A glance at last week as seen through the ‘Vegas Unfiltered’ lens…
Temperatures are climbing, school is about to wrap, and the summer tourism season is gearing up. VEGAS 411 was all over this week, attending everything from a landmark performance and a drag show to a local hockey game. Let’s get started!!!!
AWAKENING Celebrates 1,000 Shows
When you consider how awful it was upon opening in 2022, it’s remarkable that Wynn’s AWAKENING lasted an entire year. Yet here we are, two and a half years later, and the action/musical/circus hybrid now has 1,000 performances in the books.
In my latest review, available here, it’s evident that the mega-budget fantasy still needs LOTS of work. The visuals and cast are there. The narrative, dialogue, and acting…not so much. But AWAKENING seems to be following in the path of its predecessor LE REVE, inching towards success one significant tweak at a time.
Frank Marino’s DIVAS at Virgin Las Vegas
Long before RuPaul brought drag competitions into the American living room, superstar female impersonation lit up the Las Vegas Strip. Classic shows like Boylesque with Kenny Kerr and An Evening at La Cage are represented today by Frank Marino’s DIVAS, DRAG, & DRINKS.
Far removed from the bitchy, clown-like antics of RuPaul’s amateurs, DIVAS features professional impressions of legends of the past and today. Think Rihanna, Cher, Pink, Liza, Mariah, and Britney. They’re led by host Frank Marino, the longest-running headliner in the city.
Running at a crisp 75 minutes, DIVAS, DRAG, & DRINKS surrounds the audience with laughter, dancing, eye-popping visuals, and a pair of shirtless muscle-boy dancers. The show performs Fridays and Saturdays at 6 pm, and Sundays at 4 pm. The venue is Virgin Hotel’s 24 OXFORD Theater. Tickets start at $49 and include one cocktail. Make reservations here.
THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK at Rio Las Vegas
Out with the Chippendales, in with The Force. THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK, a campy burlesque comedy, made its official debut at the Rio on May 4th. To Jedi nerds, that date is embraced as “Star Wars Day”, marking the original film’s debut in 1977.
Already a sensation in over 3 dozen cities from Sydney and London to Paris and New York, THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK should be a hit in Las Vegas, too. The production is set for an open-ended run inside the former Chippendales Theater.
Invited guests for the premiere included BMX pro Ricardo Laguna, American Idol’s Jasmine Trias, gossip queen Perez Hilton, journalists Robert Kacherless and Chris Yandek, and disgruntled former Playmate Holly Madison. Restricted to adults 18 and over, the show is light on nudity and heavy on innuendo. The breakout performer could be Nathan Kara, whose incredible take on “Han Solo” had tongues wagging and drool dripping.
THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK performs Wednesday through Monday at various times. Tickets start at $39.00. Click here for showtimes and reservations.
MARK O’TOOLE VARIETY SHOW
If you’re looking for a sure bet, put your money on the Mark O’Toole Variety Show at Sun City Anthem. This handsome singer/host manages to wrangle top-notch entertainers every time.
Last week’s guests included TV/Broadway star Adrian Zmed, Lyssa Lynne, impressionist Robbie Howard, Christine Shebeck (check out her new VEGAS 411 interview here) and the dazzling Daniel Emmet.
Daniel Emmet will be performing June 13 and 14 at The Space. Tickets here. Mark O’Toole Variety Show plays the first and third Wednesday of every month at Freedom Hall. Tickets are an astonishing $15 and can be reserved here.
Photo courtesy of Mark O’Toole
THE COMPOSERS SHOWCASE at Myron’s, Smith Center
Graphic courtesy of The Smith Center
In its nineteenth year, Keith Thompson’s THE COMPOSERS SHOWCASE is a 501(c)(3) organization that began as a humble performance showcase. The monthly concert at Myron’s inside The Smith Center features established and upcoming artists presenting their original compositions. They are terrifically talented at creating new music, and this is where they get to share it.
Host Keith Thompson with Philip Fortenberry on piano
Journalist Sam Wagmeister, Johnny Fabulous, and Pam Hawkins
Dr. Alice Whitfield discusses Hearts Alive horse project
Carl John
Jeffrey Henderson
Melanie Moore
Johnny Fabulous and Pam Hawkins
Paul Bradley
Holly Reichert and Pilita Simpson
Michelle Johnson
Darren Motamedy
Elisa Fiorillo
THE COMPOSERS SHOWCASE takes place once per month at Myron’s. Click here for dates, times, and tickets.
BROOKSY’S Bar, Grill, and…Hockey?
Not every GOLDEN KNIGHTS fan can trek to T-Mobile Stadium for home games. Traffic, crowds, $40 parking, and lofty ticket prices don’t help. What about watching the Knights from a local hockey rink while you drink, dine, and cheer? That’s Brooksy’s Bar and Grill.
Far from the typical sports bar, Brooksy’s is connected to Las Vegas Ice Center. The 24-hour pub hosts VGK watch parties as local teams play on the other side of the glass. It’s a 4D experience…the sights and sounds of two games at once.
The dual-purpose facility is home to Delirious Hockey Club, which we told you about in this profile of comedian/hypnotist Don Barhart. According to Don, the goal of the club is “to offer recreational, safe, and fun hockey several days a week. You’ll see local comedians, magicians, and other Las Vegas entertainers take the ice.”
Brooksy’s main dining room was prepping to close when we arrived, but we made it just in time. The main menu is available at the bar until 1 am daily, and opens with a full breakfast menu every morning at 7 am. Brooksy’s is located at 9295 W. Flamingo Road.
CHARO at South Point Showroom
What will you be doing when you reach 74 years of age? If your name is Charo, you’ll be packing them in for 75 minutes of high-energy fun. The iconic entertainer performed three nights at the South Point Showroom this weekend. The resilient singer, guitarist, actress, and comedienne is truly ageless and worked the near-capacity crowd into a frenzy.
The show was presented in two parts, with the first half dedicated to singing and comedy. A musical number with Vegas-based dancers, including Nadia Abulet and Jeffery DeBarathy, led to a set devoted to Charo’s flamenco guitar talents.
South Point Casino presents affordable, top-notch shows like Rita Rudner, Wes Winters, and The Righteous Brothers. This week’s slate includes The Tierney Brothers (of Australia’s HUMAN NATURE) and The Bronx Wanderers. Get the full entertainment schedule here.
