‘Hamilton’ on screen still moving to see
SMITH Center President Myron Martin watched the Disney+ broadcast of “Hamilton” at the earliest opportunity: midnight Thursday. He also watched with his daughter, Molly.
None of this would surprise anyone who knows Martin.
The number of times the venerable Las Vegas arts proponent has seen “Hamilton” is in the double digits, and he has watched dozens of Broadway shows with his daughter, who is also the reigning Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen.
“Hamilton,” of course, was due to play Reynolds Hall in September and October during the 2020-21 Broadway Las Vegas Series. The hit musical is now on indefinite hold, same as every other performance on the Smith Center schedule.
Thus, Martin was hit with mixed feelings — all of them powerful — when watching the original “Hamilton” cast, with Lin-manuel Miranda in the lead role.
“The whole experience was very emotional to me because it is so, so perfect in every way,” Martin said Saturday in a phone chat. “The way they shot it, the way it’s lit, the costumes, the angles with the overhead shots and close-ups, it’s really just glorious.”
Martin then said watching the TV version reminded him of the warmth of live musical theater.
“Even as spectacular as it was, nothing takes the place of live performance,” he said. “I kept thinking about the beauty of the art and the fact that the Smith Center is dark and everyone on our staff is furloughed, and how sad that is.”
Martin posed for a photo of the “ghost light” at Reynolds Hall, the light that traditionally remains illuminated after productions go dark.
“I wanted to show people what the theater looks like right now,” said Martin, who posted the shot in black-andwhite. “I can’t wait to get out of this coronavirus to reschedule and announce the return of ‘Hamilton’ and of all of our shows.”
What is and isn’t
To address a frequently broached topic on the scene: Notoriety at Neonopolis is allowed to host live entertainment under its bar/tavern business license. Ken Henderson’s venue follows Phase Two directives pertaining to bars, including social distancing and running at far under its 300-plus fire code capacity.
The club has also ditched hard-ticket sales, which are usually attached to entertainment events, for a drink package offer to anyone who wants to hang at the club.
With these protocols in place, Notoriety presented the 300th “Hilarious 7” comedy show Thursday night and has hosted recent Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood headliners Tenors of Rock on Thursday, Saturday and again Sunday night.
The Tenors are working on days and times to be back at the venue next weekend, too. Whether they are set to return to Sin City Theater depends on whom you ask. Maybe. But the gents are among the many Strip acts operating in uncertainty until hotels return to full entertainment.
Elsewhere, The Venetian has returned its strolling entertainers to St. Mark’s Square, from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, with Anne Martinez’s Red Penny Arcade in the mix. Martinez has been busy throughout the COVID phase. She hosted “Late Night Magic” at Notoriety on Friday, has appeared routinely in Mondays Dark livestreams and has headlined the Vegas Room at Commercial Center. What else? Her “No Time To Die” single is due out soon, and it rages.
On Shore
Comic actor Pauly Shore has moved to Vegasville, into a home in the regal Rancho Circle estates. Shore has pitched projects around the city in years past. I would wager Derek Stevens-level currency that the onetime “Encino Man” is again looking to create the funny somewhere in town.
I met Shore about a decade ago, before a Funny Bones Foundation dog adoption comedy show at the Palms hosted by his father, Sammy Shore. Sammy was a dear friend whose comic talent was surpassed only by his love of dogs.
The elder Shore wrote a lot of great material about that passion. A couple of favorites: “I got a toy cocker spaniel-miniature poodle. So I have something cute, but can’t find it!” And, “I got a pit bull and collie. After it mauls you, it runs for help!”
Sammy, who died in May 2019 at age 92, opened for
Elvis at the International Hotel and in his early days at the Las Vegas Hilton. He and Pauly performed together in the “Family Affair” tour, prompting the son to say of his father on the day he died: “Most of the audience would be like, ‘Pauly Shore’s dad’s opening for him?’ They thought it was some sort of a joke, (but) they soon realized the joke was on them.”
The Review-journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. Las Vegas Sands operates The Venetian and Palazzo.
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.
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Vegas activated its 100,000-square-foot LED screen on its west tower on Independence Day, showing a digital fireworks display.
As of 9 p.m. Sunday:
1. Station Casinos president dies in watercraft accident
Station Casinos president Richard Haskins died Saturday in a watercraft accident in Michigan, according to a statement released by the company.
2. Bellagio sportsbook error may be largest past post loss in Vegas history
The nearly quarter-million dollars in winning wagers was reportedly placed at MGM Resorts early Sunday. 3. Las Vegas resort pools packed with little fear of pandemic
Phase Two of Nevada’s reopening plan — which was recently extended — prohibits nightclubs and day clubs from reopening, but allows pools to operate. In turn, a number of Las Vegas’ former day clubs have reopened as pools.