Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Curtain Up: Bill Medley at Mondays Dark, a petition for shows and more Vegas entertainment news

Mondays Dark

Alicia Lee for Mondays Dark

Bill Medley, left, with Mark Shunock during Mondays Dark at the Space on August 10.

Welcome to the return of my weekly showbiz column Curtain Up, which hasn’t appeared on the Las Vegas Sun site since March 5. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to bring it back, when there’s enough happening across the slowly reopening Vegas live entertainment scene, and that time has come. It should once again appear every Thursday right here so stay tuned.

No one wants shows to return more than the creative individuals who produce them, and last week one group took action to encourage Gov. Steve Sisolak to take a closer look at what can be done. Stabile Productions, the company behind the “X Burlesque” empire of female revues as well as co-producers of Piff the Magic Dragon’s show at the Flamingo and John Caparulo’s “Mad Cap Comedy” at Harrah’s, posted a petition on change.org titled “The Show Must Go On.” With approximately 2,800 signatures as of Wednesday, the petition respectfully demands that shows be given “the same consideration that has been given to casinos, restaurants, malls, churches, airlines, etc.” in the form of guidelines to reopen for business. All ticketed live entertainment with an audience remains shuttered by state mandates, with some live music and other performances allowed in bars, restaurants and lounges. Neither the governor nor the Nevada Gaming Control Board has released official information regarding the reopening of casino showrooms and theaters, though the governor’s recently adjusted, phase-free approach to reopening and regulating different industries appears to be a step in the right direction.

One regularly occurring entertainment event that has shifted gears to a livestream model had a very special guest for this week’s show. Mondays Dark returned to action at the Space on Monday, broadcasting for free at mondaysdark.com while raising money for local animal charity Michael’s Angel Paws with a talented lineup of local artists performing the music of Strip headliner Lionel Richie. Host Mark Shunock was joined at his late-night talk show-style desk by none other than Bill Medley for much of the broadcast, and the legendary singer raved about the talent taking the stage at the Space all night long. Medley’s partner in the current Righteous Brothers, Bucky Heard, branched out by singing “Unchained Melody,” a hit for the act in 1965 when it was sung by Bobby Hatfield, who died in 2003. Heard joined with Medley in 2016 and the new duo has been performing for years at Harrah’s Las Vegas. The next Mondays Dark livestream is set for August 24 at 8 p.m. benefitting local sports and autism nonprofit Spectrum on Ice featuring the music of the Eagles.

Different takes on the supper club continue to pop up during the pandemic and the latest comes from the Tao Group. Dolce is set to debut at the nightlife and hospitality company’s Lavo restaurant and lounge at Palazzo on August 16 at 9:30 p.m., featuring live entertainment and a DJ supplementing signature Italian cuisine on Sunday nights. “As the night progresses, interactive desserts along with decanter and bottle service emerge to extend the evening,” reads Dolce’s opening announcement. Combine these new offerings with Lavo’s expansive Strip-side patio space and it sounds like a recipe for success.

Off the Strip, the Vegas Room has emerged as another supper club-style experience, combining cuisine by chef David James Robinson with different musical artists every weekend. Coming up, the great Janien Valentine, singing with Dan Ellis at the piano, on August 14 and 15, followed by a Sunday brunch show from Skye Dee Miles. Coming soon, lounge legend Jimmy Hopper hits the Vegas Room on August 21 and 22. For more information and reservations, visit thevegasroom.com.

Even the iconic Sand Dollar Lounge on Spring Mountain Road is getting in on the act. The blues bar has evolved temporarily into Revelré, a table-service concept with an expanded menu, signature cocktails and entertainment from the likes of Gold Top Bob on August 13, Jonny Hazard on the 14th, Thee Mess Arounds on the 15th and Jimmy Powers V on the 16th. The shows are free but reservations are required at thesanddollarlv.com.

The latest lounge-style live entertainment to return to the Strip can be found at piano bar Napoleon’s at Paris Las Vegas and the renovated Indigo Lounge at neighboring Bally’s Las Vegas. Neither of these venues were bringing the music back when their respective resorts originally reopened but now you can catch some tunes with your cocktail and even stroll back and forth between them via the enclosed walkway between the two Caesars Entertainment properties.