DRURY LANE DINNER THEATRE

FEATURING

JO ANN CASTLE, MYRON FLOREN & ARTHUR DUNCAN

October 16-19th

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.

Myron Floren

Myron Floren was born in Roslyn, South Dakota, the eldest of seven children. When Myron was seven years old, he talked his father into ordering a ten dollar accordion from Sears and Roebuck, and as a result of that investment, would later become one of the top virtuosos in the world. He credits the development of his strong finger and forearm strength to milking the cows on the farm.

Myron attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, where he moonlighted teaching accordion for the Williams Music Company. One of his students was Berdyne Koerner, his future wife.

When World War II began, Myron tried to enlist in the Air Force but was turned down for medical reasons. He later enlisted in the USO and entertained the troops overseas.

Upon his return from the war, he and Berdyne lived in Sioux Falls where Myron had a radio show. In 1946, they moved to St. Louis where he joined the "Buckeye Four", a popular music group specializing in hillbilly music. One night, they went dancing at the Casa Loma ballroom where Welk was appearing. Lawrence invited Myron up on stage to play a number. Myron chose "Lady of Spain". The crowd and Lawrence loved it and he was offered a job with Welk that night. In 1950, he joined the band and stayed until the show's end in 1982.

Today, Myron can be seen appearing throughout the country entertaining audiences everywhere.

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.