by VICTORIA HENLEY
CTFashionMag.com
Memories Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., one of the first and longest running theaters in the great Smoky Mountains, has returned to its original namesake after several changes in ownership and title, bringing back the world class performance aesthetic and pure raw talent which fans fell in love with many decades ago.
The theater’s newest headlining show “Icons,” a high-octane tribute show that pays homage to a wide variety of celebrities from genres including country, pop, rock, soul and Broadway, and a dazzling assortment of curated classics sure to please even the most discerning music enthusiast in your group.
The two-hour show kicks off with the comedy stylings of “Festus”, a down home country comic with pitch perfect comedic timing, a backwoods country twang, and family friendly content that will have you reminiscing about the show “Hee Haw” and down-home country comedy’s Golden Era. Festus, personable, affable, and effortlessly lovable, transitions from riffing about how he manages to tell his wife and her twin apart, daily life in the boondocks of the great Smoky Mountains, and a roster of hysterically funny celebrity impressions including Bill Clinton (performing the Beatles’ “Yesterday” with his very own surprise twist in his signature raspy voice ), “Baby Dirty Harry” (in what the action hero’s catch phrases might have been when he was a toddler) and a heartwarmingly funny impression of the beloved character Forrest Gump.
The first tribute artist to take the stage performed as the country music industry’s resident “bad boy”, Waylon Jennings, who helped popularize the grittier and more rock-influenced genre known as outlaw country music. Stand out numbers performed during this rousing homage to Jennings included a rocking version of the theme song from “The Dukes of Hazzard,” a touching cover of Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and a gritty, growling rendition of “Walk the Line” (Waylon’s Version), initially performed by the “Man in Black” himself, Johnny Cash.
The charismatic and enigmatic Samantha Chambliss (wife of Michael Chambliss, Memories Theater’s headlining Elvis Tribute Artist) dominated the stage during the second segment of the show as the brash, bold, and brazen “Bad Girl” of country music, the inimitable Tanya Tucker. Brandishing the femme fatale country crooner’s raspy southern drawl, Chambliss belted out some of Tucker’s most acclaimed hits including “It’s a Little Too Late,”, “Down to my Last Teardrop”, and a soulful rendition of the holiday classic “Please Come Home for Christmas.” Any tribute to country music’s rebel queen would not be complete without the inclusion of “Delta Dawn,” the legendary, tragic ballad first popularized by Tucker at the tender age of 13 in 1972.
Next, Judy Garland’s iconic daughter, Liza Minnelli, the dazzling star of the Broadway stage and silver screen, was portrayed with pitch perfect aplomb as the talented tribute artist seamlessly transitioned between warm, friendly and humorous audience interaction and chart-topping hits. Bearing Minnelli’s signature flamboyant style and mega-watt smile, the artist belted out a plethora of instantly recognizable hits including “New York, New York”, “Can’t Help Loving ‘Dat Man” and a powerful, heartfelt performance of “Over the Rainbow” from her mother’s wildly successful cinematic masterpiece, “The Wizard of Oz.”
Elvis, the show stopping, high octane grand finale of the evening, delighted and charmed the audience, with a plethora of “The King’s” greatest hits including CC Rider, a rousing rendition of “Burning Love”, Rolling on the River and an earth shaking performance of My Way, initially popularized by Frank Sinatra and performed by Elvis during some of his heart-wrenching final shows. Donning the stars signature skin tight, stark white, jewel encrusted “Nudie Suit” , the stellar tribute artist, bearing striking resemblance to the “real deal” in appearance, vocal tonality, and movement, also brought to life a high energy cover of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Suspicious Minds” (which experienced a meteoric resurgence among a whole new demographic upon the release of the 2022 blockbuster “Elvis”), and the lovestruck holiday classic “Blue Christmas”. A patriotic salute to the troops and tribute to the veterans was evoked by a performance of the ballad “Dixie,” which brought the audiences to their feet for a memorable finale of a tremendous tribute show.
Filled with dazzling costumes, expertly curated musical content, and tributes to all your favorite stars, Icons at Memories Theater is a must see. Don’t forget to call the box office at the number below and book your tickets to ring in the New Year in an iconic way at Memories Theater, with gourmet finger foods, a legendary show, and a midnight “champagne” toast.
WEBSITE: memories-theater.com
PHONE NUMBER: (865) 365-1124
INSTAGRAM @memoriestheaterpftn
