Siloam Springs’ Producer Worked With Kenny Rogers

SILOAM SPRINGS PRODUCER FINDS LOCAL TALENT FOR MUSICAL

Producer/director Kelly Junkermann of Siloam Springs has made a career of taking chances with music legend Kenny Rogers. That’s what Rogers once told him.

Junkermann has produced Rogers’ live shows, including his Christmas shows, for more than 30 years.

The two started as friends, Rogers said. Tennis brought them together. While on the road for eight years, Rogers and Junkermann played tennis for eight hours a day. Junkermann played on the pro tour for four years and said he defeated a 16-year-old Andre Agassi.

“It did not take me long to realize that Kelly had a gift and creative talent,” Rogers said. “He has continued to prove I was right. He can do anything he chooses to challenge.”

Junkermann wro te, produced and acted in several movies in which Rogers was the star, including two in “The Gambler” series, “Kenny Rogers Going Home” and “Rio Diablo.” He was an actor in “Uncommon Valor” and produced a movie in which country musician Travis Tritt was the star.

“His greatest achievement is that he is quick to commit himself to a project and refuses to let it fail,” Rogers said. “That is a great gift.”

Junkermann is working on Rogers’ farewell tour, “End Of The Rainbow,” that starts in February.

“He’s 77 and still doing 100 shows a year,” Junkermann said of Rogers.

Rogers, who plans to retire in 2016, said when it’s over, he will miss arguing with Junkermann. “He is a very gifted arguer.”

In 1996, Rogers and Junkermann took a chance on something they’d never tried before when they created the Christmas musical, “The Toy Shoppe.”

It started backstage with a song Rogers wrote about a broken toy and developed into a Broadway show.

The heartfelt musical originally featured Rogers as Hank Longley. As the owner of a used toy shop that’s about to go out of business, Longley will need a Christmas miracle to keep big business from shut- ting him down.

The two men didn’t know what to expect in its first showing, but the audience loved the musical and gave a standing ovation at the end.

“The Toy Shoppe” opened on Broadway in 1998 and went on tour nationally.

“I think it is well written, and I think it has a great message,” Rogers said. “It has stayed alive because of Kelly’s passion for that story.”

The musical went back on tour in November and has previously showed in Branson.

The 20- show U. S. tour started in November in Florida and ended Dec. 19 in Ohio. Alan Thicke, who was Jason Seaver, the father figure in the TV series, “Growing Pains,” played the lead as Hank Longley.

“He has been a good friend of mine for 30 years,” Rogers said. “I am excited about him singing the songs and telling this wonderful story.”

Junkermann said the story is about “the little guy” finding ways to succeed in the ever-changing world of big business.

He compared the story to how the community of Siloam Springs has come together to retain history, preserve traditions and restore downtown.

Two years ago, Junkermann, his wife, Rosemary, and her sisters restored a historic building in Siloam Springs into Inn At The Springs. The Junkermanns had moved to Siloam Springs to raise their two sons after living in Los Angeles for 30 years. Their 11-year-old son, Lucas, toured and performed in the musical.

The Siloam Springs restaurant has allowed Junkermann to find talented residents, some of whom have been involved in the Toy Shoppe musical and tour.

“One thing you find in a small town is craftsmanship,” Junkermann said.

Rogers, who grew up in low- income housing projects, said his mother made Christmas feel like the most important time of the year. He’s always enjoyed singing Christmas songs because they feel fresh to him. “I get to sing songs I don’t sing the rest of the year.”

Rogers’ father told him to “be friendly to all and friends with few because friendships are very demanding, and Kelly is one of the people I have chosen to be friends with. He has never let me down, and I don’t think he will in the future.”

More information on “The Toy Shoppe” can be found online at www.thetoyshoppe.biz.

JEFF DELLA ROSA/SPECIAL TO ENTERPRISE-LEADEDER Associate producer Hope Johnstone, producer/director Kelly Junkermann, stage craftswoman Leigh Lee and sound tech Austin Baldwin are part of the area team from Siloam Springs who have been working on the stage set for “The Toy Shoppe” musicial that...

COURTESY OF “THE TOY SHOPPE” Giselle, the ballerina in “The Toy Shoppe,” sings in the musicial. The toys come to life throughout the show while people are away from the toy shop.