If you ask locals what kind of nightlife there is in Branson, they’ll probably tell you to see an 8 p.m. show. That’s because most folks go to bed fairly early around here. Those of you who are looking for action even after the shows have let out will find a fair mix of local taverns and glitzy nightclubs. Up until the last couple of years, the choices for late-night entertainment in Branson were slim. However, as the number of annual visitors steadily increases, so does the demand for more late-night establishments.
Most of the nighttime activity in Branson actually takes place in about a dozen or so restaurants with full-service bars. We have grouped them together in this chapter, but you’ll also find most of them listed in the Restaurants chapter. Some have live entertainment from time to time, but most of them do not. Unless otherwise noted, there’s never a cover charge at these places. If you’re really looking to kick up your heels and are younger than 30, you should probably head on up to Springfield, where there’s a plentiful supply of dance clubs and taverns that are frequented by mostly 20- and 30-somethings. Check out the Springfield News-Leader’s weekend section that comes out on Friday for a list of the places hosting live bands or other special events. Branson does have a few places where you can go to cut a rug. Most notable is B. T. Bones.
The legal drinking age is 21 in Missouri, and many of these places will ask for identification. Nondrinkers will find a few places that serve a selection of nonalcoholic concoctions.
If you’ve had one too many of the altering kind, ask the bartender or waitperson to call a cab for you. Why spoil an otherwise perfect vacation?
During the winter months, most of our bars and nightclubs close up well before midnight, and even during the busy summer and fall, not too many stay open past then. After 1 a.m., you may have to settle for cable TV.
Local entertainers like to frequent the nightspots after the shows. They catch up on gossip while enjoying a beer with their evening meal. At Tony Z’s or B. T. Bones, you never know whom you might see at the bar or at the microphone.
If you belong to the under-21 dating crowd and want to cuddle up to your sweetheart in the dark, see a movie. Skateworld stays open until 10 p.m., and some of the go-kart tracks stay open until midnight in the summertime, which can be great fun for a date (see the Kidstuff chapter). If all else fails, take your other half down to Sunset Park, on the Taneycomo lakefront just west of the US 65 bridge. A stroll on the park path, listening to the night critters, may do more for your love life than some loud, smoky evening spent in a bar.
When the popular 60 Minutes television show proclaimed that Branson was the “live music capital of the entire universe” on December 8, 1991, there were only 22 theaters in operation. Today we have more than 40. Morley Safer reported that Branson hosted an estimated four million people per year. Today the number is eight million; a startling fact when you consider the town’s population is just over 7,000. We have more theater seats than Broadway and Las Vegas combined, around 59,000 in all. Branson has been consistently rated by groups such as the American Bus Association and the National Tour Association as one of the top three vacation destinations in the United States. Family-wise, Branson is the most economical of all these vacation spots. Needless to say, Branson is a popular place!
When the Baldknobbers started the first show five decades ago, little did they know that their show would be joined by more than 120 other shows in the years to follow. Today the entertainment offerings in Branson range all the way from community theater productions and amateur talent shows to extravagant Las Vegas style productions complete with 3-D special effects, dazzling costumes, laser lighting systems, and surround sound—and who can forget the big-name stars! Over the years Branson has played host to some of the biggest names in country and pop music both past and present—mostly past, but nevertheless still some of the most famous. Try getting a ticket to Andy Williams’s Christmas show after about November 1 and then decide if the term “has been” isn’t a little premature.
If you ask people why they come to Branson, the majority of them will say to see the shows, but what they really enjoy is getting to meet the stars face-to-face. You see, in Branson there are no walls between the entertainers and their audiences. They sign autographs, pose for pictures, board motor coaches, and listen intently as people tell them stories about hearing their songs for the first time. If it’s your birthday or your anniversary, the stars will announce your name from the stage, or they might even invite you to come up and join them. Veterans are recognized from the stage of almost every theater in town, and no matter what state you’re from, you’ll be made to feel as if it were the only one in the Union.
Since most of the entertainers have homes in Branson and live here at least nine months out of the year, you’re as likely as not to run into Yakov Smirnoff at Wal-Mart or see one of the Grand Ladies of Country at the supermarket. When Mel Tillis is in town, he and Shoji Tabuchi are regular Table Rock Lakers. Moe Bandy and Mickey Gilley spend most of their free time on one of the area’s golf courses. If you see a really good-looking group of 20-something guys and gals at one of the area restaurants, you can probably bet they make up the chorus or dance troupe at one of the shows. Go over and say hello. They’ll be glad to shake your hand and tell you about their show. Branson is a small town, and the entertainers don’t have many places to hide—not that too many of them even try.
