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| Dutton Family performing in Branson. |
For most Branson shows the “off season” provides a respite between one season and the next, but the Dutton’s idea of the “off season” adds new meaning to the term. Basically when they finish their last show in Branson in December, the Dutton’s move into an off season schedule that is a combination of shows at the “Dutton Family Theatre Legacy School,” in Mesa AZ and a series of road shows using that as their base of operations.
The online schedule for the Mesa theatre shows the Dutton’s performing 22 shows at the theatre from Jan. 17 through Mar. 27 in addition to 14 more on the road performances in other areas. In a phone interview on Feb. 26, Judith Dutton said the family’s off season performances maintains a tradition of traveling and performing on the road that has been a constant ever since the very beginning.
She went on to say that when they decided to establish themselves in Branson and open a theatre that tradition simply continued. In Branson, the Dutton family not only performs a full schedule of their show in the Dutton Family Theatre, but also operates the Dutton Inn, the Dutton Deli, makes and sells some of the best fudge around, and hosts “Fire Island,” a Polynesian show, at their theatre.
Dutton said their off season performances and road shows are an excellent way to promote not only their show, but the entire Branson area and mentioned they had performed to a full house in Surprise, AZ on February 25. During an interview on Feb. 26, Brent Hendrickson, Activities Director, for the Surprise venue said the Dutton’s had performed to a sellout crowd of about 600 people the night before. With obvious enthusiasm he said, “It was a great show that was energetic and extremely crowd pleasing.”
Dutton pointed out that the show they do both in Mesa and on the road is very similar to their Branson show. She indicated that the road shows are a little more intensive because, in addition to performing, they have to set everything up and break it down after they perform. Dutton said that the off season performances are also used to develop and perfect the changes that will be incorporated into their Branson show the next season.
Dutton stated they are looking forward to the 2009 season in Branson. The Dutton Show is scheduled to run from April 2 through December 8 and “Island Fire” from March 9 through December 5.
