The Carolina Opry Christmas Special, “The Christmas Show of the South,” currently in its 27th season, brings you its most memorable season yet. The 2012 season brings stunning change neatly blended with time-honored traditions. New talent mingles with acclaimed rotating artists and long-standing Opry favorite artists.

In addition to a holiday brass section, vocalist Joni Nathanson has joined the cast for Christmas. Joni, known for her status as a beloved Charleston entertainer, was introduced to Southeastern audiences in Gilmore’s Serenade Show which ran for 4 years in Charleston. Nathan Herron also returns as emcee for his second Christmas season. An incredible vocal talent and star of American Idol, Nathanhas quickly become a crowd favorite. He is joined by long-time Opry pianist Rocky Fretz, now a fixture on the international scene. A member of the original Carolina Opry cast in 1986, Rocky Fretz has been dazzling audiences for over 26 years.

“All That,” stars of NBC’s America’s Got Talent this summer, are also back with all new dance material—and some big surprises.

All of these are joined by an award-winning cast of over 35 including Calvin Gilmore, Rita Gumm, Christie Templeton, Kim Perry, Brad Long, Kym “Bogie” Shurbutt, Eric Gumm, a real horse-drawn sleigh and even real snow!

The holiday decorations at The Calvin Gilmore Theater are an attraction in themselves—second to none. When you enter the theater, you enter the embodied spirit of Christmas. In a dramatic one-week shut-down, the transformation into a winter wonderland begins as the crew spends all night and the entire following week preparing over 35 Christmas trees, (including a 30 foot lobby tree with 25,000 lights,) 75 wreaths, over 5 miles of tree lighting wire, countless tree ornaments, and mounds of Christmas snow!

Award winning producer, director and performer Calvin Gilmore said recently, “Right now, families and groups need light-hearted entertainment more than ever before. We are pulling out all the stops to make this the most amazing, funny, warm and wonderful show ever.” He adds, “Wait until you hear our show-stopper. Not even going to give you a hint of what it is.”

The Carolina Opry is the only show in Myrtle Beach to be touted as “the real thing.” Real talent, real production values, real entertainment—the “Top attraction in Myrtle Beach” according to CNBC, and a holiday tradition for over twenty-six years, The Carolina Opry Christmas Special brings the warm, wonderful, and fun spirit of Christmas to life with music, comedy and dance. The original and still the best Christmas show in Myrtle Beach, this show is at the top of every Myrtle Beach holiday itinerary.

Shows run November 1, 2012 through January 5, 2013, with regular evening performances and selectively scheduled matinees. For a full schedule visit www.TheCarolinaOpry.com and to book tickets call 800-843-6779.

More About The Carolina Opry

Gilmore Entertainment has long been the leader of musical variety show entertainment in the Southeast, with the classic Carolina Opry show and their newest hit, Good Vibrations. Gilmore and his Carolina Opry have been featured by USA Today, ABC Nightly News, Southern Living Magazine, Variety, and a host of other newspapers and television shows. It is the only Myrtle Beach show to receive the coveted South Carolina Governor’s Cup, as well as being voted South Carolina’s Most Outstanding Attraction. In recent years, Gilmore has performed regularly at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and he is designated as South Carolina’s Official Country Music Ambassador.

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