Old Dominion Barn Dance 2024 season kicks off: Live talent show contest
HOPEWELL — The Old Dominion Barn Dance, the best country music this side of the Grand Ole Opry, kicked off its 2024 season at the Beacon Theatre with Ricky Skaggs, 14-time Grammy Award winning King of Kentucky Bluegrass. Special guests were Debra and Patrick, style mixologists who blend and bend musical genres, and country artist Celeste Kellogg.
The 10-year anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 9 also included a House of Delegates resolution. Delegate Carrie Emerson Coyner presented the resolution which she introduced. It commended the Old Dominion Barn Dance for preserving the rich musical heritage of the Commonwealth for more than 70 years, showcasing the finest acts in country music, fostering a strong sense of community in Central Virginia and more.
The executive producer of Old Dominion Barn Dance is Donna Dean Stevens, the widow of legendary performer and sausage maker Jimmy Dean. Stevens aka Donna Meade has led the operation of the Old Dominion Barn Dance since 2015. She is a member of Virginia's Country Music Hall of Fame and a former cast member of the show's 1973 production.
“For me this has been a highlight of my life. From the vision of a show to where we are today is epic. Our cast is incredibly talented. Each one of them brings their own unique style to our show. And as we all know behind every great show is the best production staff and crew,“ Lynne Colacone, Old Dominion Barn Dance general manager, said. “Their loyalty and dedication to us should be commended. Together, we are one big musical family, on and off the stage."
According to Colacone, the following celebrated their 10-year anniversary on Saturday: Donna Dean Stevens, Jayson Stevens, Meade's second husband and childhood sweetheart, Lynne Colacone, Lynne Carnes, Ryland Tinnell, Mary Tinnell, J.W. Belden, Lee Blasingame, Billy Rice, Jeremiah Stevens, Debbie Nagle and Tony Jackson.
Stevens and Colacone claim to have the greatest fans ever, and the dynamic duo plans to feature traditional country and bluegrass music artists for many years to come.
If you missed seeing Skaggs perform, the rest of the season includes Rhonda Vincent, T.G. Sheppard and T. Graham Brown, Lorrie Morgan and Wilson Fairchild. Each Old Dominion Barn Dance has an early show at 2 p.m. and a late show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $35 - $75 and can be purchased in advance or at the door, if not sold out.
Old Dominion Barn Dance: 2024 season
Saturday, May 18: Lorrie Morgan
Saturday, August 17: T.G. Sheppard and T. Graham Brown
Saturday, October 26: Rhonda Vincent
Saturday, December 14: Wilson Fairchild, the sons of Virginia's own Statler Brothers
Every show includes a lot of barn dance fun with the Old Dominion Barn Dance cast [Donna Dean Stevens, Lynne Carnes, Lee Blasingame, The Mullins Sisters, Christy Thompson, Patsy and Michael Hockaday and Scotty Batten], band, singers, cloggers and guests including Adam Stubbs as the host.
Old Dominion Barn Dance: Talent Search
Would you like to be a part of the Old Dominion Barn Dance and share your talent along with its regular cast and national headliners? Twenty semi-finalists will be chosen to compete in the finals, and five winners will each win money and an appearance on the Old Dominion Barn Dance.
The contest is open to vocalists, musicians, dancers, comedians and vocal groups of all ages. A video submission and $25 entry fee is required. The deadline for entry is Wednesday, May 1. The live contest will be held at the Beacon Theatre on Sunday, September 8 at 3 p.m. For more information, call or text Colacone at (804) 896-2511.
Visit olddominionbarndance.com for more information, a schedule of performers, a photo gallery of past shows and to purchase tickets to the wholesome, good old-fashioned country and bluegrass music variety show. For a full schedule of shows at the Beacon Theatre, visit thebeacontheatreva.com, call (804) 446-3457 or visit the box office located at 401 N. Main Street in Hopewell Mon. - Fri. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell: Old Dominion Barn Dance talent search, 2024 season kicks off
