John Katsilometes

Story Archive

Frankie Moreno’s ‘Under the Influence’ headed for Planet Hollywood residency: Tuesday, March 1, 2016; Ages ago, at Golden Nugget’s rowdy Rush Lounge, the production effects in Frankie Moreno’s show were a smudged glass jar at the edge of the stage with a sign reading “tips” taped to ...
Prima long overdue for primo Vegas real estate: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016; It seems so simple to rename a street for a famous person. Unfortunately, it's not.
‘Baz’ is back as ‘Star Crossed Love’ in June at Palazzo Theater: Friday, Feb. 26, 2016; According to an online casting call, the show is to be titled “Star Crossed Love” and has a listed opening date of June 25 at Palazzo Theater. ...
Cirque’s beloved ‘The Beatles Love’ celebrates 10 years with a major makeover: Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016; After a decade of anchoring Cirque’s Strip dominion, Love is cranking up The Beatles even more.
Seats are optional for Britney Spears’ upgraded Planet Hollywood show: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016; Theater or nightclub? The pop star brings the party to Axis with her Piece of Me production.
Celine’s ‘most difficult show ever’ is a lesson in strength and support: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016; You could tell the moment the curtains opened at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace that this was not an ordinary performance. Celine Dion’s shoulders slightly slumped, and her gaze looked far ...
Steve Martin + Martin Short = March 6 at Caesars — then what?: Monday, Feb. 22, 2016; Steve Martin will be joined by Martin Short on March 6 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show is titled “An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life” and is to be an onstage back-and-forth ...
New Criss Angel show at Luxor? ‘Believe’ it: Monday, Feb. 22, 2016; Though not confirmed yet by the headliner or Cirque du Soleil officials, I’m hearing that the date for “Believe” to shut down is April 17, as the crew was notified over the weekend. This move is expected, as Criss Angel and Cirque have long planned to rename and ...
Monday By the Numbers: Ready for run-walk action with Cirque du Soleil: Monday, Feb. 22, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers focuses on the 15th annual “Run Away With Cirque du Soleil” 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk set for March 12 at Springs Preserve. ...
‘Puppet Up! Uncensored’ moves its Venetian opening to June: Monday, Feb. 22, 2016; The starting date for “Puppet Up! Uncensored” has become a little, um, fuzzy. The show was targeted for a spring opening at Sands Showroom at the Venetian but has been moved back to June as ...
Kats’ 50th birthday soiree Feb. 28 is fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation: Monday, Feb. 22, 2016; We’re using the event of my 50th birthday to have a bash worthy of that demarcation and also to raise money for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds childhood cancer treatment and research. ...
‘Twisted Vegas’ at Westgate needs serious untangling: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016; About the time the two remote-piloted airplanes buzzed over the audience at the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas on Thursday night, I thought of Elvis. This is the room in which Elvis once performed. And …
Britney Spears-Larry Rudolph relationship spins on its Axis: Friday, Feb. 19, 2016; Sometime between three and five years ago, Larry Rudolph was hit with an epiphany in Las Vegas — in the form of a mega-nightclub …
Chippendales hits new heights at Chateau with ‘53X’: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016; The first Chippendales offshoot in Las Vegas, “53X” opens March 11 at Chateau at Paris Las Vegas. Performances are 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets start at $29.95 for ...
Giles Martin is asked, ‘You know Paul McCartney?’; cupid’s arrow finds Brad Garrett: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016; If you are asking the musical question, “Where’s the 'Love' at Mirage?": The Cirque-Beatles production is dark for upgrades to the show, which eventually will coincide with its ...
Mr. Las Vegas grateful to serve those who serve: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016; John Katsilometes checks in with Wayne Newton, a longtime supporter of the USO who recently celebrated the organization’s 75th anniversary.
To the finale, ‘Jubilee’ was in a class by itself: Friday, Feb. 12, 2016; Showgirls have a way of crying. The tears fall and flow, but the smiles are ever-radiant. The look on the faces of those elegant women and, yes, the oft-overloooked showboys was one of …
Dr. Alex Schiller basks in her layover; Matt Goss dials up British Invasion: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016; The woman who portrays Dr. Alex Schiller says she spent her first night in Las Vegas hanging out at Tilted Kilt with a bunch of guys she found on Tinder. ...
