Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment Group

By Michele Karl as seen in the Seymour Herald:

It may be Dollywood Country here in Sevier County but at the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show it’s more like Hollywood. The theater showed off its newest theatrical presentation to media and guests this week with a Hollywood theme and enough music to keep everybody’s feet tapping.

Pigeon Forge has always been known as a great family destination and this show is one that should not be missed by not only tourists but locals as well.

After opening remarks and getting the kids on stage to do a little act of their own, the show begins with a Hollywood scene as the stars of the show, “Jimmy Bryant” as the lead director and “Stacy Mitchell” as his gallant but mainly nerdy assistant set their “film” in motion as Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe, sing songs from some of Americas best loved films.

The Black Bear Jamboree gang (six large animatronic black bears) sit on either side of the stage critiquing the show as the director and his assistant do their work.

The music then turns to the hottest tunes from the ’70s Disco era, and new Country music favorites, complete with a finale of inspirational and patriotic numbers.

The talented singers, dancers and musicians are so full of energy that you wonder how they are able to do what they do, show after show, and still making you feel like it is the first time they have performed the show onstage. With 250 costume changes, great looking sets, state-of-the-art lighting, and black light special effects it’s definitely a show full of excitement.
“This is the first time we have changed the show in a while so we are really excited about it,” stated Deborah Fee Newsom Director of Fee/Hedrick Public Relations.

David Fee, co-owner and president of Fee/Hedrick, says the goal of the new show is to give new audiences and repeat patrons a quality entertainment experience unlike any other show in the area. “When you come to the Black Bear Jamboree you are guaranteed lots of bears, lots of music, lots of fun and a guaranteed hand-clapping, toe-tapping good time,” Fee says.

A number of Fee/Hedrick employees collectively contributed to the script of the new show, including Stephen Knowles, Bob Hamill, David Hirschi, Alvin Robinette, and Russ Hollingsworth. Under the leadership of general manager Scot Tillery, the new top-rate show has been in the works for the past nine months beginning with last fall’s cast auditions.

Scot Tillery says the cast for the 2007 season was specially selected with the new show’s performance demands in mind. “For this show we cast performers who were not only good singers and actors, but also were talented in many styles of dance.”

The new show features about a dozen different dance styles - tap, jazz, ballet, disco, adagio pairs dancing, Broadway show-style dancing, square dancing and contemporary Country line dancing, just to name a few.

Tillery says of the song selections, “We’ve kept the same musical revue format of the Black Bear Jamboree Show that audiences are accustom to, but we’ve included new styles of music such as movie music and brought a new flare to the show with the disco fever number. So far, audiences have commented that they like hearing great Country music, but that they get a little extra at our show with other types of music represented.”

Besides the great show you are treated to some of the best fixin’s around with a meal of creamy vegetable soup, hickory-pit barbeque ribs, southern-style tender roasted chicken, seasoned green beans, farm-fresh seasoned potatoes, fresh buttery corn on the cob, hot golden brown rolls, unlimited beverages and desert.

In the end the “film” teaches a message about the spirit and culture of the Smoky Mountains region.

Dinner shows are at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily. Adult tickets are $34.95, plus tax. One child, age 11 and under, is free with each paying adult. Additional child tickets are $9.95, plus tax. The “Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show” is produced by Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, which is the second largest privately-owned entertainment company in the Southeastern U.S. The company also owns and operates The Comedy Barn Theater, The Miracle Theater, and Magic Beyond Belief Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. For more information about any of Fee/Hedrick’s shows, visit www.feehedrick.com or call 428-7676, toll-free at 800-908-9018.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - What do a bowling ball, rubber chicken, and ping pong ball have in common? Not much, other than they are all items comedic juggler David J. Hirschi can toss into the air as part of his “Slim Chance” act, appearing at The Comedy Barn during the 2007 season.

