Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)

Shows close, but it’s not the end of the show in Vegas

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The most prevalent topic of conversati­on around VegasVille for the past several months is an easy call: The volume of shows that have closed this year. With the numbers mounting, including Thursday’s news that “Cherry Boom Boom” at Tropicana was shutting down after a six-week run, I’ve assembled a list of show openings and closings over the last 10 months.

First, a qualifier: This list is for ticketed, extended engagement acts, headliners or production­s.

Shows open last January that have closed: “Jubilee” at Bally’s; “Zarkana” at Aria; Matt Goss at Caesars Palace; “Raiding the Rock Vault” at Tropicana; “Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding” at Windows Showroom at Bally’s; “Jersey Boys” at Paris Las Vegas; Jan Rouven’s “Illusions” at Tropicana; Dirk Arthur’s “Wild Magic” at Westgate Las Vegas; Michael Monge at Encore Las Vegas; Gordie Brown at Golden Nugget (closes Nov. 27); “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppe­rs” at Wynn Las Vegas (closes Dec. 31); “Million Dollar Quartet” at Harrah’s (closes Dec. 4); “Rock of Ages” at Rio (closes Jan. 1).

Shows that opened, then closed, this year: “One Epic Night” at the Plaza; “Yes, You Can’t” at El Cortez;

Shows that closed, then reopened, this year:

closed at Tommy Wind Theater, then opened and closed at Hooters, re-opened at Westgate Las Vegas; Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns, closed at South Point Showroom, reopening at the Lounge at the Palms on Nov. 14; and “Country Superstars,” closed at Windows Showroom at Bally’s, reopened at Hooters.

Shows that have opened this year: “Baz — Star Crossed Love” and Clint Holmes’ “Between The Lines” at Palazzo Theater;

“Mindfreak Live” (supplantin­g “Believe”) at Luxor; Bronx Wanderers, Windows Showroom; Xavier Mortimer at Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood; “Shotspeare” at The Cabaret at Planet Hollywood; Trent Carlini’s “The King” at Hooters; “Solid Gold Soul,” Windows Showroom; “Daredevils of Comedy,” Hooters; “We Got Jokes” comedy show and “at the Cabaret at Planet Hollywood; “The Stool” comedy show, Stratosphe­re; and “Vegas The Story” at Windows Showroom.

Shows set to arrive before the end of the year: “Revive,” a circus-styled production from Base Entertainm­ent called “Revive” at the Palazzo and “Beautiful,” the Carole King musical at the Venetian Theater.

There’s also a new JonLovitz/Dana Carvey comedy production set for 20 dates at the Foundry at SLS Las Vegas beginning in January. And Jeff Timmons’ “Men of the Strip” is reportedly headed for the Stratosphe­re sometime this spring (to be followed by a98 Degrees residency, likely at Flamingo), and Channing Tatum’s “Magic Mike Live” is being prepped for Hard Rock Hotel by the end of March. Just last week I toured the Park Theater, where Stevie Nicks and the Pretenders (Dec. 17) and Bruno Mars (Dec. 30-31) are scheduled to perform by the end of December. Cher opens there in February. That adds superstar acts to an already brimming lineup at Axis theater (Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Richie and, next spring, Backstreet Boys) and, as always, the Colosseum (Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Reba and Brooks & Dunn).

And this is not even mentioning the opening of T-Mobile Arena last April, further adding to our heavy complement of touring superstars — last weekend the Rolling Stones; Saturday a sold-out show by Kanye West.

But a look at the full complement of what is offered here shows more ticketed performanc­es than ever in Las Vegas, with many more in developmen­t. In fact, a couple of days ago I heard about a “Sharknado” musical planned for a Caesars Entertainm­ent venue. Fantastic. All I can say is, I hope it works.

 ?? COURTESY OF DENISE TRUSCELLO ?? The ensemble cast performs in “Puppet Up! — Uncensored” at Sands Showroom at The Venetian. The show was one of many moving parts in VegasVille this past year, opening and then closing in 2016.
COURTESY OF DENISE TRUSCELLO The ensemble cast performs in “Puppet Up! — Uncensored” at Sands Showroom at The Venetian. The show was one of many moving parts in VegasVille this past year, opening and then closing in 2016.

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