The fabulous first lady of Resorts World
WE’VE taken to calling Resorts World Theatre the Lone Star State. That star is Carrie Underwood.
The venue’s sole resident superstar returned to great response over the weekend. Underwood lit the place up again (colored wristbands flashing for “All-american Girl”) while celebrating her 41st birthday.
Underwood’s “Reflection” is the only remaining production from the first four headliners announced for the venue in November 2021. Katy Perry and Luke Bryan have closed their shows; Celine Dion is still in the hotel’s and AEG Presents’ plans while she meticulously moves back into the public eye. She was spotted in NYC over the weekend, for reasons undisclosed.
The resort’s roll of the bones has paid off in Underwood’s “Reflection” production. Knowing this, officials from AEG Presents presented Underwood with a portrait of 6,400 dice, created by artists Ben Hoblyn and Ross Montgomery of the custom-art company Dice Ideas.
Underwood resumes performances Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. She has 18 shows in all, with additional dates May 22-June 1; Aug. 14-24; and Oct. 16-26.
Underwood “Reflection” is remarkable for myriad reasons. Underwood and her backing band are fierce, every song a production number. The production has unveiled several new costumes (including a silver number with a jacket with bedazzled epaulets, long frills and short shorts), and the waterfall scene for “Something In The Water” is the show’s signature closing.
Underwood’s performances will hold the room, until the tide returns.
Luxor gets the point
The closing of “America’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live” might mark the closing of Luxor Theater as a proper live-entertainment venue. All options are reportedly being reviewed as “AGT” has announced its May 11 shutdown. Imagine that space as a kind of immersive zone. Maybe a massive ride in a split-space concept. That concept is reportedly under consideration.
Luxor is amenable to mixed-themed concepts. Particle Ink’s House of Shattered Prisms opens at the hotel April 20. The two-floor Play Playground, with its all-ages bounce houses and childlike games, opened at Luxor in January. That attraction has survived some early contempt-before-investigation reviews on social media, a further indication that Luxor Theater might join the immersive movement.
A hair-raising video
Rare is the afternoon magician who falls into TMZ’S feed, especially during Oscar coverage.
But Murray Sawchuck of Laugh Factory at the Tropicana is no ordinary matinee headliner.
The long-running Vegas performer, dating some 22 years, is also cunning marketer. He’s spun a suspension from a mecca of magic into a wave of publicity.
Backstory: Sawchuck and his wife, the showgirl Dani Elizabeth (a former member of the “Crazy Girls” cast), have produced and posted a video of the magician performing acts from his show.
As the magician finishes each trick, his wife-sidekick reveals how the routine is executed, rolling her eyes and leaving Sawchuck dumbstruck.
Very cute. Except, of course, that exposing how illusions are achieved is verboten in the magic culture. Sawchuck has been subsequently reprimanded by the Magic Castle, forbidden to perform at the iconic venue in Hollywood and (for the moment) not permitted to enter the building. This is according to the Academy of Magical Arts, which operates Magic Castle.
That body is investigating complaints from Sawchuck’s fellow magicians that he has been “exposing magic online,” a violation of Magic Castle’s membership rules.
Sawchuck said Monday he is performing with tricks he owns, giving him license to modify and expose them as he pleases. “This is for entertainment,” he says. “I’m in the business of selling tickets and getting attention. And whatever you say about it, millions of people have watched that clip and been entertained.”
Sawchuck has achieved that, with 50 million views on the FB video and a pop by TMZ.
Sawchuck’s fellow magicians take umbrage, of course. Veteran Vegas magician Ruby Coby (who has been featured in “Late Night Magic” when the show was at Alexis Park) posted, “FB views isn’t the same as selling tickets. Exposing other people’s creations is the issue here — it’s a (lousy) way to try and grab attention.”
Coby noted that Xavier Mortimer’s five billion views on social media were not enough to keep Mortimer’s wonderful “The Dream” show from closing at The Strat.
Sawchuck counts 35 performances at the Magic Castle. Set that against 50 million views on social media. No contest. But as I’ve noted on social media, I don’t like, and don’t endorse, exposing magic acts online. It spoils the effect for fans. It can potentially harm professional entertainers. Magicians will forever debate the ethics. What is inarguable is the result of the exposure, in the millions, and for some it’s worth the price.
Cool Hang Alert
Organically inspired comedy is on display from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays with “Bucket List” open-mic at Wiseguys at 1511 Main St. Find the building with Pauly Shore, Don Rickles, Richard Pryor and Joan Rivers painted on the exterior. Cost is $5 (a mere pittance); go to wiseguyscomedy.com for intel.