Perennial entertainer hits a two-year milestone with his uber-successful variety show…
When you stop moving, you start dying. That could be why entertainer Mark O’Toole may outlive us all. The intensely funny singer, who rose to fame in the 90s with STAR SEARCH, is at an all-time high. Mark’s Sun City Anthem Variety Show, which he created from the ground up, isn’t just a success….it’s an outright smash.
Every first and third Wednesday, three hundred people fill Freedom Hall Theater in Henderson. Tickets sell out so quickly that it’s been necessary to put a maximum of four on every order. Making sure his fans know when they’re available is just one in a long list of responsibilities that the host fulfills.
Mark’s not just hands-on, but balls-deep. From selecting guests to supplying donuts for the green room, the host is determined to anticipate every need. He’s also planning the next edition before the final bow is taken that afternoon. It’s unlikely that the handsome crooner even sleeps.
Host Mark O’Toole with guests Gabie Lopez (center) and Lorena Peril
VEGAS 411 shadowed Mark on February 22nd then revisited on March 6th. I was given access to the nuts and bolts of a variety show’s structure. Not only is the host an incredible talent, but he runs a tight ship. It was intricate, precise, and loads of fun.
An entertainer starts their day like everyone else. Mark goes about his usual routine, checking messages while prepping to head to the theater. With so many individuals and factors involved, mishaps and cancellations must be addressed immediately.
Mark arrives at the venue by noon and begins by overseeing the stage preparations. Each moving part must roll smoothly before the 3 pm start time. On this particular day, the band’s risers were not yet in place, which meant a scramble to assemble them.
As workers set about their tasks, Mark headed backstage to examine the list of performers. Song choices must be vetted, and performers are expected to send their music charts in advance. Musical director Vita Drew will review them and familiarize the band with their respective parts.
As show guests arrive with their costumes and accessories, technicians test the lighting and sound systems. Microphones, video monitors, and speakers must be checked one by one. When all are confirmed to be operating, Mark will have each guest run through their number(s).
A sound check allows for adjustments in volume, pacing, background visuals, and the artist’s unique performance style. In most cases, this will be the first time a guest and the show’s resident band have performed together.
Earlier this particular day, Mark received word that a guest had abruptly canceled. Gaps like these can be filled with extra conversation, or one of the performers can add a song to the setlist. In the same vein, certain segments may take longer, requiring a last-minute need to scratch something from the schedule.
Jordan Lee rehearses a Whitney Houston standard
In the second hour of preparations, singers Gabie Lopez and Lorena Peril arrive while Jay Joseph runs through his segment. They wait for him to finish before heading backstage with their dresses and make-up. Once every performer has gone through the process, Mark may choose to shuffle the sequence of guests. Today, he decides to reverse the last two artists and close out the show with vocalist Jordan Lee.
Lorena Peril and Gabie Lopez sit in on Jay Joseph’s sound check
By now, entertainers are prepping in the green room. The slate includes country heartthrob Chase Brown, popular caricature artist Neal Portnoy, and new Vegas resident Jason Marquez, here to promote his upcoming debut at Stirling Club. As one might expect, it takes a little less time for the gentlemen to get suited up.
Chase Brown (left) and Jason Marquez await their moments
Vocalist Jordan Lee preps her hair before getting dressed for the show
Gabie Lopez runs through her number as artist Neal Portnoy (right) watches
Sun City Anthem is an expansive, upscale retirement community focused on active lifestyles. Residents line up early to take their seats inside Freedom Hall, one of many clubrooms and performance spaces. There is a sense of excitement before the doors open. Many fans attend every edition and have come to know O’Toole as a friend.
Once the sound, lighting, music, and cues have come together, Mark heads backstage to change into his own sparkly jacket and slacks. This week he’ll be trying out center-stage stools to chat with guests. Two weeks later, he’ll revert to the usual conversation arrangement after being bombarded with emails. His followers may be devoted, but they’re also an opinionated bunch.
Guests quickly take to their seats after the doors open, and in seemingly no time, the band is playing Mark’s familiar theme. The host arrives to thunderous applause and settles into his groove. So does the audience, to whom nothing appears to be sacred. They frequently talk to their emcee, and even announcements of upcoming guests become a funny, interactive conversation:
Jay Joseph performs the first musical segment, after which he discusses his background in cruise shows and mystery dinner theater. He’s followed by Neal Portnoy, a departure from the usual song-and-dance pros. The artist, who’s skilled as a radio co-host with Ron Garrett, proves he’s as skilled on the microphone as with a felt-tip marker.
Jason Marquez is next, setting hearts aflutter with a smooth rendition of “SWAY”. His performance undoubtedly contributed to a sold-out solo show at Stirling Club a few weeks later. Big sister Christine Shebeck, fresh from her successful concert at Smith Center’s Myron’s Cabaret, joined Jason onstage for a sweet moment together.
The next few segments seem deliberately designed to raise temperatures. Country sex symbol Chase Brown delivers a dose of “COCAINE”, followed by a solo performance by Gabie Lopez. The Material Girls/Mad Apple star then teams with friend Lorena Peril for a memorable duet.
As mentioned, Mark made an 11th-hour shuffle to close the show with fresh-faced Jordan Lee. Powerful and riveting, the youthful vocalist brings the audience to its feet with Whitney Houston‘s “I Will Always Love You”. The decision proves once again that O’Toole is a master producer in addition to being a star.
After Jordan’s showstopping finale, the cast returns for final bows. Mark mentions the upcoming two-year celebration and the auditorium clears out. The host thanks everyone for a job well done, and cast and crew shut things down until the next show.
Afterward, Mark took this writer and a few performers and friends to dinner. It’s an opportunity to celebrate, share opinions, discuss happenings in the entertainment community, and spend precious time with friends and colleagues. But O’Toole’s work is far from over.
Throughout the next two weeks, he’ll analyze the things that worked (like the performance schedule) and those that didn’t (the stools). He’ll bounce ideas off his confidants, discuss concerns with technical engineers, and do whatever is required to ensure the experience is even better the next time.
No matter how meticulous the planning is, things can go awry. Everyone is reminded of this during the two-year anniversary performance. A health emergency occurs, which requires the show to be halted. And once again, Mark O’Toole demonstrates the qualities that make him one of the most beloved people in Las Vegas.
Deftly handling the situation, Mark ensures that medical attention is administered while simultaneously looking after the guests and his audience. Once things are under control, a decision is made to resume, and guest Rita Lim takes to the stage. A consummate artist, Ms. Lim delivered an emotional performance that brought everyone together after a challenging incident. That’s the magic of music.
As audience members, it’s easy for us to take the efforts of entertainers for granted. But there’s an entire world of living, breathing individuals behind the scenes. It’s an enormous undertaking, infused with life and heart.
Entertainers are just everyday people, dedicated to making us happy. And residents of Sun City Anthem are fortunate that their resident Variety Show bears the name of “Mark O’Toole“. Happy Second Anniversary to everyone involved, and may you continue to bring joy for years to come.
Sun City Anthem Variety Show starring Mark O’Toole performs every first and third Wednesday at 3 pm. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved here. Freedom Hall Theater is located inside INDEPENDENCE CENTER at 2460 Hampton Rd in Henderson NV 89052
