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Jim Barber Performs with Symphony for New Year's Eve Concert Entertainer/Ventriloquist Jim Barber will be performing with the Symphony this New Year's Eve at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theater at 8:00 pm. This family show will feature a variety of numbers including Disney's I Wanna Be Like You to the classic Auld Lang Syne. Bring in the New Year with the Symphony!  BIO: A 1978 graduate of Rapid City Central High School, Jim began his performing career as a young teen entertaining civic groups and various organizations around the Rapid City area. Active in both theater and band, Jim also performed as a percussionist with the Symphony Orchestra for a couple seasons. He attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology his first year of college, then transferred to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where he majored in broadcasting and theater arts. While based in the Twin Cities, Jim co-produced and co-hosted a popular local children's television show and also toured extensively around the world entertaining troops for the USO. He later accepted a two-year contract to perform aboard the "General Jackson Showboat" at Opryland in Nashville which led to headlining comedy clubs throughout the Midwest and featured performances at approximately 2000 colleges and universities around the country. Jim has been honored as the "International Ventriloquist of the Year," "Comedy Entertainer of the Year," by the National Association of Campus Activities and Showtime, the Movie Channel named him one of the "Funniest People in America" (Tennessee Representative) for his technical vocal skills and creative approach to the art of ventriloquism. Jim was first introduced to Branson as the featured comedian in Glen Campbell's Goodtime Show. He has since been featured in other successful Branson productions with The Osmonds, Tony Orlando, Bobby Vinton and the late Eddie Rabbitt. He served as a national co-host for the Jerry Lewis "Stars Across America" Labor Day Telethon, has appeared on every major television network, most recently, CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman." Beyond his reputation as an entertainer, Jim has extensive training and experience in multimedia and has personally developed projects for Silver Dollar City, Big Cedar Lodge, Glen Campbell, Jimmy Osmond, Yakov Smirnoff, and many other businesses in the Branson area and around the country. He is honored to serve on the board of directors for the "Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce," "Mountain Country Homes of Hope" and the "Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum" in Ft. Mitchell, KY. Jim's wife Diane graduated from Rapid City Stephens High in 1980 and has an extensive musical theater background and owns her own interior decorating business in Branson. Diane also performs in the Hamner Barber Variety Show holiday production, "The Wings of Christmas" during November and December. |
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