Curtains for ‘America’s Got Talent’ in LV
SIMON COWELL’S dream of delivering a live variety show to the Strip is closing this spring. “America’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live” is hauling out of its Luxor Theater on May 11. The show opened in November 2021.
A statement Sunday afternoon from hotel operator MGM Resorts International referred to the 2½-year run as “wonderful” while announcing the end of the show:
“It has been an honor to collaborate with the AGT team to bring the talent from one of television’s most exciting competition shows to the Las Vegas Strip and we hope to work together again in the future. We have loved being home to these world-class entertainers and wish all of these incredible performers the best of luck as they continue their careers. We’ll be proudly cheering them on.”
Such “AGT” champs and alumni as pianist-singer Kodi Lee, the dance troupe Light Balance, rapping magician Mervant Vera, mentalist Aaron Crow, aerialist-sword swallower Herwan Legaillard, Pack Drumline percussion team, puppet act Pandersonium, comedy act Human Fountains are in the current cast.
But even with a robust collection of talent, the “AGT” spin-off was essentially competing with its own success for tickets in Las Vegas. Such former champions and finalists as Terry Fator, Shin Lim, Mat Franco, Piff the Magic Dragon and Tape Face are all currently headlining on the Strip.
There has been no word on how the Luxor Theater will be used after “AGT” closes. Over the years the room has hosted Blue Man Group, a brief run of “Hairspray,” a rotation of headliners, and both of Criss Angel’s productions before partnering with Cowell and Fremantle Media and Cowell’s Syco Entertainment.
A headlining slot in the Vegas show has been a prize for an “AGT” champion act since the live production was launched. But not every champ has appeared at Luxor.
The Mayyas, the 36-member, all-female, Lebanese dance troupe that won season 17, was never featured in the show. Reps for the production only said they still wanted Mayyas in Vegas and hoped their appearance could be worked out.
Instead, the show has called it.
In November ’21, Cowell spoke of “AGT’S” impact on Vegas, and the city’s popularity among contestants.
“We have seen the success of the show on billboards in Las Vegas for years,” Cowell said during an appearance at Luxor Theater. “What we are looking for in our contestants is, obviously, talent and vision. I think what we’ve realized now, with Vegas, that’s really the USP (unique selling proposition) of the show right now. It’s a fantastic prize, to perform in Vegas. I’d say 90 to 95 percent of the contestants who are entered in the show want to end up in Vegas.”
Cirque du Bernie
I experienced a first on the Strip on Thursday, attending “Absinthe” with legendary Vegas entertainment official Bernie Yuman on Thursday night. It was the first time the longtime manager of Siegfried & Roy had seen the show since it opened in April 2011.
Yuman was effusive — effusive, I tell you! — in his praise for the show, even while shrugging off Gazillionaire’s inevitable S&R shtick.
Yuman’s family is circus-centric, beyond the Siegfried & Roy production. For 23 years his wife, Candace, was a member of the trapeze ensemble The Flying Cavarettas at the Circus Circus Midway show. The popular family act also toured internationally.
And Yuman, of course, is co-producer of “Awakening” a circus of high-flying ingenuity at the Wynn.
T.C. back to ‘JB’
Former “Jersey Boys” cast member Travis Cloer finally made it back to the musical’s reboot at Orleans Showroom on Saturday night. Cloer wheeled in with his wife, Jennifer; manager, Jeanne Bavaro and yours truly.
Cloer was jazzed to see the show again, having portrayed Frankie Valli for more than 2,500 performances, including his eight years in Las Vegas.
“Seeing it again just reminds you of how good it is,” Cloer said during intermission. The veteran Vegas showman was out of his seat several times in the performance, and afterward met that night’s Valli performer, Jared Chinnock; along with principal players Tyler Matthew Burk (Tommy Devito), Jonathan Cable (Nick Massi) and Kit Treece (Bob Gaudio).
“It’s surreal,” Cloer said as he met the crew backstage. “I haven’t seen this show since Graham Fenton played Frankie right before we closed.”
That was reference to Cloer’s fellow Las Vegas cast member, recalling the show’s finale in September 2016.
Cool Hang Alert
Tyriq Johnson’s masterful Earth Wind and Fire tribute, Serpentine Fire, is back at Myron’s at the Smith Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday. “September,” “After The Love Is Gone,” “Reasons” and the band’s namesake are all in the set list. Grooving is encouraged, but be careful out there. Go to Thesmithcenter.com for intel.