Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Andy Walmsley’s ‘Drop the Mic’ ready for mime time Nov. 17 at SLS

ENTSpeaks: Entertainers You Think You Know

L.E. Baskow

Show producer Andy Walmsley welcomes all those in attendance for the ENTSpeaks performance at the Inspire Theatre on Tuesday, October 21, 2014. L.E. Baskow.

If nothing else, this is one innovative means of making your voice heard: By pretending to sing.

In a production featuring everything and the kitchen sync (boom!), Emmy Award-winning set designer Andy Walmsley is producing “Drop the Mic.” This sleight-of-mouth cavalcade is set for Nov. 17 at the Sayers Club at SLS Las Vegas. The show is set for 11:30 p.m. (doors open at 10:30).

In a distinctively Las Vegas moment, the idea was hatched in a recent conversation between Walmsley and KTNV Channel 13 anchor Dayna Roselli, who encouraged Walmsley to develop a show in the same tenor as the Jimmy Fallon lip-synch segments on “The Tonight Show.” By that evening, Walmsley was fast at work on the show’s format and cast.

In a news release, Walmsley says the show’s focus is fun, not competition.

“The judges will be tabulating scores on humor and up-staging other contestants,” he said. “We’re looking forward to a great show, and we welcome everyone to come out to enjoy themselves.”

That last sentiment is forever attainable in shows hosted and produced by Walmsley, who over the past three-plus years has developed “The Showbiz Roast” at Stratosphere and “ENTSpeaks” at Inspire Theater on Fremont East. Similar to those productions, “Drop the Mic” features a comically effective host (comic magician Mike Hammer of Four Queens, in this case) and a pick-me-up arrangement of Las Vegas entertainers.

Among those on a fluid list of performers: members of Chippendales at Rio; Jen Romas and the cast of "Sexxy" at Westgate Las Vegas; Jeff Civillico of Flamingo Las Vegas; venerable club comic Geechy Guy; Frankie Scinta of The Scintas; Murray Sawchuck and his sidekick, Lefty, of Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood; magician Jan Rouven of Tropicana; Eric Jordan Young of “Rock of Ages” at Venetian; Nicole Kaplan of “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” at Wynn Las Vegas and her husband, Graham Fenton of “Jersey Boys” at Paris Las Vegas; and Anne Martinez of “Alice — A Steampunk Concert Fantasy,” most recently of Brooklyn Bowl.

The guest entertainment for the night marks the long-awaited debut of DJZB, otherwise known as DJ Zowie Bowie, otherwise known as Chris Phillips. The Nick Foote Dance Troupe will back the sync'ers. Because this is an actual contest (and what this city needs, really, is more competition among entertainers), those onstage will be judged and scored on presentation, dance skills and stage presence — the “ham factor.”

I’m honored to be a member of the judging panel, joined by Anthony Cools of Paris Las Vegas, “Absinthe” vocalist Melody Sweets and actor and stage performer Adrian Zmed (“T.J. Hooker,” “Grease 2”).

The event is free, al though donations are being accepted on behalf of Noah’s Animal House, which works in partnership with Shade Tree shelter to provide homes and care of the pets of those who are being assisted by Shade Tree. The event’s co-producer is indoor shooting range Gun Garage of Las Vegas.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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