Steve Kinworthy calls his new Eureka Springs variety show "Lovin' Every Minute," and he is. Kinworthy is, in fact, living the American dream. At 59 years old, he's become the star of his own show, surrounded by professional singers, dancers, musicians and a Cirque du Soleil-style act that includes a unicycle and rollerskates.
Kinworthy wasn't discovered in Schwab's Drug Store like Lana Turner allegedly was. Instead, he got a gig as part of a charity event last September at the Oak Ridge Boys Theater in Branson, Mo. Bob Nichols, a longtime entertainer and producer, spotted him, and on May 15, Kinworthy opened a five-night-a-week revue at the Eureka Springs City Auditorium. Kinworthy says in addition to his renditions of jazz, Broadway tunes and rock classics -- he enters on a motorcycle for "CC Rider" -- the show includes a wall of high-definition TVs that appears to expand the auditorium stage, $16,000 worth of new lighting, complex choreography and colorful costumes.
FAQ
Steve Kinworthy’s
‘Lovin’ Every Minute’
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
WHERE — Eureka Springs City Auditorium
COST — $17.50-$32.50
INFO — 866-547-6258
The idea, Kinworthy says, is to offer so much to look at that audiences want to come back to see more.
"Bringing 'Lovin' Every Minute' to Eureka Springs is more than just providing great live stage entertainment," he says. "For me, music should be much more than just a performance but also communicate the message of the song and inspire us to be better and improve on ourselves. So of course I hope the people will be entertained but also take something from the show that inspires them."
Kinworthy's first career was with Yellow Freight in Kansas City, his second running a company that provided group homes for the disabled in Arizona. Selling that company in 2010 gave him the resources to start marking things off his bucket list.
"It's certainly been a learning experience -- but it's such a high! I've got to work that adrenaline down to something you can live with it!
"The show is named 'Lovin' Every Minute' because that's our goal for you each time you see the show -- to love every minute from the first musical downbeat to the final curtain call."
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 05/22/2015