Day Trips

Home of tomorrow's stars (Photo By Gerald E. McLeod)

The Garland Opry presents toe-tapping family entertainment every Saturday night. The show starts promptly at 7:30pm with a local or touring country band, followed by open auditions. Two of the Dixie Chicks and LeAnn Rimes started their musical careers on the wooden stage in downtown Garland, on the northern boundaries of Dallas.

"We're very family oriented," says Joni Boyer, "and it's a great place for young talent." Boyer is treasurer of the nonprofit Garland Country Music Association, which prides itself on helping young and old performers develop their stage skills.

Lately, the volunteer music organization has been on rocky shoals because its one paid employee has been out sick. Diagnosed with lung cancer In mid-February, Jaree Brasher scheduled the music that attracted the crowds for the Opry for nearly two decades.

"We're all helping out, but Jaree is so important to the success of the organization," Boyer says. Brasher has begun undergoing chemotherapy but still tries to help out by e-mail. On Friday, April 14, the second of two fundraisers will be held. "Half of the money goes to Jaree and half to the Opry," Boyer says.

The Garland Opry opened 32 years ago as a place to share songs and experiences. For the last three years the organization has rented the bottom floor of a 109-year-old building that once housed a pharmacy. The front windows of the 180-seat auditorium look out over a small park that was the town square when cotton fields separated Garland from Dallas.

Every summer, the Opry conducts a talent search over a 16-week period beginning April 15. The weekly winners are chosen by secret ballot given to the audience, and the finals are held on Aug. 19 at the Granville Performing Arts Center in Garland. The top performer takes home the $1,000 prize, with second through fourth place each receiving a nice payday.

"We really try to make the kids feel at home," Boyer says of the contestants that work their way up the performing ladder on the Opry's stage. "It takes a lot of guts to get up there onstage. That's a pretty tough first step," she says. "We want to encourage every effort."

A large portion of the Opry's reputation for helping young talent is Jaree Brasher's personal interest in the development of a singer or musician's talent. "Jaree built a relationship with the parents and the performers," Boyer says. "She has the passion for the music. The Opry's her baby, and the kids are her family."

Danny Brasher, Jaree's husband, also takes a strong role in helping the performers learn the ropes. As the leader of the Silverado, the Opry's house band, he acts as stage manager and gently coaxes timid first-timers through the nuances of working with a band. "He makes them feel comfortable, and the kids really look up to him," Boyer says.

The Garland Opry is at 115 N. Sixth St., at the corner of West State. There are restaurants in the area, and the theatre sells snacks and soft drinks. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors. Everyone must have a ticket, even the audition contestants. Performers should sign up before the regular Saturday night performance at 7:30pm.

The Talent Search is the Opry's biggest fundraiser of the year and is open to singers and musicians of any age. Hopefuls can download an entry form from the Web site. Contestants advance through four rounds of performances before advancing to the finals. The benefit for Jaree Brasher and the Opry will be held Friday, April 14, at 7pm. The concert with regular Opry players and special guests will be held across the street from the Opry hall at the 350-seat Plaza Theater. Tickets are $8 for all ages, with a silent auction being held after the show.

For more information on the these events, call 972/494-3835 or visit the organization's Web site at www.garlandopry.com.

772nd in a series. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of Day Trips 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.