Kerr set to make more impressions
Las Vegas drag legend Kenny Kerr is back in town, on the rebound after a health scare earlier this year.
He's rehearsing for a two-show engagement July 31 at the Onyx Theatre.
The former star of "Boy-lesque," which opened in 1977 at the Union Plaza and ran for more than two decades at various venues, has put together "An Evening With Kenny Kerr Uncensored."
He'll do impersonations of Diana Ross, Eartha Kitt, Nancy Wilson, Billie Holiday and even stray into country music with his Patsy Cline.
Known as "Mr. Barbra Streisand," Kerr, with his takeoffs of Marlene Dietrich, Carol Channing, Ross and others, took female impersonation to another level amid long runs of sold-out shows.
He's survived a lot, including a brush with death in February when he was hospitalized here for three weeks.
"I'm looking for a room here," he said. The Onyx has offered him a stage for his latest relaunch. "They want to bring me in once a month."
PROCTOR ROAST
Comedian Cork Proctor celebrates his 80th birthday in the hot seat Sunday, fielding zingers at a roast to raise money for Opportunity Village's scholarship program.
Proctor has been cracking up crowds since he traded in his drums at age 40 to pursue stand-up comedy.
He promises a clean show, "some real wit," rather than today's shock comedy that's "like watching animals die in tar pits."
Among those lined up for the roast: Sammy Shore, Peter Anthony, Jac "Mundane the Grate" Hayden, Carme, R-J columnist John L. Smith, Gerry Bednob (Mooj in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin"), and Kelly McDonald.
The $40 cover charge includes two drink tickets.
The roast also serves as the launch party for Proctor's memoir, "My Mind is an Open Mic," a partnership between UNLV's Arnold Shaw Popular Music Center and Stephens Press, a sister company of the R-J. Proctor's ex-wife, Carolyn Hamilton, co-wrote the book.
Doors open at 1 p.m. for the 2 p.m. show at South Point.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Lou Gossett Jr., who won an Oscar for best supporting actor in the 1982 hit "An Officer and a Gentleman," is among honorees at the fifth Las Vegas Film Festival this weekend at The LVH. Also being honored: Lea Thompson of "Caroline in the City" and local self-help guru Robin Jay, whose award-winning entry, "The Keeper of The Keys," is being screened at 9 a.m. Saturday.
SIGHTINGS
Jeremy Tyler, a second-year big man for the Golden State Warriors, played the keyboard and sang during Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee's 5 p.m. show Thursday at Harrah's Piano Bar. Tyler, in town for the NBA's Summer League, and Vallee sang "Viva Las Vegas" and George Strait's "You Look So Good In Love." Tyler, who wore an Elvis wig, was being videotaped by the NBA team's PR department. ... The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, having lunch Thursday at Fatburger on the Strip. ... New York Knicks star Amare Stoudemire, dining at STK (Cosmopolitan) with friends on Wednesday. ... Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies, at Lavo for hip-hop night Thursday. ... Representatives from Liverpool, England, turning over the "World Santa Challenge" trophy to Opportunity Village on Thursday at New York-New York. Opportunity Village's record turnout for the "Las Vegas Great Santa Run" last year broke Liverpool's record for participation.
THE PUNCH LINE
"There's a new slow-moving storm in the Pacific called Hurricane Fabio. Meteorologists expect Hurricane Fabio to touch the coastline, caress it softly, and then whisper, 'I can't believe it's not butter.' " - Jimmy Fallon
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.
