The Carolina Opry Comes Alive with New “Thunder and Light” Show

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What do you get when you cross the foot-stomping showmanship of popular dance troop “All That” with the high-tech lasers featured on major concert tours? Then take a little bit of magic and a whole lot of breath-taking action and put them all under one roof?

Technically speaking, the answer is “Thunder and Light”, the latest show to take the stage and thrill audiences at Myrtle Beach’s Carolina Opry. The Calvin Gilmore production is drawing rave reviews since debuting this season and crowds are taking notice. But the easy answer to the trick question is entertainment for every non-stop moment of the showcase.

Headlined by internationally known clogging corps “All That”, which amazed TV viewers on NBC's hit show “America's Got Talent,” this unique performance has fans dancing in the aisles. Featuring spot-on dance steps and unbelievable moves, “All That” wrote and choreographed their numbers by themselves and delight crowds with their high-energy dance routines.

To add to the excitement and the experience, “Thunder and Light” utilizes a modern multi-colored, five-laser system that is synchronized to “All That's” steps and stomps. Featured in international tours by such top acts as Pink Floyd and Madonna, the lasers combine with “All That's” thunderous dance maneuvers for an incredible performance that brings down the house.

As if those two acts aren't enough to pack the house, “Thunder and Light” also delivers a one-of-a-kind magic show by cutting-edge illusionists the Wagsters. Magicians and married couple Brandon and Hannah Lynne have been working their magic on stages together for more than 20 years, and they have honed an amazing act specifically for this show during their stay at The Carolina Opry.

If dancing, lasers and magic aren't up your alley, The Carolina Opry offers a wide variety of shows to satisfy folks of all theatrical tastes. The namesake production “TCO: The Show” continues to entertain big crowds, while the new “Time Warp” show highlights the music of the 1960s and '70s. Late-night laser shows feature the music of bands like Led Zeppelin and the Beatles.

The Carolina Opry is just one of the many venues that makes Myrtle Beach the entertainment capital of the Carolinas. Located right next door is Dolly Parton’s dinner theater production of “Pirates Voyage,” a high-energy show that takes place on the high seas. Rival ships float on a large pool that serves as the watery stage for sword fights, acrobatic dives, explosions and animal acts.

Just a few miles north is Barefoot Landing, where the Alabama Theatre and the House of Blues serve as major venues for music and shows. The Alabama Theatre hosts off-Broadway performances and occasional concerts, while the HOB, located just across the parking lot, features live music seven days a week, from national touring acts in the main concert hall to regional and local bands on the Crossroads stage.

Only a few miles south at Broadway at the Beach, the Palace Theatre also showcases top touring companies performing a wide variety of shows, and Legends In Concert features top tribute artists doing their best impersonations of celebrities like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Marilyn Monroe. Just across the Intracoastal Waterway at Fantasy Harbour is Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament for a romantic trip back to the Middle Ages.

No matter which shows you decide to see, you can come back to your room at Long Bay and relax after enjoying all the entertainment our local theaters have to offer. Be sure to check your Sun and Fun Rewards package for possible free tickets to one or more of these shows.