Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Columnist Jerry Fink: Lounge acts are here, there and everywhere

Suddenly lounges have entertainment competition.

For decades the free venues have provided alternatives to high-priced, main-room performances by big-name stars.

Some of those stars, such as Don Rickles and Wayne Newton, went on to better things, but for the most part lounge entertainers remained in their dark little corner of a casino.

Now, at some venues, the entertainment is being taken from the lounges to the casino floors, or to the airspace above the floors.

At the Tropicana there is "Air Play," a troupe of singers, dancers and acrobats who perform under the Tiffany glass ceiling on a stage set up above a bank of slot machines.

The Rio has its cast of "BevErtainers," cocktail servers who break into song (and dance) at the drop of a hat on small, strategically placed stages around the casino.

And the Imperial Palace has a roster of celebrity look-alike dealers.

Apparently the loungeless entertainment is working. All three venues are expanding their offerings.

In a couple of weeks "Air Play" will add two additional shows, bringing the total to six performances -- 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Lead male singer and director/producer of the show, Franco Deliz, introduces each show, which includes female lead singer Mary Jan Samoy, dancing showgirls, a balancing act and contortionists.

Deliz says the format of the show will change slightly when the additional shows are added. The "Air Play" dancers will only perform at the 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows. The other shows will include two variety acts and one featured act during each performance.

In June the Imperial Palace opens the Legends Pit, where gamblers (Thursdays through Sundays only) are dealt cards by such characters as Elvis, the Blues Brothers, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Patsy Cline, El Zorro, Ray Charles, Buddy Holly, Groucho Marx, Janet Jackson, Roy Orbison, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Liberace, May West, Ritchie Valens and Cher.

The "Dealertainers" are an extension of the casino's long-running tribute artist production, "Legends in Concert."

While the Palace has "Dealertainers," The Rio has "BevErtainers," glamorous cocktail servers who take drink orders and periodically pause to sing and/or dance for 90 seconds.

"BevErtainment" is an extension of Rio's sexy "Showgirls" production. Both were created and are produced by Greg Thompson.

If the trend of taking entertainment out of the lounges and putting it into the casino continues, are lounges doomed?

Nah. Vegas wouldn't be Vegas without the likes of Cook E. Jarr at Harrah's Carnaval Court or the Barbary Coast's Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee or the Plaza's Sun Spots. There is room for everyone.

Lounging around

Powerhouse blues guitarist/vocalist Michael Burks will celebrate the release of his new Alligator CD,"I Smell Smoke," with a performance Sept. 25 in Laughlin at the Colorado Belle's Blues & Brews. Check local music stores for the CD.

Pianist Tommy Deering, who has performed with almost every major entertainer in Las Vegas during a career that spans more than 40 years, has teamed up with a newcomer -- the single-named vocalist, Tyia.

Tommy & Tyia perform at 9 p.m. Sundays at Bootlegger Bistro.

Steven Lee Group with Rocco Barbato on sax perform at the Bellagio's Fontana Lounge 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The smooth jazz band, which mixes traditional and contemporary elements in their performances, recently released its latest CD, "From the Ground Up."

Murphy's Pub, at Sunset Road and Annie Oakley Avenue, has a full plate of entertainment every night of the week. Sundays is jazz night, featuring world-class jazz musicians, pianist Vince Valcone, guitarist Joe Lano & drummer Santo Savino, all former players with Frank Sinatra.

Mondays it's Big Band Night, with Mike Gurciullo & The Las Vegas Lab Band most evenings. The first Monday of each month the Jimmy Wilkins Big Band performs.

Tuesdays is Audition Night for aspiring performers. Wednesdays it's The Phil Shane Show, with vocalist Shane also playing keyboards. Thursdays is karaoke with Desert Party Society.

Fridays and Saturdays several bands rotate, including Nasid Candi, Heels Over Head, Spell Casters, Cherry Hill and Maroon Swoon.

Performers Tim Ballard (Mondays through Tuesdays) and Andrew James (Wednesdays through Sundays) rotate at Caesars Palace's Galleria Bar. Performances are from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Cleopatra's Barge nightclub at Caesars is open from 8:30 p.m. until 4 a.m. nightly. Dance bands begin at 10:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. A DJ provides the music Mondays and Tuesdays.

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