One of the best things about the shows in Branson is that because the entertainers are not constantly packing up to get to their next gig, they have time to really work on their presentations and develop new and creative ways to show off their talents. Comedian, musician, and all-around creative genius Jim Stafford is the perfect example of someone who takes full advantage of the time he has to develop his product. His show is constantly changing through the addition of new numbers, special effects, cast members, jokes, and other neat tricks. You could go to his show five times a year and see something new every time.
Most performers do two shows a day. The most common showtimes are 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. The shows usually last around two hours with a 15-minute intermission. Some of them have pre-shows that begin as much as 30 minutes ahead of the main show. Pre-shows generally feature some type of specialty act, emcee, or comedian.
The theater season in Branson runs from March through December; however, many of the shows are staying open during January and February for Hot Winter Fun (see the Annual Events chapter). For a list of these shows, call the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at (417) 334-4136. Most of the theaters offer Christmas shows that begin around the second week of November and run through the end of the week before Christmas. Ticket prices may be slightly higher for some shows during this time. The custom in Branson is for the shows to devote the second half entirely to Christmas-themed entertainment, while the first half remains the same as the regular season show. There are some exceptions. We have not included specific information for Christmas shows in this book, so your best bet is to call the theater directly to find out what’s in the works.
Holidays are a big deal in Branson, especially Veterans Day. Veterans receive discounts to most shows during the week of Veterans Homecoming each year and are treated to some type of special recognition at each venue. New Year’s Eve is fast becoming another biggie. Many of the theaters present special late shows to ring in the new year and offer additional shows on New Year’s Day.
The showtimes and dates listed in this section are intended to give you a general idea of the days and times a particular show plays at a particular theater. Most shows run six days a week, one or two times a day. Specific dates and times vary frequently throughout the year, so be sure to call the box office if you have a particular date in mind. Also remember that if you call in April about a show in October, you’d best call back to confirm the information two to three weeks before the show.
Not only do the entertainers change their show schedules during the year, they also change theaters as well. One observer said that Branson shows are as “jumpy as frog legs fryin’ in a skillet.” Most performers lease a theater or a time slot, and they’re always looking for a bargain or a better location. Yakov Smirnoff’s theater became too small for his sold-out shows, so he bought the old Will Rogers Theatre, originally built by Mel Tillis. Mel Tillis sold the new theater he built for himself and “retired” (but still plays dates at specified times throughout the year); his old theater is now a church. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? Don’t panic if you dial the number of a theater only to find out that the name has changed or the show you were looking for is no longer playing there. Some theaters are “dark” for a season as they change owners or remodel. Again, your best bet is to call the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce to find out who is where. But shows open and they fold. Acts come and go. Theaters are sold, and new shows and talent are showcased, leaving the earlier shows looking for new venues. The theater scene is in a state of constant flux in Branson, so much so that even the weekly papers find it difficult to keep abreast of the changes.
The ticket prices we have listed here include tax unless otherwise noted and are subject to change. Fortunately, more shows are now allowing children 12 and younger in for free, but for others the children’s ticket prices listed here generally apply to those 12 and younger. There are some exceptions, so be sure to call the box office for specific information. Some of the theaters admit children for free during the summer months but charge at other times of the year. Babes in arms are usually admitted free.
The easiest way to purchase tickets is to call the box office directly or go online to the theater’s Web site. Some theaters ask for a credit card number before they will reserve your seats, while others simply require you to pick up and pay for your tickets 30 minutes to one hour before showtime. If you don’t show up in time, you risk losing your reservation unless it has been guaranteed with a credit card. The earlier you call, the better your chances of getting good seats. Good seats vary widely from theater to theater. Front row center may be great in one venue but too close to the stage in another. If you have time, you might want to stop by the box office the day before the show and ask to see a seating chart. If you have special needs, you can ask to take a peek inside the auditorium. Let the box-office staff know if you have seriously impaired vision, need a wheelchair space, or require hearing assistance equipment. Staff members will do their best to accommodate you.
A number of ticket brokers and tourist information centers in town will be happy to make all of your show reservations for you. Some of them charge a small fee, and others purchase tickets from the theaters at a wholesale price and then mark the tickets up. These companies are a good source of information about the shows and will even deliver your tickets to your hotel room. Hotels, campgrounds, RV parks, resorts, and other overnight lodging facilities also make reservations for guests. If you know what shows you want to see at the time you make your lodging reservation, the place will often have the tickets waiting for you when you check in and simply add the cost of the tickets to your final bill. If you have tickets in your hand before you arrive at the theater, you can avoid the line at the box office right before showtime.
Most all of the theaters have some type of concessions area where you can purchase soft drinks, popcorn, candy bars, coffee, and water. A few serve hot dogs, muffins, and cookies, but that’s about it. You can take food and drinks into all the theaters, but listen closely for their audio and video recording policies, usually mentioned at the beginning of each show. Some shows ban the use of flash cameras inside the auditorium during the performance.