The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater (formerly known as The Miracle Theater and Louise Mandrell Theater) was a theater established in 1997 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States.
Louise Mandrell Theater The Miracle Theater | |
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_IMG_5009.JPG) Smoky Mountain Opry Theater in 2012 | |
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| Address | 2046 Parkway Pigeon Forge, Tennessee United States |
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| Coordinates | 35°49′28″N 83°34′43″W / 35.824565°N 83.578584°W |
| Owner | World Choice Investments, LLC |
| Type | Theater |
| Capacity | 1,400[1] |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Closed | May 2020 |
History edit
In Fall 1997, the theater was opened as stage for country singer Louise Mandrell.[2] In 2005, the theater was purchased by The Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, while Mandrell performed her last show on New Year's Eve that same year.[3] After a $15 million installation,[4] the theater was reopened as "The Miracle Theater" on April 13, 2006.[5] Its main play, "The Miracle" was performed from its opening in 2006[5] to its closing on October 22, 2011.[6] The musical was about the life of Jesus Christ.[4] The musical consisted of live animals, sword-fights, and wire-harnessing angels[7] and was composed by David Legg and written by Linda Nell Cooper.[5] Other shows that were performed at the Miracle Theater included the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.[8] In September 2007, the Miracle Theater received national attention when it spent about $90,000 on a USA Today advertisement, which indirectly criticized Kathy Griffin's Primetime Emmy Award acceptance speech.[9] On November 7, 2011, the theater re-opened as "Smoky Mountain Opry Theater" with a "Christmas at the Opry" show.[10] A variety show was also added in the beginning of the 2012 season.[11] At the end of 2018, World Choice Investments, the owner of Dolly Parton's Stampede, purchased Fee Hedrick Entertainment (and therefore the Smoky Mountain Opry) for an undisclosed amount.[12]
In May 2020, spokesperson Pete Owens announced that the theater would be closed during the entire season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] The theater would never reopen.
In August 2023, it was announced that The Crayola Experience and The Nerf Action Xperience would be replacing the venue, both attractions are expected to open by Fall 2024.[14][15]
References edit
- ^ "All New "Feel the Music" Show Opens at Smoky Mountain Opry in Pigeon Forge". Sevier News Messenger. March 16, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Battle, Bob (December 17, 1996). "Louise Mandrell to add theater to Pigeon Forge". Nashville Banner.
In the latest in a series of major entertainment features in the Smokies, singer Louise Mandrell plans to open her proposed 1,400-seat theater in the Music Road Entertainment Park at Pigeon Forge, Tenn., in the fall of 1997.
- ^ "Louise Mandrell witnesses "A Miracle"". Seymour Herald Newspaper. July 3, 2006. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Price, Jennifer (February 10, 2008). "Refining the religious message". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Based on the life of Jesus, 'Miracle' to debut Thursday". Knoxville News Sentinel. April 8, 2006.
- ^ Hodges, Dereck (October 21, 2011). "'Miracle' nears final performance". The Mountain Press.
"The Miracle" has three more showings left, scheduled for 8 p.m. today and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Saturday. Fee says the possibilities for new life for "Miracle" include Christmas season matinée shows at Smoky Mountain Opry, the name of both the theater and the new show it will host starting Nov. 4, and even the chance for a traveling production.
- ^ Considine, Austin (January 15, 2009). "Gatlinburg, Tenn.: Return to Kitsch Mountain". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ "New Narrator for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" - PigeonForge.com". PigeonForge.com. April 7, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Eckstrom, Kevin (September 22, 2007). "Make Fun Of Faith? Sure. Jesus? Uh, No". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ "Pigeon Forge theater to end "Miracle"". Knoxville News Sentinel. February 27, 2011. p. 45. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Smoky Mountain Opry to Open Largest Musical Variety Show in Pigeon Forge". Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment. March 12, 2012. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ "World Choice Investments Buys Fee Hedrick Entertainment". QSR Magazine. February 4, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Smoky Mountain Opry will not reopen for 2020 season". WATE 6. May 29, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Taylor, Blake (2023-08-17). "'Next-generation' Crayola Experience at Pigeon Forge opens in 2024". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
- ^ "New NERF attraction coming to Pigeon Forge". WATE 6 On Your Side. 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
External links edit
- Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived May 13, 2020)