Stars of America\u2019s all time favorite variety show are in Branson this week for the Welk Stars Reunion 2007. The five-day schedule with nine live performances at the Welk Resort Theatre begins today (Wednesday, Sept. 5) and runs through Sunday, September 9.<\/p>\n
Original guest stars from the Lawrence Welk television show appearing in the Welk Stars Reunion 2007 include Jo Ann Castle, Anacani, Ava Barber, Dick Dale, Jack Imel, Mary Lou Metzger and Roger & David Otwell (see entertainer bios below).<\/p>\n
The Welk Stars will be joined by the dance team of Pasha & Ailona and the Champagne Music Makers under the direction of Bobby Tillery. Produced by Mary Lou Metzger, the show will include Big Band favorites, the stars\u2019 signature songs and a few surprises \u2014 topped off by an emotion-filled patriotic salute to veterans.<\/p>\n
Show times for the Welk Stars Reunion 2007 are Wednesday thru Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. plus Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Welk Resort Theatre Box Office, by phone at (800)-734-5515 or (417)-337-7469, on the internet at sullivanshows.com or at select Branson-area ticket outlets. Ticket prices including all taxes range from $39.50 for Elite Seating to $34.50 for adults and $14.50 for children. An every day \u201clocals rate\u201d is available to people who live or work in Stone or Taney counties. Proof of employment and\/or residency is required.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lawrence Welk Show\u201d was broadcast for 27 years \u2013 on the ABC television network from July 1955 to September 1971 and in syndication from 1971 to 1982. Demanding that his shows be clean and wholesome, Welk featured easy-listening music performed by a \u201cfamily\u201d of wholesome musicians, singers and dancers. The show\u2019s enduring popularity has been proven time and again through highly rated re-runs and specials on PBS since 1987 and 11 years of live performances at The Welk Resort Theatre in Branson.<\/p>\n
The Welk Resort and Theatre are located 3 miles south of Highway 76 on State Highway 165. The destination resort complex opened in 1994 and includes a 160-room hotel, the Stage Door Restaurant & Lounge, miniature golf course, swimming pool, game room and other amenities. The 2,245-seat theatre near Table Rock Lake was home to the Lawrence Welk Show from 1994 through 2004. A new alliance announced in October 2003 united the Welk Resort Group and Sullivan Shows in a venture designed to bring an array of new shows to Branson. Welk-Sullivan Productions has operated, managed and marketed the Welk Resort Theatre in Branson since January 1, 2004.<\/p>\n
Welk Resort Theatre Fall-Christmas 2007<\/p>\n
* Sept. 5 \u2013 9: Welk Stars Reunion 2007
\n* Sept. 10 \u2013 Dec. 7: The Lowe Family
\n* Sept. 12 \u2013 Oct. 20: Tillis Family Reunion starring Mel Tillis & Pam Tillis
\n* Oct. 29 \u2013 Dec. 7: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers and The Lennon Sisters
\n* Nov. 1 \u2013 Dec. 8: Mel Tillis & Connie Smith
\n* Nov. 6 \u2013 12: Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall display \u2013 free, open to public
\n* Nov. 11: Tony Orlando\u2019s Yellow Ribbon Salute To Veterans
\n* Nov. 12: Tony Orlando show (limited engagement; 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 only)<\/p>\n
Welk Stars Reunion 2007: Entertainer Biographies:<\/p>\n
Jo Ann Castle – Discovered by Lawrence Welk as a teenager, Jo Ann Castle appeared on the famous band leader\u2019s show for 10 years as both a pianist and accordionist. She became one of the show\u2019s most popular entertainers, becoming known as \u201cRagtime Piano Gal,\u201d and \u201cQueen of the Honky-Tonk Piano.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the 1980s Castle wrote and recorded several collections of ragtime and honky tonk favorites, combining ragtime, honky-tonk and boogie-woogie standards with her original compositions. In 2002 she hosted a PBS special, \u201cLegendary Liberace,\u201d which included a duet with Jo Ann and Liberace created through the magic of television editing.<\/p>\n
Today Castle is widely recognized for her unique piano style that combines the veracity of Jerry Lee Lewis with the flamboyance of Liberace. Her live performances are infused with Castle\u2019s distinctive mix of comedy, sass and boundless energy.<\/p>\n
