The Haygoods are Good!

 

 

In mid-February, 2014, the Haygoods kicked off their 21st season in Branson at The Clay Cooper Theatre. Starting their musical careers at Branson’s Silver Dollar City back in 1993, the family honed their talents for numerous instruments, choreography, and sweet harmonies. They took a chance—eight children and Mom and Dad Haygood—moving from their home in Boerne, Texas, to accept a summer contract performing daily shows at Silver Dollar City. Their “gig” extended through Christmas. Each year, Mom Haygood said they sat down as a family and decided if they were going to commit to make music for another season—or catch the big yellow school bus as it passed each morning. The decision was unanimous for the life of musicians. For the next eight years, the family grew up in the theme park, performing five shows a day, five days a week while squeezing in instrument and dance lessons, as well as completing schoolwork. The drive and persistence of oldest brother Timothy resulted in the family show become the most successful, highest rated show in the history of Silver Dollar City. Youngest brother Aaron Haygood, who arrived in Branson as an infant, summed up the experience. "I started on stage when I was two years old, so my earliest memories are of applause and hard work. Oh, and getting to ride the roller coasters every day!" The Haygoods completed over 10,000 shows during their time at Silver Dollar City.

With a generous loan from their grandmother, the Haygoods took a giant risk and opened their own show on the Branson strip in 2001. The move from a theme park to the entertainment town was more than a location change. The three oldest Haygoods also took creative and financial control of the show and began to make their mark on the show’s presentation and on Branson’s music scene. The Haygoods became the youngest performing family to ever open their own show on the Branson strip.

Dominic & Catherine Haygood

At the end of their first full season, the Haygoods reached a crossroads; they had to decide to push ahead despite financial hardships or to give up the music business and seek so-called normal lives. But music was in their blood. The siblings had known since they first played fiddles and sang at nursing homes and fairs back in Texas that they were destined to make music. They set about making their “town” show the most exciting on the Branson strip. With Dominic as music director, they began to take classic songs like "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Eleanor Rigby" and add their own musical twists. Familiar songs from Motown were updated with modern dance moves and unique harmonies. At the same time, the energetic Haygoods began reclaiming their childhood by filming their wild BMX and paraplane stunts, which made them a You Tube sensation. "We finally started to realize everything was going to be OK. We loved playing our music together and we felt like we had achieved a measure of success," said Shawn Haygood.

Michael warms up
the audience.

In 2009, the Haygoods took yet another chance on themselves and their music, staking everything they had in their own theater on the Branson strip. By this time, the Haygood boys had become men and the decision to buy the Americana Theatre was an investment in their musical future.

At the same time, the Haygoods set about creating their own original music with the hope of reaching a national audience. Daily jam sessions and boxing matches led to recording studios and bringing in producers to help refine their music. Their first album "Leaving It All Behind" was released in 2010. Without any radio support, record label support or even digital downloads, the album sold over 10,000 physical copies in its first two months of release.

In the fall of 2011, The Haygoods teamed up with the RFDTV network, a cable channel distributed in over 50 million homes in the United States, and many more worldwide, to create a reality/music television show. In addition, The Haygoods moved their live show to the RFDTV Theatre on the corner of Shepherd of the Hills Boulevard and the famous Highway 76 Strip. At the same time, they retained the Americana Theatre and booked morning, matinee, and evening shows on its stage. Cassandre’, Voice of an Angel, continues to anchor the Americana’s line-up.

The television show called “Adventures of The Haygoods” did well on the RFDTV network and garnered good Nielson ratings, especially for a completely unknown group. New seasons developed, and re-runs continue to air.

The Haygoods opening Outlaw Run
at Silver Dollar City ~ April 2013

The Haygoods completed their 2012 and 2013 seasons at the RFDTV Theatre. In announcing their move to the Clay Cooper Theatre, Catherine Haygood said: “We have been looking at investing in new technology and production equipment to take our show to the next level. We needed a long term commitment to make sense financially, longer than the year-to-year lease we had at the RFDTV Theatre. Clay Copper has our vision for the future, and he 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.”

