Shows need a major upgrade.

Am I the only one who thinks that they are 2nd class at best?

Everybody Loves Snoopy was awesome. Thats the only one I like.

My kids are all grown up.I was speaking of entertainment for grown -ups.We went to Red Garter last week and it was so loud that we had to leave half way through.Not very entertaining.I really don't think they worry too much about the quality of their shows.They never were first rate,but but certainly they were much better a few years ago.

Even though your kids are all grown up, the ice show is very entertaining for adults. I'm 18 (I wouldn't count myself in as a kid) and I liked it. The tricks are amazing, music is good, and the skimpy outfits are even better. :)

It is just as enjoyable for adults as it is for little kids.

The Ice show was nothing special IMO.The skaters were just OK as none were close to competition skills and I really am tired of the kiddie theming.I guess if I had children I might feel differently.

It is the best show this year,and I would put the one in the main theater 2ND. After that,there was nothing worth mentioning.I guess it's a matter of personal taste.When a small park like Hershey can have really good shows,and many of them,there is no logical reason for CP not to be at least competitive in that area.

Check out some interesting videos on youtube of the Hershey Park and some old King's Island shows for comparison,then make up your own mind.

the all wheels show is a great one. its not singing and not really dancing either, I've always enjoyed it and the people in it have immense talent.

Unless they actively seek it out, I think they are going to have an extremely hard time finding the level of talent they had in the Garter from 06-08 (maybe 09, can't remember). Those guys (and gals) were truly special musicians, and I still keep tabs on a few of their careers. The guitar player in the Garter this year is pretty decent, but I wasn't too keen on the rest of the band. There was just something missing, and it wasn't the music, because I listen to and enjoy pretty much everything. I remember in 07 especially, the Garter was absolutely electric, and their take on Jimi Hendrix's "Fire" would really get the place rockin. It was also almost impossible to just walk in during the middle of the show and find a place to sit anywhere, even during the slowest times of the season. Last month, during the weekend, on a very crowded day, I was able to walk in and sit right in front of the stage.

As for the rest of the stage shows minus the ice show, I can't voice my dislike for canned tracks enough. The one in the Aldrich theater wasn't too bad, but with many of the songs, part of the energy for them comes through the nature of a live band. Stage presence is also an issue, and I really feel like its all over the place this year.

Allan Birmantas sr said:
When a small park like Hershey can have really good shows,and many of them,there is no logical reason for CP not to be at least competitive in that area.

The shift in Cedar Point's Live E may have a lot to do the gradual change in its audience, or at least the importance placed on live entertainment by management. Parks like Hersheypark, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, and Busch Gardens treat their shows as being as much of an attraction as their largest thrill rides.

Cedar Point has a reasonably strong show line-up in terms of variety, although it is admittedly far from the quality and quantity of the past. I would love for more live musicians and I have a feeling Cedar Point's Live E would love it too if they had the resources to do so. But if audiences and park management don't feel that live shows are "important" to the total park experience anymore the Live E folks are going to continue to do the best they can with what they have.

Haven't gone to the new ice show, but we always go to the Red Garter. Halloweekends shows were a little weak last year though. The magician they used to get was far better than what they replaced him with and I cannot emphasize enough how much I miss the Poe readings. Wheren't they fairly popular? Why did they get rid of them?

The musicians at the Red Garter were OK,but the volume was over the top.I thought the keyboard guy and the guitar/bass player was also the best singer.The girls were OK to look at but the talent was minimal.

I can really only speak for the Halloweekends shows, but I can certainly say that the Red Garter show has gone downhill the last couple of years, due in large part to the elimination of the live band. As for the other shows.... a bit on the cheesy side. I've seen them before, and if there's nothing new they didn't give me any reason to see them again.

Also - I definitely agree that the Poe readings were a HUGE loss to Halloweekends.

