Pierre Manning
Edie from “Zumanity” returns to the stage at Notoriety for a new holiday drag show December 17-20.
Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 | 2 a.m.
We’re approaching the end of the third week of the statewide three-week pause initiated on November 22, an update to COVID restrictions that limited Las Vegas Strip shows and other entertainment events and gatherings to audiences of just 50 people. Several productions that had previously planned to reopen this month for the first time since March have pushed back their scheduled live performances, an indicator that the showbiz community is not expecting the governor to loosen restrictions and raise capacities anytime soon. The Linq’s headlining magician Mat Franco was set to resume shows on December 17 but the Caesars Entertainment online show schedule showed his dates as canceled into early January this week. And the six shows tentatively scheduled to return this month at producer and operator David Saxe’s V Theater and Saxe Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood have been kicked back to February. As of Thursday, tickets were still on sale for Terry Fator’s limited engagement at New York-New York starting on the 17th.
Opera Las Vegas will premiere “Holidays at Home” today at 6 p.m. with pay-per-view On Demand tickets priced at $25 available at operalasvegas.com. Tenor John Riese and his wife, mezzo-soprano Gillian Lynn Cotter, will be performing holiday favorites with pianist and arranger Neill Campbell.
Piff the Magic Dragon’s show at the Flamingo is on hold for now but he’s bringing laughs and magic direct to you on Sunday at 6 p.m. with an interactive Zoom livestream show “Piff the Magic Dragon’s Hanukkah Spectakulah.” Tickets are $25 and you can find more info at eventbrite.com.
Mondays Dark closed out the year with a positive-vibes-only, powerhouse seventh anniversary livestream show Monday night at the Space. Host and creator Mark Shunock announced the 21 local charities that will benefit from the twice-monthly fundraising parties in 2021 and ushered in memorable performances from Jassen Allen, Michelle Johnson, the Tenors of Rock, Tianna Tuamoheloa, Jordan Kai Burnett, Travis Cloer, Skye Dee Miles and the duo of Frankie Sidoris and Franky Perez before wrapping things up with his own rendition of Phillip Phillips’ “Home.”
Days later, Shunock’s longtime Mondays Dark right-hand man Allen announced his new gig as entertainment director at the Vegas Room. It’s a natural fit as the Space and the Vegas Room have been two of the most prominent local venues to keep live entertainment alive during the pandemic. Allen will continue his work with MD and as a performer at Bellagio’s Mayfair Supper Club.
Another one at the Space: “A Very Happy Merry Holiday with Amanda King and Friends” will be streaming live on December 18 at 6 p.m. with the talented local jazz singer performing with an impressive roster of special guests including the Righteous Brothers’ Bucky Heard, the Manhattan Transfer’s Janis Siegel, comedian Dennis Blair, comedian and Trump impersonator John Di Domenico, Mayfair's Patrick Hogan and more. Pay-per-view tickets are $20 available at broadwayworld.com and the show is supporting and raising awareness for Family Promise of Las Vegas’ Heart of Home program to assist families experiencing homelessness. For more info, visit amandaking.com.
Hosted by Edie from “Zumanity,” “A Very Faaabulous Christmas!” is another new holiday show featuring all live-singing drag performers at Notoriety at downtown’s Neonopolis December 17-20. Edie (aka Christopher Kenney) returns to the stage with Vita Summers, Dusty Muffin and Sandra “San San” Santigold, plus dancers Taylor Bradley and Curtis Goodman, after successful performances of the “Drive-In Drag Show” in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Shows are set for 7 p.m. all four nights, tickets start at $25 and more info can be found at notorietylive.com.
Pauly Shore is set to take over the Delirious Comedy Club at Downtown Grand for a weekend of performances December 18-19. The star of “Encino Man,” “Bio-Dome,” and this year’s “Guest House” will headline the 10 p.m. show inside the Fremont Room joined by Kathleen Dunbar and Guy Fessenden and tickets starting at $65 are available at deliriouscomedyclub.com.
