‘Hairspray’ flop on Strip enlightened Smith Center
Myron Martin helped lure Broadway to the West more than a decade ago, and learned a painful lesson in the process.
He and Michael Gill coproduced the Broadway hit “Hairspray,” which opened in February 2006 for a wonderful, if ill-fated run at Luxor. Other musicals along the Strip included “Avenue Q” at Wynn, “Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular” at Venetian, and “The Producers” at Paris Las Vegas — earning the city the catchy “Broadway West” moniker.
But the success of these shows was sporadic. After promising previews, “Hairspray” fell flat. Even with a seasoned Broadway cast led by co-stars Harvey Fierstein and Dick Latessa, “Hairspray” closed after a four-month run. The end of that show shook Martin, who cried during the finale, but in retrospect he noticed an opportunity.
“Producing ‘Hairspray’ on the Strip was something that said to me, ‘There is an audience here for Broadway shows, but for locals,’ ” said Martin, now the president of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Earlier in the week, he announced the center’s 2017-2018 Broadway Series at Reynolds Hall. THE BALD TRUTH
McMullan’s Irish Pub on Tropicana Avenue just west of the Orleans hotelcasino is again raising money and awareness for the St. Baldrick Foundation with its 11th annual shave-a-thon, from 11 a.m. Saturday through 3 a.m. Sunday. Emcees include my colleague Robin Leach, longtime Vegas TV personality Nate Tannenbaum; Channel 3 anchor Gerard Ramalho, Vegas entertainers Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton Holmes, actor Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear on the original “Starsky & Hutch” TV series); Jennifer Romas with her cast mates from “Sexxy” at Westgate; and yours truly. WHO WAS WHERE
On Saturday at Diana Ross’ final performance at Venetian Theater: Singersongwriter Ashlee Simpson with Ross’ actor son, Evan Ross, with their daughter Jagger Snow Ross. Also in the room, Ross’s daughter Chudney Ross. … On Friday, Ross’ daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick was in for the show. 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.