Miranda’s ‘Freestyle’ plays The Venetian
THERE is always room for improv for Lin-manuel Miranda.
The visionary who created “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” is again calling his own number in the production that started it all, “Freestyle Love Supreme.” Miranda returns to the cast of the brilliant hip-hop, improv comedy show at The Venetian’s Summit Showroom at 8 p.m. Jan. 12 and 13 and 7 p.m. Jan. 14 (tickets start at $99 and are on sale now at Venetianvegas.com or any Venetian/palazzo box office).
Miranda and his kindred spirits Thomas Kail and Anthony Veneziale drew up the “FLS” blueprint about 20 years ago. Miranda also performed in the show’s opening in November.
It would be tempting to refer to Miranda’s return as stunt-casting, and that would be accurate. The show is a tireless artistic obstacle course of improv, vocal gymnastics (singing and beatboxing) and live music.
Miranda is eager to make his mark at The Venetian, once the location of the Sands and its fabled Rat Pack playground, the Copa Room.
“It’s an incredible heritage, and the fact that it’s a place where you and your fan base can really find each other is really special,” Miranda said during his visit to Vegas in November. “That’s what’s really exciting about the promise of Las Vegas. I’m hoping that ‘Freestyle’ can find that space in the same way, and word will spread just from the experience folks have at the show.”
Jonas Brothers back at Dolby
Jonas Brothers, whose live performances prompt the verbal concession “OK, I get it,” return to Dolby Live at Park MGM for three shows Feb. 17 to 19. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday; visit Jonasbrothres.com for info.
Superstar siblings Nick, Joe and Kevin have energized Dolby Live over two engagements, in June and November. Fans rejoiced in percussive renditions of “Burnin’ Up,” “That’s the Way We Roll”
and “Sucker.”
Nods to Las Vegas have included rainbow-splashed Vegas peace signs, “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” signs and several “LV” stickers across the brothers’ stand-up piano.
Steve (and) Martin
Steve Martin and Martin Short have found a new home on the Strip in the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. The legendary comedy pair are back Sept. 22 and 23 for “You Won’t Believe What They Look Like Today!” The duo sold out two performances at the Encore Theater in June (tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. Friday; go to Ticketmaster.com for info).
The bluegrass outfit Steep
Canyon Rangers, a favorite of Martin, and music director
Jeff Babko are back with the production.
The duo hosted “Saturday Night Live” last weekend (Martin’s 16th turn as host). Consider it an early Christmas present. Find the Youtube skit featuring Martin as Santa and Short as Sprinkles (or Pringles) the elf. Some priceless ad-libbing in that sketch.
‘Strung Out Johnny’
It’s not the title of a musical starring yours truly. That’s the title of “Godfather of Punk” Iggy Pop’s latest single, released this week. Pop has announced a one-off at The Pearl at the Palms on April 29; tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.com.
The show is tucked into a brief tour debuting Iggy Pop and the Losers, featuring multi-instrumentalist Andrew Watt, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers (who keeps his sense of humor about his resemblance to Will Ferrell) and Duff Mckagan of Guns N’ Roses.
You might recall, or not, the famed, framed photo of Pop that hung at the Hard Rock Hotel for years. The great rock photographer Alec
Byrne shot that pic, dating to 1972. A 16-by-20-inch print is going for $1,200, unframed, online. Great piece of work, which is why we’re remembering it.
Gibbard’s titans
Indie rock giants The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie have announced their combined 20th anniversary co-headlining North American tour stop at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Oct. 4. Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. Friday (which seems National On-sale Day in Las Vegas) at Axs.com and giveuptransatlanticismtour.com.
Both bands will play their breakthrough albums from 2003: The Postal Service’s “Give Up” and Death Cab for Cutie’s fourth release, “Transatlanticism.”
Ben Gibbard co-founded both bands and is to perform with each during every tour stop.
“I know for a fact I will never have a year again like 2003,” Gibbard said in a statement. “The Postal Service record came out, ‘Transatlanticism’ came out. These two records will be on my tombstone, and I’m totally fine with that. I’ve never had a more creatively inspired year.”
Pixies to Encore
Alt-rock heroes the Pixies play their first shows at the Encore Theater on May 12 and 13. Ticket are on sale (as you might have guessed) at 10 am. Friday at Ticketmaster. com or Pixiesmusic.com.
The Pixies have survived a breakup and requisite inner turmoil over their 36-year history.
Expect a return to iconic alt-rock albums “Surfer Rosa” and “Doolittle.” The band promises “unadulterated magic,” having rehearsed up to 100 songs it can play at a moment’s notice.
Cool Hang Alert
Venerable vocalists and entertainers Lisa Gay, Rose Kingsley, Carmen Romano and Lauren Magnum perform “A Jazzy Xmas” at Gatsby’s Supper Club at Gambit Henderson at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (dinner at 6).
The show is a benefit for the International Opera Institute, founded by Kingsley in San Diego in 2000. Tickets are
$25, not including a $30 food and beverage minimum. Go to Rosekingsley.com or call 725-205-3018 for info.