The new Mountain of Entertainment Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is opening an all-new ultimate musical variety show called ”Array” that features professional headliners from all over the world. The jam-packed variety show opens on Friday, April 7, and will showcase talented musicians, singers, and dancers performing hit songs from all genres of music spanning several decades.
There will be lots of specialty acts, including an international star who is one of the world’s best jugglers, renowned Argentinian gaucho dancers, a comic illusionist, daring strap aerialists and chair balancing artists, and spectacular silk aerialists. The show will feature all kinds of music including: country, rock, pop, Broadway, movie themes, Latin, gospel and patriotic.
“It’s going to be an amazing great family show,” said Hugh Warren, producer of the “Array” show, as well as host and singer. While Warren and his son, Jace, who appeared as a featured youth performer/singer at Country Tonite last season, will both star in the new “Array” variety show at the Mountain of Entertainment Theater, Warren’s wife, Chelsi will be overseeing the operations of the theater as general manager.
““We want people to experience as many different elements as they can in one show,” Warren said. “We will also have music to fit everyone’s musical taste. We want to bring something to this Smoky Mountain region that we believe is missing in today’s entertainment options. To call our new show, ‘Array,’ the newest and most exciting variety show in Pigeon Forge is an understatement.
“There will be thrilling visual entertainment, and specialty acts and stunts you may not see anywhere else,” Warren said. “For example, we will have the only gaucho dancer act in Pigeon Forge.”
“GoGaucho” dancers Sebastian and Amberlyn Sayago will bring a unique, high-energy Argentina performance to the stage. The Latin troupe use boleadoras “bolas,” double balls affixed to long leather cords, to dance with their native drums.
Also starring in the show will be the one man, comedy Dutch juggler, Niels Duinker, from Amsterdam, Netherlands. He holds eight Guinness Book of World Records in juggling, which includes two of his most impressive feats, juggling 14 cups at once and juggling for the longest duration while blindfolded. He was awarded the Golden Merlin Award from the International Magician’s Society (IMS), for “Variety Act of the Year.” This prestigious award is only presented to those who have achieved the highest level in their craft, both on the national and international stage. He formerly worked at The Comedy Barn Theater in Pigeon Forge, other theaters in Ohio and South Carolina, as well as on cruise ships, and many other places throughout Europe.
The high energy “Array” show is filled with many other amazing acts including Nicole Landkas and Cristian Bilea, “Duo Devotion,” with their difficult and dangerous chair balancing artistry and strap aerialist act. Landkas from Sarasota, Fla., is a fifth generation circus performer who started performing at the age of 6. Bilea, from Bucharest, Romania, is a second generation circus performer. He attended the Academy of Circus in Italy and the Academy of Gymnastics in Romania. Both Landkas and Bilea have performed in Circus Hollywood (the world’s largest outdoor thrill circus), in several Cirque du Soleil shows, on Celebrity cruises and at Busch Gardens.
On “Duo Devotions” days off, the high-flying silk aerialists, Leann Farley and Semyon Gruzdev, “Duo Artis,” will perform. Farley has been performing since the age of 15 all over the country. Gruzdev graduated from one of the most prestigious dance academies in Russia and was a member of the Russian National Theater Dance Group. In 2010 while performing in the Yakov Smirnoff Show in Branson, Mo., Farley and Gruzdev formed their partnership ‘Duo Artis’ and have been performing their aerial silks and quick change act together throughout the United States ever since. They are best known in the local area for their performances at the Smoky Mountain Opry Theater. “Our audiences will be amazed to see aerialists Leann and Semyon gracefully fly through the air, but they will also love their quick-change act, where you barely blink and they have changed costumes,” Warren said.
Another highlight act in the show will be comic sleight-of-hand artist Ray Adams. “It is a unique skill to combine comedy with mind-blowing sleight of hand tricks, but Ray is a special talent who has mastered both,” Warren said.
The “Array” show presents a tribute to country music’s greatest stars such as Jo Dee Marie Messina, Rascal Flatts and Shania Twain. The show has everything from traditional country music to movie favorites such as “Danger Zone,” from the movie “Top Gun,” making for a diverse musical experience. There are even soul-reaching spiritual tunes such as “Redeemer,” and “How Great Thou Art,” as well as patriotic numbers like “the Star Spangled Banner,” and “In God we Trust.” Guests can also remember hits from the Eagles and other well-known artists.
Warren said that with the dedication and the mindset he and his cast have to entertain people and share their hearts, guests can forget their problems for two hours and enjoy a great show. Warren said, “A lot of people are facing hard times right now, and we have several songs about hope, faith and strength to bring smiles to everyone’s faces and inspiration to their souls. Come experience the Mountain of Entertainment Theater. We have something for everyone.”
The new show features experienced singers and dancers. Vocal captain Doronte Evans leads the cast of singers that includes Corey Clark, Flor Rosales-Euceda, and Abbey Dovey, as well as singer alternates, Cannan Covinton and Tay Perry. The headline dancers include Ely Rebeka, Katherine Longlois, Jonathan Ruff, and Greg Podolak, as well as dancer alternate swings Brandyn Dyke, Dina King and Amanda Russell.
The show will have a live band including keyboard players Sarah Clementine and Daniel Owens, as well as John Baisden, on drums, Craig Strong on bass, and John Young, guitarist.
Many people work behind the scenes to bring this show to life. The production team includes choreographers Amanda Russell and Amberlyn Sayago, sound technician John Clark, lighting designer Marshall Whaley, lighting technician Michael Versocki, costume/wardrobe coordinators Nancy Shelton and Sierra Brannon and technical crew members Ray Adams, Steve Malone and Chris Aldridge, as well as many box office, concession workers and ushers.
The Mountain of Entertainment Theater is located at 2135 Parkway (between traffic lights 0 and 1) in Pigeon Forge and seats 534 people. Show times will be Monday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a 3:00 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. Tickets are on sale now. Ticket prices are $44.95 for adults and $22.95 for children ages 4 to 11. Children ages 1-3 are free if they are sitting on an adult’s lap. Group rates are available for groups of 20 or more. Concessions will be available including Amish pretzels, popcorn, candy, and soft drinks. The theater will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. The show will run for this season from April 7 until Dec. 30th, 2023. Then it will close for two months and open back up in March of 2024. For more information, call the theater’s box office (865) 245-4FUN (4386) or visit mountainofentertainmenttheater.com. Hugh and Chelsi Warren also produce a Christmas show called “Noel” at the Michiana Event Center in Shipshewana, Ind.