Las Vegas Regional Theater Group

From Playbill.com

Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail Online reported that Phantom: Love Never Dies will star Boggess (who was Christine in Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular) and Ramin Karimloo (who plays the masked tenor in the London production of The Phantom of the Opera)…

… Boggess made her Broadway debut as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. She originated the role of Christine Daae in the 90-minute retooled Phantom in Las Vegas, directed by Prince. Her other credits include the national tour of Les Misérables, the world premiere of Princesses (Binky) for Goodspeed Musicals and 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. She was a soloist in Lincoln Center’s American Songbook: The Lyrics of David Zippel.

This sounds like great news for Ms. Boggess, but the following tidbit made me throw up in my mouth a little bit:

The Daily Mail also reported that songs from Love Never Dies may premiere on this season’s “American Idol” competition.

While I find “American Idol” abhorrent, it may just be a stroke of genius. The show is one of the most-watched shows on American television, and getting a song or two recognized by a younger crowd will likely turn into ticket sales and possibly a new generation of theater-goers.

Patti LuPone to Play Vegas; Seven Deadly Sins Concerts, Too

Stand back, Las Vegas! Olivier and two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone is headed your way.

The recent star of Gypsy, according to the actress’ official website, is scheduled to play the Orleans Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, June 20 at 7:30 PM and June 21 at 8 PM. Tickets are currently available by calling (702) 365-7111.

This is a great opportunity for Las Vegans to see LuPone without having to travel to New York to do it. She’ll be going on tour soon with Mandy Patinkin, but you’ll have to head to either Tucson or Los Angeles to see that show.

seanbra76

“We’re not doing it,” Daren Libonati, director of UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium, said Monday. “(Vegoose producers) are still trying to figure out what we’re going to do or not do, but it doesn’t look like we’re going in that direction.” The event still appears on the roster of upcoming events at LasVegasEvents.com; the Vegoose.com Web site has not been updated with information for 2008. - Vegoose is One Cooked Goose - Open Vegas Forums

Vegoose has had a three-year run, but it appears it’s now over. Past acts have included The Killers, Iggy Pop and Jack Johnson, and the festival has been a major event. It appears, however, that attendance has not been where promoters would have liked, and the festival will not return - at least in its current incarnation.

It seems Las Vegas will need to find something else to do around Halloween, unless something happens to change the minds of Vegoose’s promoters.

When:

Monday, June 16, 2008 from 8:30am to 4:00pm
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 from 8:30am to 4:00pm
ALL AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. PLEASE CALL (702) 949-6123.

Where:

Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts
3265 East Patrick Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(Please do not call the studio)

PREPARATION: PLEASE CALL (702) 949-6123 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. Individuals wishing to audition should prepare a comedic contemporary monologue with a total length of two minutes or less. Attendees should also bring a typed resume and headshot.

CALLBACKS:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Who:

Great American Theatricals, Las Vegas, NV

Production Dates:

Performances begin October 17, 2008.
All performances will be held at the Shear Madness Theatre at Town Square Las Vegas.

Rehearsals Start:

Rehearsals begin September 19, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV.

Roles Open:

Seeking comedic male and female actors, 20’s – 70’s. A full character breakdown can be obtained by visiting http://www.shearmadnesslv.com. Both Equity and Non-Equity performers are eligible.

CONTRACT:
Non-Equity Production
Equity Actors will be considered for all roles.
Equity Actors will be employed via LOA with Actors Equity.
ALL roles are professional pay, $800/week and up.

BARBARA DEMARCO is the hairstylist who keeps Shear Madness running efficiently. She is an attractive, dishy (though cheap), wise-cracking, gum-snapping, nail polishing hairdresser cum manicurist. She moves sassily and well. She is likeable, ambitious and street-wise and she can spot a bad dye job at 20 paces.

[Age range 23-39. Prototype: A young Bette Midler.]

