Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment Group

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - Ever wonder how angels fly on stage during “The Miracle” production’s battle scene? Want to know how the sets are changed out so quickly during each performance? And how many pounds of hay do the animals eat each day anyway? Mysteries of “The Miracle” production are unlocked in a new Backstage VIP Tour at The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“The Miracle” production is a faith-based, original, Broadway-style musical based on the life and miracles of Jesus Christ. Show-goers can now upgrade their Miracle tickets to a Producer’s Pass for the low cost of $5 each to experience firsthand the inner-workings of the only Broadway-caliber theater in Pigeon Forge. Tours begin about one-hour before each Miracle show time and enable patrons to observe the theater in full pre-show mode.

The behind-the-scenes tour highlights the theater’s house area, lighting and sound booths, scenery operations, props tables, dressing rooms, wardrobe room, hair and make-up areas, and a look at the million-dollar stables where the show animals are kept, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand on a real theater stage.

Cast members conduct the backstage tours. Jen Gilbert, originally from Greer, S.C., plays Mother Mary in the show. She says, “I love being able to interact with the audience before each show and share information about how the theater works.”

Gilbert will tell you things like…it takes two people to operate the two fly rigs located backstage that enable the angels to soar more than 30-feet in the air during each show. …It takes 10 projectors to create the storm scene on a curtain backdrop that falls from one of the theaters 48 line sets. … And the animals in the show makes as many costume changes as the cast members! These facts and many more are discovered during the 30-minute tour.

Gilbert adds, “I just love that the tour allows our guests to ask anything they want about the theater and show. It’s nice to add to their ‘Miracle’ experience.”

“The Miracle” is a $15 million production that features a cast of multi-talented actors, singers, and dancers, along with live animals. Open for its second season, The Miracle Theater became a ministry in 2007 with a mission to present faith-based family entertainment through live theatrical productions revealing the person of Jesus Christ as The Living Word of God.

“The Miracle” runs March-December at The Miracle Theater, located at 2046 on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., with shows at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2:00 p.m. matinees on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Adult tickets are $29.95, plus tax. One child is free with each paying adult. Additional child tickets, for ages 11 and under, are $9.95, plus tax. For tickets, call 865-428-SHOW(7469). Groups of 20 people or more can receive a discounted rate by calling reservations at 1-866-492-6972. For more information or to see video clips of the show, visit www.miracletheater.com.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - A new restaurant concept has arrived on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The new Country Legends Grill combines great food and singing servers to make for one entertaining dining experience.

Formerly the Alabama Grill, the restaurant was purchased in July 2006 by the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group. This spring the name of the restaurant officially changed to Country Legends Grill with a new guitar-shaped logo appearing on exterior signage and on the updated menus featuring tasty new dishes - such as new salads, side dishes, and pasta selections, including lasagna, spaghetti, and chicken alfredo.

Located next door to The Miracle Theater, acquisition of the restaurant made good sense to co-owners David Fee and Jim Hedrick. Fee says, “Not only did we gain valuable parking space, it expands the entertainment we can offer in the area to include a unique dining experience. Plus, it’s a beautiful restaurant.”

The country memorabilia the restaurant was known for as the former Alabama Grill remains on display, but the concept has been tweaked with the addition of a more entertaining wait staff.

David Campbell, general manager of the restaurant, explains that a singing server performs about every 15 minutes, so all customers are sure to be entertained while they dine. Select servers sing various country songs, beginning on the stage and then walking around the restaurant so everyone can get a closer look.

As the only full-service restaurant not connected with a show in the Smoky Mountains area to feature singers, Campbell says the new concept is a big hit. “Diners really like the entertainment. They usually stop eating, watch the singer, and then applaud at the end. It’s something you’re not going to find at any other regular restaurant in this area.”

Seven singing servers had been hired at the end of April, and Campbell says he’s looking to add a few more. He says the new hires are mostly aspiring artist. “Some already have CDs or are working on releasing a record. All of them are terrific singers and we are happy for them to share their talents with our customers.”

Finding talented servers has been easy in the entertainment-driven market. “There are a lot of talented people out there who end up waiting tables. We’re giving them a place to also share their talents,” Fee says.

Alicia Kay Sweany can relate. Originally from Olathe, Kan., she packed up her car and moved to Nashville, Tenn., right after graduating from high school. Having already recorded a CD entitled, “My Everything,” she quickly realized the competition to be discovered in the Music City was fierce. However, it wasn’t the competition that got her down; it was her age.

