At Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction, it takes a large team of people to create a great show every night. Some of the people on that team are our actors and actresses, so let’s meet them.

There may only be three starring characters roles in the current Arabian Nights production, but the people who fill those roles bring a lot of character to our team.

The Princess Scheherazade character is a dreamy, adventurous tomboy who is hungry for knowledge and new experiences. The Abra Cadabra character is best described as a wise, strong father figure who is also the protector of the princess. Hocus Pocus is the fun, child-like, mischievous genie who becomes best friends with the princess.

The actors and actresses who fill the roles of these characters bring an energy to every performance that creates a unique interaction among the characters. Their varied backgrounds and interests give each other different perspectives, but their desire to make each performance better than the last one makes this team special.

Hocus Pocus does the splits!

One actress, Christine O’Connor, has maintained a variety of other jobs and passions during her time at Arabian Nights. Chris, as we call her, has traveled on mission trips to Africa and recently returned from a trip to Russia and China with Feld Entertainment. Chris brings a lot of enthusiasm to her roles at Arabian Nights, and often tumbles and performs gymnastics during the show. She also sings during the holiday show!

Chris isn’t the only actress whose hobbies outside of the show create unique perspectives for her performances at Arabian Nights. Two other actresses, Trysten Cook and Elizabeth Bailey, have taken their passion for singing – both pursue this passion outside of the show – and used it to create great performances. Both actresses lend their beautiful voices to the holiday show in addition to their acting roles in the current production.

We have yet another musically inclined actor on our team: Andy Lusk. Andy is a professional keyboard player for vocalists from Nashville and Memphis. Although fellow actor Charlie Cox does not share the same musical inclination as some of his coworkers, he does have a couple unique interests he pursues outside of Arabian Nights. Charlie spends his spare time surfing and working on cars. Charlie’s fiancée Cheryl Siegal is also an actress in the show.

Charlie and Daniel getting ready for the show.

Several other actors and actresses work in the Arabian Nights show and their diverse backgrounds, interests and talents are instrumental in bringing the characters to life and the Arabian Nights team together.

To learn more about Arabian Nights, visit the website.

Guests and employees at Arabian Nights often remark on how beautiful and talented the horses in our show are, so our featured breed this week is the American Quarter Horse.

Originally bred for sprinting short distances of a quarter mile or less, the American Quarter Horse is a popular and versatile breed that is an excellent fit for the Arabian Nights show.

Buster in the Square Dance Act

In the 1600s, American colonists on the eastern seaboard began crossing imported English horses with “native” horses that were actually descendents of Spanish, Arabian and Barb stock brought to America by the Conquistadors. This crossbreeding led to the creation of the American Quarter Horse breed, but it didn’t stop there. These crosses were later improved for racing through more crossbreeding with Thoroughbred racehorses, and for ranching through crossbreeding with Native American horses and Mustangs.

The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) was founded in 1940 by a group of horsemen and ranchers from the southwestern United States. The group is dedicated to preserving the pedigree of their ranch horses. The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the United States, and with over 3.2 million  registered worldwide it’s also the largest breed society in the world.

Commonly believed to be the world’s fastest breed of horse over short distances, the American Quarter Horse has been clocked at 55 mph! Today, the American Quarter Horse is well known both as a racehorse and for its performance in rodeos and horse shows. The compact body of the Quarter Horse is the key to the breed’s ability to excel in roping, reining, cutting and other western-style events where speedy maneuvers are required. A versatile horse, the Quarter Horse is also featured in English disciplines and driving.

Quarter Horses are recognized by their stocky build, compact head with well-defined jaw, and their well-muscled appearance. They can come in a number of different colors including gray, chestnut, bay, palomino (gold with a cream mane and tail), and buckskin (gold with black points and a dorsal stripe).

Inca in the Native American Act

In the Arabian Nights show, the American Quarter Horse is most notably featured in the Native American Tribute Act, where the discipline of Reining is displayed. Our Quarter Horses are also seen doing Dressage and Western riding in the show (we told you they were versatile!). Now that you know about American Quarter Horses you can come to Arabian Nights for a show and see if you can spot Buster and Inca during the show!

If you’ve been to the Arabian Nights show and want to share what a fun time you had, please visit this site and leave a review!

Guests and employees at Arabian Nights often remark on how beautiful and talented the horses in our show are, so our featured breed this week is the Gypsy Vanner.

Dennis and Cindy Thompson are credited with first introducing the Gypsy Vanner breed to the United States at Equitana USA in 1998. A rare and beautiful small draft breed, the Gypsy Vanner is unique in many ways, beginning with their name.

Cindy discovered the term Gypsy Vanner in an old English book that referred to a horse pulling a caravan as “a Gypsy’s vanner horse” (meaning “a horse suitable to pull a caravan). The name Gypsy Vanner recognizes the selectively bred horses raised by gypsies as a breed. The name uses an umbrella term for the people who created the breed (Gypsy) and a word that identifies their breed’s vision, (Vanner).  Cindy and Dennis spent a great deal of time with the people who created this breed before coining the name, and since then they have brought a great legacy to the U.S.

Dennis Thompson currently owns and operates Gypsy Gold Farms, and he has been kind enough to supply Gypsy Vanner horses to Arabian Nights in an effort to promote the breed. The current Gypsy Vanner featured in the Arabian Nights show is Banner, and guests will see him pulling the Princess’ carriage.

Banner pulling the Princess' carriage.

Gypsy Vanners are often noticed for their stunning black and white markings, but the Gypsy Vanner is not identified by color, but rather by body type. Any color is accepted as long as the following body type standards are met:

• Short back in proportion to overall body
• Broad chest
• Heavy, well-rounded hips
• Heavy, flat bone at the knee
• Ample hooves
• Feathering beginning at the knees or near the hocks, extending over the front of the hooves
• Ample to abundant mane and tail
• A fine head on a strong neck in harmony with the horse’s overall look.

Disposition is also very important characteristic of the gypsy Vanner breed. The horse should exhibit traits of intelligence, kindness and docility.

Gypsy Vanners are categorized into three body types. The ‘Classic’ Vanner is from 14 to 15.1 hands tall, the ‘Cart’ Vanner is under 14 hands and the ‘Grand’ Vanner is 15.1 hands and taller. All sizes should have the look of a small Shire (draft horse) with more feathers and a more refined head. The Classic Vanner is the most popular in the United States currently, but the other classes are gaining notice.

Gypsy Vanners, although first bred to pull wagons, also excel at other disciplines, including Dressage and trail riding.

To learn more about Gypsy Vanners, visit www.GypsyGold.com. You can also ask us about Banner, our own Gypsy Vanner, when you visit Arabian Nights for dinner and a show.

Ask us about Banner, our Gypsy Vanner, at Arabian Nights!

If you’ve been to Arabian Nights and had a fun time, visit this site and share your thoughts!