Branson Shows Are Friendly Rivals

Branson shows are the main industry for this city of the Ozarks, so you might imagine that rivalries could be pretty intense. It may surprise you to know that rival shows actually help each other, even in a struggling economy.


One case in point concerns long-time favorites Yakov Smirnoff and the Osmond Brothers. The Osmond Brothers have been performing in Branson for more than 20 years. Last year, the singing family sold its theater and moved the act to the Music City Center. That new venue, however, seats only 664 patrons, and the Osmonds were already getting hints that their Christmas show was going to be a big hit this year.


As it happens, long-time friend Smirnoff had space available in his 1,800-seat theater. There were even openings in the calendar available through the busy fall and Christmas seasons. An agreement was quickly reached, and the two Branson shows have been sharing the Yakov Smirnoff Theater since September 1.


The whole issue was a matter of "turnabout is fair play." Yakov got one of his first real pushes in American show business when he performed in the Osmond's Branson theater years ago. And he's kept in touch with Jimmy Osmond, the youngest brother and manager of the family's Branson operations.


As Osmond told Branson Tri-Lakes News Entertainment Editor Joshua Clark, the shared facility was almost inevitable. "Yakov really got started at my theater, and I still call him, and he still calls me," Osmond said. "All of a sudden it just clicked, and it was like, 'Hey, why aren't we working together?'"
Osmond also pointed out that their show has a lot in common with Yakov Smirnoff's Dinner Adventure. Both are counted among the most uplifting of Branson, MO, shows. Further, both the Osmonds and Yakov Smirnoff reached their first entertainment peak in the 70s and 80s, with the last of the Baby Boomers. That same generation is what has kept both groups popular in the intervening decades.


In addition, both the Osmonds and Yakov have constantly expressed sincere gratitude for their continued success. "I've always felt blessed to be able to do what we do," Osmond told the Tri-Lakes News' Clark.


Similarly, Yakov Smirnoff's shows have always shown his gratitude in his performances. His current Dinner Adventure (a Russian-circus-themed dinner show) ends on a very patriotic note, and his paintings nearly always express his gratitude to American audiences.


Despite the recent downturn in the economy, both shows are holding their own, thanks in large part to their familiarity to American audiences. "I think that people are seeing fewer shows now, and they stick to the shows they know what to expect," Osmond explained.


Familiarity does not mean predictability, however. Both shows are constantly being revised and updated. Yakov Smirnov's Dinner Adventure recently introduced a whole new emphasis on serving "the only dinner feast" in Branson. Audiences at that feast certainly get their money's worth, with a full Russian dinner and exciting Russian-style circus entertainment that is a step above standard American-style circuses.

The Osmond Brothers and Yakov Smirnoff have shown they know what audiences want in Branson shows. Their partnership shows that they will continue pleasing people for years to come.

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