MIKEY THOMAS is a preppy-looking, eager-beaver who’s a capable and earnest undercover cop. MIKEY is bright, quick, affable, somewhat deferential, and very helpful at the same time being innocent, naïve and impressionable. He is a believable, ambitious young cop who supplies much of the credibility to the investigation. The actor who plays MIKEY gets his hair washed and blown dry at every performance. It may need to be cut by a professional to suit the role.

[Age range 23-30. Prototype: A younger, energetic Matthew Broderick.]

TONY WHITCOMB is the flamboyant, irrepressible proprietor of the Shear Madness salon. He is interested in everything and everyone. He is fun, devilish, interesting, passionate and a real character. He must not be jaded in any way. His “shoot from the hip” comedy must endear him to all. He must be able to do physical comedy easily and with great flair. His toes must never touch the ground. TONY should love “playing for an audience”. He must love creating and executing merriment and mirth.

[Age range 26-40. Prototype: An innocent, mischievous hybrid of Eddie Murphy and Lucille Ball with some Bugs Bunny thrown in for spice.]

EDDIE LAWRENCE is the “mystery man” of the piece. He is a well-dressed, nice-looking confident man who covers a dangerous interior with a smooth, suave, and occasionally charming exterior. We must believe that he is able to gain entry into famed pianist Isabel Czerny’s world. We must admire EDDIE’S ability to scramble out of the position of “prime suspect”.

[Age range 30-55. Prototype: George Clooney/Jeremy Piven.]

NICK ROSSETTI is the most difficult and most important role in the show. It requires a bright, quick-thinking, personable character actor who can also be an excellent straight man. It requires an actor who is not intimidated by a boisterous audience who is trying to help him solve the murder. It requires a good-looking, masculine actor with a solid voice and solid acting skills who can learn the dynamics that will keep the investigation on track.
NICK is a likeable, approachable, forceful cop. He has to make many decisions throughout the show. He must be loaded with personality and appeal and have the confidence to “play dumb.” Don’t even think about Columbo. Columbo wanders onto the scene a week after the murders and asks persistent, salient questions in a very low-key demeanor. This is not what ROSETTI does. He has an emotional and intellectual stake in solving this crime. His frustration is frequently apparent.

[Age range: 30-50. Prototype: A cross between the comic bluster of a Jackie Gleason with the likeably “regular guy” quality of a Harrison Ford and the authority of a Tommy Lee Jones.]

MRS. SHUBERT is an old-money socialite of impeccable breeding and manner. She must move with natural grace and style. She must speak with natural cultured tones. Although at times forceful and demanding, she can really turn on the charm when needed. At her finest, she’s a real class act. The actress playing MRS. SHUBERT must have her hair cut to a specified classic length so that it is easy to wash and set onstage.

[Age range 45-70. Prototypes: Susan Sullivan— Kitty Montgomery in “Dharma and Greg”.]

When: Saturday, April 26, 2008

Where: Onyx Theater, 953 E. Sahara #16, Las Vegas, NV

Who: Good Medicine Theatre Company

Production Dates: September 2008

Rehearsals Start: TBA

Notes: Bring pix and resume, prepare a contemporary comedic monologue. Cold read may be requested. Contact susanna (at) goodmedicinetheatre (dot) org for questions.

Roles Open:

DIANE: late 20s-early 30s, hard driving, sharp, ambitious Hollywood agent, very L.A., lesbian, always 10 steps ahead of everyone, quick wit, nothing gets in her way - LEAD

MITCHELL: late 20s-early 30s, handsome, budding screen idol, willing to compromise himself for his ambitions, sexually confused, looking for happiness, dependant upon Diane. This role requires full nudity in one scene. - LEAD

ALEX: early 20s - young, cute, NY “rent boy”, struggling to survive in the big city, sexually confused but with a strong sense of self, the only character in the play with his soul in tact. This role requires full nudity in one scene. - LEAD

ELLEN: early 20s - naive, needy, coming to terms with the realities and rude shocks of adulthood, Alex’s long time friend and sort of girlfriend - SUPPORTING

What happens when you let three “clowns” loose to create their own show?

