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Trent Carlini
Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 | 2 a.m.
Longtime Las Vegas entertainer Trent Carlini died Sunday at Centennial Hills Hospital at the age of 57. Known as one of the best Elvis Presley impersonators or tribute artists to ever perform on the Las Vegas Strip, Carlini suffered a stroke late last month.
He first came to Las Vegas to star as the King in “Legends in Concert” in 1990, a gig he maintained for more than six years before creating his own Elvis-themed show and taking his act to several different casino resorts on and off the Strip.
In a 2000 Sun review of “The Dream King” at the Boardwalk, the hotel located where Aria now stands, Joe Delaney wrote:
“A sit-down segment had Carlini actually playing guitar, flanked by two men culled from the audience, playing tambourine and drums on a guitar case … returning in a white jumpsuit with rhinestones for ‘C.C. Rider’ and his best moment, singing ‘My Way.’ … If you are an Elvis fan, Carlini is a good companion for the nostalgia trip.”
In a 2004 Sun review of “Elvolution” at Planet Hollywood, Joe Brown wrote:
“Carlini is most effective as the catlike comeback Elvis of the ’68 Comeback Special, vrooming onstage on a motorcycle, sleek in black leather. … This could easily come off like a series of animated wax museum tableaus, but Carlini’s Elvis is self-aware, with a sly sense of humor. … You don’t need to be an Elvis fan to enjoy ‘Elvolution.’ Carlini’s enlivening spark made me appreciate the King more than I ever have.”
More show news this week:
“WOW: The Vegas Spectacular” hit the 1,000-show mark Tuesday night at the Rio. The family-friendly variety show includes comedy, acrobatics, dance, juggling and even some archery from “America’s Got Talent” alum Silvia Silvia. “It went so fast, believe me,” she said. “For us, the audience loves the show, which makes us very happy and gives us more energy for another thousand.” It plays nightly except Mondays at the Rio Showroom.
Sun on the Strip
Plans for Circus Circus and Resorts World
Brock talks Resorts World with Bryan Horwath and reports on news from Treasure Island, the Rio and Circus Circus.
Miss Behave (aka Amy Saunders), the creator and star of “The Miss Behave Gameshow” at the Back Room at Bally’s, will host a free New Year’s Eve party at the Downtown Grand. She’s bringing her sideshow hula-hooper Lilikoi Kaos for a series of pop-up performances on December 31 and the party will also offer a chance to win $500,000. For more info, visit downtowngrand.com/event/nye.
Vittorio Arata, a roller-skating stunt performer in “V: The Ultimate Variety Show” at the V Theater at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops, will appear in the one-hour “Holidays with the Houghs” Christmas special airing December 16 on NBC. Kelly Clarkson, Ne-Yo, Ciara and other guests will also join Derek and Julianne Hough.
In other V Theater news, the award-winning “Zombie Burlesque” celebrates its six-year anniversary on Friday, December 13. The 75-minute show pays homage to the most famous horror movies of decades past with a cast of dancing, singing, joking zombies who perform a variety of acts, including burlesque, with a live big band. It runs at 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the V Theater and locals who bring a photo ID can see the show for just $13 through December 21.
Cirque du Soleil is teaming with Disney Parks, Experiences and Products to create “Drawn to Life,” a family-friendly show coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in March. The show follows the life of a “courageous and determined girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her late father: an unfinished animation piece. Guided by a surprising pencil, she embarks on an inspiring quest sprinkled with her Disney childhood memories.” The international cast numbers more than 65 artists and the show will be performed five days a week.
And as reported in this week’s Sun on the Strip podcast, Cirque’s “One Night for One Drop” annual gala event and fundraiser will take place on March 27, 2020, at Luxor, featuring a special performance of “R.U.N.” As always, the event will benefit One Drop’s mission to ensure access to safe water in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities around the world, as well as supporting local water initiatives in Southern Nevada. After the show, the legendary party will feature a DJ set from Cirque founder Guy Laliberté and other surprise guest performers.
