Las Vegas Entertainment Tidbits  

Note: This is a past article from December 15, 2010
You can find the current Las Vegas Entertainment Tidbits article HERE

DECEMBER 2010

To celebrate and honor Frank Sinatra's 95th birthday on December 12, Wynn Las Vegas premiered performances of SINATRA Dance With Me in the Encore Theater on December 11. And, what an extraordinary evening of Frank Sinatra—his words and music set to incredible dance movement by Twyla Tharp. This mesmerizing treatment of the man and his music moves with intense, electrifying fascination. The music, the 17 piece band and the incredible dancing that incorporates ballet, jazz, modern, ballroom and amazing lifts and acrobatics had the audience standing and clapping for curtain call after curtain call.

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SINATRA Dance With Me follows four couples as they fall in and out of love at a swinging nightclub. Blending the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a big band, remastered to perfection, and 14 of the world's finest dancers, SINATRA Dance With Me weaves classic standards including "Fly Me To The Moon," "My Way" and "That's Life" into a soaring dance fantasy of romance and seduction. Nancy and Tina Sinatra along with children and grandchildren lit up the stage after the curtain calls. Sinatra Dance With Me is scheduled for performances only until January 29, so be sure it is on your Must See list.

Everybody loves Santa, but to get to him at THE SILVERTON CASINO LODGE, he is in an all new environment. Santa is spicing up the holiday season in the SILVERTON’s 117,000 – gallon aquarium!

The underwater Santa will be posing in his new environment for two weekends in December, Saturday, Dec. 11 and Sunday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. This will give people the opportunity to get creative with their yearly Christmas photos.

Flamingo Las Vegas Celebrates the Holidays with Boyz II Men

Legendary vocal group and four-time Grammy-winning R&B “Boyz II Men” will mark their first-ever extended engagement on the Las Vegas Strip when they open at the FLAMINGO on Dec. 14 for a four-week seasonal celebration. The special holiday show will feature all of the group’s hits, some unexpected songs done in the famous Boyz II Men style and enough holiday tunes to get everyone in the festive spirit of the season.

Formed in 1990, the best-selling R&B group “Boyz II Men” have continued to make successful albums, sell out stadiums worldwide and keep a vast fan base over the course of 20 years. Best known for their heartfelt hits such as “End of the Road” and “A Song for Mama,” the all male group continues to prove that R&B will never lose its audience. The harmonic ensemble is comprised of Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris. Show time is 7:30 p.m. each night and show dates will be Dec. 14 – 18, 21 – 24, 26, 28 – 30 and Jan. 1 – 2 and 5 – 9.

Coming in January in the New Year 2011, THE CANNERY and EASTSIDE CANNERY have some great entertainment lined up.

The Club inside the CANNERY is bringing back the ever-popular “A Celebration of the King’s Life.” Special performances by Johnny Fortuno, The Stamps Quartet as well as close friends and co-stars of the late Elvis Presley will commemorate Elvis’ Birthday weekend. The concert will take place on Friday, January 7 and Saturday, January 8 at 8 p.m. at The Club inside Cannery Casino & Hotel. Admission is just $10 at the door.
During this time, The Cannery Row Buffet will also participate in the celebration with a special section featuring all of Elvis’ favorite foods. Fans can dine on deep fried pickles, southern fried chicken, smothered pork chops, collard greens, green bean casserole, ham hocks, and potato & cheese soup. Other activities taking place throughout the weekend will include memorabilia and fan club displays.
Fortuno has been praised by celebrities and critics a like as one of the top Elvis Presley tribute artists. His tribute to the king will take audiences back to the “Viva Las Vegas” years….The Stamps Quartet, a gospel group had the privilege of performing with Elvis regularly. They worked with him on numerous albums and sang back up in many of his concerts.
Other special guests will include Sonny West, Elvis’ personal friend and bodyguard; Cynthia Pepper, Elvis’ Kissin’ Cousins co-star; Darlene Tompkins, Elvis’ Blue Hawaii co-star; Steve Christopher, DJ with “Elvis on Air;” and other surprises.

Then on January 14 at the EASTSIDE CANNERY’s Casablanca Event Center at 8p.m., legendary singer, songwriter, and producer Smokey Robinson will perform.

Smokey recently celebrated 50 years in the music industry and is still popular with audiences today. Between the years 1960-1987 he had 37 songs reach the Top 40.

