"All the world's a stage." At least that's the way it seems in Pigeon Forge.
This Smoky Mountain fun city is front and center when it comes to live entertainment in East Tennessee: Dollywood Celebrity Theatre and Entertainment Park, Louise Mandrell Theater, Dixie Stampede, Comedy Barn Theater, Memories Theatre, Old Smoky Hoedown, Governers Palace Theatre, Music Mansion Theatre, Southern Nights Theater, Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre and the Country Tonite Theatre.
The first theater you see while entering Pigeon Forge from Seviereville is the Louise Mandrell Theater. It sits right by the Alabama Grill and is a 1,400-seat, state-of-the-art, multi-million dollar production.
Ms. Mandrell’s current show is a colorful variety of country, pop, patriotic and old-time religious songs that will make you want to clap your hands and pat your feet, stand up and shout hallelujah and pledge allegiance to the old red, white and blue.
This darling sister of country singing star Barbara Mandrell will amaze you with her fabulous voice and acrobatic dancing. Although now in her early 40s, Louise springs into action like an Olympic gymnast when the curtain rises.
Spinning, dancing, catapulting high into the air, she mezmerizes the audience. And when back down on earth, she grabs one of a half dozen musical instruments she has mastered and plays a lively tune.
Whew, what a show!
A little farther down Pigeon Forge Parkway, is the Dollywood-owned Dixie Stampede, a huge, rustic barn-like structure that features a one-of-a-kind dining experience for the entire family.
Different teams of beautiful horses and masterful riders dressed in Yankee and Confederate uniforms compete for the honor of the North and the glory of the South, while diners on both sides of the arena cheer them on in playful competition.
Gary “Biscuit” Davis, a native of Red Bank and three-time national banjo champion, is part of the entertainment at the Dixie Stampede.
The food (tender whole rotisserie chicken, hickory smoked barbecue pork loin, buttery corn on the cob,
original creamy vegetable soup, hot home-made biscuits, herb-basted potatoes and apple pastry) is delicious.
And don’t worry about your nose. The turf in the arena has been specially treated to absorb any odors. All you will smell is the aroma of the tasty food.
Down the road a short distance from the Dixie Stampede is the Dollywood Celebrity Theater and Entertainment Park, where you and your entire family can enjoy an exciting lineup of over 40 live musical performances every day -- "50s rock-n-roll, country, bluegrass and gospel music.
When our entourge of journalists was there last month, Dolly was there – petite and pretty as a picture – telling us all about her magnificent park and singing her hit song “9 to 5” with two members of the Stravropolye Cossack dance team that performed during Dollywood’s Festival of Nations celebration.
Though Dolly is not usually there, the quality of entertainment is top notch, much of it coming from the stages of the former Opryland park in Nashville.
And just look at the fantastic lineup of country singing stars scheduled for this summer: Sawyer Brown (May 26), Brad Paisley (June 2), Ricky Skaggs (June 9), Brenda Lee (June 16), Diamond Rio (June 23), Neal McCoy (June 30), Chely Wright (July 7), Tanya Tucker (July 14), Lorrie Morgan (July 21), Montgomery Gentry (July 28), Sammy Kershaw (Aug. 4), Toby Keith (Aug. 11), Aaron Tippin (Aug. 18), John Berry and Suzy Bogguss and Billy Dean (Aug. 25) and Tracy Lawrence (Sept. 1).
Showtimes for all Showcase of Stars concerts are 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Dollywood's Celebrity Theatre.
Showcase of Stars concerts do not require park admission. Showcase of Stars concert tickets will allow entrance to Dollywood one hour prior to showtime.
Wesley Schultz