THREE LITTLE BAKERS

DINNER THEATRE

FEATURING JO ANN CASTLE & ARTHUR DUNCAN

February 3rd

Jo Ann Castle

"Jo Ann Castle doesn’t tickle the Ivories, she hammers them—as if she is building the piano instead of playing it." This recent observation by TV Guide helps to describe the timeless appeal of the bouncy blond who has been entertaining American audiences since her debut on The Lawrence Welk Show over 40 years ago.

Castle began her career in Bakersfield, California, where she began singing, dancing and performing at the age of three. By age seven, she was studying classical piano and, at age ten, moved with her family to Ventura and started playing the accordion. She turned professional at the tender age of 15 working for such band leaders as country and western’s Tex Williams, Ina Ray Hutton and her All-Girl Orchestra, "King of Western Swing" Spade Cooley and Spike Jones.  By age 17,  she had formed her own band and was appearing regularly at the Dunes and Fremont Hotels in Las Vegas where she recorded her first album entitled "Accordion in Hi-Fi" for Roulette Records.

When Welk heard the album, he immediately invited her to make the first of several guest appearances on his ABC-televised show—all before the age of 19! Two years later, Mr. Welk invited her back and, on her 20th birthday with millions of viewers watching, surprised her with an invitation to become a permanent member of his musical family.  Castle went on to become one of its most popular entertainers until she left in 1970 to start a family.

Since 1994, she has been one of the stars at Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Theater in Branson and now travels nationwide with her dazzling one-woman show. Regarding her guest appearance at the Fabulous Follies, "It’s a thrill to be a part of such a wonderful show with such talented entertainers," states Castle.

With the veracity of Jerry Lee Lewis and the flamboyance of Liberace, audiences will be wowed with the comedy, sass, boundless energy and unique piano stylings of this dazzling entertainer.

Arthur Duncan

Arthur Duncan is one of those old-time, enduring entertainers: He sings, he taps up a storm, he has the finished manners of a TV host and the patter and timing of a comedian. In short, he's the quintessential song-and-dance man.

This globe-trotting entertainer and regular of 15 years on "The Lawrence Welk Show" has thrilled audiences the world over with his fancy footwork and lively singing style. In addition to record-setting nightclub appearances, Arthur has appeared on national television with other such legends as Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis and Red Skelton.

Arthur's entrance into show business was a natural process. As a newsboy on the street corners of Pasadena, he would sing the popular songs of the day and collect coins tossed his way. Taking a six-month sabbatical from Pasadena City College where he was studying to be a pharmacist, Arthur wanted to, as he says, "see what this show business was all about." He never returned to college, succeeding far beyond his expectations in night club bookings, local and national television appearances.

Arthur toured with the Jimmy Rodgers show and starred in his own variety television show in Australia. Then followed five years of appearances in clubs in London, Paris, Cairo, Beirut and three years in the winter and summer resorts of Switzerland. Upon his return from Europe, Arthur appeared at the Basin Street West in Los Angeles with Lionel Hampton and was spotted by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welk's personal manager. The rest, as they say, is history. His guest appearances on the Welk program drew such an overwhelming response that the Champagne Maestro signed Arthur as a regular.

While best-known as a song-and-dance man, Arthur's talents span many mediums. Whether it's the movie "TAP" with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr. or television's "DIAGNOSIS OF MURDER" with Dick Van Dyke, the National Tour of "MY ONE AND ONLY" with Tommy Tune or his many live appearances, Arthur Duncan proves again and again he's an entertainer's entertainer.