Music to fans’ ears: Monroe show coming in May
WE’RE about to see just how many gentlemen — and women — prefer blondes. “Marilyn! The New Musical,” an original production about the life of Marilyn Monroe and her younger life as Norma Jean Baker, opens for previews May 23 at the Paris Theater at Paris Las Vegas.
The show’s grand opening is June 1, which would have been Monroe’s 92nd birthday.
Two years in development, “Marilyn” runs a Strip-friendly 90 minutes with no intermission and will play at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. As previously reported, the show is staged in the 1,200seat theater that was formerly home to “Jersey Boys” and currently hosts the pyrotechnic spectacle “Inferno.” Tickets start at $49 (excluding fees) and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.
The production is a partnership between Tegan Summer, chief executive officer of Prospect House Entertainment, and Authentic Brands Group, which owns Monroe’s estate. Thus, this is a licensed, fully authorized account of Monroe’s life.
The show’s star is fit for the task. Ruby Lewis, late of “Baz — A Musical Mashup” at the Palazzo Theater, dazzled audiences with her powerhouse voice (and Monroe-esque appearance) in that show and Cirque du Soleil’s “Paramour” on Broadway.
Summer showcased the production at The Space in August. He is clearly banking on the universal appeal of Monroe’s name and image to sell tickets in a city where even Elvis Presley (whose licensed show flopped after a five-week run at the Westgate Lasvegasinmay2015)has struggled to fill a theater. But Summer is well-resourced and well-connected in his many licensing deals, in- cluding the estates of Bettie Page (subject of another new musical to hit town this year) and James Dean.
Summer himself wrote 20 songs for the show, and he knows talent, having recruited a team of Vegas entertainment all-stars to perform in “Marilyn.”
Randal Keith of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” at the Encore Theater, “Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular” at the Venetian Theater and “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” at the Encore Theater, is cast as producer Darryl F. Zanuck. Travis Cloer, one of the Frankie Valli actors in “Jersey Boys,” plays celeb photographer Milton Greene. Lindsay Roginski ,alsoof “Showstoppers,” plays Jane Russell. Chris Fore, in the “Jersey Boys” ensemble, is Monroe’s boyfriend in Las Vegas, Bill Pursel.
Los Angeles actress Brittney Bertier (“Seussical”) plays Norma Jean, Monroe’s alter ego and counterbalance in the production. Frank Lawson (“Memphis,” “When Jazz Had the Blues”) narrates as Charlie, Monroe’s confidant and chauffeur.
“I’m really happy with the cast,” Summer says. “We have the cream of the crop from Vegas, some top L.A. and Broadway talent, too.”
But the show is also remarkable for an early void in casting strategy. For months Summer has sought a Hollywood celeb to take the primary role of Marilyn when Lewis — billed as the “resident” Marilyn — is not onstage.
One of those being sought, Lindsay Lohan, was introduced to the project by EDM superstar Steve Aoki, with whom Summer is also partnering on a Las Vegas production. The two were in serious talks as recently as last week before Summer opted to hold off casting Lohan, or any celeb, in the primary role.
“Honestly, this is what keepsmeawakeat3a.m.,” Summer says. “We are 100 percent going to cast a star as Marilyn. But with Lindsay Lohan, to open with her, I just felt everyone would be coming to see Lindsay and not the show. As we open, ‘Marilyn’ is the star, and Ruby is the star.”
Summer says a national name — and likely more than one — will be introduced to the show on the June 1 red-carpet event. As it is, the production is working to cohabitate with “Inferno.” Summer’s team is redesigning the theater stage with a thrust for the famous subway scene from “The Seven Year Itch” when a gust of wind lifts Monroe’s skirt above her waist.
The show also employs a live, eight-piece band (yes!) to be presented onstage and costumed in tuxedos.
Though he moved his operation to Las Vegas just last summer, Summer already has a reputation as an adventurous, adventurous, even far-flung entertainment figure. He plans to have his Bettie Page musical (where pinup star Sabina Kelley is a creative consultant) written and ready for rehearsals by July. Summer wants the Aoki project onstage in the first quarter of 2019.
But now it’s all about the iconic blonde. As the producer promises, “This will be the Marilyn you know and the Marilyn you don’t know.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Monday:
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