Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Musical about Estefans finds way to Tropicana
BERNIE Yuman knows how to hang with the greatest. He managed Muhammad Ali and also Siegfried & Roy during the peak of their fame on the Strip.
Yuman is now backing an underdog musical dropping into The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. “On Your Feet” is the soaring story of
Gloria and Emilio Estefan, running from Tuesday through Sept. 9 at Reynolds Hall.
But before the production was a hit on Broadway and on tour, it nearly set up for an open-ended run at the Tropicana. In 2009, Yuman was in talks with then-Tropicana owner and good friend Alex
Yeminidjian to bring the project to Tropicana as an original Las Vegas musical, replacing “Folies Bergere.” The show fit neatly to the hotel’s then-South Beach theme.
“Then, to our misfortune, the recession hit Vegas,” Yuman said during a recent chat at The Palm restaurant at Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. “The next thing I knew, Gloria, Emilio and I were talking about ‘The Great White Way.’” After a seven-year development effort, the musical opened at Marquis Theater on Nov. 5, 2015.
Forever inspirational, Yuman says, “This is the story about a family from Cuba that lived in a little apartment in Miami, next to the Orange Bowl, and overcame every obstacle to realize the American dream. You learn what that dream means when you see this show.”
The Royal Wedding
Kelley Fertitta woke up to a gigantic balloon message spelling out BRIDE on Saturday morning. Her sister,
Victoria, was behind that surprise display. A photo of that moving moment, and another of the two smiling sisters, is on their shared lifestyle/fashion/travel Instagram page @ wilsongabrielle, an offshoot of their Wilson Gabrielle blog.
The inspiration for that gesture: Kelley Fertitta and Shopify Plus exec Tyler Nemiro were to be married Saturday night in a lavish ceremony at Red Rock Resort, owned by Station Casinos owners Frank
Fertitta III (Kelley and Victoria’s father) and Lorenzo Fertitta.
Information about this spectacle has been percolating from the hotel for several days (and the first reference I saw to this wedding being planned at Red Rock was from the Vital Vegas blog). Unconfirmed reports abound, as it seems everyone involved in the event has signed a nondisclosure agreement.
Regardless, the entire convention center has been booked for about 450 guests and decorated with what one observer described as “more purple and white flowers than I have seen in my life.” We have confidently heard that Chef Scott Conant, who operates
Red Rock’s Masso Osteria restaurant, hosted the rehearsal dinner. Masso is also said to be the site of a “hangover brunch” Sunday morning.
The entire price tag for the event could run as high as $25 million, and security around the property is triple-tight. Word of such entertainers as Bruno Mars,
Chainsmokers and even Beyonce have wound around the property. Mars does seem likely. He has previously performed such events in Las Vegas and still commands a reported $1 million for an hourlong private performance. Chainsmokers (who are resident headliners at XS and Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas), along with DJ star Marshmello, also headlined a Fertitta private party at Red Rock’s Crimson nightclub last year.
In an Instagram post Friday, Victoria Fertitta said, “Walking hand in hand into my sister’s wedding weekend. Kell, I can’t wait to stand by your side this weekend and to share in the beauty of infinite love. I love you so much sissy.” And the sisters are shown in the photo clasping hands.
Leach event moved
Robin Leach’s celebration of life has been moved to Sept 28, not Sept. 27 as originally announced, at a venue on the Strip. It remains an invitation-only event. Email Anissa
Christal at anissa@christal. com for RSVP info. A private event for family and close friends is still set for Sept. 2 in Las Vegas. Leach died Aug. 24 at age 76.
Brunson gives a hand
Poker Hall of Famer Doyle
Brunson leads the list of celebs taking part in the inaugural Keep Memory Alive Texas Hold ’em charity poker tournament Sept. 21 at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The event, to be held in the KMA Event Center, is hosted by
Jack Binion, son of casino magnate, longtime Horseshoe hotel-casino owner and World Series of Poker founder Benny Binion. Poker stars Daniel
Negreanu (also a poker Hall of Famer and six-time World Series of Poker champ), Barry
Schulman (a two-time WSOP winner) and “Bar Rescue” host
Jon Taffer are also in the field. Along with a $500 buy-in for the tournament, guests can play roulette and take part in the silent auction, all to benefit the Ruvo Center. Register by phone at 702-263-9797 or online at www.keepmemoryalive.org.
Cool Hang Alert
More to come on this hang, but the former Eastside Lounge at Encore is once again home to live music: dueling pianos. The hotel just kicked off that series Friday night. Entertainer Michael
Monge was the star of that venue for a couple of years until it closed to live music in September 2016. John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.