Saturday, November 15, 2014 marked a very special night in Downtown Louisville – the opening of Pam Tillis & Friends: A Kentucky Christmas Dinner Show. The show will run Saturday - Friday until December 13, 2014.
In a mere two hours, guests of the show can enjoy a delicious three-course meal while Pam Tillis ushers them into the holiday season with Christmas cheer, heartwarming moments and a great catalog of music. The show’s soundtrack includes modern takes on holiday classics such from Silent Night to Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, as well as some of Tillis’s biggest hits.
The show, which has been in the works for about a year, features not only the country music (who boasts six Number One hits, 14 Top Ten hits and a Grammy), but also a group of about 10 young and talented performers. Throughout the show, they dance, sing, play instruments and tell jokes.
The format of the dinner show is set up to create the optimum experience for the viewers. The show starts with a quick introduction by just a couple of cast members who exit the stage with an, “Enjoy your salads!”
As the salad course winds down, cast members emerge and begin introducing themselves, kicking the show off. After a few minutes of songs and Christmas cheer, the show takes a break as the entrée comes out. On opening night, guests were served a delicious dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, while kids were served special plates of chicken nuggets with macaroni and cheese.
With the end of the entrée comes the entrance of the star of the show, Pam Tillis. This country music star and CMA female vocalist of the year presents a show full of old favorites, modern takes on Christmas classics and a wardrobe full of amazing costumes.
The show has many facets and includes several themes, a bought of river dancing, a nod to the Kentucky Derby, a series of bad Christmas jokes and a tribute to Tillis’s father, Grand Ole Opry legend Mel Tillis. Throughout the show, Pam Tillis shares with the guests what Christmastime means to her – a reflection on childhood memories, as well as appreciation for her family and a reflection on religion. Pulling viewers close as a part of the family, Tillis expertly leads an experience that will send guests home with hearts light and stomachs full.
Don’t worry, parents, your kids won’t be bored. A survey of the crowd showed little girls sitting on laps and watching intently as sugar plum fairies ran across the stage, as well as little boys in uncomfortable sweater vests engaged as musicians played the guitar and trumpet.
To experience the dinner and a show for yourself, please look here. Adult tickets cost $77, while children’s tickets cost $31.
Photos: Josh Lee