“We have invested in new lights, sets, and special effects and this year’s show will be our best ever,” said Michael Haygood, lighting designer and guitarist for The Haygoods. To be even better is a huge boast since the Haygoods are already one of Branson’s longest running and most successful shows. The group, now five brothers and one sister, is known throughout the Midwest for their incredible high energy productions. Combining their talents, they play over 20 instruments, sing with harmony, both powerful and pure at the same time, tap dance like they are on fire, and entertain crowds with a state of the art show featuring all styles of music from the 60s through today.

The Haygoods performing at Silver Dollar City.
(Photo by Arline Chandler)

“These guys know how to put on a super exciting, high energy show and that’s why they draw large crowds year after year,” said Clay Cooper, owner of the Clay Cooper Theatre. “I’m turning them loose in my theatre, so audiences, hang on to your seats. It’s gonna be a wild ride.”

When asked what audiences could expect out of The Haygoods this year, Dominic Haygood replied with a huge grin, “New routines, new music, a bigger production, and lots of surprises. Our lasers and new special effects will put it over the top, but the new music is what excites me.”

For information and tickets call the box office at 417-339-4663 or go to: http://www.thehaygoods.com/

The Facts About The Haygoods and Branson's Future... by Catherine Haygood

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!

Movies and Videos Do Not Measure Up to Live Theater

Annie Gill, a young opera artist we met at Opera in the Ozarks near Eureka Springs, Arkansas, posted on Facebook: “Movies and DVDs are great, but, People, get out into the theaters and hear live performances! I was energized and inspired by all of the performing artists.” Annie referred to her own performance in “Opera Night at Sotto Sopra,” and her attendance at “Les Miserable” and the “Lyric Opera of Baltimore Gala,” all in Baltimore, Maryland.

Although miles separate us, I echo Annie’s sentiment. Although we go other places to see plays or musicals, our favorite live shows are in the theaters at Branson, Missouri.

Recently, we made a four-day trip to America’s Live Music Show Capital and took in four stage shows. The Haygoods, playing in the RFD-TV Theatre in Branson, kept a fast pace for their two hour show. I have been following and writing about the Haygood family, seven boys and one girl, since they started their Branson careers at Silver Dollar City in 1993. Today, they have grown up and now produce their own show along the entertainment city’s main thoroughfare. Recently, the group returned to Silver Dollar City to sing the National Anthem at the opening of the City’s newest roller coaster, Outlaw Run.

Today’s show on their own theatre stage features five of the brothers: Timothy, Patrick, Dominique, Michael, and Matthew, and their sister Catherine. The family sets the mood for fun when the audience warms up tossing bags of balloons from front to back in relay fashion. The brothers and Catherine storm the stage in foot-stomping style while Michael literally sweeps onto the stage in a flyover. In life off the stage, Timothy and Michael actually fly airplanes.

Each sibling plays multiple instruments; however, Catherine plays the highest number, including fiddle, harp, saxophone, and drums. Patrick primarily plays keyboards, while Timothy adds a bit of comedy to the show playing his off-key (according to Dominique) banjo. Matthew masters the five-string bass; Michael plays classical guitar, and all the brothers are proficient on fiddle—the instrument that started them on the path to performing. Their vocal harmonies touch the audience’s heart and their rhythmic tap dancing—akin to the musical “Stomp”—energizes the whole theater.

Branson’s shows are diverse, meeting the tastes of different audiences. Three Redneck Tenors, appearing in patched overalls and denim cut-offs that might embarrass the most committed hillbilly, juxtapose their trained opera voices against the characters of Billy Bob, Billy Joe, and Billy Billee. Their show, based on adventures of the three rednecks is narrated by a city slicker agent they call the “Colonel.” In real life, Dinny McGuire is a former Ring Master of both Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circuses. The new adventures of these three singers, lacking in manners and stage savvy, follows a circuitous musical path from a broken-down Texas trailer park to New York’s Carnegie Hall. Along the way, their voices—nothing hillbilly in their sound—belt out theme songs from television series ranging from "Bonanza" and "Beverly Hillbillies" to "Green Acres," "Rawhide," and "The Jeffersons."

