Branson - Day 2

 Our lodging last night and tonight is Savannah House. They offer a free dessert bar from 8:30-11:00 p.m. so when we pulled into the parking lot last night at 9 p.m. we saw more gray hair than you can imagine in the breakfast room, having dessert and playing cards. I told Jo Anne, this must be the place. 😁

Breakfast was your typical hotel fare and not picture-worthy, or even worthy of a second day. Tomorrow we will find something else for breakfast. The really nice thing is the hotel plays Christian music all the time. We noticed Christian music playing in some of the stores we went into today also. Very nice!

clouds, referred to as "smoke on the mountain"

Last night we decided  to go to see the Irish Tenors and Celtic Dancers at the 10 a.m. show today. It was okay but we wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. Our favorite part was the clogging (dancing). The singing was okay but a little disappointing.

and everywhere you go there are tour buses unloading

After the show we had lunch at Waxy O'Shay's Irish Pub where we reminisced about our hiking trip to Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher. Jo Anne read that they closed 5500 metres of the trail for remedial work following two fatal accidents in recent months. Hopefully, the repairs won't take too long. It would be very disappointing to go to the Cliffs and not be able to walk the trail as it is one of the most stunning walks we've done.

We both had Shepherd's Pie for lunch. Delish!

The White River that runs through Branson.

I scalded my tongue on the Shepherd's Pie so decided we needed to get some ice cream to cool it down. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. It was pumpkin, in honor of the fall season and it is my birthday after all. I hope my joints aren't screaming at me tomorrow.

After a short rest, we went to the Sight and Sound Theater to see Queen Esther. The following is an excerpt from the program which tells the story better than I. 

"It takes nearly four years to develop a new Sight & Sound production for the stage. From script and score to scenic design, meticulous attention is given to every detail.

QUEEN ESTHER is no exception. At over 11,000 square feet of construction, the opulent city of Susa is one of the largest set pieces ever built for a Sight & Sound show! (It is simply indescribable. The depth of the set makes it look like you can see down the streets into the city. This video doesn’t begin to show the magnificence of the set but is the best I could get during intermission.)

“And while the Persian Empire may be magnificent in scale, it's the story of one woman's quiet faith that we hope shines brightest on stage.

We are passionate about bringing the Bible to life because we believe these events that took place thousands of years ago are still relevant to our lives today. As you journey alongside Esther, we hope you'll be inspired by the courage it takes to remember that God has planted each of us for such a time as this.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Lancaster County, PA, the founder, Glenn Eshelman, was inspired by the beauty of the world around him. After getting married, Glenn and Shirley began relying on Glenn's creativity to make ends meet. They presented a slide show of Glenn's photography and landscape paintings in 1964. This first unofficial "Sight & Sound" show became a humble success.

By the mid-1970's, Glenn and Shirley were taking their multimedia presentations on the road. This popularity gave way to a permanent home for their productions. In 1976, the Living Waters Theatre opened its doors. It was here that Sight & Sound Theatres was born.

By the early 2000's, sell-out crowds sparked a new idea: what would it look like for Sight & Sound to expand? The vision to grow to a second location was realized in 2008, when a brand-new theater opened in Branson, MO. But this was only the beginning...

Passionate about sharing these powerful stories beyond the two theater locations, Sight & Sound began filming and releasing productions on DVD in 2005. In 2020, Sight & Sound TV was launched, and this online streaming platform has since welcomed a global virtual audience from over 175 countries throughout the world.

Most recently, Sight & Sound announced a new chapter, taking storytelling from the big stage to the big screen with the development of Sight & Sound Films. The debut feature, I HEARD THE BELLS, premiered in movie theaters nationwide in 2022.

What began with a dairy farmer, his wife, a passion for creativity and a desire to serve God, has grown into the Sight & Sound we know today. We are humbled by this success and thankful to remain a family-owned business, led by the next generation of the Eshelman family, with a committed team of over 800 employees on a mission to bring the gospel to life through live theater, television, and film."

The Branson theater also seats 2,000. It was full tonight and apparently shows are almost always sold out. I can see why. It's a production like none other I have ever seen, even in New York. 

They presented the gospel at the end of the show and had staff standing at the front to speak to and pray for those who went forward.

The Lion and the Lamb at the entrance to the theater speaks volumes about their mission of sharing the gospel of Christ.

What a spectacular day we've had. Tomorrow we are planning a hike to some waterfalls just south of Branson.