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“Fantasy” is back onstage at Luxor tonight.
Friday, Feb. 19, 2021 | 2 a.m.
The latest wave of Vegas show comebacks begins tonight. “Fantasy” returns to the Luxor Theater with its sizzling cast of dancers, singer Lorena Peril, comedian/magician Murray Sawchuck and his showgirl assist Dani Elizabeth, all performing nightly at 10:30 p.m. An additional 8 p.m. Sunday show will be added next week. And comic headliner Carrot Top starts the night off in that venue, taking the 8 p.m. slot nightly except Sundays. Both Luxor shows reopened on November 6 but were forced to close when state mandates cut audience maximums to just 50 people later that month.
As reported earlier this week, David Copperfield is set to return to MGM Grand on March 21, “The Australian Bee Gees Show” will be back in the Thunderland Showroom at Excalibur on March 15 and Terry Fator will finally debut his new show “Who’s the Dummy Now?” on March 18 at New York-New York.
Another show comeback, announced Thursday: “MJ Live” will resume performances at the Strat on March 18. The musical tribute show, which includes dancers and a live band, is scheduled to hit the stage at the Strat Theater at 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Expect to see the V Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood come back to life in a few weeks as well. Show producer and venue operator David Saxe recently confirmed he’s planning to reopen several productions on March 6 in the main showroom and the V3 showroom, including “V – The Ultimate Variety Show,” Nathan Burton’s comedy and magic show, the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, Elvis tribute “All Shook Up” and more. Stay tuned to Curtain Up for more details soon.
Elsewhere on the Strip, several ongoing productions have increased seats this week as allowed by the 35% capacity or 100 people adjustment that went into effect on February 15. Piff the Magic Dragon at Flamingo and Tape Face at Harrah’s have gone up to 100 people per show. “X Country” at Harrah’s Cabaret was able to add 20 more seats, totaling at 70 people per show, but “X Burlesque” at Flamingo’s cabaret space cannot sell more tickets yet because of the size of the room and the required 25-foot distance between stage and audience. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club has moved back out of the actual club and back into the Studio A & B Ballrooms at MGM Grand in order to accommodate larger audiences.
Notoriety at downtown’s Neonopolis complex on Fremont Street has added a plethora of events to its upcoming calendar, perhaps most notably the Composers Showcase “Life Up Your Voice!” concert on Monday, February 22. Co-hosts Clint Holmes and Keith Thompson will guide the way through a performance celebrating Black History Month featuring original music by Kiara Brown, Kaylie Foster, Serena Henry, Michelle Johnson, Richard Oberacker, Jolana Sampson, Rasar and the Lique Band plus Holmes and Thompson and special performances by Toscha Comeaux, Jaclyn McSpadden, Tymara Walker and Eric Jordan Young. Limited live audience tickets are $25 and virtual livestream tickets are $20 with proceeds going to the TCS Entertainment Community Relief Fund. More info can be found at thecomposersshowcase.com.
Also coming up at Notoriety: Ruby Lewis from “Baz” and “Marilyn the Musical” sings for her birthday at 8 p.m. February 25 and is expecting some special guest stars to help celebrate. For ticket info, visit notorietylive.com.
The Space also has a killer slate of recently announced upcoming shows, including David Perrico’s Pop Strings Orchestra on February 26, Grateful Dead tribute artists Catfish John on February 27, comedian John Caparulo on March 9, that same great Eric Jordan Young on March 13, and Vegas rock supergroup Original Chaos on March 20. All your ticket and livestream info can be had at thespacelv.com.
Jazz-pop trio Red Penny Arcade — singer Anne Martinez, bassist Peter Fand and guitarist John Wedemeyer — will perform throughout the day on February 23 at Monzú Italian Oven & Bar on West Flamingo Road as part of the restaurant’s “Dining Out for Life” fundraising event for Golden Rainbow. For more info, visit goldenrainbow.org.
In case you missed it, your every-year Vegas valentine Melody Sweets unleashed a surprise track on Valentine’s Day, a cover of the Beatles’ “All My Loving” produced by Mike “Beans” Benigno. Check it out on YouTube or on her website, melodysweets.com.
