The Haygoods have performed as a family in Branson for 20 years. We love it here. Branson is our home and where we choose to raise our families. There has been a lot of interest concerning our recent announcement to move to the Clay Cooper Theatre for the 2014 season. We wanted to share some insight...
The Haygoods have worked with other shows for a few years, while performing our own show and operating two theatres with 12 shows. A few months ago, we received notification that Roy Rogers Jr., Jeerk, and Todd Oliver were leaving Branson for various reasons. Additionally, the Redneck Tenors management team said they needed a larger theatre and would be moving from the Americana Theatre. The Branson shuffle of shows is something that commonly happens every year. Theatres don't run without shows in them, so we elected to make some changes that we had been considering for a while now.
Our current facility at RFD Theatre is on a year-to-year lease. We have been looking at investing in new technology and production equipment for our show to take it to the next level. We needed a long term commitment in order for it to make sense financially. Clay Copper has our vision for the future, and gave us the commitment we were looking for. Also, our fans know we have been experimenting with new music for fun. We wanted to try out that music on the road on Fridays and Wednesdays. Again, the schedule at Clay’s theatre worked out great for us to do that.
Presently, we have about 35 employees. They will move with us to Clay Cooper Theatre or stay at Americana with the new show leasing it, Some will stay at RFD Theatre or move with the other shows to their new facilities. RFD and Americana Theatre are NOT closing. They are simply leasing to other shows who are shuffling around as well.
Many have commented on the economy in Branson. Our show and the shows from our theatres that are staying in Branson are doing well. Take a look at the pictures we recently posted on our web page. We have crowds like this every night, five to six nights a week. The Redneck Tenors are having an awesome fall season. They are doing quite well. Barry Williams’ show is growing very nicely. Cassandre' is sold out two complete weeks in November. Joseph Hall is the new "King" of Branson. The Tweeds are moving up again. These shows will announce new locations shortly.
Drive down the strip anytime and check out the large crowds at SIX, Presley’s, Pierce Arrow, Clay Cooper, Duttons, Sight and Sound, and Dixie Stampede. Customers may have different tastes than they did even five years ago, but some Branson shows are doing well. SIX, Clay Cooper, and The Haygoods are doing very well!
Branson showgoers’ tastes are changing. This is natural and to be expected. We believe in the future of Branson. That is why the Haygoods are making a long term commitment to perform at the Clay Cooper Theatre.
Branson is an awesome, wholesome place to vacation and a place where you can bring your family to enjoy some of the finest clean entertainment in the world. We look forward to many more years of fun. We look forward to growing and changing as Branson heads into a new era of growth and prosperity. We are counting on it and doing our part to make it happen. Thank you Branson!
Clay Cooper performed in Branson as a teenager with a group called the Texas Gold Minors. Most of the troupe exited the music city on different paths, but Clay made Branson his home, emceeing Country Tonite for numerous seasons. In 2010, he and his wife Tina took ownership of the Osmond Theatre from Jimmy Osmond and renamed it the Clay Cooper Theatre. Together, the duo made each residing show feel important as part of the Clay Cooper Theatre family.
During the years that Clay Cooper became a recognized name in the Branson music scene, the Haygoods spent eight years of their young lives building a solid reputation, performing five shows a day, five days a week, at Silver Dollar City. Perfecting their craft, the seven brothers and one sister kept up music, dance, and gymnastic lessons, as well as a full schedule of school work. Known throughout the Midwest for their energetic, modern, and well-honed musical style, the Haygoods, now performing as five brothers and one sister, are taking the stage in 2014 three nights a week, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at the Clay Cooper Theatre. Clay says, “Tim, Patrick, Dom, Michael, and Matthew have been great friends for years. I feel like I’ve watched their little sister, Catherine, grow up on stage! I think this is an excellent opportunity for both of our shows at this time. We can offer even more variety to our customers and provide three knock-out family-owned, and yet completely different, night shows under one roof. I am excited about an extraordinary 2014 season!”
Clay Cooper will continue as the headliner at his theatre, featuring Clay Cooper’s Country Express, a big production, high-energy, variety show with 22 veteran entertainers singing and dancing into the hearts of audiences. Clay features all the cast members in a variety of old country, new country, and rock ‘n’ roll, spotlighting ten dancers, a six-piece band, two youth performers, trick-roper, Johnny Lonestar, and comedian, Matt Gumm. Clay and his cast will have a regular schedule of four nights a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. plus morning shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays during May and again, September through December, at 10 a.m.
The Clay Cooper Theatre will also be the home of Red, Hot...& Blue!, Buckets N Boards, and Mel Tillis. Red, Hot…& Blue! travels over decades of music from the Big Band Era of the 1940’s through the fun music of today. The cast of seven singer/dancers, along with their three piece band, provides non-stop, high-energy singing, dancing, and reminiscing. The show displays over 100 costume changes. Red, Hot…& Blue! will be performing morning shows at 10 a.m. in the spring and fall.
Buckets N Boards will return for their 5th season with Clay Cooper Theatre. Gareth Sever and Matthew Levingston have handcrafted a hilarious and high-energy show chock-full of precise percussion, ridiculous songs, spectacular tap dancing, inventive instrumentation, and unique musical talent. Buckets N Boards is an experience that entertains the entire family. Show time is 2 p.m. during March and then again, June through August.
Mel Tillis and his band, The Statesiders, will return to Clay Cooper Theatre for the 2014 fall season, September through December. Mel has recorded over 60 albums and written 1,000 songs. He has 36 Top Ten Singles with nine of them going to Number 1 on the charts. His 2 p.m. performances on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and selected Mondays at 7:30 p.m. will feature his son, whom he fondly calls Sonny Boy.
Along with this incredible lineup, Clay Cooper has plans for additional renovations in the theatre this winter. He says, “Since the day we moved in, our biggest concern has been the theatre seating. This winter, we plan to bring in all new theatre seats with a completely different floor plan in hopes of providing more leg room for our guests. We will also be getting a new roof, if weather permits.”
Regarding his 2014 season, Clay Cooper adds: “We’re just real people, havin’ a real good time!”
The Haygoods have performed as a family in Branson for 20 years. We love it here. Branson is our home and where we choose to raise our families. There has been a lot of interest concerning our recent announcement to move to the Clay Cooper Theatre for the 2014 season. We wanted to share some insight...
.jpg)