Known by his stage name “Slim”, the seven-ball juggler also throws saw blades and incorporates humor into his act by saying his catch phrase “Sissy Dog” using a voice similar to Mr. Haney, who was played by Pat Buttram on the popular sitcom “Green Acres.”

Slim comes to The Comedy Barn from Branson, Mo., where he most recently worked in “The Yakov Smirnoff Show” as a performer, writer, director, and co-producer. David Fee and Jim Hedrick, co-owners of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, saw Slim’s act in the Yakov show during a trip to Branson in August 2006. In addition to co-owner, Hedrick also is vice president of the Fee/Hedrick company. He says they really found a special addition to The Comedy Barn in Slim’s act.

“As a juggler myself, I instantly recognized his talent,” Hedrick says. “His energy and presentation is very likeable, which is one of the most important aspects of a being a great entertainer. The country theme of his act also really fits into the atmosphere of The Comedy Barn.”

Slim says relocating to Pigeon Forge has been a positive move for him. To keep his act fresh and new, Slim works on new tricks all the time. He is introducing a new finale trick that involves standing on top of a 6-foot ladder on one foot, while balancing 10 cigar boxes on his chin, and twirling a garbage can lid in one hand and spinning a Cowboy rope in the other.

When asked what part of his act he most enjoys performing at The Comedy Barn, Slim is quick to point out that it is not so much what he does, but the audience’s participation. “I enjoy figuring out where an audience is emotionally and bringing them into the performance until they are roaring with laughter. After all, that is what comedy is all about — laughing.”

Slim says juggling is a creative profession. “This is an environment where you are allowed to create happiness in people. There is nothing better than people being appreciative because you made their day better,” Slim says.

But the performer has not always been sure about his career path. He first learned to juggle at 15 years old, after which he found himself leading a double life — his normal, everyday life; then his life as an entertainer. Although he spent thousands of hours on the stage as an entertainer, performing always took a back seat to more serious endeavors, such as graduating from college and working in the “real world.”

While a student at Virginia Tech, he established the Virginia Tech Juggling Club and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. Following graduation, he worked as an education specialist for the National Park Service in Maine and Utah, The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and Point Reyes Bird Observatory in California. At the same time, he also worked as an actor in theatrical productions, industrial videos, and a television mini-series “The Murder of Mary Phagan,” starring Jack Lemmon. He also honed his juggling skills with appearances at Busch Gardens and Disney World theme parks.

His unique combination of theatrical experience and science education led to six years of writing, directing, and producing large-scale, science shows for The Science Museum of Virginia and The Science Museum of Minnesota. He also received consulting contracts from The Minnesota Zoo and The Science and Technology Museum in Atlanta to develop science-based theatrical productions.

But in 1991, he shifted his career direction when he accepted an invitation to perform his juggling act in Las Vegas, which led to stints at the Excalibur, Maxim, Sands, and Aladdin hotels. Since then, he has worked full-time only as a professional entertainer.

Slim says there once was a time when he questioned the social importance of being a comedic juggler. “As a teacher, we are taught that our purpose is to bring a sense of social value to society. When I started performing professionally, I questioned whether this line of work had much social value,” Slim says. “But one day following a show in Branson, a lady came up to me crying. She told me that her husband had terminal cancer and this was the first time she’d heard him laugh in months. At that moment, I learned we all have our role and place in life, and this was where I needed to be.”

After four years in Las Vegas, he moved to Branson in 1994 where he began performing at The Country Tonite Theatre. For the next four years he developed his new character, “Slim Chance,” which the entertainer describes as “a sophisticated, juggling hillbilly with an off-beat sense of humor.”

His “Slim Chance” act garnered him back-to-back Comedian of the Year titles at the Branson Entertainment Awards in 1995 and 1996. Also in 1996, he received the Country Comedian of the Year Award from the American News Journal in Houston, Texas.

