Thursday, February 03, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
MIKE WEATHERFORD: Thomas moves magic show amid uncertainty at Tropicana
News that matinee magician Rick Thomas is moving to the Stardust isn't a big vote of confidence in the Tropicana's future. But neither is it an automatic signal that the Tropicana is history.
Thomas said he doesn't want to discuss the move until his show closes at the Tropicana March 17, lest his comments discourage ticket sales or be construed as disloyal to the property that has been good to him since 1997.
Aztar Corp., the Tropicana's parent company, is supposed to make an announcement next month about the casino's future. A letter from the Tropicana's entertainment department, addressed to "Our valued clients," is making the rounds and states the hotel plans to bring in a new afternoon show.
A source familiar with the situation says Thomas' camp was "waiting for news like everyone else" and finally chose the firm option over the uncertain one. "Everyone had to make some educated choices."
The "Folies Bergere" evening show returned from this year's Christmas break without the significant changes made the past two years.
"The Magic of Rick Thomas" will pull a quick turnaround to reopen at the Stardust March 25. He will continue to perform at 2 and 4 p.m.
Thomas earned respect through his show counts at the Tropicana. When he first arrived in July 1997, he had trouble convincing hotel officials his illusions were worth disturbing the backstage props for "Folies Bergere." As his value to the hotel grew, so did the production value of the show.
The illusionist may face a similar situation at the Stardust, juggling backstage space with the "Havana Nightclub" revue and rotating headliners. ...
A window of entry-level opportunity has closed at the Riviera. On Tuesday, control of the Le Bistro Theatre reverted back to the hotel, which is replacing most of the rent-the-room shows there with a nightclub called Syn City.
The two survivors are "America's Neil Diamond Tribute" with Jay White and "Dr. Scott's Outrageous Comedy Hypnosis Show" with Scott Lewis.
Cabaret singer Marlene Ricci's three-year lease on the room ended Monday, and with it the revolving door of shows she had subcontracted during the past three years.
Ricci closed her show last week. The change also evicts "Escape" artist Dixie Dooley, "Exotic Hypnotics" Genie and Richard Anthony, and tributes to Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra by Roxanna Bonailla-Giannini and Kevin Cavenagh, respectively.
The "Exotic Hypnotics" are booked across the country from March through May, and say it's getting easier to find paid work outside of Las Vegas. "The amounts of money needed to pay rental deposits and advertising are cost prohibitive," Richard Anthony says of Las Vegas.
David Holiff, White's manager, said a deal to lease directly from the Riviera was pending final approval. The new terms are better for both the performer -- who will now get advertising placed inside the hotel rooms -- and for customers, who get a show 20 minutes longer than its former hour for the same ticket price.
The room will be modified for the hotel-run nightclub, which is scheduled to open Wednesday. The club will run from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays and feature flair bartenders who turn their mixology into a performance. ...
As of last weekend, locals have four Las Vegans to root for in "The Entertainer," the Wayne Newton version of "The Apprentice" on E! cable network.
Boston-based comedian Dave Russo has moved to town and is staying with fellow contestant and prop comic Joe Trammel until he finds a place of his own. The contestants already are used to each other after living together in the Las Vegas Hilton for the month the show was filmed.
Trammel says Newton will manage him and the other Las Vegas-based contestants: magician Nathan Burton and singer Jennifer Joseph. Management options were part of the contract to appear on the show, a la "American Idol."
For now at least, both Trammel and Burton continue to perform in "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show" at Desert Passage mall. However, Saxe says "the concept of `V' doesn't rely on any one particular person." ...
The Las Vegas Hilton has announced that 60 tickets for each Barry Manilow date will be onstage with the singer as part of his set. They will go for $253.50, which gets him close to the $281 Elton John seats that so far are the most expensive for any show that repeats on the Strip.
But the bulk of Manilow's orchestra seats go for $165.50, which is almost a deal by today's standards.
Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays.