“After a couple of months, I realized my biggest obstacle was that I wasn’t old enough to play in the clubs. I was 18, and you had to be 21 for the owners to let you in and perform. That became a big problem in gaining exposure,” Sweany says. So she resorted to waiting tables at a Cracker Barrel in Nashville, while singing on the side where she could.

Now age 20, Sweany decided to relocate to Pigeon Forge after hearing about Country Legends Grill’s new concept. “I can sing here every day and gain exposure in an entertainment-centered town,” she says.

Another new hire, Chaz Huseman, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, has worked at a timeshare resort in Gatlinburg for the past six years as a closing officer. After hearing about the new restaurant concept at Country Legends Grill, he says he decided to apply as a singing server “to start pursuing my singing career, which I couldn’t do at my old job.”

Huseman waited tables for a short time in college at a Ponderosa in Indiana, but he says the real attraction of this opportunity is “being able to work on my stage presence, while still making an income. So far, I’m learning songs by Lonestar, Rascal Flatts, and John Berry. It’s really fun.”

All the singing servers have bigger aspirations to make it in country music. That’s Sweany’s hope. “Ultimately, I’d like to be picked up in one of the shows in the area. That would be cool.”

Country Legends Grill, located at 2050 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is a non-smoking, full-service restaurant serving lunch and dinner. The restaurant opens daily at 11:00 a.m., and closes at 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and at 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are accepted for parties of 20 or more by calling (865) 908-8777.

In keeping with Fee/Hedrick’s mission to offer clean family entertainment appropriate for all ages, all songs performed are screened for language and appropriate subject matter, and no alcohol is served on the premise.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - Dawn Goehring and her team of Comedy Canines from the Comedy Barn Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee are touring Sevier County schools to show students that the Humane Society is full of loving, trainable and adorable pets.

Goehring, the Sevier County Humane Society, and The Comedy Canines are teaming up to recognize “Be Kind to Animals Week”, observed May 6-12, 2007. The 30-minute school assemblies will be educational and entertaining. The school schedule was:

Tuesday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m. - New Center Elementary
Wednesday, May 9 at 10:00 a.m. - Pittman Center Elementary
Thursday, May 10 at 8:30 & 9:30 a.m. - Sevierville Primary School
Tuesday, May 15 at 9:00 & 9:45 a.m. - Pigeon Forge Primary
Thursday, May 17 at 9:00 a.m. - Caton’s Chapel Elementary (K-3)

The goal of the program is to inspire children to become responsible pet owners, while raising awareness of the community service performed daily by local animal shelters. The school shows will also cover important safety lessons on bite prevention and how to properly greet a dog. The special ways dogs assist humans will also be demonstrated and discussed.

Goehring explains, “It is so important to me to take a bunch of rescued dogs to schools, showing children that you can ‘teach an old dog new tricks’! I want kids to realize that they need to look no further than their local shelter to find the perfect pet!”

The assembly will also include seven dogs doing fast paced tricks to music - jumping through hoops, jumping rope, rolling barrels, jumping over hurdles and more. Goehring says, “The kids are encouraged to get excited and cheer the dogs on. It is great to reach the kids at this age and hopefully instill a sense of respect and love for animals of all types.”

Goehring’s canine performers range from every day mixed breeds, to hound dogs and exotic hairless Chinese Crested dogs. They perform complex jumping, obstacles and dances with excellent comic timing. All of the dogs were once homeless, abandoned, abused or forgotten. Thanks to Goehring, the canines now make an unforgettable impression on audiences everywhere.

A few of the dogs will look familiar to students. The talented pets have been featured on Cartoon Network, D.I.Y Network, Animal Planet and on many national advertisements for popular products.

The show-stealing comedic team performs nightly at the Comedy Barn Theater. Goehring owns 11 dogs, one pig, eight chickens and one cat (and a very understanding husband).

The 825-seat Comedy Barn Theater is the only theater in Pigeon Forge, devoted exclusively to comedy, antics and animated stunts. 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. Tickets are $21.95, plus tax, and children 11 and younger are admitted free with each paying adult. For tickets, call 1-800-29 LAUGH. For more information, visit www.comedybarn.com. You can find The Comedy Canines online at www.comedycanines.com.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn., April 3, 2007 — The Fee/ Hedrick Family Entertainment Group is pulling another rabbit out of its hat—opening a new theater featuring a new magic show on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. Co-owners David Fee and Jim Hedrick will open a new 400 seat-theater titled “Magic Beyond Belief” starring International Star of Magic, Terry Evanswood—one of the best magicians in the country.

