Las Vegas’ recovery from pandemic is in gear, with nearly 40 ticketed shows onstage right now.
Kats
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily on Page 3A. Email jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow him at @johnnykats on Twitter and @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram. Listen to the latest episodes of his PodKats! podcast here.
The Mirage will open the new year by shutting down totally from Mondays through Thursdays, MGM Resorts International announced Monday.
Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club has been dark since March. It reopens Dec. 26.
“Extravagana’s” reopening date is just ahead of Gov. Steve Sisolak’s two-week deadline for COVID numbers to trend downward.
How is it the Jabbawockeez have performed 2,000 shows for 10 years on the Strip? We got the answer Thursday night.
Room operator Dean Coleman said of the “Aussie Heat” premiere, “The show was fantastic. We had to remind the crowd not to get too handsy, which is common in this type of show.”
Bobby Kingston finally got his wish of a formal response Thursday, when an OSHA official called him and told him it was OK to stage his ambient music. Or keep staging it, in this instance.
In a pandemic, the Entertainment Capital of the World is a tough room. Las Vegas businesses that stage music along with food and drink are learning this the hard way.
MGM Resorts Internatioal CEO Bill Hornbuckle says of reopening Park MGM, “Without Park Theater being open, it’s a challenge. That is the venue that drives that property.”
MGM Resorts International has not announced the retail, restaurant and entertainment amenities planned for The Mirage’s opening.
Angela Stabile of Stabile productions says, “We need to be accounted for. This is the Entertainment Capital of the World, and we need him to make us a priority.”
Ross Mollison says, “The message to the public is, I’m not going to be a problem for you, I’m not going to be a problem for employees and patrons and the governor.”
Signs trumpeting coronavirus-safety protocol line the MGM Grand’s 12th-floor hallways: “You may not leave the bubble!” is one.
MGM Resorts International notified a large majority of its entertainment and sports division employees Monday that they will be laid off effective Aug. 31.
A Madame Tussauds spokeswoman says, “These are figures you can get close to and not have to worry.”