The Christmas Spectacular at the American Mountain Theater in Elkins, W.Va. will be extra special this year with the addition of some fabulous new cast members who will be joining them to celebrate the season beginning on Friday, November 27, 2015. Chief among them being the 2012 $5 Million winner of Fox’s X Factor, Tate Stevens.
Tate will be joining AMT’s full time cast members, Kenny Sexton, Beverly Sexton, Jamalyn Sexton, Susie Heckel, Greg Thompson, Aaron Baker, and Meggan Sexton alongside several other new and amazingly talented folks who will bring the Christmas spirit to life for 22 performances. Also joining the cast are male vocalist, Steve Sifford, keyboardist and arranger, Ralph Geddes, drummer, BOBO Benefield, and guitar player Kevin Jones.
This year’s schedule includes 22 performances of the holiday favorite, including matinees at 2:00 pm on Saturdays, 3:00 pm on Sundays, and 7:30 pm performances Wednesday through Saturday evenings. The final performance of the season will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2015.
AMT Owner, Kenny Sexton, says “You don’t want to miss this show. These guys are some of the best in the business and they are choosing to make Elkins their home for the sole purpose of entertaining you folks. We are so excited to welcome these guys to our family. How incredible is it that a guy who won a nationally televised talent contest is going to be performing in Elkins, WV for 22 performances?! We are very blessed to have these talented entertainers and musicians joining us.”
Following winning the top prize on the X Factor, Tate Stevens released his self-titled first album, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Tate is a “genuine” country singer
who has been influenced by Garth Brooks, George Strait, Gene Watson, Merle Haggard, John Conlee and George Jones. Tate credits his success to his down-to-earth roots. “I think it was because I am a real person,” he says of his win. “I believe that country music fans are the most loyal and giving and they are the ones who pulled me through that show.” As X Factor judge, Simon Cowell said, when “you hear how good his voice is and his story, you could not NOT root for him. I think America got it right.”
Steve Sifford has literally grown up in music and ministry. He began his singing career on stage at church. Steve enjoyed several years as a part of the opening act for Roy Clark in Branson, Missouri, opening for the top country music performers of the day. For almost 20 years, Steve was the Host and Featured Vocalist of The Carolina Opry. He has a versatile repertoire ranging from pop to country, plus his favorite genre, gospel. On stage, Steve’s powerful vocal ability is only equaled by his honesty and warmth as an entertainer. He has the unique ability of making each member of the audience feel as though they are being entertained in their own living room. Steve’s quick wit and sense of humor have endeared him to audiences and co-workers alike.
Ralph Geddes is a composer, writer, performer and producer. A graduate of Brigham Young University, with a Bachelor of Arts in music theory, Ralph played keyboards with The Carolina Opry from 1997 until 2015. Ralph has a long list of credits to his name, including being the former musical director for Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Natalie Cole, and Charlie Rich. In addition to his skill at performance, Ralph has composed music for movies and television, including Bob Hope’s Christmas Special. Prior to joining The Carolina Opry, Ralph worked with such musical greats as Vince Gill, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, and Tanya Tucker.
Phillip “BOBO” Benefield is a drummer who has been playing professionally since he was 5 years old. He started out on the stage at the Tropicana Club in Las Vegas, Nevada playing drums with Dick Cantino and his forty piece orchestra for one set every Friday and Saturday night. After all, he was five, and he had to get to bed. From then on he knew he wanted to be a drummer. As a young musician growing up around some pretty well known musicians, BOBO’s musical interests were wide and varied. To put it simply, there is no genre he couldn’t play. He went on to play with several big names on limited engagements. By the time he graduated high school in west Texas, he had played shows with; Doc Severenson, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the legendary Buddy Rich. Shortly after graduation, he did a few shows with B.B. King when his drummer needed time off. He has also played with Little Jimmy Dickens, Tate Stevens, Jeff Cook from Alabama, and Trace Adkins, to name a few.
Kevin Jones is a 23 year old singer, songwriter, and guitar player originally from Kansas City, MO who moved to Nashville in 2014 to pursue music. His music career started at age 12 in a opry style theater that his grandfather owns in Kansas City, where he played in the house band and opened for acts like Johnny Rodriguez, Barbara Fairchild, Ronnie Mcdowell, Moe Bandy, Gene Watson, Joe Diffie, and Rhonda Vincent.
Each night during the Christmas season, AMT sets the stage for families to make magical holiday memories and create a family tradition that will last for years to come. The shows feature Christmas comedy and musical selections ranging from classics to contemporary favorites and is fun for all ages.
American Mountain Theater’s always promises to bring the absolute best in entertainment, and even has a money back guarantee to prove it. The venue has received the TripAdvisior Certificate of Excellence in 2013, 2014, and 2015 which is an honor only awarded to businesses consistently receiving outstanding traveler reviews on the site. The theater has also been awarded four WV Division of Tourism awards.
In addition to their spectacular Christmas shows, AMT offers family-friendly performances from April – October each year, with their Premier 2-Hour Show, History of American Music Show, and Southern Gospel & Bluegrass Concert Series.