Located in the former Ole Smoky Hoedown Theater at 2135 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, the new magic show will have a soft opening on Thursday, April 5, with the grand opening to follow during the first week in May.

A preview show will run for the first month, giving show patrons a first look at the show’s star, master magician Terry Evanswood. A professional magician who for the past 10 years has been the star of The Country Tonite Theatre’s morning “Grand Illusion Show,” Evanswood now fulfills a longtime dream of staring in a prime time magic extravaganza.

Throughout the preview month, new acts will be incorporated into the show, including the highlight illusion of a white tiger appearing out of thin air before the audience’s eyes.
Renovations for the inside of the theater will be complete before the show’s soft opening on April 5; while renovations on the outside of the theater will continue during the next month in preparation for the theater’s grand opening in May.

“Magic Beyond Belief” will feature stunning illusions, exotic animals, mind-boggling special effects, and hilarious comedy. It will be a high-energy, fast-faced production.
“We will have an intimate magic experience at our new theater and we are thrilled to have Terry Evanswood join our company,” said David Fee, co-owner of the theater. “Terry has wanted to have an evening show for a long time and we know it will be a huge success.

“The theater has been tailored during the renovation specifically to accommodate magic,” Fee said. The show will be a high-energy succession of illusions, close-up magic and sleight-of-hand tricks. Two large video screens will complement the show, as well as the glamour of mood-setting lights and music, new sets and costumes and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The pacing according to Fee will be fast, fun and energetic and the show will include humor, and live animals.

Evanswood says in all of his shows that he is not trying to trick anyone, but to bring the child out in everyone who attends his show. He says his goal is to put a personal touch into every show. “I perform like the audience is a group of friends. What sticks with people are the personal moments we create. I try to touch people’s hearts in every performance,” Evanswood says.

The award-winning magician has been performing professionally since the age of 10. Originally from Chicago, Evanswood has appeared in live stage shows and on national television programs throughout the United States.

Evanswood is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians, being endorsed into membership by David Copperfield and Harry Blackstone, Jr. Evanswood is also a lifetime member of the International Magicians Society, which presented him with their highest degree, the coveted Doctorate of Magic diploma.

In fact, famous illusionist Harry Blackstone, Sr. was Evanswood’s inspiration for entering the profession. At age 9, Evanswood attended one of Blackstone’s shows, where he remembers the “floating light bulb” trick. He says of the experience, “I sat there wide-eyed and said to my Dad, I want to be a magician. I wanted to be able to make people feel like I did at that moment.”

Today, Evanswood says he wants to create imagination and wonder for people in a world that is full of reality. “I want to help people get away from their problems. Don’t try to figure out the tricks, just let your imagination wonder. I want people to enjoy the magic for what it is. It’s live fantasy,” he says.

For David Fee and Jim Hedrick, the theater’s owners are realizing a magical dream too. Fee said, “I used to be a professional magician and my business partner, Jim Hedrick used to be a professional juggler and we have always wanted to bring a magic show to Pigeon Forge. This will be a huge production and a great show for all ages.”

Both Fee and Hedrick performed at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans, Louisiana World Exposition, and were featured entertainers doing magic, juggling, fire eating, comedy, ventriloquism and escape artistry on Carnival Cruise Lines for over nine years. Their roots go back to being performers at Magic World in Pigeon Forge and when they originally opened The Comedy Barn, they were performers as well as co-owners.

Ticket prices for the “Magic Beyond Belief” Show will be $19.95, plus tax for adults; and $9.95, plus tax for children ages 2 through 11. Show times will be 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday with 2:00 p.m. matinees on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Call (865) 428-5600 for reservations.

Other shows in the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group include “The Comedy Barn”, “The Black Bear Jamboree”, “The Miracle”, “The Blackwood Brother’s Variety Show” and “The Triumphant Quartet Southern Gospel Show.” Each show has its own demographics Fee said—comedy lovers, bear lovers, Broadway show lovers, religious show lovers, gospel music fans and magic lovers. “We want to provide clean wholesome entertainment for families who will return to see our shows again and again,” Fee said. “Our new theater will be Beyond Belief!”

