Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Stars leaving, but ‘Sex’ to go on at Paris
THE check-out time for the stars of “Sex Tips For Straight Women From a Gay Man” has been established.
Jai Rodriguez and Kendra Wilkinson’s last performance will be Jan. 2. Wilkinson, who portrays the sexually naive Robyn in the production at Paris Las Vegas, announced her plans via Twitter.
Rodriguez, the aggressively tutorial Dan Anderson in the show, earlier had said Jan. 3 was his final date, though the last performance date for both would be Jan. 2 because the show is dark Jan. 3.
Producer Adam Steck of SPI Entertainment says the show at Anthony Cools Theater will continue with new actors in the lead roles. “We’ve almost signed someone from the reality TV world to be the female lead, and someone with stage experience to play the male lead,” Steck said Friday.
Based on Anderson’s own self-help book, the show opened in June and has been woven into the plot of Wilkinson’s WE tv reality show, “Kendra on Top.”
Imaginative collab
Fans of contemporary music take note: Las Vegas rockers Imagine Dragons are performing with hip-hop and rap star Khalid during tonight’s American Music Awards show. The broadcast is set to air 8 p.m. on ABC. The two acts, which often occupy different music charts, have never performed together.
Walsh’s passion
Joe Walsh has given to veterans’ charities for much of his career, a highly personal cause.
“My father was an Army Air Corps fighter who was killed in 1949. I was not even 2 years old, and I’m a Gold Star kid,” said Walsh, whose latest headlining run at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay concludes tonight. “I feel that I am with the Gold Star families.”
Walsh started his own foundation, VetsAid, with a concert Sept. 20 at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, joined by Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band and Gary Clark Jr. That show alone raised more than $1 million for Walsh’s new foundation.
“The transition from being in combat to a civilian is too much for a lot of our veterans,” Walsh says. “I’m here to let them know that we’re here, and I feel like we’re all in the same family.”
Vinnie’s out
Unfiltered insult artist Vinnie Favorito’s time at Westgate Cabaret ends Dec. 5. His contract is about to expire, and the hunt is on for someone — or something — to take his 8 p.m. time slot.
Elsewhere, Barry Manilow has not yet signed with Westgate to perform at International Theater next year — which is my way of saying keep your eye out for a Manilow residency next year.
And remember “Monster Circus”? The rock production that played the then-Las Vegas Hilton Theater? Dee Snider headed up the “Monster Circus” show in 2009 and has long wanted to return a version of that show to the stage. Westgate might be there, looking for a counter-balance to a legendary pop star.
Take the family
Jarrett & Raja are back onstage at Stratosphere Showroom, celebrating their “Music vs. Magic” show Wednesday through Sunday at 4 p.m.
The new production is very similar to the one the duo performed at Hooters, but many of the acts are more effective with the expanded space. For example, the moment where Raja, a Juilliard-trained pianist, hovers above the piano as he plays “Blue Danube.” He finishes the piece by touching the keys with his feet. This works beyond the level of staged illusion.
The music credibility is further reinforced by music director Jeff Neiman, a highly regarded Vegas arranger and musician. The magic acts are expertly performed — card tricks and “mind reading” never go out of style — and the shtick is dependably corny. I’ve long felt that J&R’s act borrows from the vibe of a different era, back when we were all kids. If you have any of your own, hit the Strat, stat.
Yuletide action for Terry
Terry Fator’s “A Very Terry Christmas” returns to his eponymous theater at The Mirage Nov. 27-Dec. 25. Fator’s wife, Angie, even will make an appearance during the show. The set is again a cozy living room scene, a fire (not a real one, mind you) on one side and a door on the other, where Fator’s assorted guests pop in. He plans to resurrect his “Little Drummer Boy” duet with his David Bowie and Bing Crosby puppets. And, in a rare piece of scheduling, Fator is actually performing on Christmas Day. So, too, is Walter T. Airdale …
Who Was Where
Washington Nationals (and former College of Southern Nevada and Las Vegas High School) slugger Bryce Harper and his wife, Kayla Harper, painting Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Sunday at Pinot’s Palette at The District at Green Valley Ranch … Hip-hop icon and legendary timepiece model
Flavor Flav at former Mayor
Oscar Goodman’s Dinner Series talk Thursday at Oscar’s Beef, Booze and Broads … Ex-NBA star Metta World Peace, Saturday with friends at Chateau Nightclub …
Anthony Rapp, who played Mark Cohen in “Rent” on Broadway, Wednesday at Blue Man Group at Luxor …