In the second half of their show, the three tenors appear as the experienced opera and Broadway stars that they are: Blake Davidson, Alex Bumpas, and Matthew Lord, clad in a more expected operatic style of tuxes and tails. Their magnificent voices—in solos and harmonies—swell over the audience at the New Americana Theatre in arias, Broadway tunes, and gospel melodies.

Cassandré Haygood and Friends, also at the New Americana Theatre, entertained us in a morning show. Vocally trained at the University of Nebraska, Cassandré has performed in Branson for the past 13 years, nine of those years in productions at Silver Dollar City. The last four years, she has headlined her own show on Branson’s famed “Strip.” Her passion for performing comes across in her singing, dancing, and acting, as well as her interaction with audiences.

Accompanied by a nine member orchestra, Cassandré’s theme for the show centers on a celebration of music from the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. She shines equally in classical works and “oldies” tunes. In duets, she sings with Jeremy Rabe, challenging their voices in such songs as “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better.” Cassandré radiates joy in her stage act and in her life as the wife of performer, Timothy Haygood, and the mother of their baby girl. Her performance is enhanced by numerous changes into sequined and glamorous gowns.

Cassandré also loves the comedic side of performing, as we had previously witnessed in her performance in “A Dickens Christmas Carol” at Silver Dollar City. For her own show, she developed the character, Aunt Erma, and writes the comedy skits for the matronly woman with a “hitch” in her hips as she dances. Aunt Erma comes to Branson from Lake Wannaputasockinit where she is the five-time defending champion of the “Put A Sock In It” Karaoke Contest. Costumed in a frumpy house dress and a Dolly Parton wig, Aunt Erma wows the audience with both country and popular vocals. Her quick-step dancing comes as an entertaining surprise.

On our last evening of this trip to Branson, we went to “It,” produced by the Hughes Family. Started by the five Hughes brothers: Marty, Jason, Andy, Ryan, and Adam, the brothers explained the renaming of their show, saying “You must see ‘It!’” They related that many entertainers and advertisers refer to “it,” and surely, they must mean the Hughes Family Show, “It.”

The show claims they are “The World’s Largest Performing Family.” With a 55-member cast, no doubt, they are. The five brothers’ wives perform with them, (the brothers say they audition their wives!) as well as 34 (and counting) children ranging in age from babes in arms to young adults. As brother Jason says, “The kids have been onstage since conception, so they come into this family with stage presence.” Indeed, that is proven in act after act: five sons imitating their dads in western outfits at the beginning of their careers; 19-year-old Kristina performing on the violin and joined by six cousins on violins; six sons of the brothers in overalls singing and dancing to songs from “Big River,” “Oklahoma,” and “Paint Your Wagon,” and the smaller kids in a musical act all their own. In all their years of performances, the family has always produced a baby for the nativity scene in their Christmas productions.

The show is a blend of music from country and classics to Broadway and gospel. The brothers—the dads—suit up for a rendition of “My Girl.” Their wives, Cindy, Mara, Carina, Becky, and Vikki, parade on stage with bright colored dresses and umbrellas, singing and dancing to “I’m Walking on Sunshine.” The show’s pace is fast; the choreography, spirited. One minute the audience is laughing; the next, wiping a tear in response to heart-strumming harmonies. The entire show is uplifting and inspirational. The Hughes present an entertaining family that exhibits their love for each other, for God, and for country.

Marty Hughes, the oldest brother, sums up their obvious connection with audiences: "There is nothing better than being able to do the thing you love, and having your audiences love the thing you do."

As Annie Gill says, “There is no substitute for live theater.” Get to Branson and find your seat. Maybe Lee and I will sit next to you!