The ‘Jubilee’ conundrum: The showgirl production was beautiful, but got trapped in time: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016; The curtain closes on the iconic show on February 11.
Forever a showgirl, Diane Palm bids adieu to ‘Jubilee’: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016; You feel this moment coming as Diane Palm talks of her days in “Jubilee.” This feeling hangs heavily over the conversation, that sense that stuff is about to get real. It happens when Palm is asked what advice she would give herself ...
Mike Tyson’s combination of ‘scripted freestyle’ is back for Round 2 at MGM Grand: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016; Mike Tyson’s introspection, talking of being a husband and parent, has always belied his glowering image as one of the storied heavyweights in boxing history. It is that quality that has made his autobiographical one-man show, “Undisputed Truth,” a hit ...
Hall & Oates: Great duo, great deal at MGM Grand: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016; Hall & Oates are rightfully billed as a multiplatinum rock duo, but you won’t have to dole out multiplatinum prices to see them play MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 23. ...
Monday By the Numbers: Sports books’ semi-Super profit, Chinese New Year and supercharged cars: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers takes a spin with Super Bowl 50, Chinese New Year and our friends at Dream Racing, the supercar attraction, which in January celebrated its fourth ...
An Oscar Goodman-Pete Rose gambling summit? Bet on it: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016; During the past two days, we’ve hit Brody Dolyniuk’s orchestral production at the Smith Center, visited Mr. Lucky’s 24/7 at Hard Rock Hotel, met up with the L.V. Phil, Storm Large and Pink Martini before that performance ...
What’s to come of the brightest stars of ‘Jubilee’?: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016; To the millions who have seen “Jubilee” over its 34-year history, the costumes have been as much a part of the show as the performers. They are stars unto themselves, these ...
Paul Johnson nails it down as the new Drew in ‘Rock of Ages’: Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016; Paul Johnson can at once rock, and build, the house. A man who hammers it down on and off the stage, Johnson has ascended the spiral staircase of “Rock of Ages” at ...
‘Twisted Vegas’ vs. ‘Spoofical’ is family fun vs. ‘Family Guy’: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016; If “Twisted Vegas” is beguiling, “Spoofical” is just brutal. That’s how that show feels even in rehearsals, and by David Saxe’s description. ...
‘Spoofical’ finds David Saxe shredding Strip icons: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016; No one is spared in Spoofical. Magicians. Dance troupes. Casino moguls. Superstar headliners. Smut-pamphlet passers on the Strip.
Rocking in Rio with ‘Ages’ changes; L.V. Phil takes on pink hue: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016; One performer who will not rock in Rio for long is Mark Shunock, the magnanimous actor who portrays Lonny who has announced on his Facebook page that he is leaving ...
Monday By the Numbers: A statistical summary of Super Bowl 50: Monday, Feb. 1, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers focuses on Super Bowl 50, where we finally drop the Roman numerals and ask the question, “In how many Super Bowls did Roman Gabriel of the Rams play?” ...
CEO says MGM Resorts’ Park will be a busker-free zone: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016; John Katsilometes relays a message from CEO Jim Murren about why SpongeBob SquarePants will not be welcome at the new entertainment …
The Amazing Johnathan, Psychic Tanya and ‘Mondays Dark’ prove Las Vegas charity knows no bounds: Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016; Sometimes you don’t see the busy weeks coming. The week just passed was one of those in VegasVille, a weeklong rollout of parties, performances and events that was almost impossible for even this scribe to …
With ‘Santana IV’ reunion and return to HOB, the man himself says, ‘Santana is life’: Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016; With Carlos Santana, “spirit” is always the operative term. He feels the spirit, he exudes spirituality, and his life is always swirling, wafting around like a spirit from a different dimension. His music, too, ...
Jerry Lewis returns — briefly — as MDA spokesman: Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016; Jerry Lewis is back as a spokesman on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, having recorded a video in support of the MDA’s new logo and tagline. The clip is to be used ...
The Kats Report: J.Lo’s ‘All I Have’ goes all-out all the time: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016; The production is generous, tireless and imaginative—all qualities shared by Lopez. There are no half-measures with this woman, and at the end you feel spent, which is the intended result.
