ANOTHER STUPENDOUS SHOW - TONIGHT AT THE BURLINGTON (KS) OPRY WITH LOCAL FUNNY LADY LORENA PRATER & THE JOE TINOCO SHOW DIRECT FROM BRANSON, MO
In addition to tonight's terrific show, we were blessed with incredible weather as we made the hour-and-a-half trek south to Burlington, KS with our friends, the Petterschs. Although we arrived quite a bit early, most of the parking spaces around the theatre and even across the street were filled, a sure-fire sign that there would be a big crowd here tonight at the Music Box Theatre for tonight's star-studded performance, Memorial Day weekend or not!
After Katie (age 13) & Erin Woogie (age 7) led the packed house reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, the big curtains opened and Dave Woogie, owner & operator of the Burlington Opry, emcee and piano virtuoso led the band in welcoming everyone with the old Porter Wagoner standard, "Company's Comin'." Just a bit later, Dave got a huge hand as he returned with the Mel McDaniel signature song "Stand Up & Testify" to the audience's delight. Bass guitarist Russell Wolf stirred things up with George Jones' "Love Bug" and returned later with Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and to commemorate next week's 9/11 anniversary, Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning." This talented band includes Dave Hammersmith on lead guitar, Lane Gray on steel, who sang the Bob Wills classic "Deep Water" and drummer Mark Pawkette, who also showed his vocal abilities on Billy Currington's "That's How Country Boys Roll." Katie (Connie Smith's "Once A Day") and Erin (1958's Connie Francis blockbuster "Stupid Cupid") were to return for a well received encore as well.
There was a slight disturbance in the audience at one point in tonight's show signifying the entrance of Lorena Prater, tonight dressed in loud, garish tones as one of her alter egos - the Mexican pepperpot "Rosalita," who flirted with all the men on her way to the stage to sing Pam Tillis' "Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)." Lorena returned the second half as another character, "Cleopatra, Queen Of The Nile" (she must have blown the budget on this costume - solid gold lame' from head to toe!)." Of course, in addition to her comedic talents, Lorena possesses one of the finest female voices around and she got a great audience response here tonight as she sang Reba's "Fear Of Being Alone," a great duet of Vince Gill & Patty Loveless' "Your My Kind Of Woman (You're My Kind Of Man)" with Russell Wolf. After the Pam Tillis classic "Don't Tell Me What To Do," it was a powerful Martina McBride number, "This One's For The Girls," Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" and "Heat Wave" (how many remember 1980's film "Hollywood Knights" which starred Robert Wuhl (Newbomb Turk) and was about an old drive-in being torn down? This was a song performed by Martha & the Vandellas from that movie).
It has been a good many years since we've had the pleasure of seeing Joe Tinoco and wife Tamra perform and we were certainly looking forward to tonight. Joe and family are a Branson institution, headlining the Magnificent Variety Show there at the Super Stars Theatre located right on the Highway 76 strip, next to the Dollar General. Branson shows begin at 8PM and feature Country, Swing, Big Band, Rock 'N Roll, Broadway, Disco, Gospel, Comedy and more! Thankfully, Joe and family made the decision to travel a bit this year, visiting oprys and country shows around the area to promote their show and it's 9th award winning season. Joe's beautiful wife, Tamra opened the set with a beautiful job on Reba McIntyre's "Tell Me Why I Haven't Heard From You," Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" and Lee Ann Womack's "Never Again Again." Tamra returned the second half, dressed in a pretty black & white polka-dot dress to sing "Kansas City," Johnny Ray's 1952's "Cry" and an outstanding duet with husband Joe of Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe." Joe got a huge hand himself as he stepped to the mike to sing a Dave Dudley favorite trucking song, "Six Days On The Road," Jim Reeves' "He'll Have To Go" and Merle Haggard's "Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star." A bit later Joe turned back the clock with Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes," Elvis' "You Ain't Nothing But A Hound Dog," Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti," Ray Price's "For The Good Times" and Hank Jr.'s "Born To Boogie." As great as this show had been up until this point, the evening's biggest surprise was yet to follow in the personage of Joe & Tamra's precocious 5 year old daughter Talya Tinoco. I know I was amazed and , looking around, could tell the audience was as well, as we watched this little girl perform Bing Crosby's "Would You Like To Swing On A Star," Hank Sr.'s "Hey Good Lookin'" and Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walking" like a seasoned pro.
The show tonight closed with Dave Wooge & daughter Katie singing a beautiful duet of "Lean On Me" (title song from the movie starring Morgan Freeman). The entire cast joined in with "Praise Him" as the curtains closed. NOTE: Beginning this month, the Burlington Opry will have shows on both the first and third Saturdays, check our Bulletin Board for more information on individual shows. We had an opportunity to visit with everyone after the show and Joe mentioned that for more information on the Branson show, one could either call 417-334-7131 or go to the show's website www.magnificentvariety.com. Joe also maintains a website with latest news, schedules, etc. at www.joetinoco.net and if you are interested in bookings or other business matters, e-mail him at Joetm1@aol.com He also mentioned that anyone who shows up at the theatre and mentions this website www.mokanopry.com would receive a nice discount off of every ticket purchased! (Below) Joe & Tamra Tinoco with daughter Talya, Lorena Prater & Dave Wooge
Posted by hawkshaw5
at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 6 September 2010 2:19 AM CDT