“Michael Jackson ONE” at Mandalay Bay
Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 | 2 a.m.
All the congratulations in the world go out to brilliantly talented Las Vegas musicians Isaac Tubb and Lisa Marie Smith, who tied the knot this week in La Jolla, California. She’s a singer, he’s a trumpet player, they both play in all sorts of shows at different venues around town, and they’re both beloved humans in the local entertainment industry.
Cirque du Soleil brings its third Las Vegas Strip residency production back to life tonight. “Michael Jackson ONE” reopens at Mandalay Bay at 7 p.m. and is set for seven shows every week, at 7 p.m. Thursday through Monday plus 9:30 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday. Cirque officials confirmed this week that ticket sales continue to boom for its Vegas shows, including the previously reopened “Mystère” at Treasure Island and “O” at Bellagio and the next reopening, “The Beatles LOVE” at the Mirage on August 26.
The Righteous Brothers also returned to the stage this week for a new residency-style run at the South Point Showroom, performing Tuesday through Thursday. If you can’t catch Bill Medley and Bucky Heard doing their thing tonight, they’ll be back September 28-30 and October 26-28.
Spiegelworld, producers of “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace and “Atomic Saloon Show” at the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian, has finally announced plans for the restaurant concept that will make its debut alongside the reopening of its other Strip production, “Opium” at the Cosmopolitan, on September 24. Superfrico is the company’s first-ever fully integrated dining and cocktail concept, with cuisine described as “Italian American Psychedelic” and an environment built around several interconnected, themed bars, lounges and dining rooms with varied live performance scattered throughout the venue. This is the space formerly known as Rose. Rabbit. Lie., so expect Spiegelworld to completely reinvent the idea of the Vegas supper club with his new endeavor.
The Space is partnering with Foley Family Wines to launch a new event series called Wine Wednesdays on September 1, an experience that will start at 7:30 p.m. most Wednesdays with a sommelier-led tasting and continue with a live performance from a local or visiting entertainer, artist or speaker. Kelly Vohnn and Keith Thompson start things off, followed by David Perrico’s Pop Retro on September 8, Rachel and Doug Carpenter on September 15 and Rockie Brown on October 6. Stay on top of this one at thespacelv.com.
The fantastic singer, pianist and comedian Sarah Hester Ross, who can be seen most nights at the Bar at Times Square at New York-New York on the Strip, will kick off a monthlong engagement at Notoriety at downtown’s Neonopolis complex on September 2. She’ll play Thursdays at 9 p.m. all September long and is expected to feature original songs and content from recent comedy album “It’s All a Joke” as well as plenty of the stuff that earned her nearly 2 million followers on TikTok. Tickets start at $35 and are available at sarahhesterross.com.
Speaking of Notoriety, local DJ and entertainer Liz Clark’s “Elvis & Friends” show back in April was so successful, she’s doing it all over again on August 25 at 8 p.m. The acoustic presentation based on the legendary rehearsal sessions for Elvis’ 1968 comeback special features standout musicians Justin Shandor, Elvis Lederer, Martin Zimmerman and Pepe Jimenez and tickets are just $40.
Vanessa “Vanjie” Mateo of the recently reopened “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live” at the Flamingo will take the trip downtown for a special guest performance at The Garden on September 4 as part of the gay bar’s Labor Day weekend festivities. An over-the-top version of the Garden’s Bottomless Drag Brunch will feature Vanjie and DJ Sam Gee while guests will be dressed in all white. For reservations and info, visit thegardenlasvegas.com.
“Legends in Concert” at the Tropicana is shifting gears soon. The longest-running show on the Las Vegas Strip will premiere “Direct from London,” paying tribute to some of the biggest music icons in British history, on September 9. Fernando Castro will perform as Freddie Mercury, Even Stephen will do Elton John, and Michael Knight will personify George Michael while Frank Marino will continue to host as Joan Rivers. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
International pin-up model Sabina Kelley will once again guest star in “X Country” at Harrah’s Las Vegas, this time for four nights only on September 9-12. A former “Jubilee!” showgirl, Kelley took the stage with this talented cast of dancers for two nights in December and also took a turn in “X Burlesque” at Flamingo in February of last year.
The Life is Beautiful festival is definitely taking over Las Vegas next month, and not just within its downtown footprint. Brooklyn Bowl at the Linq Promenade will host a curated lineup of musical performances in collaboration with LIB, including Jacob Collier on September 15, Brittany Howard with Ant Clemons on September 16, San Holo on September 17 and Ludacris with Childish Major on September 18. For more info and tickets, visit brooklynbowl.com.
During his first concerts back at T-Mobile Arena in more than a year last weekend, “King of Country” George Strait happily announced his “Strait to Vegas” residency will continue into 2022. Tickets for his new dates on December 3-4 and February 11-12 will go on sale August 27.
Adam Lambert has added a sixth show to his upcoming limited engagement at the Venetian Theatre, tacking an earlier concert on October 20. Tickets for this one go on sale August 21, and limited tickets are still available for some of his shows running through October 30.
Here’s an interesting new show announcement at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas: Ben Platt, the Grammy, Tony and Emmy winning singer and entertainer who will reprise his Broadway role in the upcoming film version of “Dear Evan Hansen,” is embarking on his biggest tour yet in February behind his new album “Reverie” and he’ll be making a stop at the Theater at Virgin on April 2. Tickets go on sale August 27.
