Night of honor in LV still special to Abdul
AH, we remember the night in January 2007 when Paula Abdul was honored by Nevada Ballet Theatre as Woman of the Year at Wynn Las Vegas. Classical dance was overtaken by pop culture that evening as Abdul was riding the crest of “American Idol.”
The celebrated honoree spent the balance of the annual Black and White Ball being tailed by NBT officials, assorted guests and fans, and a film crew recording the Bravo reality show called “Hey Paula,” which ran for a month that summer. Also in the mix were crews representing “Insider,” “ET,” “Inside Edition,” “Access Hollywood” and “60 Minutes.”
As it turned out, “Hey
Paula” was a befitting title for that entire experience. That’s what I kept calling to Abdul, trying to gain her attention for an interview. I later told NBT co-founder Nancy Houssels that if there was ever a time I would be arrested for stalking, it would be then.
An expert dancer and choreographer (and the most famous ex-laker Girl ever), Abdul fondly recalls the evening, too.
“I remember so much was going on that night. It was such a great honor to be honored by the Nevada Ballet Theatre, and all my ‘American Idol’ friends showed up,” Abdul, who will appear at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Red Rock Ballroom, said in a phone interview this week.
“It was a special, magical night. I am part of Las Vegas because of it.”
The focus of recurring rumors of an extended engagement in town, Abdul is currently touring her dance-party show filled with her famous songs. “Straight Up,” the title of the tour, is one of them.
“This is, 100 percent, a fun show,” she says. “It’s got a lot of theatrics, multimedia, audience participation, your favorite hits, storytelling. It’s a really a different kind of show.”
Abdul is not a regular viewer of “Idol,” which became the very model for all contest-tv shows to follow.
“I saw one show last year, but I’m traveling so much I don’t get a chance to watch it,” she says. “I’m a fan of shows that help launch new talent. But for me, it was a magical time, being part of something that really changed the trajectory of television.
“I’ll always have a warm place in my heart for it, but it’s a different show now, and a different time for me.”
Back to the Barge
Once seemed destined to partner with Napoleon, “The Cocktail Cabaret” is back with Cleopatra.
Toggling between themed venues, the inventive stage show will return at 6 p.m.
Nov. 21 to Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace. The show had closed at the Barge on Oct. 13 after running about 10 months.
Co-producer, arranger and director Keith Thompson and Caesars Entertainment officials had been reviewing a run at Napoleon’s piano bar at Paris Las Vegas. Abruptly, those plans were scuttled, and the show returned to Cleopatra’s Barge for the remainder of this year, fulfilling its original contract.
“We emphasized how important it was to have a venue and a place to perform, soon, because we were risking losing our artists,” Thompson said in a phone chat Wednesday. “We know that, at the very least, we will run through the end of the year. Then we’ll see what happens.”
“The Cocktail Cabaret” is a swirling, original showcase that blends such numbers as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Viva Las Vegas,” “Diamonds are Forever” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The show is set to run 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays through Dec. 29; tickets start at $39 and are on sale at Caesars Entertainment box offices or the show’s official website.
Among the show’s original lineup, Daniel Emmet ascended to the finals of “America’s Got Talent.” (Emmet, who is in the recording studio and booking road dates, is not in the show’s updated lineup.)
The show’s rotating cast is currently anchored by Broadway-caliber performers Niki Scalera (“Hairspray,” “Tarzan,” “Footloose”), Eric Jordan Young (“Rock of Ages,” “Vegas! The Show,” “Ragtime,” “Chicago,” “Seussical the Musical,” “Look of Love,” “Dreamgirls”) and Maren Wade (“America’s
Got Talent,” “Confessions of a Showgirl,” “Pin Up,” “50 Shades! The Parody”).
Master pianist Philip Fortenberry (“Behind the Candelabra”) leads the roster of musicians featuring drummer Don Meoli (“Jersey Boys”), bassist Josh Jones (“Million Dollar Quartet”) and saxophonist Eric Tewalt (Celine Dion’s orchestra).
Such guest stars as rising vocalist James D. Gish, Travis Cloer (late of “Jersey Boys”), Ron Remke (“Vegas! the Show,” “Baz”), Brent Barrett (“Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular” and “Chicago”), Savannah Smith (The Moonshiners) and veteran comic Tony Arias will also move in and out of the production.
The show is the combined creation of Thompson and Fortenberry in their PK Entertainment production company. Similar in vibe and presentation to the sensational Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, the show is targeting a specific Las Vegas entertainment audience. As Thompson says, “We’re the show to see before dinner, or before you go out on the town.”
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. Wednesday:
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