Cirque’s new show invades New York
Cirque du Soleil turns 27 today, with the Montreal-based entertainment juggernaut celebrating the opening of yet another show.
"Zarkana" opened a four-month engagement last Thursday in Radio City Music Hall, Cirque's first test at taking a Las Vegas-size Cirque show to New York City.
It's a $57 million gamble for Cirque, confesses Cirque's Daniel Lamarre, president and chief operating officer.
"Only 5 percent of New Yorkers have seen a Cirque show in Las Vegas," Lamarre told me during last week's afterparty celebrating the five-year "Love" anniversary at The Mirage.
New York remains a crucial feeder market for Las Vegas, especially with a slow-recovering economy.
With a cast of 71 international artists, the traveling arena show then moves to Madrid, for a Nov. 2-Jan. 1 run before flying to Moscow for a Feb. 2-April 26 engagement.
Meanwhile, collaborations with iconic music figures such as The Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson (later this year) have paid off in added publicity, Lamarre said.
Until "Love" and "Viva Elvis," Lamarre said, "we've never seen anniversary shows in Vegas that create so much worldwide coverage."
"Zarkana" composer and musical director Nick Littlemore has worked with Sir Elton John.
Cirque has seven resident shows in Las Vegas, with No. 8, the Jackson homage, moving into Mandalay Bay in early 2013 after touring.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The wild success of "The Book of Mormon" at the Tony Awards on Sunday most likely means the creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone of "South Park" fame, soon will be hearing from Las Vegas entertainment honchos. "The Book of Mormon" scored nine Tonys, including best musical. Robert Lopez, who co-wrote it, already has Vegas ties. He co-wrote the Tony-winning "Avenue Q," which Steve Wynn brought to Wynn Las Vegas.
Mirage President Felix Rappaport is 20 pounds lighter these days after heart valve replacement, but he's still the life of the party.
Sunday will be a mad-dash day for Rio headliner Penn Jillette. He will presenting the first award with partner Teller and talk-show host Rachel Ray at the Daytime Emmys telecast from the Hilton at 5 p.m. live to the East Coast, then heading over to Planet Hollywood where he is a judge on the Miss USA pageant, which is live to the East Coast at 6 p.m. and from there, straight to his 9 p.m. show at the Rio.
Dia Frampton from the Frampton tennis family, formerly of Las Vegas, has emerged as a fan favorite and front-runner on NBC's "The Voice."
I ran into local singer Jeanne Brei at the closing of the Sahara last month, and she informed us her birthday show is tonight at the Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara Ave. Free cake for all, she said, and no cover. And the frosting on the cake is her band, The Speakeasy Swingers, with sax legend Don Hill, who turns 90 in November. His college roommate was Claude Trenier of The Treniers.
SIGHTINGS
Actor David Arquette, checking out "Absinthe" (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday and hanging out with the cast. He dined at Sugar Factory American Brasserie (Paris Resort). It was Arquette's second "Absinthe" visit in two weeks. He's co-owner of Beacher's Madhouse with former Las Vegas producer Jeff Beacher, who moved the show to the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Happy birthday to Donald Trump, who turned 65, allegedly. We still haven't seen the birth certificate so we don't know for sure." -- Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
