Home for the holidays

Yakov Smirnoff and Dino Kartsonakis pose for a photo shortly after announcing that Kartsonakis will bring his Christmas show to Smirnoff’s Branson theater in November.
Wiley Hendrix | Branson Daily News

By Wiley Hendrix
Staff Writer

Dino and Cheryl Kartsonakis will get the chance to relax at home during the 2009 holiday season — sort of.

On Wednesday, the couple announced that they would be presenting their 2009 Christmas show (68 in all) at the Yakov Smirnoff Theatre in Branson.

“We are very excited about joining Yakov for the holidays,” Dino Kartsonakis said. “Branson is our home and it will feel good to spend Christmas here.”

The show will open Nov. 2.

During Branson’s regular tourist season, the couple travels.

“We perform across the country,” Dino Kartsonakis said, “and we also tape our weekly television show on Trinity Broadcasting Network in New York.”

Smirnoff said he looks forward to working with the Kartsonakises.

“I’ve been working with them in the same town for years,” he said. “It’s going to be wonderful having them here.”

Smirnoff’s regular show begins April 22, and he said he will have a morning Christmas show for the holidays.

“Dino and Cheryl will have an afternoon or evening show,” Smirnoff said. “Visitors can come see my show in the morning and then come back later in the day for Dino’s show.”

Dino Kartsonakis added that the couple has a history with Smirnoff’s theater.

“That building was the first legitimate Branson theater we performed in about 18 years ago,” he said. “Back then, it was called the Will Rogers Follies. We had a lot of fun and it’s going to be great to be back.”

This time, however, the inside of the building will look a little different.

“One reason I wanted Dino’s show was because the elegance of his show matches with the changes I’ve made in my theater over the last five years,” Smirnoff said. “The decor and their show matches up really well.”