With his internally smooth and instantly recognizable falsetto Smokey Robinson is a Motown legend.

As one of the first singers to sign with Motown records he later served as vice president of the record company for 28 years. His music career began with Motown band the Miracles where he served as their lead singer for over ten years before creating a successful solo career. Robinson, a natural songwriter also wrote hit songs for other Motown groups such as “My Girl” for the Temptations and “When I’m Gone” for Brenda Holloway to name a few. Currently, he is working on his next album Time Flies When You’re Having Fun where he will be collaborating with Carlos Santana, India Arie, and Joss Stone. Robinson is truly a rarity as he is one of the only celebrities to have double stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame one for his solo career and one for the Miracles.

If you love PRINCE you will surely love the Prince tribute show PURPLE REIGN at HOOTERS CASINO. PURPLE REIGN just celebrated their one year anniversary at HOOTERS with a VIP party at Dixie’s Dam Bar. Strip Headliner, Kevin Burke even made an appearance at the cocktail party before heading off to his hit show “Defending the Caveman” at the EXCALIBUR.After the cocktail reception the VIP guests were invited to a private show in HOOTERS Night Owl Showroom.

The show pays tribute to groundbreaking artist Prince and his performance in the movie “Purple Rain”. This year marks the 26^th anniversary of this classic 80’s movie.

The extremely good likeness and performances of “Prince” along with Morris Day and The Time takes audiences along to realism during this 90 minute show. This energetic show had the audience going wild when they heard songs like “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry.” PURPLE REIGN performs at 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Las Vegas really does have a heart! Local entertainers gathered together for a fundraiser to aid fellow performer JENEANE MARIE with medical costs on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the LAS VEGAS ROCKS CAFE. And, it was a day not to be soon forgotten.

For more than 30 years, JENEANE MARIE has been giving to Las Vegas through her wonderful personality and talent. Besides doing her own show, Marie has been the opening act for Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Don Rickles and toured with Wayne Newton, and The Funk Bros, to name just a few. She has guest starred in countless shows and was once considered the “Queen of Las Vegas.”

Marie needed the community’s support and assistance as she has Avascular Necrosis and needs Hip Replacement because her groin area has no blood flow. In constant pain, her hip has degenerated and she is subject to blood clots. Ultimately, surgery is a must and she has no medical insurance or money.

An endless array of stars performed and gave their talents to support this worthy event. Steve Rossi, Babe Pier, Denise Clemente, Sonny Turner, Lani Misalucha, Bill Fayne, Laurie Caceres, Grant Griffin, Paris Red, Tony Sacca, Fielding West, Laurie Cook, Guchi Guy, Herb Rawlings, Steve Conolly (Elvis) were backed by the live Gary Anderson Band and gave it their all...

Admission to the event was $22 and additional donations were encouraged and welcomed.Jim Marsh, auto dealer and owner of the Skyline Casino agreed to sponsor the fundraiser that Grant Griffin, The Showbiz Society, and local entertainers produced at Tony Sacca’s LAS VEGAS ROCKS CAFE. Jim Marsh said he would also match the monies collected up to $6,000.

Marie was at the fundraiser on crutches and closed the program by singing in her own inimitable way and expressed her gratitude and thanks to the audience who tearfully gave her a heartfelt standing ovation.After most people left, came the stunning news that Jim Marsh donated $20,000 to Marie so that she could have the much needed surgery immediately. Kudos to Jim Marsh and best wishes to JENEANE MARIE for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. The LAS VEGAS ROCKS CAFÉ is at 450 Fremont Street downtown at Neonopolis.

G orgeous bombshell HOLLY MADISON has signed a yearlong extension of her contract as “BO PEEP” IN PEEPSHOW AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD.PEEPSHOW , the striptease spectacular has Holly Madison performing as “Bo Peep,” a modern woman who discovers her sexuality.

Holly will continue to perform in PEEPSHOW throughout 2011.

Holly Madison who was described by CNBC as “the hottest thing in Las Vegas,” began her well-received run as “Bo Peep” in June of 2009.

Starring alongside Madison is a sizzling ensemble of sexy PEEPSHOWGIRLS, showstoppers from film, TV and Broadway; Cheaza, the beautiful Peep Diva; and Josh Strickland, PEEPSHOW male lead singer.

