The word that comes to mind walking out of the theatre, after seeing Dino Kartsonakis’ “Dino’s Christmas Extravaganza,” in Branson, Missouri, is “spectacular.” Take any element of the show, piano playing, costuming, violin and fiddle playing, dancing, or singing and the word that describes each in the context of this show is “spectacular.” Combine them with a show dedicated to the true spirit of Christmas and the result is not only a spectacular show, but a special spectacular Christmas show.
Dino is a remarkable pianist and plays it all from pop to classical with energy, elegance, and beauty. Almost as important however, is his showmanship and ability to relate to his audience. Combine that with the singing of his wife Cheryl and the violin and fiddle playing of David Klinkenberg, spectacular choreography, dancing, production, and costuming and the result truly is a spectacular show that is a great entertainment experience.From the very first number it is very apparent that the dancers know their craft well and that their skill, grace, and elegance has been choreographed into the show to maximize its effect on the theme and flow of this show from the full dancing cast in “New York, New York” to the Celtic dancing while Cheryl sang “What Child is This.” Tonya Coker is the choreographer, Lisa Davis the Dance Captain and Pamela Gwen Bliss, Lyra Sprenger, Brianna Gonzales, Terra Donahue, Stephanie Richardson, Jake Voelz, Mike Ness, Dustin Stephan and William Faust comprise the rest of the dance company.
A lot of Branson shows divide their show into distinct parts, non Christmas first half and Christmas during the second half. Dino’s show provides and interesting and entertaining mix of Christmas numbers with non-Christmas numbers during the first half. The second half is devoted strictly to Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas.During the first half of the show, Christmas numbers such as “The Christmas Song,” by Dino on the piano with a production number of “What Child is This” sung by Cheryl and danced to by the “Celtic Dancers and the playing of silent night on the violin by David Klinkenberg are mixed in with numbers such as “New York New York” involving Dino and the dancers, the “Entertainer” and Klinkenberg’s playing of the classical “Pachelbel’s Canon,” also known as “Canon in D major.” A personal favorite was the combination of Dino and David on the piano and fiddle playing the “William Tell Overture, “The Lone Ranger Theme.”
The second half of the show was all Christmas featuring a beautiful Christmas set, costuming more production numbers, fabulous dancing, Cheryl’s singing, Dino’s piano playing and David’s fiddle and violin. From its opening production number “Celebrate Christmas” to the culminating production number at the manger in Bethlehem with Dino’s playing “O Holy Night” it is pure Christmas.
Oh, it has numbers like “Winter Wonderland,” and “Jingle Bell Rock” and even a special song, “It Wouldn’t Be Christmas Without You,” written especially for Cheryl to sing in the show. It has traditional Christmas Carols such a “Silent Night,” “The First Noel” and more along with its famous manger scene finale with Dino Playing “O Holy Night,” but more importantly it conveys the true spirit and meaning of Christmas in an entertaining and spectacular manner. Not only is it spectacular entertainment, but it creates an awareness about the most important Christmas gift anyone could ever receive.
Anyone seeing the entertaining spectacle “Dino’s Christmas Extravaganza” will instantly understand why this show has been a Branson favorite for over 19 year.
