From Cristy Lane to Funny Bone: Theater to Change

By Jimmy Lancaster

BDN Entertainment Editor

The former Cristy Lane Theater will soon be transformed into the Funny Bone Theatre.

David Carlow, the Funny Bone's director of operations, said "We are bringing the Funny Bone Theatre to Branson at the Cristy Lane Theatre location." The Funny Bone is based in St. Louis and has a nightclub in Springfield.

"We are finalizing our contracts with the performers this year and we will be announcing those real soon," Carlow said. "We are taking over the Cristy Lane Theater as of May 1. Cristy Lane will be performing through the month of May. We will be acclimated to the theater that month and then officially we will become the Funny Bone Theater toward the end of May. We intend to have it totally converted by June 1.

Carlow said that Cristy Lane will be taking a leave of absence for a while.

"We will be have every right to bring Cristy back for some shows starting back in September if we choose too," Carlow said. "We leasing the theater for five years."

Carlow said that the theater will be based on a comedy theme.

"We are leaning toward a comedy production around a feature headlining name," Carlow said.

Peter Lemongello will be doing the morning shows at the theater with his band according to Carlow.

"There will not be a change in the time and we might add a little more production to his show."

Carlow plans to have the comedy shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and in the peak part of the season, there may be an 11 p.m. show.

The founder of the Funny Bone comedy club chain is Gerald Kubach.

"We are the largest chain of venues and we have 13 theaters and clubs," Carlow said. "Most of them are comedy nightclubs and our corporate offices are out of St. Louis. We are also in negotiations with Joe Sullivan and Associates in consulting and hoping he will be producing the shows as well as marketing. President of our chain is Doug McGregor."

Carlow plans to use Vic Dunlop, who is a performer out of Los Angeles. He was in the original cast show of "Make Me Laugh" as well as several motion pictures.

"We will use him to build a comedy production around our headline comedian," Carlow said. "We also plan to participate in the upcoming Branson Fan Fest activities. We want to be involved in the community and with charitable organizations.