Country stars on Resorts World radar
RESORTS World Las Vegas doesn’t open until 2021. But we’re already getting an idea of the type of headliner the $4.3 billion Strip fortress wants to present at its 5,000-seat theater.
Garth Brooks is that type. So is Carrie Underwood.
Reports from the property are that Brooks is indeed on Resorts World President Scott Sibella’s radar, and he also is pursuing Underwood, both for resident engagements. Appropriately, that venue is to have a horseshoe-shaped design. Further, I am reliably told that AEG Presents Las Vegas will be the hotel’s booking partner for that venue.
Sibella was unavailable for comment about the hotel’s entertainment lineup. He and Brooks have known each other for years: Brooks performed at two private events for Sibella in the days he ran The Mirage.
Brooks is on a stadium tour due to wrap May 16 in Cincinnati and is the focus of a twopart documentary, “The Road I’m On,” which premiered Dec. 2 on A&E.
Brooks headlined Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas from 2009 through 2012. He also performed six shows at T-mobile Arena in June and July 2016.
Underwood most recently headlined in Las Vegas in May at MGM Grand Garden.
Shania shows at bash
It was the type of bash where country music superstar Shania Twain and Raiders owner Mark Davis can mill around, largely unnoticed.
A private VIP event Wednesday night filled Westgate’s legendary Sky Villas — the onetime Elvis Presley residence suite — on the hotel’s 30th floor. Late in the fete, Twain rolled in with her husband, Swiss businessman Frederic Thiebaud, after her show at Zappos Theater.
Twain is tight with Davis, who attended her opening-night show Dec. 6 at Planet Hollywood. She is also friends with Westgate Resorts exec Richard Siegel, who is one of company founder David Siegel’s sons.
Twain’s participation was not generally expected, but she added some celeb flair to an event powered by David Perrico’s Pop 40 and Pop Strings, ace Elvis tribute artist Matt Lewis and the all-female rock band Dollface.
The main party space was themed for “The Addams Family,” which is why Jen Romas, creator and star of the “Sexxy” adult revue at the hotel, was dressed up as Morticia. Hotel PR director Gordon Prouty dressed as John Astin’s Gomez character, and there was even a Lurch lurching around. Kelly Magaro of “Sexxy” and Dani Elizabeth, Jojo Hamner and Skylar Harris of “Crazy Girls” at Planet Hollywood were dressed as maids. To keep it clean, I guess.
When not singing, Lewis was stationed at one of the Villa’s empty hot tubs, surrounded by Jif peanut butter, bananas and Wonder Bread. “I live here, but I need someone to make me a sandwich,” said Lewis, a veteran of “Legends in Concert” in Las Vegas and across the country. “The King doesn’t butter his own bread.” Not in this place.
Arata on the TV
Victor Arata, the wheeled sensation in “V — The Ultimate Variety Show” at V Theater at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, has coached Julianne Hough ina skating number for the NBC special “Holiday With the Houghs.” The seasonal spectacle co-stars Julianne’s dancing brother, Derek Hough, and airs at 10 p.m. Monday.
The show’s producers remembered Arata from his expert coaching work with Nicole Scherzinger on “I Can Do That” in 2015. Arata quickly discovered that he wasn’t just designing a skating act — he was actually teaching Hough to skate.
“She didn’t skate, whatsoever, before this,” Arata says. “She hadn’t even worn skates before. I kept asking how good a skater she was, and they kept saying, ‘She’s a winner! She can do anything!’ and I was like, ‘But can she skate?’ ”
Hough, a graduate of Las Vegas Academy, can skate now. She and Arata teamed on the signature “Headbanger” act, the move where the male skater spins the female dancer from her ankles, moving her body up and down in a circular motion with her head swinging just inches from the stage.
“She was actually very sweet and is a great dancer obviously, so we got a lot of tricks in,” Arata says. “She wanted to do more, actually. But I was able to spin her, and it’s a very fun number.”
‘Holmes for the holidays’
A holiday show to see: Clint Holmes’ return to Myron’s Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Holmes is joined by the brilliant multi-instrumentalist Christian Tamburr, with whom Holmes worked in his “Soundtrack” residency with Earl Turner at Palazzo Theater.
Kelly Clinton-holmes, the LVA Choir and Holmes’ granddaughter Asia are all in the mix. We well remember that Holmes was the first resident headliner at Cabaret Jazz in March 2012 before it was named for Smith Center President Myron Martin.
Kaos for the holidays
What’s the saying? When life hands you marshmallows, you make hot chocolate?
The Palms held its employee holiday party Tuesday at the otherwise closed Kaos Nightclub and Dayclub. Might as well make some good use of that dome.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His Podkats! podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/ podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram.
Asof9p.m.thursday:
1. 2019 NFR Las Vegas 7th go-round results
Here are the National Finals Rodeo results fromtheseventhdayof competition.
2. NFR family honors life of boy with rodeo cowboy dreams
Rodeo competitors wore cowboy hats adorned with white feathers bearing the words “LIVE LIKE Max” in honor of a 7-year-old boy who died during a roping practice on Sept. 15. 3. ‘Annie the Okie’ was rodeo’s youngest and most tragic champion
In 1968, a 10-year-old girl won the barrel racing championship, but in a tragic twist of fate, Ann Lewis did not live long enough to receive the gold buckle.
4. Which Strip poker room grows while other venues fade?
Almost 10 years after the company’s grand opening on Dec. 16, 2009, the Aria is still favored by many as the place to play. 5.Familywaswithelvis tribute artist Trent Carlini when he died in Las Vegas
He suffered a serious stroke on Nov. 23 and had been hospitalized up until his death.
Asof9p.m.thursday:
1. NFR Highlights: Day 7
Here are the highlights fromtheseventhdayofthe National Finals Rodeo.
2. Allegiant Stadium Al Davis torch and field tray updates — VIDEO
In a new edition of the “Vegas Nation Stadium Show,” Rick Velotta and Mick Akers discuss the latest construction on Allegiant Stadium with an interview from Don Webb. 3. NFR Day 6 Highlights
Here are the highlights fromthesixthdayofthe National Finals Rodeo.