Have you seen it...have you seen Ayo?

by Linda Burligame, Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

it is a fun filled show starring the Hughes Brothers and their families — five brothers, their wives and 35 children— singing and dancing their way through a variety of music, from Broadway, jazz and gospel, to patriotic and pop. There’s a dash of comedy, and those kids will charm your socks off!

 

After an energetic opening with more than a dozen brothers, wives and kids Dance to the Music, the five Brothers slow things down with songs like Blue Moon and Chain Gang, tunes that show off their beautiful harmony. Marty, Jason, Adam, Ryan and Andy have been singing together all their lives; the harmony is not just musical. The boys and their families work closely to create the show that has been entertaining Branson visitors for almost 20 years.

 

I used to refer to the kids as the “little ones.” That doesn’t work anymore. Do you remember sweet little Kristina? Still very sweet, she is now 20 years old. She is Marty and Cindy’s daughter, oldest of their 14 children and the oldest Hughes

grandchild.

 

Gary and Lena Hughes started the Hughes Brothers' music lessons early. Soon they were performing at church dinners, civic events, performing lead roles in musicals, and eventually performing in Branson. Here they all have roles other than music. Producing and directing, lighting and graphics … lots of jobs!

 

The song selection and production numbers are all good. Here Comes the Sun with Kristina on violin, along with four of the older boys, turns into a funky modern dance. It’s suits ‘n’ sunglasses when the guys sing My Gal, and the wives sport pretty parasols for Walkin’ in Sunshine. The Hughes Brothers Kids is a delightful number, too. And when five of the younger boys come out dressed in cowboy finery to sing Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, they look just like the ‘original’ Hughes brothers when they were young, performing on the state fair circuit.

Jason starts the second half with Give My Regards to Broadway. The number from Big River is nice; there are a lot of favorites like Wells Fargo Wagon from Music Man; It’s a Hard Knock Life from Annie; New York New York from On the Town. The band is top notch and shows off with a number from Chicago. My favorite has to be the hand jive number from Will Rogers Follies, Hooray for Our Favorite Son. Hope no one got smacked or got an eye poked out in rehearsal for that one!! Their gospel and patriotic medley at the close of the show are beautiful, with the whole family on stage. Your family will enjoy their family!

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Speaking of family, the other show headlining at the Hughes Brothers Theatre is Ayo starring Voices of Glory. Michael, Avery and Nadia Cole. They were Top 5 finalists on America’s Got Talent; the story of how they started singing is poignant and very touching.

 

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Shepherd of the Hills Gazette article talks about Ayo

Here is a portion of a recent article titled "Have you seen it...have you seen Ayo?" by Linda Burligame in the Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

Speaking of family, the other show headlining at the Hughes Brothers Theatre is Ayo starring Voices of Glory. Michael, Avery and Nadia Cole. They were Top 5 finalists on America’s Got Talent; the story of how they started singing is poignant and very touching. They have an easy, graceful manner on stage and their voices and harmonies are exceptional. Nadia, who is just 13, has an extraordinary voice; close your eyes and you think you’re listening to an older, more experienced vocalist. Someday we may be saying, “I remember her when she was just 13 and performing in Branson!”

Michael, Avery and Nadia do a wide variety of music styles. I think they really shine when they’re singing jazz and soul numbers. They have an especially good band, too. I know Marty Wilhite and Mitch Kiersey, exceptional musicians who have been on the Branson scene a long time. It’s a New Dawn is very stylish. And I really like their arrangement of Cry Me a River. They were scattin’ through Summertime (“and the livin’ is easy.”) They do gospel and Broadway, and it was fun when Michael sang I Won’t Dance and Nadia and Avery came out doing a fun, funky dance. Tina Turner would be impressed if she heard Nadia’s Rollin’ on the River! She really ‘gets after it!’ Ayo is Branson’s newest hit show … put it on your “must see” list!

 

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