Thursday, December 30, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

MIKE WEATHERFORD: New year offers promise with new, updated shows on the Strip

For those tired of reminiscing about the year winding to a close, here's a recap and update on what's planned for Las Vegas entertainment in 2005.

First, the new stuff, in roughly the projected order of arrival:

• "Forever Plaid": Not a new title, but new to the Gold Coast after a three-year absence from Las Vegas. The warmhearted salute to harmony groups of the '50s opens Jan. 15. As with the Gold Coast's previous show, "Honky-Tonk Angels," the casino hopes to pull tourists from the Strip with value pricing: A $34.95 ticket includes dinner (from a special menu) at one of four Gold Coast restaurants.

• Barry Manilow: The 58-year-old pop institution becomes the city's latest resident headliner when "Manilow: Music and Passion" opens Feb. 23 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Manilow plans to perform 24 weeks over the subsequent 12 months, promising "a bigger show than I usually do," but one that will "change every night."

"I've invented this thing that you have to come and see that allows me to put in new material every night so that it's not static," he somewhat cryptically informed reporters at a news conference to announce the event.

• "Erocktica": Producer Greg Thompson announced in May he would replace the Rio's "Showgirls" with this revue combining topless dancers and a live rock band. But musical chairs at the Rio ended up moving "Erocktica" from Penn & Teller's theater to the showroom used by The Scintas. It's still planned for early February, with an announcement about an exact opening date possibly coming next week.

• "Rock, Roll & Remember": This Dick Clark-licensed production was announced for the Plaza in May, then went mostly forgotten until the 75-year-old "American Bandstand" icon suffered a stroke earlier this month.

It's still scheduled for a late February or early March debut. The show has been delayed in part by the showroom renovation. The Plaza is making significant upgrades to it while trying to preserve its vintage-Vegas atmosphere.

• "Le Reve": At least, that's the working title of the new Wynn Las Vegas production from "O" and "Mystere" co-creator Franco Dragone. The final product, by whatever title Dragone settles on, will combine aquatics, aerialists and, some are saying, more comedy than the Cirque du Soleil shows it will compete with.

The cast arrived in Las Vegas in recent weeks after preliminary rehearsals at Dragone's studio in Belgium, and begins rehearsing on-site Monday, on track to open April 28, the same time as the rest of the property.

• "Avenue Q": You'd think this Broadway hit would open at Wynn Las Vegas before "Le Reve" because it's the established show, not the new one. But the "Avenue Q" theater is part of a $198 million expansion of the resort that wasn't announced until May, while the "Le Reve" venue is part of the initial design. Hence, the comic musical isn't due until August.

Now, major changes to ongoing shows:

• Lance Burton: The Monte Carlo's star magician has been phasing in new illusions and an upgraded lighting and sound system. He hopes to reveal an all-new show by March.

• Penn & Teller: The Rio's comic illusionists have been sidetracked from their Rio show by side projects such as books -- Penn Jillette's novel, "Sock," and Teller's memoir, "When I'm Dead All This Will Be Yours" -- and Jillette's film "The Aristocrats," which collects various comedians' renditions of a classic dirty joke.

Despite this and the ongoing taping of their Showtime series "Bullshit," the duo plan to ease a new segment or two into their live show by the end of the first quarter. But the big changes will be saved for summer with the debut of a new set by a still-unannounced Broadway production designer.

• The Blue Man Group: Whatever the new subtitle is, it won't be "Live at Luxor." The bald blue pranksters plan to close at the Luxor on Sept. 15, then reopen in a new custom venue at The Venetian on Oct. 9.

Those are where the balls are landing now. The future of some acts and/or showrooms are still up in the air:

Ventriloquist Ronn Lucas will probably return to the Rio, after talk that he might move his afternoon show to the Flamingo.

The afternoon slot vacated by "Bottom's Up" leaves the Flamingo open to a potential afternoon replacement and that show still looking for a new home.

Marlene Ricci will not perform or produce other shows at the Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre after late January. A new policy for the room has not been announced, but the most likely scenario has Neil Diamond impersonator Jay White remaining.

The Sahara still has not announced a replacement for "Saturday Night Fever," though a Penthouse-branded topless show and a country revue are said to be under consideration.

The "Honky-Tonk Angels" also are talking to the Sahara about potentially joining The Platters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters and Beary Hobbs' Drifters upstairs in the hotel's other showroom.

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays.