Grand opening April 11 for New Mountain of Entertainment Theater
PIGEON FORGE, TN – Hugh Warren, a Dunn native and Dunn High School alumni, is opening a new theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with his wife, Chelsi Jussel Warren, this spring. The theater will be named Mountain of Entertainment Theater. It fulfills the couple’s dream of opening a Christian-based family, variety show in an entertainment region they want to continue to support.
The new theater will open on April 7 with a grand opening on April 11. The Warrens have leased the 10,000 square foot, 534-seat theater at 2135 Parkway for four years with an option to renew.
Hugh Warren, son of longtime Dunn optometrist Dr. Hubert Warren and Martha Fleming, was formerly a performer at Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show, Country Tonite Theatre and The Smoky Mountain Opry, all in Pigeon Forge.
He is a DJ, host, musician and singer/songwriter, and has most recently written a couple of children’s books. He has also entertained in shows in other cities including Branson, Missouri, Orlando, Florida, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A family affair
Entertaining is a family affair for the Warrens. Hugh’s wife, Chelsi, originally from Branson, has been performing for years as well. She and Hugh met while they were both performing at Dixie Stampede in Branson.
While Hugh and their son, Jace, who appeared as a featured youth performer/singer at Country Tonite last season, will both star in their new variety show at the Mountain of Entertainment Theater, Chelsi will be overseeing the operations of the theater as general manager.
The Warrens are not new to the entertainment industry. In addition to years of performing, they have more than five years of experience producing, directing, designing and appearing in their own theater productions. They most recently produced a Christmas show called “Noel” at the Michiana Event Center in Shipshewana, Indiana.
The idea to open the new Mountain of Entertainment Theater came from a shared desire to be able to live in their home in Sevierville, Tennessee, while fulfilling a longtime dream of running their own theater. This venture allows them to have a permanent space where they can audition, rehearse and stage their own shows.
“For years we wanted to have our own theater, but it did not seem possible because the funds were not available. But we kept believing that this was meant to be, and it would work out,” Hugh Warren explained. “Finally, the right doors opened and we had the opportunity to partner with some friends of ours in this venture.
“We are going to feature the best talent available in this mountain region, along with a few surprises that you won’t find at any other theater in the area,” Warren said. “We want our new shows to be the highlight of our guests’ vacation, and we guarantee they will want to bring the whole family back again-and-again!”
An entertainment showcase
The Mountain of Entertainment Theater will showcase musicians, singers and dancers performing hit songs from all genres of music spanning several decades. There will also be specialty acts including high-flying aerialists, a juggler, an illusionist, comedy and gaucho dancers from Argentina.
The theater will bring an estimated 50 new jobs to Pigeon Forge.
The Warrens have been busy with renovations to get ready for the theater’s upcoming opening.
The show will run for this season from April 7 until Dec. 30. Then it will close for two months and open back up in March of 2024.
For more information, call the theater’s box office at 865-245-4FUN or visit mountainofentertainmenttheater.com.
(Story courtesy Dunn Daily Record)