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn., March 23, 2007 – The Triumphant Quartet ushers in its second season at The Miracle Theater with a new Southern Gospel show and eight Top Ten nominations for Singing News magazine’s prestigious Fan Awards.

Produced by the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, the new “Triumphant Quartet Southern Gospel Show” features the group’s biggest hits and new crowd pleasers—complete with all-new theatrical enhancements.

The four-part harmony vocal 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 eight Top Ten 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 Scott Inman for Best Songwriter and Young Artist, Jeff Stice for Best Musician, and Eric Bennett and David Sutton, both up for Best Male Vocalist.

“We are happy to have such an influential Southern Gospel group bring back their award-winning talent to The Miracle Theater for a second season,” says Russ Hollingsworth, general manager of The Miracle Theater. “We heard very positive feedback about Triumphant’s new show from audiences during its opening week. 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.

Quartet member Eric Bennett explains, “Our show is always grounded in the tradition of Southern Gospel music, but this year we are including songs that feature bluegrass, patriotic, and contemporary influences in our sound.”

Each group member performs a crowd-pleasing moment in the show. Stice dazzles the audience with his piano solo segment featuring tunes by two of his biggest musical inspirations, Floyd Cramer and Ray Charles, as well as a standing-ovation rendition of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”.

Sutton begins the Patriotic Act of the show by flexing his musical chops playing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” a cappella on the harmonica, which is followed by the group singing their version of the Southern Gospel classic, “Statue of Liberty”.

The father-son duo of Clayton and Scott Inman sing an inspirational duet in, “He Is”, and Bennett gets the crowd going with his “how-low-can-you-go” vocal runs performed throughout the show.

In addition to new music, the Southern Gospel show also features new theatrical highlights such as a new lighted backdrop curtain, new costumes, and new video interludes of the group.

Bennett explains about the new show, “Our new bluegrass segment is really fun for us to perform. We get to take a departure from our traditional matching suits and wear overalls while singing one of our favorite songs in the show, ‘Old White Flag’.”

The song features Clayton Inman singing the melody part up front on stage with the rest of the group singing backup. Bennett adds, “It’s a lot like being one of those actors in the hit movie ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’. We like adding the comedic element to the show, and the audience really gives us a reaction that lets us know that they like the humor.”

In addition to the inspirational testimonials customary to any Southern Gospel show, the quartet also includes behind-the-scene video segments that depict group members going about their everyday lives. Bennett says, “It’s all about showing the audience that we are all real people serving Christ in our daily tasks.”

Bennett points out that the quartet aims to offer a variety of Christian music in their show performances. “We like to sing old hymns, new songs off our albums, popular contemporary Christian hits, as well as the traditional Southern Gospel classics. Even though the same music styles are represented in each show, the individual songs performed can change daily.”

Triumphant Quartet, under the Daywind Records label, has also just released a new album entitled, “You Gotta Love It.” Bennett says the quartet will incorporate their new songs into the show. “The shows will evolve throughout the entire season at The Miracle Theater as we release new songs and find new musical inspirations. We like that our fans can come see us many times throughout the year and hear new music every time.”

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 2 through 11 are $9.95, plus tax. 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.

In addition, The Miracle Theater annual season pass gives repeat patrons the most economical way to receive unlimited admission to Triumphant’s show, as well as the $15M Broadway-style, faith-based production “The Miracle,” also playing at the theater. Other benefits of the season pass include $2.00 off additional full price admission tickets to any Fee/Hedrick show in Pigeon Forge, and 10 percent off your meal at the Country Legends Grill, located next to The Miracle Theater. The season pass is available for $89.95, plus tax, by calling (865) 428-SHOW(7469).

Other shows in the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group include “The Miracle”, “The Comedy Barn”, “The Black Bear Jamboree” and “The Blackwood Brother’s Variety Show”. As one of the largest entertainment conglomerates in the Southeastern U.S., Fee/Hedrick upholds the company’s mission to offer clean, wholesome family entertainment in all of its shows.

Open for its second season, The Miracle Theater became a ministry in 2007 with a mission to present faith-based family entertainment through live theatrical productions revealing the person of Jesus Christ as The Living Word of God.

For more information about the company or any of its shows, visit www.feehedrick.com. For more information about Triumphant Quartet, visit www.triumphantquartet.com.