PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Nov. 14, 2018) – “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry”™ Theater has begun a Blue, Blue Christmas. The Christmas show, starring Season 12 winner of “The Voice,” Chris Blue will run until Jan. 5. The acclaimed “Don’t Miss Show” (Southern Living magazine), a fixture in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for the past seven years, is well known for its spectacular array of holiday festivities, music, comedy and dance.
This year’s production features the biggest cast ever, with many specialty acts including award winning aerialists Leann Farley and Simyon Gruzdev; comedic juggler, David Hirschi as Slim Chance; and impersonator and singer Charlie Bob Smith. Other cast members include singers, dancers, musicians, Santa Claus and a large Snowman. The Christmas show blends the music of the holiday season with audience favorites of country, gospel and pop accompanied by a Smoky Mountain Opry orchestra. The show is created by executive producers David Fee and Jim Hedrick, and produced and directed by Michael Headla.
“’Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry features the largest live nativity in the southeast,” said David Fee, president and chief executive officer of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group. “We hope people will come and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with our magnificent production of a living nativity scene that portrays the birth of Christ. We have a dramatic representation of the major events related to the birth of Christ that includes camels, a donkey, shepherds, wise men, angels soaring above, Mary, Joseph, and of course, little baby Jesus.
“We have created a stunning production that is full of enchantment and splendor with many new elements,” Fee said. “We have gorgeous new costumes, amazing choreography, lavish sets and incredible special effects such as snow falling softly in the theater.Come make memories with your family that you will cherish for many years to come.
“We have singers, dancers, aerialists, comedians and the amazing Chris Blue as our headliner,” Fee said. “We also have lots for the children including Santa Claus and Santa’s elves who join the entire cast in Santa’s workshop where giant toys come to life.
“It truly is the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ and we are always extremely proud of all of our shows, but at this time of the year, our ‘Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry’ production is spectacular and a must-see family tradition!” Fee said. “This amazing show has been described by our customers as exhilarating, enchanting, funny, magical and wonderful. Come sing along, laugh along and celebrate the season with the biggest, brightest and boldest Christmas show in the Smokies.
“Our Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry has already sold out 10 shows, so I strongly urge people to choose a date that fits into their holiday schedule and buy their tickets today, to make lasting memories for their families this glorious holiday season,” Fee said. “We hope to become a treasured Christmas tradition for families who visit the Smoky Mountain Winterfest Celebration. Come “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and join us at The Smoky Mountain Opry for an unforgettable Blue, Blue Christmas! “
“Christmas at The Smoky Mountain Opry™” has 8 p.m. evening performances Monday through Saturday and 3:00 p.m. matinees on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for the Christmas show are $56.95, plus tax for adults (premium seats in the first three rows are $66.95 plus tax), and children 11 and under are $26.95, plus tax (premium seats are $36.95 plus tax). Group rates are available for groups of 15 or more for the Christmas show. “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™” will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a special show with Blue and the rest of the Smoky Mountain Opry™cast on Dec. 31 at 9 p.m.
Fee/Hedrick offers a combination show deal that offers tickets to “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™” for only $19.95 plus tax for adult tickets when guests buy a ticket to the “Hatfield and McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Feud™” for $56.95 plus tax for adults. With this combination deal, children are $26.95 plus tax to the “Hatfield and McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Feud™” and children are free to “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™” (up to age 11).
The theater is located at traffic light 0 at 2046 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. For more information or reservations call the theater’s box office (865) 428-7469 or 1-800-768-1170 or visit http://www.SmokyMountainOpry.com.
In addition to the producers, the creative team for “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry”™ consists of: Regina Laughlin, choreographer; Mark Holbrook, musical director; Joel Bruce, production manager; Carol Culp, wardrobe supervisor and Toby Wagner, stage manager.
Cast members for this year’s “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry”™ show include vocalists: Kelsey Reinsfelder, Tim McManus, Nicholas Hurm, Matthew George, Brittany Angello, Sarah Shelton, Tiffany St. Clair and Chase McMichen. Singer/Dancers include: Marissa McMickens and David Tankersley. Dancers include: Scott Bebell, Cassidy Couisineau, Lexi Blackard, Abby Brinker, Megan Fee, Jequan Jackson, Regina Laughlin, T.J. Lloyd, Saul Navarrette, Gregory Podolak, Colt Ryan, Mowava Six and Samantha Zier. Musicians include: Matthew Clinkenbeard, Johnny Hodges, Brendan Hogan, Mark Holbrook, Michael Neu, Jeremy Phillips, Tanner Robison, Jared Willson and Kelli Rae Tubbs. Actors include: John Wilder and Darrell Scroufe.
The Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater was awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for achieving a 5-star average rating on their site, making the “Smoky Mountain Opry”™ show one of the top-performing 10 percent of businesses worldwide on Trip Advisor.
The Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group is one of the largest show production companies in the southeast. The company also owns and produces other major shows in the Smoky Mountain area including “A Comedy Barn® Christmas”, www.comedybarn.com, The “Hatfield and McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Feud™” http://www.hatfieldmccoydinnerfeud.com/, “Magic Beyond Belief™: A Magical Christmas” starring Darren Romeo, www.pigeonforgemagic.com, and the “Amazing Animals™Pet Show,” www.comedybarn.com .”
Follow Blue’s journey on The Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages as well as on Facebook at Chris Blue Live, on Instagram at Chris B. Live and on Twitter at Chris Blue Live.
Deborah Fee Newsom
Director of Public Relations and Merchandise Buyer
Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group
119 Music Road,
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 414-6887 (cell), (865) 774-8877
[email protected]