Zowie Bowie leaves Station Casinos: ‘Nobody is more shocked that I’ve done this than me’: Monday, Jan. 25, 2016; Chris Phillips told me, “I am tired of doing the high-leg kicks and having a job that is all about making people dance and buy alcohol. I’m so over all of that, and I’m the kind of guy who needs to be hungry to make something happen.” ...
Monday By the Numbers: A standing ‘O’ for one of Cirque’s greatest shows: Monday, Jan. 25, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers delves (or, dives) into “O” at Bellagio. This show remains one of Cirque’s bestselling and most-appreciated productions, (water) logging more than 17 years on the Strip. I caught the show again ...
Santana sets release date for ‘Santana IV’; ONJ and Marie Osmond bond at NBT: Monday, Jan. 25, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Mizuya lounge at Mandalay Bay, where the band of the moment is The Limit, fronted by John Lombardo, an original singing gondolier at the Venetian and stellar rock vocalist. The tune is ...
Heard it through the grapevine, and it is fact: John Fogerty is back this fall: Monday, Jan. 25, 2016; It is not a surprise that rock legend John Fogerty has added more dates to the eight he banked in his first spree covering this month. The show was terrific, the biggest pure rock show in that venue and among the most electrifying of ...
Rick Harrison of ‘Pawn Stars’ plans sports memorabilia authentication event: Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016; Harrison recently campaigned for his buddy, Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio, at an event at the Intercontinental Miami hotel. In October, Rubio was on hand for the grand opening of Pawn Plaza, Harrison’s cluster of businesses on the same parcel as Gold …
It’s game(s) on at Encore Players Club; Adrian Zmed keeps score with ‘Grease 2’ revival: Friday, Jan. 22, 2016; Adrian Zmed has reportedly played the role of Danny Zuko onstage more than any other actor, dating to various Broadway and national tours of “Grease.” ...
Holly Madison, husband Pasquale Rotella expecting Baby No. 2 in August: Friday, Jan. 22, 2016; Holly Madison was at the premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s residency at Axis at Planet Hollywood on Wednesday night. Before the show, she hit the pre-party at ...
Powerhouse Route 91 Harvest plays pick-a-parcel in return to the Village: Friday, Jan. 22, 2016; Brian O’Connell remembers a night three years ago in Las Vegas when Chris Baldizan and he gazed down at the Strip from the deck of the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. Baldizan is the senior vice president of entertainment at MGM Resorts. O’Connell runs ...
J.Lo turns Axis theater into her own block party: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016; J.Lo, her nickname displayed in shapely form as the stage at the Axis at Planet Hollywood party pit, is nothing short of the new gold standard for star headliners in Las Vegas. ...
Hoda and Jenna of ‘Today’ hit Las Vegas: ‘Everybody’s a something’: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016; In our 24/7 town, there is always time for “Today,” and the NBC morning show hit the Strip for a live broadcast this morning and banked Friday’s show from Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace. ...
Human Nature to launch ‘Jukebox’ at Sands Showroom in March: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016; Sidestepping the Motown theme that has proven so successful at two Las Vegas hotels, Human Nature is launching “Jukebox,” set to open March 29 at their home theater, Sands Showroom ...
The Kats Report: Louie Anderson stars as Zach Galifianakis’ mom(?!) in a new FX series: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016; The Vegas headliner's voice landed him the role.
Olivia Newton-John remembers groovin’ in ‘Grease’ as she accepts NBT Woman of the Year honor: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016; Flamingo headliner Olivia Newton-John readily recalls the daily rehearsal time she put in for the dance scenes in “Grease,” principally the “You’re the One That I Want” number at the end of the film with co-star John Travolta and ...
SLS Las Vegas has a fighting chance with the Foundry: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016; The Foundry is the latest flurry offered by SLS Las Vegas and its parent company, Stockbridge Capital. The 1,800-capacity music hall was formally unveiled last Thursday with a set by multi-instrumentalists Daniel Park and Ben Carey of Lifehouse ...
Tyson revisits Lewis dustup in new podcast; Fator had a hand in ‘Puppet Up!’: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016; Always expanding his business horizons, Mike Tyson is about to launch a podcast with co-host Peter Rosenberg of the Hot 97 Morning Show in New York. One of the early guests, already recorded, is Lennox Lewis. ...