‘Vegas! The Show’ star off to Germany for ‘Tarzan’ role
Josh Strickland is answering the call of the wild. Again. An original member of “Peepshow” at Planet Hollywood and co-star of “Vegas! The Show” since September 2013, Strickland is returning to the jungle for a stint in “Tarzan.” He’s joining the company in Oberhausen, Germany. His last performance in “Vegas! The Show” is March 6; he’ll finish his run in Germany on Aug. 1.
Strickland starred in the Broadway version of “Tarzan” for six years, ending in 2007, just as “Peepshow” was being cast by director Jerry Mitchell in New York.
“It’s crazy how life has come full circle for me,” Strickland said Thursday. “I’m looking forward to getting back into that role. I’m a little older and hopefully a little wiser.”
Strickland has been working with a personal trainer for the last five months to prepare for his return to, shall we say, a less-restrictive wardrobe. He’s also been taking German lessons, as he is required to sing and speak all of his lines in the language.
“I’m just super-excited,” says Strickland, a real Broadway belter and a first-class stage performer. “It’s a challenge, physically, I figured out that I don’t play a character onstage,” he said. ”I’m probably not a great actor, so onstage I’m just a more outgoing version of myself.” A BIG STAR
Pete Vallee, more commonly known as “Big Elvis” during his years in VegasVille, is being honored with a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. The ceremony is set for noon Monday at Vallee’s current haunt, the Piano Bar at Harrah’s. Celebrating 15 years as a Strip performer, Vallee is keeping his regular Monday schedule of performances at 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. WHO WAS WHERE
TV personality NeNe Leakes and a table of eight friends Wednesday night at Beauty & Essex in the Cosmopolitan … Dancer/ actress/”Dancing With the Stars” pro/Las Vegas Academy grad Julianne Hough on Wednesday at Kumi Restaurant and Bar at Mandalay Bay. John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.