The highly stylized, intricately choreographed PEEPSHOW combines sexy striptease and celebrity with high-level production values in a show E! News called “the steamiest, sexiest show on The Strip.Conceived and created by Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray) and produced by Las Vegas entertainment pacesetter BASE Entertainment (PHANTOM – The Las Vegas Spectacular and JERSEY BOYS), PEEPSHOW is a perfectly naughty night out for men, women and couples!PEEPSHOWperforms Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 8 and 10:30 p.m.

Officials at the M Resort Spa Casino are inviting guests young and old to enjoy their resort their way on NEW YEAR’S EVE, Friday, Dec. 31 with a celebration to suit every taste and all price points. With no cover charges or pre-fixe menus, guests are free to dine at their leisure, dance the night away or enjoy the thrill of red-hot gaming action and a champagne toast at midnight.

The M Resort will offer complimentary party favors and cake and champagne stations throughout the property’s 92,000 square foot casino and live entertainment in its Lobby Bar, entertainment lounge, Ravello, where the standard two drink minimum will apply, and popular wine bar, Hostile Grape, which features more than 160 wines by the glass. A designated area outside Hostile Grape in Villaggio Del Sole pool piazza will be set- up for guests who want to leisurely party by the pool.

With a vantage point 400 feet above the Las Vegas Strip properties, guests are invited to view the fireworks from the M Resort’s six terraces including its 16^th floor restaurant, Veloce Cibo. All three of the property’s fine dining restaurants, Marinelli’s, Terzetto and Veloce Cibo, will accept reservations for the evening and will offer standard menus. Hash House A Go Go will add special items to its popular “twisted farm food” menu for the evening.

The JEWISH REPERTORY THEATRE of NEVADA presents Jake Ehrenreich's critically acclaimed production of A Jew Grows In Brooklyn at the SUNCOAST Showroom January 8 at 8 p.m. and January 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

A hit in New York City and playing to sold out audiences and standing ovations in theaters from coast to coast, A Jew Grows In Brooklyn takes audiences on a musical journey of author and star Jake Ehrenreich’s life; from his parent's survival of the Holocaust, to stickball in Brooklyn, to his career in the Catskills and then onto Broadway. A Jew Grows In Brooklyn is a touching, poignant and hilarious musical comedy about an immigrant family and one boy's quest for the American Dream through baseball and pop music.

Las Vegas actress Charlene Sher and Los Angeles actress Norma J. Morrow are founders of the JEWISH REPERTORY THEATRE of NEVADA. A Jew Grows In Brooklyn kicks off the theatre company’s second season. Tickets are available starting from $25, plus tax and convenience fees, and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

BELLAGIO has been awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for the tenth consecutive year. With its unsurpassed service, world-class dining and luxurious amenities, Bellagio is the first resort and casino in Las Vegas to ever reach this amazing milestone and the only hotel in the America to have two AAA Five Diamond restaurants under one roof.

BELLAGIO continues to be the only resort in the United States to be home to two AAA Five Diamond restaurants. Joining Bellagio in making Las Vegas history, Julian Serrano’s renowned restaurant Picasso garnered its tenth AAA Five Diamond Award this year while Le Cirque has earned the distinction for the eighth consecutive year. Further adding to its dining accolades, Bellagio’s Jasmine, Michael Mina and Sensi all earned the AAA Four Diamond Award.

Carlos Santana has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas (B&GCLV) to raise money and educate children about the positive influence of music during the January 5 – 16 run of Vegas’ first and only rock- n-roll residency show, Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

As a new resident of Las Vegas, Carlos Santana’s support of B&GCLV continues his philanthropic mission to support the local community by enhancing the lives of children. Donations will be collected by B&GCLV volunteers during the eight January performances. All contributions will aid the organization’s mission to enable all young people, especially those who need extra support, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.

Showcasing the band’s career-spanning classics such as “Oye Como Va,” “Smooth,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Evil Ways” and “Maria Maria,” Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits takes fans on a multi-sensory journey through the most prolific Santana songs.

Tickets for Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits are on sale now for Jan. 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15 and 16; April 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29 and 30; and May 1. Santana plays approximately 36 shows per year at The Joint, with a show time of 8 p.m.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas

Started in 1961, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas currently serves more than 13,000 youth ages 5 –18 in eight facilities throughout the Valley. With the belief that every child has the potential to “be great”, the Clubs’ full-time professional staff emphasizes character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.

BEST WISHES FOR A VERY MERRY XMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS.