Branson's newest show - Samoa's "Island Fire" performing at the Dutton's

[BlogBot]

Originally Posted by BlogBot

The Polynesian style show will share the history, culture, and traditions of Polynesia and Samoa...will feature a world champion Samoan Fire Knife Dancer.

Read the full blog entry.

[pamlet]

Now that sounds like a show my family would enjoy! Too bad they don't have a place where they could do a luau kind of thing in conjunction with the show...

Two of my most memorable family outtings have been to "Polynesian Review" type shows ...

The first when I had just "graduated" from 8th grade and my parents, sister and I went to "Shanghai Lil's" a restaurant in Chicago that had food with a Polynesian flair and a reviews. The second a few years ago with my husband and two sons at the "Luau" in DisneyWorld ... pricey yes - but frankly my family had so much fun ....

I hope this show does well for them!!

[Ms_Terese]

Is this the same show that was at Grand Palace last year? It was called The Fire Show or something?

[bransoncutie]

Originally Posted by Ms_Terese

Is this the same show that was at Grand Palace last year? It was called The Fire Show or something?

I don't believe they are the same group. If memory serves me correctly, the show at Grand Palace last year was done by a group from the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. This group is here directly from Samoa. But it will be much the same type of things in the shows I'm sure.

[MBLurker]

Originally Posted by bransoncutie

I don't believe they are the same group...the show at Grand Palace last year was done by a group from the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii.

The Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii is owned by the Mormons. I wouldn't be that surprised if the same basic group was going into the Dutton's.

[teacherkim]

I saw the group that did the Grand Palace last year in a preshow at the Duttons a few days before they opened at Grand Palace. When I read this, I just assumed they were connected to that group. It was entertaining, so I'd see it!

[Branson Junkie]

Isn't one of the Dutton's wives from Samoa? At least one of the daughters-in-law has a segment in the show where she talks about her heritage and life on that island during WWII. Maybe I have the wrong island though.

[bransoncutie]

Originally Posted by Branson Junkie

Isn't one of the Dutton's wives from Samoa? At least one of the daughters-in-law has a segment in the show where she talks about her heritage and life on that island during WWII. Maybe I have the wrong island though.

Yes, Jonathan's wife Bella is Samoan.

[Dutton]

We did work very closely with the polynesian cultural center last year (even had the troop over for dinner at my place-- I didn't know my kitchen could hold so many!).
We loved having their show here in town and our association with the dancers so when they made their decision not to come back, we were pretty dissappointed.
We do know people in Samoa (thanks to Jonathan's wife, Bella who is from that country) and we were approached with an idea from the Somoan Tourism Authority a few years ago. They have a troop of dancers that has toured all over the world, promoting Polynesian Culture and thought it would be a fun idea to bring their troop here for a run in the United States. Since "Fire, the Hawaiian Experience" was not returning, we went to work and here they are!
The show will be similar to the Polynesian Cultural Center (aka, PCC) in that the focus will be on Polynesian Culture, but we have a lot of surprises in store as well. We are also thrilled that in the troop is the world champion fire knife dancer--little skinny guy of only 19 years old, if you can believe it.
As for the question about a Luau and too bad we didn't have a facility for it---we are actually working on that, too. I am not even sure of the details yet, but as I hear them I will pass them on.
Island Fire opens on Tuesday by the way while we are out of town on tour. So anyone that goes, please drop me a note and tell me how it went.
--Judith Dutton (todays representative of the Dutton Borg.)

[bransoncutie]

Originally Posted by Dutton

We did work very closely with the polynesian cultural center last year (even had the troop over for dinner at my place-- I didn't know my kitchen could hold so many!).
We loved having their show here in town and our association with the dancers so when they made their decision not to come back, we were pretty dissappointed.
We do know people in Samoa (thanks to Jonathan's wife, Bella who is from that country) and we were approached with an idea from the Somoan Tourism Authority. They have a troop of dancers that has toured all over the world, promoting Polynesian Culture and thought it would be a fun idea to bring their troop here for a run in the United States. Since "Fire, the Hawaiian Experience" was not returning, we went to work and here they are!
The show will be similar to the Polynesian Cultural Center (aka, PCC) in that the focus will be on Polynesian Culture, but we have a lot of surprises in store as well. We are also thrilled that in the troop is the world champion fire knife dancer--little skinny guy of only 19 years old, if you can believe it.
As for the question about a Luau and too bad we didn't have a facility for it---we are actually working on that, too. I am not even sure of the details yet, but as I hear them I will pass them on.
Island Fire opens on Tuesday by the way while we are out of town on tour. So anyone that goes, please drop me a note and tell me how it went.
--Judith Dutton (todays representative of the Dutton Borg.)

Thanks for the scoop Judith! I'm looking forward to seeing the show. Didn't get to see the one at GP last year.

[TheOleSeagull]

Originally Posted by Dutton

Island Fire opens on Tuesday by the way while we are out of town on tour. So anyone that goes, please drop me a note and tell me how it went

I'm excited about this show because it is but another example of the diversity of the entertainment offered in Branson. Am I correct in my understanding that the shows will be at 8 p.m during the week of Apr. 23 and 2 p.m. after that?

[MBLurker]

Originally Posted by Dutton

...they made their decision not to come back

Originally Posted by bransoncutie

Didn't get to see the one at GP last year.

Last year there were numerous large billboards on 65 advertising a Polynesian Fire show and it closed fairly quick. If you have virtually the same show/concept this year at a smaller theater, are the results going to be any different?

With a smaller stage and lower ceilings, I hope they have BFD on speed dial!

[Suselit]

I am excited about this new show, too.
That's what keeps Branson so much fun for me to visit.
There is always something new to see and do.

[SweetSue]

We saw the show at the Grand Palace last year. It was entertaining; the second half was much better than the first half. The first half got a little long; the second had quite a bit of comedy, so that broke up the tedium of too much dancing. We will probably see this one, too.

[Dutton]

Yes, Island Fire will be opening April 24th and doing 8pm show that whole week, with a matinee on Wednesday. Then they will generally run at 2pm Tuesday, Friday and Saturday with an 8pm show on Thursday.
Lurker,
Thanks for your comments because we have debated some of the same questions. My personal opinion is that Hawaii Fire simply didn't stay here long enough to really make a go of it. It was a good show, but the standard rule of thumb with any new business is it takes three years to make a profit. I have seen many good shows come and go simply because they didn't take the time to build their reputation and be prepared for 2-3 lean years before people, especially ticket vendors, started to "remember" that it was a good show, and worth recommending. Advertisingwise, the only major thing they had was their billboards, and a few rack cards, with very little else done. Which was really too bad because with a little more groundwork, I believe they would have done really well.
As for the BFD,like all the theaters in town--of course we have them on speed dial!