Lynn Meredith and Daniel O'Donnell at press conference.
BRANSON, Mo., October 30, 2012 – At a press conference today, Lynn Meredith, General Manager, of the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, announced that the family of Andy Williams has committed to carrying on his legacy and that the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre “will continue to be the home of great singers and exciting entertainers “with a full 2013 schedule to be announced soon. He then introduced one of the exciting entertainers who would be performing at the theatre announcing, “We are very excited that Daniel O’Donnell will be moving to the Moon River Theatre starting in November of 2013.”
In his comments, O’Donnell said that he first performed in Branson in 1997 as a relatively unknown. Then in 2002, “thanks to our fortunate meeting with the people from Public Television it allowed our shows and …names to be known throughout the United States and Canada and there began the success that we have enjoyed here in Branson.”
Going back farther than that, O’Donnell related his first visit to Branson in the mid 90s, when he and his manager came to Branson to see if it would be possible for him to come to Branson and do shows. He said that they traveled around to many theaters and enjoyed many wonderful shows including seeing Andy Williams in concert at the Moon River Theatre. He said that although, since that first visit, they have performed in a number of Branson’s theatres, on that visit he said to his manager, “”Maybe one day I’ll get to do shows in that theatre.”
O’Donnell continued, “The only thing that saddens me is that that ‘one day’ will come after Andy’s life. As he nodded toward the theatre’s marquee he said, “And now my wish of the mid nineteen nineties comes true and next year my name will be somewhere out there, with all the other great entertainers, carrying on the legacy of one whose shoes we will never fill, but I hope we will do his memory proud, Andy Williams.
Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and largest seller of show and attraction tickets, said, “What great news it is that the legacy of Andy Williams and the Moon River Theatre will continue to be an important part of the Branson entertainment scene. How cool is it that Daniel O’Donnel gets to realize his wish of performing in the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre as part of continuing that legacy.”
Johnson also reminds potential Branson visitors that the Daniel O’Donnell show will not be performing at the Andy William Moon River Theatre until November of 2013 and that his 2012 performances will be in the Branson Events Center. For information or tickets for Daniel O’Donnell’s 2012 show please call the Branson Tourism through their toll free number 1-800-785-1550.
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