PRINCESS THEATRE - Raising the Curtain: September 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012

WHAT'S AT THE PRINCESS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER



OCTOBER UPCOMING EVENTS

October 5th&6th: Hauntings of Historic Harriman
Tickets are $10.00 and available online, at Red Door Antiquities (505 N. Roane Street, Harriman) and Rocky Top General Store (316 Ruritan Street, Harriman.)
Tours start at 8:00 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes from the library on Walden Street. This is a walking tour. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, go to www.cornstalkheights.com
*Please note: Only the lobby of the Princess Theatre will be a part of this event; the main theatre will not be open on Friday.

October 6th: Harriman Fall Harvest Concert
Free Admission: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m. Special musical guests include: The Joyaires, Tiffany Young, Bree Davis and Emery Frances, Relentless and Temper.



October 19th: Eddie James Concert
Free Admission: Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m.
For more information please call 865-228-4306 or go to www.ejworship.org

October 20th: LIVE From the Princess
Tickets are $5.00 at the door the day of the show. Doors open at 6:30p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m.
LIVE From The Princess” attracts artists from around the country. Get a front row seat to some outstanding performances in country, pop, R&B or gospel. This high energy program is hosted by Nashville entertainer Angel Nash. Each program includes a personal glimpse of the artists and their music.
For more information on LIVE From the Princess shows, please visit:

October 7th, 14th,21st & 28th : Courts of Praise
Weekly Church Service at 11a.m. For more information, please e-mail Nick Hill at pastornickhill@me.com


FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING UPCOMING EVENTS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
OR CALL (865)882-4633.

The Princess Theatre is located at 421 North Roane Street in Harriman, TN 37748.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

"ELVIS LIVE" PULLED IN THE LOCAL FAITHFUL FANS

Had you forgotten about Elvis being in town!?

I almost had, but finally got my computer humming and processed all the photos from that August 18th evening!

The faithful Elvis fans poured into the Princess from all corners of the area.  Mostly more mature fans, but there were some up and coming fans there as well.  They stood in line and filled the sidewalk in Harriman before the show. 

The crowd was handily warmed up by Patty Waszak, a singer, song writer, musician, and comedienne from her Country Tonight Show in Pigeon Forge!  Repeatedly voted the Best Show in the Smokies!
Patty sang, played numerous instruments, and kept the full house roaring in laughter!  She was a great surprise to me, not knowing there would be an opening act, and neither did the audience, but we were sure glad she came!  Patty also helped with Greg Johnson's on-stage performance later in the show, especially when he got audience members on stage.



Yes, the real Elvis has been gone for 35 years, but almost to the day he died, Greg Johnson, of Oliver Springs, brought his "Elvis Live" show to the Princess in Harriman.

Upon seeing Greg in full costume for the first time you are struck first by how much he looks the part.  His face and hair are so close to what you remember of Elvis that at first you think he's the real McCoy, and when he hits his first note the voice rings true to memory as well.  Greg has got the part down!
After Patty, the lights went down and then a spot light finds "Elvis" at the back of the auditorium!  "Viva Las Vegas" strikes up and an entourage leads "Greg" down the aisle to the Princess stage!  It's so reminiscent of all of Elvis' shows in the past...and the show is on!




On stage, his white skin-tight suit glistens with colorful rhinestones and conjures up the Elvis persona from the past and makes it all seem real today.

Greg's voice is almost "right on" and he sang almost all of the old favorites, and the crowd loved it!  They stood and danced and clapped and cheered as if it was the early 70's all over again.








And...when he knelt at the edge of the stage women of all ages rushed forward to get a scarf draped around their necks, and, if fate chose it, a kiss!  It was like a scene from yesteryear...ELVIS LIVED once again just for the young at mind and heart!



Once again, Elvis had left the building!
If you have never seen Greg's performance, you need to add it to your bucket list.  For that one night/day, Elvis will live again!  It's a grand tribute!  

See Greg next at the October Feast in Oliver Springs, October 20th! 

Friday, September 14, 2012

"TALK IS CHEAP" WAS A BIG HIT!

Let me begin by apologizing for being so out of date with this post, but computer problems prevented me from being more timely!

If you just want to read a few words and then look at pictures, kind of like reading Playboy, then suffice it to say the Bill Landry, Sam Venable, Jim Claborn, and Elizabeth Rose were a hit in "Talk Is Cheap"!

The show occurred (hopefully with you in attendance) on August 11th.

The people poured into the Princess early and soon there was a packed house anxiously awaiting local celebrities that have entertained them for decades on TV, radio, on stage, in newsprint, in books, or at a festival somewhere. These four entertainers thoroughly delivered to their adoring fans that evening in Harriman.





They lined up outside to get in or to pick up "will call" tickets at the window.  Once inside, after "howdyin' and shak'in", as we're prone to do in these parts, they lined up at the counter to buy some memorabilia, or just to thank them for the years they had made them smile, or flat laugh out loud!

Soon it was show time, and Landry took the stage to MC and introduce this cohorts and set the stage for action.
First up was Jim Claborn who came on stage to hawk is elixir!  But Bill wasn't buying the miracle cure-all, until it cured an old man (a.k.a. Venable) of everything that ailed him!
That just set the stage for Claborn's stage act, which consisted of getting the audience involved and participating on stage.  From there it just got everyone rolling.

Bill told some of his tale tales about his years as host and narrator of the famed "Heartland Series".  He has more stories than he could ever tell in one sittin'!



I can still hear her doing that evil witchy voice and moving her fingers like big witchy teeth!  Can't you?!

Along about then Ms. Rose took to the stage and held everyone's attention, moving them to the edge of their seats with vintage stories that have been handed down through the ages.  She tells and teaches storytelling, as well at storytelling festivals all through the South.  Oh yeah, she also teaches at Cherokee Elementary in Kingston.  Bet she can teach some history tales too!

Wrapping up, after two acts and a small intermission, Sam took the stage and immediately had folks wiping tears of laughter!  If you've ever read his articles in the Sentinel, then you know he can tell a story or two.  It was so great to hear them in his own words...maybe even funnier!  I'm afraid we're going to lose him to a comedy barn somewhere!



Back stage while others are own stage, the performers sitting quietly, trying to remember their lines, and occasionally listen to who was on stage.  I feel honored to be "back stage" at Princess Production events.  You get a feel for what it takes to get up and entertain folks.  It's kind of scary for them, but such a joy at the same time.  I try to catch some of those moments and wonder what's going on inside those creative minds.
I'd like to point out the big man standing back in the shadows on the left (below), in the mafia style red striped shirt.
That's Jeff Wilson, a blogging buddy of mine from Texas, that has been reading about the Princess restoration ever since I started posting about it.  He was so honored to have been asked to perform security duties that evening and be part of the Princess history.  Thanks man!
Well, the show had to end sometime, and after some Q&A, the group left the stage to thunderous applause!

Back stage they congratulated themselves and vowed to continue the tour in other parts.
So the people left, with some talking and others still laughing.  

It's over, and you may have missed it, but the good news is that the tour is coming to Dandridge on November 4!  Check it out!  You'll be glad you did!  


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