Knights on ice; ‘Friends’ parody coming
THE Kats! Bureau at this writing is T-mobile Arena. The Golden Knights are back on home ice, playing an exhibition game against the Arizona Coyotes. But is it really an exhibition if you have real money riding on the outcome?
I have learned today that Marc-andre Fleury is a popcorn freak. Apparently he can polish off an extra-large bucket (which is roughly the size of a Zamboni) before previews have ended. So plan your holiday shopping accordingly.
‘Friends’ at the D
How would you parody the classic sitcom “Friends?”
With the original song “Smelly Dog?” Give Phoebe a banjo instead of a guitar?
Well, we are going to see next month, when the aptly titled “Friends! The Musical Parody” opens at D Las Vegas. The show has been casting in Las Vegas over the past few days (callbacks are Monday) and is set to open for previews Oct. 18. The official premiere is
Oct. 26.
The production is enjoying a buyer’s market for talent, given all the musicals that have closed in Las Vegas over the past couple of years. The “Friends” show enjoyed an off-broadway run from October through July. Co-producer Lynn Shore is confident the popularity of the original series, which ran from 1994-2004 (236 episodes), will resonate in Las Vegas.
“We like the melting pot of people who come to Las Vegas from throughout the world,” Shore says. “We are excited about the wealth of people who come here every week and the amount of people who love the show. We’ve also seen some really talented folks come in to audition for the show. It will be good.”
The show will be set in New York. The plot revives such scenes as “The Pivot,” in which Ross, Joey and Chandler are trying to negotiate a foosball table through a doorway.
The show’s director, Paul Stancato, has directed “Lion King,” “Hairspray,” “Jekyll & Hyde” and “Grease,” among other Broadway-level productions. Plans are for the Vegas production to incorporate a live band (clap-clap) and put some talented people to work.
“We know the frenzy for this show,” Shore says. “We know the characters cause a real reaction, for many age groups — millennials on up. It’s a comedy that is fun, and we think it will work.” Or, even, Perk.
Angel’s ‘Basic Needs’
Criss Angel is using the song “Basic Needs” by Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis in his new “Mindfreak” show at Planet Hollywood. The song is from Davis’ solo debut album, “Black Labyrinth,” released in May.
Angel and Davis made the joint announcement on Angel’s Instagram page, where you can pick up details about the show opening in December.
Davis was in town for Saturday night’s Korn show at Pearl Concert Theater. He sat with Angel during Friday’s Imagine Dragons Tyler Robinson Foundation Rise Up Gala at Caesars Palace, and also dropped in on Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum.
Bagans, too, is a serious
Korn fan, saying, “I don’t geek out about much, but I geek out about Korn.”
Talks …
MGM Resorts International continues its cross-promotion positioning at Kaaboo Music Festival in Del Mar, California, which wrapped its three-day run Sunday night. MGM Resorts sponsors and hosts the event’s Grandview Stage.
I still expect this partnership to evolve to a Kaaboo outpost to perform at Las Vegas Festival Grounds at Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. This is not a relocation of the original event, which is a booming success in Del Mar, but a new festival — and on the Strip.
And more talks …
Shaquille O’neal and Elaine Wynn had dinner a couple of weeks ago at SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas. A couch was hauled over to accommodate Shaq’s 7-foot-1 body. We can expect this was not an entirely idle discussion.
Shaq is an investor in Vegasville, as a partner in the restaurant Big Chicken, set to open in October in the strip mall across from Hard Rock Hotel and Hofbrauhaus at Paradise Road and Harmon Avenue. He has partnered with JRS Hospitality, which also operates Hexx Kitchen and
Bar and Alexxa’s Bar at Paris Las Vegas.
O’neal reportedly plans a reality show about Big Chicken for Facebook.
Shaq’s recent activity in town leads us to …
Cool Hang Alert
Franky Perez & The Dirty at Alexxa on Saturday nights. Yes, we have mentioned Perez and this fiery horn band before, HOWEVER … Saturday night, Shaq walked in and Perez called out, “Is that Shaq? I thought you were taller!”
Perez, needless to say, is a Vegas original.
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. Sunday:
1. ‘Deadhead’ takes up life in Las Vegas after 26 years behind bars
Grateful Dead fan Timothy Tyler received a life sentence for selling LSD, but an order from President Barack Obama set him free in August. He’s now adjusting to a new world in Las Vegas. 2. Police ID suspect in
Las Vegas shooting that injured 7-year-old
Las Vegas police have identified a suspect in a shooting that injured a child Wednesday night in front of a business in the 1800 block of East Tropicana Avenue.
3. Will Smith, Lady Gaga, Lebron among the celebs at Canelo-ggg
The Canelo-ggg fight falls into a busy sports weekend in Las Vegas with the NASCAR racing action at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Mr. Olympia competition at Las Vegas Convention Center. 4. ‘Canelo’ Alvarez defeats Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin by majority decision
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defeated Gennady Golovkin by majority decision (115113, 114-114, 115-113) to become the WBC/WBA middleweight champion Saturday night at T-mobile Arena.
5. Police want help to find suspect in Las Vegas burglary spree
Las Vegas police are asking the public’s help identifying a man suspected of a burglary spree in Summerlin on Friday. As of 9 p.m. Sunday:
1. Timothy Tyler released from prison after clemency
Timothy Tyler, originally sentenced to life in prison in the 1990s for selling LSD, completed his sentenced Aug. 30 after being granted clemency by President Obama in 2016.
2. Smoke shop shooting suspects
Suspects wanted in a shooting Wednesday night that injured a 7-year-old remained at large Thursday. 3. What the house that Ted Binion died in looks like today
Casino heir Ted Binion died in this Las Vegas home in 1998. Current home owner Jane Popple spent over $600,000 to restore and modernize the home.