Branson offers several places to connect to the internet wirelessly while you are on vacation.

• The Click’n’Sip Internet Cafe
• McDonald’s (Hwy 248, 76 & Downtown)
• Mailbox It
• Panera Bread

The next time you need to connect to the internet while you are away, try out these spots!

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If you are planning to fly into Branson, there are several options for airports and airlines that you have to choose from. Over the past several years it has been getting easier and easier to catch a flight with only a short drive to reach Branson.

Branson Airports

When flying into the area you have several airports to choose from:

• Springfield-Branson National Airport (Airport Code SGF) – Only about a 50-minute drive to Branson, the Springfield-Branson airport is the most commonly used for flying into Branson.
• Branson Regional Airport – Currently under construction and set to open in the first half of 2009, upon completion it will be the first privately financed and operated commercial airport in the U.S.
• Kansas City International Airport (Airport Code MCI) – A roughly four-hour drive to Branson.
• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (Airport Code STL) – Approximately four hours from Branson.
• Adams Field Airport (Little Rock, Arkansas) (Airport Code LIT) – About a four-hour drive to Branson.
• Boone County Regional Airport – Approximately 45 minutes from the Branson area.

So, if you’re looking at flying into Branson, be sure to check out these airports to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.

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We highly recommend that you purchase your tickets as far ahead as possible. By ordering your tickets early, you ensure that you have the best seating possible and avoid the risk of a show selling out.

As soon as you have decided on the days that you are visiting Branson, we suggest that you start making your show ticket reservations. Many holidays, weekends and events throughout the year draw many, many tourists to town. If you have your tickets ordered and confirmed you relieve the stress and worry of shows selling out or not getting the best seats that you want.

Another great benefit of ordering Branson show tickets early is the ability to request seating preferences: Want to sit on the aisle? You want to be on the right-side, left-side or center? There are many different options available that can be requested to make your show experience the best that it can possibly be!

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The Sight & Sound Theatre, one of Branson’s largest and most elaborate theatrical undertakings is set to open May 24, 2008. The theatre will open with the show “NOAH – The Musical.” This is a great addition to the great shows and attractions that have become a staple of Branson.

Sight & Sound visitors will be amazed by the live animals and a stage production unlike any seen in Branson before. A huge facility set in the Ozark mountains provides an amazing backdrop for this brand-new theatre.

As described on their website, NOAH – The musical:

After God reveals to the righteous Noah that a flood will extinguish all life on earth, He charges the man to construct an ark massive enough to shelter his family, any other true believers, and pairs of every species of living creature.

Lacking materials, Noah takes his three sons to Nod, a city in decline. The family tries in vain to convince their friends and neighbors to join them, and are ridiculed and attacked throughout the decades it takes them to fulfill God’s command.

Watch Noah and his family try to care not only for themselves while at sea, but for their vast menagerie as well. Experience their stress at being cooped up together for more than a year. When their trying journey is finally complete, marvel at the wonder of God’s reward for Noah’s unquestioning obedience and devotion to Him.

For more information or to order tickets please call: 1-800-785-1550 or check out this link NOAH-The Musical.

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The #1 Hits of the Sixties show in Branson will be returning to the Jim Stafford Theatre in 2008. They will be performing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and most Saturdays at 2:00 pm. They also have shows Thursday and Friday nights at 8:00 pm. With some of the best music and songs from the 1960’s, this show promises to offer great entertainment, fun and excitement for the whole family.

For more information or to order tickets call 1-800-785-1550 or click here for a schedule and prices.

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