Labelle to stir it up at Seneca casino
Soul icon Patti Labelle will bring her five decades of hits to Seneca Niagara Casino in October.
Labelle, a member of the Grammy and Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, plays the casino’s Events Center Oct. 20. Her numerous R&B and disco-era hits include the No. 1 classic Lady Marmalade in 1974, New Attitude Stir It Up from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, and her No. 1 duet with Michael McDonald in 1986, On My Own.
In 2010, she was ranked No. 95 in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest singers. “Her love of the spotlight is legendary, but she earns it with her astonishing force and control,” the magazine wrote.
Tickets start at US$45 and are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Coming to the smaller Bear’s Den Showroom at Seneca in October will be comedy duo Jon Rudnitsky and Dino Archie Oct. 5 ($20), Jay White as Neil Diamond Oct. 13 ($45), magician The Amazing Jonathan Oct. 14 ($45) and Scareb: The Journey Experience Oct. 27 ($25).
Live comedy is heading to downtown Niagara Falls.
The new Laugh Out Loud Comedy Series, from the people behind the annual Komedy for Kidneys Rodney Pentland Memorial Show, will offer three nights of stand-up at the Seneca Queen Theatre starting Sept. 8.
“We’ve heard from more than a few Komedy for Kidneys attendees that a show once a year just isn’t enough,” says organizer Dino Fazio. “And with the recent closure of Yuk Yuks (inside Casino Niagara), there’s an opportunity — some would say a need — for stand-up comedy in Niagara Falls.”
Veteran Canadian comic Shannon Laverty headlines the Sept. 8 show. A four-time nominee at the Canadian Comedy Awards, she’s known for her Mae West-like flirtiness on stage, followed by her ‘inyour-face reality.’
“She appears so innocent and walks you down a comfortable path with her delivery, and then, wham, slaps you back to reality with her female perspectives,” says Fazio. “Both sexes will love her, but the ladies will really connect.”
Komedy for Kidneys regular Johnny Gardhouse follows on Oct. 6. A familiar face from countless TV commercials, Fazio describes him as a “warrior of stand-up comedy” who has performed for Canadian forces overseas.
“He is quick on his feet and never at a loss for words,” he says. “His razor-sharp comebacks and blend of current events and storytelling comedy make this ‘Canadian Gordie’ accepted by all.”
The series wraps up Oct. 20 with a headliner yet to be announced.
Partial proceeds from the series will go to Komedy for Kidneys, a charity event started in 2009 following the death of Niagara Falls comedian Rodney Pentland from complications of kidney disease. The show has raised nearly $61,000 in support of Dialysis Care in Niagara.
Tickets for the comedy series are $20 per show, available at www. SenecaQueen.ca, at the Seneca box office (at Druxy’s, 4434 Queen St.) or by phone at 905-353-9461. All shows begin at 8:30 p.m.