The Boomtown Opry will return to the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium in early December with a Christmas-themed show featuring Lisa Layne Stewart.
Known as a Branson, Missouri-style variety show featuring live music, comedy, dancing and other family-friendly entertainment, the Boomtown Opry began presenting monthly shows in the area in May.
The Boomtown Opry features a house band led by BJ Kyle, who has toured professionally with Colt Ford, Craig Morgan, Tracy Lawrence, Kellie Pickler and others. Local actor/ singer Steve Harrell is the emcee and local country duo Southern Koast (Keith Owens and Susan Tolin) provide background vocals.
The show Dec. 8 will feature Lisa Layne Stewart, Anna Brinker, Rick Jones, Blake Goff, Bill Keys, Dance Connection and Shinbone.
Stewart worked the road with Vince Vance and The Valiants from 1986-1991, and they recorded the Christmas hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You” together with Stewart as the lead vocalist. Today, the song is recognized as the fifth most requested Christmas song of all time. In early 1993, Stewart won the role of Patsy Cline in the first national tour of a “Closer Walk With Patsy Cline,” with which she toured for the better part of two years before joining the Nashville troupe as the lead in the same show at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop’s “Texas Troubadour Theater” from 1998 through 2000.
In 2005, Stewart was inducted along with Vince Vance and Valiants into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. In 2005, she re-recorded “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on a full length Christmas album, accompanied by the world famous Jordanaires on all 12 songs.
Brinker, a native of Stuttgart, is a singer/songwriter with a brand new song and video called “The Possum” about country legend George Jones.
Rick Jones, an El Dorado native, plays at many different venues in the area and Goff, also from El Dorado, is a regular performer at the South Arkansas Arts Center.
Keys will bring some gospel flavor to the show and Dance Connection will perform their Christmas routines.
Mickey Shinn, known as Shinbone, will transform into a redneck Santa for this show and become Shinbone Clause.
Any aspiring singers may audition for future shows before rehearsals on show day around 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 at the door of the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, with children ages 12 and under admitted free. The Boomtown Opry is a family-friendly event with no alcohol sold during the show.
The Boomtown Opry is partnering with the El Dorado Boys & Girls Club, with a portion of show proceeds benefiting the club. In return, the club provides volunteers to staff each show.
For more information on the Boomtown Opry, follow their Facebook page at facebook.com/BoomtownOpry.