I’ll admit it – I’ve always disliked clowns. Maybe it was a childhood trauma. Who knows. I just never liked clowns. And then there are the Cirque clowns. Not the old slapstick, red rubber nose clowns, but more like a Greek chorus for the various tales told in the Cirque productions. Had these been the clowns I had seen as a kid, I probably would look more favorably on them.

Your New Best Friends at the Onyx Theater is a new production put together by three former and current Cirque performers, all from the franchise’s “clown” ranks. In fact, Franco Dragone (creator of the Cirque shows) calls them his “Anti-Clowns”. Daniel Passer, John Gilkey and Wayne Wilson have put together a raucous, and entertaining evening of fun filled with material that would never end up in a Cirque show. Their mix of slapstick physical comedy and excellent comedic timing combine for an entertaining 90 minutes.

One caveat – this is not a “family” show. Sometimes bawdy, with some mature language and themes, this show is definitely for the over-eighteen crowd. And if you’re easily offended – don’t go. But if you’ve got a sense of humor and want a bunch of laughs, then this is a show for you.

We attended on preview night, along with a supportive group of Cirque performers and Franco Dragone himself. From the start, the show shows promise, with some great physical comedy and some well-paced timing. Some of the pieces touch on local themes, such as babies doing their own version of the Bellagio fountains. Audience participation is a recurring theme in the show, and the small theater lends itself well to pulling audience members onto the stage.

There are some musical pieces worked into the show, and while some were funny and others obviously heartfelt, they slowed the pacing of the show, and might have been better if grouped together or worked better into the flow. One piece in particular had some rather pointed lyrics directed toward Steve Wynn – referred to as the “blind tyrant” - whose changes to the original Le Reve show have been unpopular with many performers. The numbers were original, but didn’t quite fit into the rhythm of the performance.

In a similar vein, there were some spots in the performance that didn’t quite make the mark. While the vast majority of the sketches featured exceptional comic timing, one in particular dragged on a bit long. After the fountain sketch mentioned above, three audience members were brought up on stage and put to work cleaning up. It’s unclear whether this bit went longer than planned, but it extended a little too long, losing its initial humor.

But these moments were exceptions in an otherwise highly entertaining piece. We laughed often and found all three performers to be engaging and versatile. Your New Best Friends is a fun, fast-paced and entertaining evening of comedy and music. Your New Best Friends plays on May 27 and June 3, 2008. Contact the Onyx Theater for tickets and more information.

Long time Mirage resident performer Danny Gans is jumping the MGM/Mirage ship to headline at Steve Wynn’s Encore beginning in February 2009. Gans has been voted Las Vegas’ “Entertainer of the Year” for 11 years running and has been selling out shows for nearly 12 years, the last eight in a theater built especially for him by Wynn at the Mirage.

But the news isn’t all rosy. The accompanying announcement of Spamalot ending it’s run in July 2008 means the end of another Broadway-style production on the Strip. Spamalot follows Avenue Q out the door at the Wynn, another show that played well, but was not as wildly received.

Gans’ show will replace Spamalot and the theater will be re-named to the Encore Theater. Gans’ run at the Mirage ends in November, providing time for renovations at the Wynn to accommodate his new show.

So what does this have to do with the local theater scene? Many folks do not realize that Spamalot has been unable to tour many areas in this region of the country due to contractual obligations with the Wynn. For example, the US National Tour could not head into Southern California, frustrating venues like the Orange County Performing Arts Center who rely on touring companies to fill their seasons. The end of the run here allows the touring production to head into SoCal, giving those folks their shot at seeing the Black Knight and Arthur duel to the finish.

This trend is likely to continue as shows prove their worth here in the Las Vegas Valley. But it also means many of these shows may take a VERY long time to resurface here as smaller productions, fighting for rights with bigger venues in the same region.

"Betty’s Summer Vacation" at the Onyx Theatre

Betty decides to go on vacation for the summer at at beach house. Everything is going as planned until her roommates arrive. The show, written by Christopher Durang is a dark and funny farce. Durang’s previous works include "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" and "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You".