In 1998, David joined Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff at his theater in Branson. The duo created “The Yakov Smirnoff Show,” which became one of the most successful shows in Branson, attracting some 250,000 people per year. He later served as creative producer when Smirnoff wanted to create the one-man show, “As Long As We Both Shall Laugh,” which ran on Broadway in New York City in 2003. That same year, Slim also wrote and directed “The Pam Tillis Show” for the country superstar in Branson.

After 13 years in Branson, Slim moved to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., just a few weeks ago to perform at The Comedy Barn and to enjoy the atmosphere the region offers. “The live entertainment scene in Pigeon Forge is coming into its own, with folks understanding that they will be getting a quality show on par with other entertainment venues around the country,” Slim says.

The Comedy Barn Theater is located one-half block south of traffic light No. 3 on U.S. 441 (The Parkway) in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open year ’round, The Comedy Barn has two shows nightly in season at 5:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., as well as some scheduled matinees for groups throughout the season. Adult tickets are $21.95, plus tax. One child, age 11 and under, is admitted free with each paying adult. Additional child tickets are $9.95, plus tax. For tickets, call 1-800-29 LAUGH. For more information, visit www.comedybarn.com.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - The Triumphant Quartet has received nine Top 5 nominations for Singing News magazine’s prestigious Fan Awards.

The four-part harmony vocal group performs their new Southern Gospel show locally at The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. All Sevier County residents, the group includes tenor David Sutton, lead Clayton Inman, baritone Scott Inman, and bass and show host Eric Bennett. Pianist Jeff Stice completes the group with his soulful accompaniment.

Year after year, the award-winning quartet has been recognized for their success in the Southern Gospel community, both as individuals and as a group. This year is no different with Triumphant receiving nine Top 5 nominations for Singing News Fan Awards — one of the top honors awarded to Southern Gospel artists as selected by “Singing News” magazine subscribers.

The group has received 2007 nominations for Group of the Year, Favorite Album for its self-titled “Triumphant,” and Favorite Song for “Hey Jonah.” In addition, individual nominations have gone to all five group members - Scott Inman for Best Young Artist and Best Baritone Vocalist, Jeff Stice for Best Musician, Eric Bennett for Best Bass Vocalist, Clayton Inman for Best Lead Vocalist, and David Sutton for Best Tenor Vocalist.

Ballots will go out to Singing News magazine subscribers in July to vote for the overall winner in each category. Winners will be announced in September at The National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Ky.

In a statement the groups says of their nominations, “Triumphant is truly humbled and grateful for the support fans have shown in their music and ministry.”

Russ Hollingsworth, general manager of The Miracle Theater where the group performs says, “We are happy to have such an influential Southern Gospel group bringing award-winning talent to The Miracle Theater. Now in their second season at the theater, we’ve heard very positive feedback from our audiences about Triumphant’s new show. People really like that such high-quality Southern Gospel entertainment is readily accessible on the Pigeon Forge Parkway.”

The quartet opens the show with tunes like, “Don’t Let the Sandals Fool Ya”, the group’s No. 1 hit on the US Gospel News top 80 chart in 2006, and their newest radio single “He Rescued Me,” currently being played by gospel radio stations around the world.

Triumphant Quartet, under the Daywind Records label, has also just released a new album entitled, “You Gotta Love It.” The group will incorporate new songs off the album into their show at The Miracle Theater as hits are released.

Triumphant Quartet performs at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at The Miracle Theater, located at 2046 on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Adult tickets are $19.95, plus tax. Children, ages 11 and under, are free with each paying adult. Tickets are available by calling (865) 428-SHOW (7469). Groups of 20 or more qualify for group rates, available by calling 1-866-492-6972.

Triumphant’s show is produced by Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, which is the second largest privately-owned entertainment company in the Southeastern U.S. The company also owns and operates The Comedy Barn, Black Bear Jamboree, and Magic Beyond Belief shows in Pigeon Forge.

For more information about Triumphant Quartet, visit www.triumphantquartet.com. For more information about any of Fee/Hedrick’s shows, visit www.feehedrick.com.

Pigeon Forge, Tenn., April 12, 2007 - The Blackwood Singers of the “Blackwood Breakfast Variety Show” at the Black Bear Jamboree Theater in Pigeon Forge were the featured performers at a ceremony for the grand opening of the Hall of Fame Café at the Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday, April 10. The black-tie event highlighted the accomplishments of five residents of the nursing home dubbed “Hometown Heroes.”

“There’s just nothing quite like performing for seniors and watching their eyes light up and smiles fill their faces as the show begins. . . . We salute these Hometown Heroes,” said R. W. Blackwood, Jr.

John Bowers, administrator of the Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center said, “We have a Football Hall of Fame, a Baseball Hall of Fame, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame, but the greatest contributions in society have not been made by athletes or actors, but rather they have been made by the real heroes of our society today - our senior population. America is the most blessed country in the world, but America did not get that way without sacrifices. We wanted to honor the gentlemen who went to war, the wives who stayed home, the teachers who taught all of us, and all of the senior adults who have made a difference.”

The Hall of Fame Café at the Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center plans to honor approximately five or six of its residents each year. “Our Hall of Fame honors what these individuals have done and how they have served our society,” Bowers said. “We want to recognize them and say thank you.”

Honorees for the evening included: Bernice “Betty” Bonneville, who was chosen because she was a licensed nursing home administrator and was the first activities and social services director for the Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center in 1987 and she made tents for the military; John Benjamin “J.B.” Brewer who was chosen for his military service in the Navy during World War II and Korea; Mamie Mayes who was chosen because she was a licensed practical nurse for 18 years at Lakeshore Mental Hospital and a beautician; Jerry McClelland who was chosen because he worked in the ministry and performed with a gospel group; and Violet Wood, who was chosen because she was a licensed practical nurse, a missionary on the foreign mission field, did a lot of volunteer work, and was a devoted wife and mother.

R. W. Blackwood, Jr., was especially pleased to be singing for honoree Jerry McClelland, who was a gospel-recording artist at the Sun Record Company in the 50’s when the Blackwoods also recorded there. McClelland traveled with some of the original Blackwood Brothers including R. W. Blackwood Jr.’s father. Other known names who were recording at Sun Records at that time include Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich and Carl Perkins.

The unmistakable sound of the award-winning Blackwoods has been around longer than some of the heroes they serenaded. “Our heritage is who we are, and we are always very driven to uphold all our Daddy (an original Blackwood Brother) lived and died for,” said R. W. Blackwood, Jr. The Blackwoods remain a popular gospel group whose harmonies and intricate vocal arrangements span many generations. Members of the Blackwoods who were present for the evening included: R.W. Blackwood, Jr., lead; Donna Blackwood, soprano; Paul Hyde, bass; and John Rulapaugh; tenor. They sang many favorites including “Peace in the Valley,” “Feeling Fine,” and “Oh, Say Can You See.”

To know a little history of the group - In 1934, Roy Blackwood, his brothers James and Doyle, and his son R.W. Blackwood, Sr. founded the quartet that would shape the sound of American Gospel music forever. Today, Ron and R.W., Jr. work together with an outstanding team of singers and musicians to bring both the Blackwood Quartet and the Blackwood Singers together in unforgettable concert events such as this one held at the Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center. Group members have changed, but the excitement, the sound, and the legacy continues.

Through the years, Ron and R. W. Blackwood and members of the Blackwood family have won eight Grammy awards, 27 Dove Awards, and five All-American Music Awards. They have sold millions of recordings, and they have been seen on every major television and radio network. The late Elvis Presley often told his friends and audiences that he admired the harmony of the Blackwoods above all other singing groups.

Other performers for the evening included: Kay Irwin, who played a bag pipe melody; Michael Newsom, a local seventh grader and the first place winner of the vocal category in the Pigeon Forge Middle School Talent Show who sang, “Who Am I?”; and Dr. Laura Stockdale, staff psychologist of the Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center who sang, “One Little Candle.”

The Blackwoods have entertained in the Smoky Mountains for 10 successful seasons, holding the title of the most popular morning show in the entire region. The Blackwoods can be seen daily except Monday at the Black Bear Jamboree Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Breakfast is served at the theater from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., a video with a history of the Blackwoods begins at 9:00 a.m. and the Blackwoods take the stage at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $19.95 plus tax and children ages 2-11 are $9.95 plus tax. Children 23 months and under are free. For reservations, call (865) 908-SHOW (7469). For more information, visit www.BlackBearJamboree.com.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - Three new cloggers have double-toed, step-rocked, brushed and dragged their way to The Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Mallory Matney, of Branson, Mo., and sisters Megan and Ashley Mercereau, of Boone, N.C., are the newest performers kicking up their heels nightly at “The Funniest Show in Town.” All are award-winning cloggers and are featured at various times throughout the show.

Matney, age 20, comes to The Comedy Barn from Branson, Mo., where she’s been a professional dancer for the past seven years. She’s danced in Anita Bryant and Jim Stafford’s shows, and was a featured performer at Branson Landing. She graduated with honors from Branson High School, and earned her associate’s degree from Ozarks Technical Community College. She most recently studied clogging with Stan Webb, director of the Clogging Sensation Team at The Dance Warehouse in Ozark, Mo.

This is also Matney’s first move away from home, and she explains she was eager about it. “I graduated from college and on the same day, I moved out here with my car stuffed. It has been an amazing experience, and I am loving the Barn. I get to do what I love most, clog!”

Pigeon Forge isn’t new to the Mercereau sisters, but they too say they are enjoying being in the area and clogging at The Comedy Barn. Both have been dancing since they were toddlers and they got their professional starts at Tweetsie Railroad theme park, outside their hometown of Boone, N.C.

Younger sister Ashley explains “ever since I was old enough to remember, my family and I have vacationed in Pigeon Forge. It’s a great family spot in which I have many wonderful memories. I feel honored to be able to work here, and I love the many different types of entertainment found here.”

Because of their fond memories, the sisters came to Sevierville about one year ago to work at the former Alabama Grill (now Country Legends Grill). When clogger spots opened at The Comedy Barn, David Fee and Jim Hedrick, co-owners of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group which produces “The Comedy Barn” show, asked the sisters to join the cast.

Ashley, 19, still works some day shifts at Country Legends Grill and is a student at Carson Newman College. Older sister Megan, 22, is a May 2006 graduate of Mars Hill College, where she earned her bachelor’s in music education and danced on scholarship with the award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers team. Megan also has a day job as a full-time music teacher at Pigeon Forge Primary and Wearwood Elementary schools.

When asked what part of the show they most like to perform, all three cloggers agree it’s their dancing solo to Josh Gracin’s “Nothin’ to Lose.” Ashley says, “It gives the audience a chance to learn our names and favorite steps.”

They also are quick to point out that they are real cloggers, not tap dancers made to look like they are clogging. And they have numerous awards to prove that they are the real thing. All three have won titles at the Clogging Championships of America and National Clogging and Hoedown Competition.

The Comedy Barn Theater is located one-half block south of traffic light No. 3 on U.S. 441 (The Parkway) in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open year ’round, The Comedy Barn has two shows nightly in season at 5:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., as well as some scheduled matinees for groups throughout the season. Adult tickets are $21.95, plus tax. One child, age 11 and under, is admitted free with each paying adult. Additional child tickets are $9.95, plus tax. For tickets, call 1-800-29 LAUGH. For more information, visit www.comedybarn.com.

“The Comedy Barn” show is produced by Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, which is the second largest privately-owned entertainment company in the Southeastern U.S. The company also owns and operates The Miracle Theater, Black Bear Jamboree Theater, and Magic Beyond Belief Theater in Pigeon Forge. For more information about any of Fee/Hedrick’s shows, visit www.feehedrick.com.