West Virginia Theater Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

As American Mountain Theater (AMT) celebrates its first anniversary in its new 527-seat facility in the Elkins Railyard, President and Producer Kenny Sexton predicts that attendance will have increased 100 percent by the end of 2008.

AMT, the only such venue in West Virginia offering Branson-style entertainment, beamed the spotlights on it first show on July 27, 2007. As word has spread, the high-energy comedy/musical entertainment productions have attracted theater-goers from across the country and from throughout the Mountain State.

“It is quite satisfying,” said Sexton. “We are well on our way to realizing our expectations for a 100 percent increase in attendance for calendar year 2008.”

Based on calculations and the normal fall season, Sexton says AMT will attract anywhere from 27,000 to 30,000 customers this season, up from a total of 15,000 in 2007.

“We got off to a slower start than I had anticipated, but the marketing and advertising is working,” he said. “Every night during intermission, we ask people where they’re from, and each night we meet people from between seven to 15 states. We are a real tourist destination. AMT has really caught on.”

Sexton says 50 to 60 percent, including all the motorcoaches, are from out of state. “We’ve had people from California and Washington and even from other countries, including Japan, Canada, and Spain. And because we change the show, many local people attend, some as many as three and four times.

AMT was honored as New Business of the Year for 2007 by the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and has already captured the national media spotlight with a feature story in the May 21 edition of the Washington Post. In addition to this national notoriety, AMT recently was featured on National Public Radio.

The family-oriented show includes comedic antics and music ranging from country to gospel, R&B, patriotic numbers and period music. Performances also include dance routines and impersonations of some of America’s most popular performers.

During its inaugural season, from late July through October 2007, plus a Christmas production, AMT impacted the economy by bringing in more than $3 million from motorcoach tours alone. A total of 131 bus groups from 19 states attended performances and stayed in local motels. Many groups enjoyed scenic train excursions through the mountains.

During its grand opening last fall, Gov. Joe Manchin, III, accompanied by First Lady Gayle Manchin, haled Elkins and Randolph County as “a shining jewel in West Virginia’s ever-growing tourist industry.”

Joining the cast this year is professional fiddle player John Cochran. A West Virginia native, Cochran has played for George Jones and other big-name performers.

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3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."