This production is directed by Rob Kastil, whose recent productions include "A New Brain" for the Onyx Theatre.

From the show’s press release:

Christopher Durang’s outrageous Obie winning comedy, BETTY’S SUMMER VACATION (a jaded, satirical look at our society’s obsession with lurid crimes, celebrity trials and talk show confessionals) opens at the Onyx Theatre April 18th.

Spend the summer with Betty! Her dream vacation at a lovely beach house turns mordantly funny as her roommates arrive: an incessant chatterer, a pathological womanizer, the emotionally anarchic landlady, and a sweet, withdrawn young man who may or may not be a serial killer. All this plus an insane derelict with a penchant for flashing, and a relentless laugh track that won’t stop chuckling whenever someone is molested, dismembered or murdered.

The New York Times said "relentlessly fierce, relentlessly funny…" , the New York Post called it "the funniest new farce in years… the play lifts off from the ground of brilliantly naturalistic comedy into the stratosphere of zany satire… by far Durang’s best", and The New York Daily News raved "Christopher Durang has finally come of age and proves to be every bit as sharp and caustic as England’s ‘Joe Orton’… It’s simply his most brilliant play yet."

Death, murder and mayhem… it’s all here at Betty’s seaside retreat!

"Betty’s Summer Vacation" opens April 18th at the Onyx Theatre and runs Thursday to Sunday at 8:00pm through May 3. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students/seniors/military). Call 702-732-7225 or visit onyxtheatre.com for tickets.

Cannibal The Musical

If you’re looking for a show to see this weekend, this is your last chance to see the Las Vegas production of “Cannibal! The Musical”, written by Trey Parker of “South Park” and “Team America” fame. Here’s a little about it:

CANNIBAL THE MUSICAL! is the true story of the only person convicted of cannibalism in America - Alferd Packer. The sole survivor of an ill-fated trip to the Colorado Territory, he tells his side of the harrowing tale to news reporter Polly Pry as he awaits his execution. And his story goes like this: While searching for gold and love in the Colorado Territory, he and his companions lost their way and resorted to unthinkable horrors, including toe-tapping songs! Featuring mass carnage, horse love, and the fearsome Cyclops – CANNIBAL! is the greatest freaking musical since Friday the 13th Part II!

Written by Trey Parker, the creator of SOUTH PARK and TEAM AMERICA, the production features the talents of Lance Burton lead clown Tommie Lang, Second City Training Center alum’s Sandy Stein and Glen Heath, Insurgo company members Shawn Hackler, Heather Chamberlain, Timothy Burris and Cynthia Vodovoz, and a host of other freaks, actors and dancers.

The production is finishing its run at the Onyx Theatre this weekend with shows at 9pm Friday 4/4/08 and 8pm Saturday 4/5/08. General seating is just $15, and students, seniors and military personnel get in for $10. You can contact the Onyx at 702.732.3225. They’re located at 953 E. Sahara, just west of Maryland Parkway.

Found at The Huntridge Theater- A reprieve for now! - Classic Las Vegas Blog - Blog

Apparently, after the meeting last week where Eli Mizrachi told folks he planned on restoring the Huntridge to its use as a performing arts center, he then headed to Carson City to ask that they remove the covenants that protect its historical status, including offering to pay back $1.5 million in grants to try two sway them.

Apparently the state’s Cultural Affairs Commission thought better of it, and declined the offer, instructing the staff to work with Mizrachi to find a tenant.

As we mentioned before this is a prime opportunity for a group to claim the space as their own. If you have a group that needs a performance space, check out SaveTheHuntridge.com.

This brings up a related matter - are there other space in the Las Vegas Valley that could use help in this manner? Other locations that are historical, under-used, and just going to waste? Let us know about them! Many smaller groups struggle to find the right space, but sometimes, all that is needed is a little creative thinking. One theater group I worked with actually converted an old light rail train depot, including using retired Amtrak cars for dressing rooms and Boxcars for storage.

If you know of such locations, help us spread the word, and give them new life with a new purpose.