Trouble for one show, another on deck
THE entertainment mosaic, and Mosaic, is shifting on the Strip. “Kyle Martin’s Piano Man,” a tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John, is on pause at the live entertainment annex Mosaic on the Strip. Venue operator Dean Coleman of SPR & Promotions says the show is down because of a “disagreement between them that was causing a problem.”
A dispute over which character wears the rhinestone glasses, maybe?
Coleman has not specified the problem, though cast members departed the production over the weekend. Martin has not returned questions asking for an update. Typically, if a show is running a profit, internal issues can be sorted out without taking the entire production off the stage.
“The Mosaic is doing a lot better in ticket sales but is still inconsistent,” Coleman said. “We are moving forward.” He also promises an innovative ticketing platform in the coming weeks.
The show’s final performance (for now) was Saturday night. The show is scheduled to be back Feb. 1, though Coleman hopes it can return as soon as Jan. 22.
On deck at the venue is
“M.J. The Evolution,” a Michael Jackson tribute, which is now in rehearsals. The show toggles M.J. impressionists Michael Knight and Daniel Atanasio. According to its website, the show plans for a cast of eight backing dancers. Rehearsal video shows the central figure performing to tracks.
The show has, evidently, drawn an endorsement from the Jackson family, or at least Jermaine Jackson. He’s quoted on the site, speaking of Atanasio, “My God, he looks and moves like my brother.”
No start date has been set for the “M.J.” show and probably won’t be until the “Piano
Man” issues are sorted out. Mosaic is still a busy venue, staging “Queens of Rock,” starring vocalist Elyzabeth Diaga, and the masked male revue “Aussie Heat.”
All performances in the Mosaic showroom are set to socially distant for audiences of 50, in a venue with a fire code capacity of 1,446. Seating for a production show is usually about 500. The venue sits across the Strip from the Park MGM marquee, in the Strip mall anchored by Walgreens and north of Showcase theaters.
Over the years, Mosaic has been the Metz, Utopia, Empire Ballroom and Tommy
Wind Theater. It remains the only stand-alone entertainment venue on the Strip.
Roberts revisited
Somehow, some of us felt we had run into Tanya Roberts sometime in Vegasville. We had — at the 2006 gala opening of the musical “Hairspray” at Luxor. The show’s co-producer Myron Martin checked in Sunday with that reminder, formed as a question, as in, “Do you remember Tanya Roberts from the ‘Hairspray’ opening?” I hadn’t, but Martin found red-carpet pics of Roberts from that night.
The premiere was a splashy affair for a show that opened with co-stars Harvey Fierstein, Dick Latessa and Eddie Mekka.
Roberts was the focus of confusing reports of her death Monday night at 65. Media outlets had reported Roberts died Sunday night after her partner, Lance O’brien, told CNN he was distraught after saying goodbye to Roberts at her bedside at L.A.’S Cedars-sinai Hospital. He believed then she had passed away, but she was actually in critical condition. No cause and manner of death have been released.
Roberts was cast in the Bond film “A View To A Kill,” opposite Roger Moore. At the time of “Hairspray,” she had a recurring role on “That ’70s Show.”
Righteous kinda brothers
Bucky Heard of the Righteous Brothers and John Wedemeyer of the duo’s band at Harrah’s perform at Piazza Lounge at Tuscany at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The guys have teamed for some magic online. This is their first live performance. I understand the esteemed Bill Medley, the “other” half of the Righteous Brothers, might be there.
That, and the no-cover scene, is forever righteous.
Great moments in social media
We have learned through Instagram that Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, Aja Volkman and family are building a house in Las Vegas. Reynolds posted a photo of himself hugging Volkman, who was holding their 16-month old son, Valentine, while peering over a construction fence. Check out Valentine, who is instinctively glancing into the camera.
Reynolds’ feed is great.
The video from Dec. 4, which chronicles daughter Gia’s failed attempt at a Spider-man costume, is also priceless. 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.