‘Baz’ music lineup set; Kelly Clinton Holmes moves to Tuscany (Suites)

By John Katsilometes

Thursday, June 2, 2016 | 2 a.m.

The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is a favorite outpost, Forum Food Court at Caesars Palace. Later, a good friend and I will be attending the Celine Dion show across the way at the Colosseum.

A hint as to my running mate tonight: He’s nutty. And he is an expert at the pratfall.

Let’s check the tote board elsewhere, eh?

• The musicians for “Baz — Star Crossed Love” have been set, and they are all Las Vegas players of high aptitude. The music director is keyboard virtuoso Chris Lash, a gentleman I first encountered nearly a decade ago performing at the Composers Showcase of Las Vegas in the days it was staged at Liberace Museum.

The rest of the lineup: On guitar is Jake Langley; among his projects is the Ronnie Foster Trio. The drummer is Pepe Jimenez, late of the Carlos Santana band and for many years the beat of Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns (Jimenez also is an alum of the “Storm” band from Mandalay Bay, rich in talent, and many of those players are still in town — including Santa Fe founder Jerry Lopez).

Robbie Wingfield of Empire Records on synthesizer and woodwinds; violin great Sami Ciarlo (a member of the original “Baz” band at Light at Mandalay Bay; and bassist Abo Gumroyan, who frequently sits in with Clint Holmes’ band at Cabaret Jazz.

“Baz” is set to open June 25 at Palazzo Theater. The showroom is being renovated to the show’s specifications, with the balcony closed off and the stage being reshaped with three runways protruding into the audience. The script of this “Baz” follows the original at Light: The performances are drawn from the Baz Luhrmann films “Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge,” “The Great Gatsby” and “Strictly Ballroom.”

The songs are to include “Back to Black, “Lady Marmalade,” “Your Song” and “When Doves Cry.” The other notable Las Vegas connection in the cast is Lisa Marie Smith, who is moving over from “Pin Up” at the Stratosphere to take the single female swing role.

• On the topic of top talent that exudes classic versatility (how’s that for an intro?), Kelly Clinton Holmes is beginning a weekly residency at Piazza Lounge at Tuscany Suites. The shows run Wednesdays from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. The show is dubbed “Kelly Clinton & Friends,” so expect hyper-talented guest stars, including … well, I’m not going to commit Clinton’s husband here, but I think there will be some spousal support.

Clinton’s music director is Mike Clark, familiar from her long-running, open-mic showcase at Bootlegger Bistro and the MD of shows at Ron DeCar’s Event Center, among many other Las Vegas gigs.

• On the topic of famous redheads, the great Tempest Storm is set to appear Friday night during the “Titans of Tease” showcase as part of the Burlesque Hall of Fame weekend at the Orleans. Storm, whose documentary, aptly titled “Tempest Storm: A Documentary” just screened at the Toronto Film Festival, will be at the entrance of Orleans Showroom signing memorabilia during the early stages of the 7 p.m. show.

The event is highlighted by the annual “Tournament of Tease” completion to crown this year’s Miss Exotic World, with Melody Sweets performing as a featured guest star. Past Miss Exotic World champs include LasVegas performers Kalani Kokonuts and LouLou D’Vil. All money from the event is delivered to the Burlesque Hall of Fame, which is based in Las Vegas.

• In a hardly shocking but nonetheless noteworthy turn of events: Michelle Johnson’s “Forever Purple” tribute to Prince at Cabaret Jazz is totally sold out. The show is set for 9 p.m. Tuesday, and the lineup is loaded with Las Vegas standouts.

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