Denise Truscello / Courtesy
The cast of Freestyle Love Supreme
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Another promising new Las Vegas Strip show from 2022 will be closing before its planned finale. “Freestyle Love Supreme” at the Summit Showroom at Venetian will perform for the last time on Jan. 29 after opening in November with a deal carrying the improv comedy hip-hop mashup into the spring. No official reason for the early closure was given but it appears as if the production — just like the recent, sudden exit of “Bat Out of Hell: The Musical” from the Paris Theater — simply hasn’t found the audience support. One of its creators and producers, Broadway and film sensation Lin-Manuel Miranda, is still scheduled to perform along with the cast of “Freestyle” for this weekend’s shows, Jan. 12-14. Successful in New York City and on tour, this innovative endeavor was something very different for the Strip, and ambitious moves don’t always yield sustainable results.
The Chicks will be taking over Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood for a six-show run May 3-13. The country-pop trio of Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer have sold more than 30 million albums and are the only female group to achieve multiple diamond-selling releases; that means 10 million copies. They are expanding their successful 2022 tour with many more dates this year, launching from Las Vegas. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 13 via Ticketmaster.
In other entertainment announcement news this week: Bryan Adams has extended his upcoming run at Wynn’s Encore Theater with an additional Feb. 5 concert date; Kevin Hart will return to his Vegas home, Resorts World Theatre, for two more shows March 17-18; Jay Leno will make his long-awaited return to the Vegas stage when he performs at Encore Theater on March 31; Gabriel Iglesias moves from the Mirage to the Cosmopolitan with his new comedy concert dates at the Chelsea on April 7-8; Brian McKnight will return to Encore Theater on June 17; jazz master Euge Groove plays the Chrome Showroom at Santa Fe Station on June 25; funnyman and podcaster Theo Von makes his debut at Encore Theater with shows on June 30 and July 2; and Sebastian Maniscalco can’t stay away from the Strip for too long so he’s back at Encore Theater Aug. 4-5 and Oct. 6-7.
When “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live” returns to the stage at the Flamingo Showroom on Jan. 19, two new queens from the TV show will be ready to slay. Aquaria, winner of season 10, and Jorgeous, fresh from season 14, are joining the cast, and Jaida Essence Hall makes her anticipated return to the show as well. Tickets for performances throughout 2023 are available now.
You don’t have to go the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana to catch comedian and magician Murray SawChuck in action, but you should. Until you do, head to TubiTV.com to catch his special, “Itz Gone, Live From Las Vegas,” which debuted on the streamer on Dec. 1 and will be there for the next 17 months. Is it an hour-long special? Yes, with a bonus 13 minutes. Does it feature his longtime co-stars Lefty and Dani the Showgirl? It does. Check it out.
