Tom Donoghue / DonoghuePhotography.com
The grand opening of “Georgia on My Mind” on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014, at the Venetian.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 | 5:51 p.m.
This is what happens when you run out of time to sell enough tickets to turn a profit: You "adjust."
Laden with talent but stagnant at the box office, “Georgia on My Mind” is closing next Wednesday at the Venetian Theater.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the hotel announced: “The show calendar for 'Georgia on My Mind — Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles' has been adjusted to better reflect audience sales patterns for the groundbreaking show. This limited-engagement production will wrap at the Venetian Theater on Wednesday, Oct. 15, giving fans an opportunity to enjoy a final performance before the show officially ends its Vegas run.”
Those holding tickets for dates beyond next Wednesday are to call the hotel box office at (702) 414-4100 for refunds.
The tribute to the music of Ray Charles starring Clint Holmes, Nnenna Frelon, Take Six, sax great Kirk Whalum and backed by an all-star band directed by David Loeb premiered Sept. 18 and had been booked to run through Oct. 29.
Instead, it closes after a run of a little less than a month. Each member of the cast learned today of the closing by phone calls from the producers.
The simple reason is what torpedoes shows of any quality, even great ones: Sluggish ticket sales. The show had played to audiences of less than 300 in a theater that seats 1,800. Even its strongest performances in the venue were about 700.
The show is still going to tour as planned, moving to Miami on Nov. 7 and opening the Disney Center in Orlando on Nov. 20. Holmes is to then return to his regular residency at Cabaret Jazz in the Smith Center from Dec. 5-7.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
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