General Jackson Has New Thrills at Every Bend

World-Famous Peking Acrobats Return to Nashville

Nashville, Tenn.—( March 10, 2008 ) The Amazing Peking Acrobats return to the General Jackson Showboat® in Nashville, Tenn. beginning March 14, 2008. This elite troupe leaves audiences spellbound by the graceful athleticism of their ancient folk art, acrobatics. Beginning this spring, guests can take in the acrobats' thrilling performances on the General Jackson's popular Midday Cruises. Show tickets also will include a fresh, exotic lunch menu served in "bottomless bowls" featuring Shanghai Salad, Yank Sing Lemon Chicken, Odon Noodles in Miso Broth.

The exciting new menu is the creation of Executive Chef Christopher Brown, the new Director of Food and Beverage for the General Jackson Showboat. "I am so excited to be able to bring my many years of culinary experience to this Nashville icon," said Brown. "Our menus will be created based on the feedback from our guests, and will be reflective of the tastes and trends of our customers. In fact, the culinary experience during the Peking Acrobats cruises will be a delicious adventure."

After lunch, the Peking Acrobats will take the stage, tumbling and balancing in their brightly colored costumes. Accentuated by exotic music, the acrobats transform 2000-year-old traditions of agility and grace into a modern-day kaleidoscope of entertainment and wonder. Guests will find it hard to believe that these amazing acrobatic maneuvers are performed on a moving showboat during virtually all kinds of weather.

"It's all about making sure we deliver memorable experiences that our guests will always cherish," said Dennis Schnurbusch, General Manager of the showboat. "The Peking Acrobats offer a unique entertainment option during the day that is family friendly. And we thought our captain had some interesting moves! For local folks, or out-of-town visitors, the Peking Acrobats are too exciting to miss."

At 300 feet long and three stories tall, the General Jackson Showboat is one of the largest showboats cruising the rivers of the United States. After 23 years, it continues to offer exciting shows to entertain locals and tourists alike.

Tickets are available March 14 - November 28, 2008, online at www.generaljackson.com or by calling 1-866-567-JACK (5225). Two-night and three-night vacation packages are available starting at $307* at Gaylord Opryland Resort or $230* at Radisson Hotel at Opryland. *Per person based on double occupancy, plus tax and resort fee. Some restrictions apply.


Media Contacts:

Cherrie Hughes
Director of Attractions Marketing
(615) 458-2904
chughes@gaylordentertainment.com

Richard Rittenberry
(615) 458-2890
rrittenberry@gaylordhotels.com


About the PEKING ACROBATS®
Ability to perform the astounding is rooted in centuries of Chinese history and folk art. Records of acrobatic acts can be found as early as the Ch'in Dynasty (221 B.C. - 207 B.C.). Interestingly, the name China is actually derived from the Ch'in Dynasty. According to Fu Qifeng, author of Chinese Acrobatics Through the Ages, acrobatics originated from the people's daily life, drawing from their experiences in work, war and sacrificial rites. During the Warring States Period acrobatics became widespread. It was believed that practicing acrobatics could steal people's will and increase their physical strength and the accuracy of their movements. During the Han Dynasty (207 B.C. - 220 A.D.) acrobatics flourished, and the wide variety of juggling, tumbling and magic acts came to be known as the "Hundred Entertainments." It was at this time, according to Fu Qifeng, that Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty presented the first grand acrobatic performance at the Imperial Court. Wu Di invited a number of important foreign dignitaries, thus making this performance the first time in Chinese history that acrobatic art was presented for diplomatic purposes. The foreign guests were so impressed by what they saw that they agreed to enter into military alliances with the Han Emperor. Because of the unusual and difficult nature of the feats involved, high honor is conferred upon those skilled enough to become acrobats; an acrobat can be considered the Chinese equivalent of an American opera star. In China there are approximately 100,000 acrobats studying at schools dedicated to the art. After five or six years of extensive tutoring, often beginning as early as age 5 or 6, the student will join a professional troupe, usually a citywide organization that draws its members regionally. Only the best acrobats find themselves members of an elite world-touring troupe such as THE PEKING ACROBATS®. For centuries, dating back to the Ch'in Dynasty (221 B.C. - 207 B.C.), Chinese acrobats have continued to perfect an evolving folk art form. Tradition demands that each generation of acrobats add its own improvements and embellishments. Today, professional acrobatic troupes travel throughout China bringing their own unique costumes, stage props and acrobatic styles to factories, villages, army units, remote areas and frontier outposts. As we entered the new millennium, it is telling that the Chinese Acrobatic tradition just gets stronger, due to the continued innovation of the artists and the endless enthusiasm from their adoring public. A performance by THE PEKING ACROBATS®, therefore, brings with it the opportunity to view the epitome of a rich and ancient folk art tradition in addition to the pageantry and spectacle of a Chinese Circus.


About the General Jackson Showboat
The General Jackson Showboat is the largest of its kind in the world. Available for midday and evening cruises year-round, the General Jackson Showboat offers exceptional dining and entertainment including country music, Broadway-style musicals, and party and special-event cruises. The General Jackson is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.generaljackson.com.

# # #

print