Michele@seymourherald.com
Looking for some family fun? Then, the Comedy Barn is the place to go.
The Comedy Barn Theater, located in Pigeon Forge, TN, is an award winning family comedy variety show in the Smoky Mountains. Since 1995, Comedy Barn has been performing two shows a day, seven days a week. Some of the show features include: magicians, fire-eaters, jugglers, ventriloquists, clean comedians, live country and gospel music as well as fun barnyard animals.
Owners David Fee and Jim Hedrick put together what they felt was a “family show” with a family atmosphere. “We’re the Wal-Mart of Theaters” states Hedrick, “We never close and we appeal to everybody.”
Part of that appeal is the use of animals in the show. When you first arrival you are greeted by Arnold, the Comedy Barn pig. Inside dogs are pretty much like everyone else with little ones like Blondie taking it easy on the counter. Blondie is just one of the animals in the show. Trainer Dawn Elberson works with The Comedy Barn Canines for about three and half months to get them ready for the show and they become part of her family. “They live with me. We are one family. You could say I live with them!”
A former president of the Humane Society, Elberson has been working with animals “all of her life” and is a true animal lover. There are eight dogs currently in the show and most are rescued from the Humane Society. One spectator commented that it looked as if the dogs were having as much fun as the audience.
The family atmosphere is evident. There are lots of children in attendance at the shows and audience participation is another fun addition. You never know who they will be pulling out of the audience next, and once onstage the comedy really begins.
Hedrick says he considers the employees family. “We hire acts and are very picky – we get the best and work together like a family. Our shows are as good as any Broadway shows.”
Eric Lambert, a regular on the show, has the audience in stitches with his unique brand of humor. “Do you like pizza” he asks one of the audience members. “Yes, I love it!” they answer. “To bad!” is his response.
What amazed me about the show is that after performing so many times over many years, the cast is still as ambitious, motivated and fun-as if it were their very first show. They truly seem as if they are having as much fun as the audience and they probably are.
The Comedy Barn is opened seven days a week with shows at 5:00 pm and 8:15 pm. Cost is $19.95 for adults and kids are always free with a paid adult. Local Sevier County residents can get in for only $6.00 and can bring out of town guests for $15. For more information you can call 428-5222 or check out their website at www.comedybarn.com

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