‘Merrily’ tops upcoming theater, music events

Theater

SONDHEIM’S ‘MERRILY’

ROLLS INTO ONYX

“How did you ever get there from here?”

That is the question — one of them, anyway — propelling Stephen Sondheim’s semiautobiographical musical “Merrily We Roll Along,” which opens a three-weekend run Friday at the Onyx Theatre.

Created by Sondheim and writer George Furth, his collaborator on the groundbreaking “Company,” the musical focuses on Franklin Shepard, a composer turned Hollywood producer who ponders his showbiz success — and the people who shared the journey.

But there’s a twist: “Merrily” follows Franklin’s adventures in reverse — tracing his relationships with, among others, friends Charlie and Mary, from disillusion to youthful optimism. Sondheim’s score includes such now-classic numbers as “Not a Day Goes By,” “Good Thing Going” and “Old Friends.”

Andrew Wright directs the Off-Strip Productions presentation; Bruce Block, Ayler Evan, Kim Glover, Glenn Heath, Laurina Hendrickson, Carnell Johnson and Russell Slouffman lead the cast.

“Merrily We Roll Along” will be staged at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave.; the run continues at 8 p.m. Oct. 2-4, 2 p.m. Oct. 5 and 8 p.m. Oct. 9-11. For tickets ($24 general admission, $19 for students, seniors and military), call 702-732-7225 or visit www.onyxtheatre.com.

Music

BRAGGS, BRONSON

TEAM FOR CONCERT

The more the merrier.

That’s certainly the case Friday as Larry Braggs, former lead singer for Tower of Power, joins forces with the Lon Bronson Band at The Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz.

Bronson’s 14-piece All-Star Band will deliver eclectic, horn-infused rock, soul and funk tunes — including numerous Tower of Power favorites, featuring Braggs’ vocals.

They’ll perform at 8 p.m. Friday in Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. For tickets ($15-$30), call 702-741-2000 or visit www.thesmithcenter.com.

Art

ARTIST CREATES

‘PINATATOPIA’

Like many people, Justin Favela loves pinatas. Unlike most people, however, Favela does more with pinatas than attack them with a baseball bat.

The artist, a Las Vegas native and UNLV graduate, is demonstrating just that as The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ current artist-in-residence, where he’s creating a veritable “Pinatatopia” in the Strip resort’s P3Studio.

After asking guests to share what Mexico represents to then, Favela — who draws inspiration from art history, pop culture and his heritage — constructs pinatas based on their comments, then hangs them in the studio.

Favela will be in residence at P3Studio in The Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South, from 6 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, through Oct. 5. A closing reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2. For more information, call 702-698-7000 or visit www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

Theater

‘JONI AND GINA’S WEDDING’

CELEBRATES VEGAS RUN

After a six-year Los Angeles engagement — which featured everyone from “Little House on the Prairie’s” Nellie Oleson, Alison Arngrim, to adult film star Herschel Savage — the interactive dinner show “Joni and Gina’s Wedding” makes its Las Vegas debut Thursday at Ron Decar’s Event Center (formerly the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel and Event Center).

“Yes, there are numerous wedding-type shows out there, but this will be the only current Vegas show that is LGBTQ-themed,” producer and co-director Troy Heard says. “ ‘Joni and Gina’s’ resonates because these characters have heart to spare. You want to be best friends with them by the time the night is over.”

In this “almost” holy matrimony, writers Marianne Basford and Ann Lippert focus on characters who both reaffirm and defy stereotypes, led by brides Joni Gottlieb (who comes complete with kvetching Jewish mother and car salesman father) and all-American military brat Gina Spaulding.

“Joni and Gina’s Wedding” opens Oct. 2 and will play alternating Thursdays at the event center, 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Check-in and cocktails start at 6:45 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets ($59.95) include the show, buffet, nonalcoholic beverage and Champagne toast; VIP tickets ($79.95) also include premium seating and a wedding gift; Las Vegas locals receive $10 off general admission with valid ID. For tickets, call 702-384-0771 or visit www.joniandgina.com.

— By CAROL CLING