The HalloWeekends show at the Red Garter this year is apparently still titled The Edge of Madness (now the less "offensive" subtitle of Six Feet Under) so it seems the show will be more of the same, namely no live band.

Monsters rock was one of the best shows ever at the park. Here are a few of my favorate clips from that show....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtIC1PHwHFk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjC4xVC20sI&feature=related

TimChat2 said:
I would love for more live musicians and I have a feeling Cedar Point's Live E would love it too

TimChat2 said:
But if audiences and park management don't feel that live shows are "important" to the total park experience anymore the Live E folks are going to continue to do the best they can with what they have.

^This.

I enjoy the shows very much. I think some people think they are going to get Broadway when they see a show but they are pretty good when compared to other parks outside of Orlando. Aside from a few other parks (the ones mentioned above), Cedar Point Live Shows are some of the best, I would rate them above any Six Flags park. The industry must agree as well considering Cedar Point has won numerous 'Big E' awards.

The strength of Cedar Point's shows comes from the tradition for live entertainment established way back by Jack Aldrich (among others) that predates the park's reputation as the home to large thrill rides. While Live E might not be everything it used to be, I'm glad that the park still feels the need to have a show in each venue throughout most of the year. More midway entertainment, like the return of the Beach Band/Hobo Band or perhaps a ragtime piano player in the gazebo in Frontiertown, would "plus" the park in a way that might not be marketable on a billboard by the turnpike but nonetheless enhances the overall park experience.

I have high hopes for the halloweekends show in the garter this year. A few performers from the Monster's Rock era are going to be back. How cool would it be to have a full cast of that caliber of talent back, and a live band, too! I don't know anything about the show, but fingers crossed, it will be a step in the right direction.

99er said:

TimChat2 said:
I would love for more live musicians and I have a feeling Cedar Point's Live E would love it too

TimChat2 said:
But if audiences and park management don't feel that live shows are "important" to the total park experience anymore the Live E folks are going to continue to do the best they can with what they have.

^This.

I enjoy the shows very much. I think some people think they are going to get Broadway when they see a show but they are pretty good when compared to other parks outside of Orlando. Aside from a few other parks (the ones mentioned above), Cedar Point Live Shows are some of the best, I would rate them above any Six Flags park. The industry must agree as well considering Cedar Point has won numerous 'Big E' awards.

Why can't they match the shows at Hershey Park? That is a much smaller venue.It depends who they hire to run that aspect of the park.Obviously their current entertainment manager has no interest in putting on a good product.

I have seen Grand Ole Country, All Wheels Extreme, and Tropical Heat Island Beat this year. All of which were above average compared to Holiday World or Six Flags.

I really wish Cedar Point had live music throughout the park. Someone playing the banjo near Shoot the Rapids, maybe something in the gazebo near the Town Hall...

Speaking of Grand Ole Country, did the show end it's run? I am thinking about visiting the park Labor Day Weekend and I can't find any info about the show on the website? I would really like to see it again.

Allan Birmantas sr said:
Why can't they match the shows at Hershey Park? That is a much smaller venue.It depends who they hire to run that aspect of the park.Obviously their current entertainment manager has no interest in putting on a good product.

Because of what TIm said. If the park executives don't feel the need to pump more money into the department, shows will suffer. Live Entertainment use to have a lot more shows but they slowly started disappearing, I am guessing because of cost. I doubt highly the Entertainment Manager enjoys losing his budget and would actually love to do a lot more, the complete opposite of your statement above.

Other parks like Hershey and Dollywood (while smaller) can do better because they probably have larger budgets and offer higher pay for talent. Pretty plain and simple really, offer more and get more.

coolkid said:

Speaking of Grand Ole Country, did the show end it's run? I am thinking about visiting the park Labor Day Weekend and I can't find any info about the show on the website? I would really like to see it again.

The show ended on August 14th, I believe, although it lives on through some YouTube videos. It was a very strong show and a nice return-to-form after the unfortunate "show" that lived in the Palace for the 2009 season.