Anacani – Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Anacani was just 12 years old when she became a star on Mexican television, was signed to a recording contract and toured throughout Mexico and Latin America. During a combined tour of Latin America and the United States, she was dining at Lawrence Welk\u2019s restaurant and met the famous maestro. When Lawrence Welk learned that Anacani sang, he auditioned her on the spot and she joined the Lawrence Welk television show in February, 1973. She quickly became an audience favorite and regular performer on the show. She toured with the Lawrence Welk Musicial Family and continues to perform in the United States and Mexico.<\/p>\n
The Welk Stars Reunion 2007 marks only the second appearance for Anacani at the Welk Resort Theatre in Branson. This bilingual vocalist, Latin dancer and actor performs as a soloist with many symphony orchestras and is also an accomplished musician on the guitar and piano. In addition to her musical talents, Anacani also designs and creates all of her<\/p>\n
Ava Barber – this singer\/pianist was a regular on \u201cThe Lawrence Welk Show\u201d from 1974 to 1982. She had a hit record in 1978, \u201cBucket To The South,\u201d and appeared on many television shows including \u201cNashville Now,\u201d \u201cMusic City Tonight,\u201d \u201cPrime Time,\u201d \u201cCrook & Chase Show\u201d and \u201cThe Grand Ole Opry.\u201d In 1990 she opened her own theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and performed there until August 1996. She appeared frequently at the Welk Resort Theatre in Branson with the Welk Show and tours across the country.<\/p>\n
Dick Dale \u2013 began singing and playing saxophone with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra in 1951 and continued on \u201cThe Lawrence Welk Show\u201d until 1982. Dale also danced, performed comedy segments and was part of the show\u2019s production staff. He played the role of Santa Claus every year during the annual \u201cWelk Christmas Show.\u201d In the 1990s, Dale perfomed at Ava Barber\u2019s Rainbow Music Theatre in Tennessee for five years and also performed<\/p>\n
Jack Imel \u2013 joined \u201cThe Lawrence Welk Show\u201d in 1957, quickly becoming a regular on the show with his energetic marima act that concluded with Imel leaping over the marimba. The multi-talened Imel went on to sing, dance, choreograph, produce and direct on \u201cThe Lawrence Welk Show\u201d and in live performances. He appeared frequently at the Welk Resort Theatre in Branson from 1994 through 2004 and today he continues to delight audiences with his energetic marimba playing and tap dancing.<\/p>\n
Mary Lou Metzger \u2013 began her entertainment career at age 7. She majored in music at Temple University and was later introduced to Lawrence Welk by a talent scout. Following her first Welk Performance in 1970, Metzger became known as the girl who danced with Mr. Welk at the end of the weekly television shows. She produces video and stage projects including live performances for the Welk Resort in Escondido, Calif. and the Welk Resort Theatre in Branson, Mo. Metzger is producing this week\u2019s Welk Stars Reunion 2007.<\/p>\n
Roger & David Otwell \u2013 born in Tulia, Texas, these twin brothers first got into music by playing the tuba in the high school band. They won music scholarships to Lubbock Christian College as members of the \u201cGood Time Singers.\u201d After moving on to West Texas State, they auditioned for Lawrence Welk and joined the television show in October 1977, teaming with the Aldridge Sisters. Today they reside in Texas with their families and continue to perform together in concerts, churches, special events and for Lawrence Welk Show wraparounds on public television. The Welk Stars Reunion 2007 marks their first performance in Branson at the Welk Resort Theatre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stars of America\u2019s all time favorite variety show are in Branson this week for the Welk Stars Reunion 2007. The five-day schedule with nine live performances at the Welk Resort Theatre begins today (Wednesday, Sept. 5) and runs through Sunday, September 9. Original guest stars from the Lawrence Welk television show appearing in the Welk […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[112,208],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bransontourist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}