John Katsilometes

Search John's stories

A Strip doubleheader in New York with ‘Vegas Nocturne’ and Cirque’s ‘Paramour’
Monday, Aug. 1, 2016
The Kats Report Bureau this weekend touched down in New York on a trip that was brisk for its pace and humid for its climate. …
Chris Isaak no stranger to performing in Las Vegas — or admiring its icons
Friday, July 29, 2016
Singer Chris Isaak’s embrace of the Vegas vibe was inspired by some of the city’s real superstars. He recalls seeing Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. during their …
Tony Bennett, Wayne Newton to help trumpet Caesars’ 50th anniversary
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Fireworks, food and fame — led by singing legend Tony Bennett — will be the order of the weekend as Caesars Palace celebrates its 50th anniversary Aug. 5 and 6.
Announced today is ...
Monday By the Numbers: ONJ, ‘Laverne & Shirley’ and Reba’s Twitter feed
Monday, July 25, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers tilts nostalgically to Flamingo Las Vegas headliner Olivia Newton-John and Cindy Williams.
‘Bathtub Boy’ makes a splash for Reba; Cab Jazz is freshened up
Sunday, July 24, 2016
During Friday night’s Reba and Brooks & Dunn show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Reba McEntire talked of bathing. Not herself, but a specific act she had just seen involving a boy and his tub. “You’re cute!” she called to Kix Brooks early in the show. “But you ain’t no Bathtub Boy in ‘Absinthe!’” She was referring to David O’Mer, who performs the aerial bathtub routine in the show, which she saw Thursday night ...
Deepak Chopra set to headline Reynolds Hall; Cabaret Jazz stocks lineup
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Deepak Chopra is playing the big room at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 28.
Seeking a new ‘backyard,’ Santa Fe closes out run at South Point
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
The Monday night performance was the band’s final show at South Point after opening in the showroom Labor Day weekend. The reason for leaving is simple: Fan support for the band was not strong enough …
Monday By the Numbers: J.Lo’s dates, a legendarily rich magician … and puppets
Monday, July 18, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers hits on Jennifer Lopez (wait, that came out wrong) and her added added dates at Planet Hollywood, David Copperfield and his untrammeled wealth and some puppet action at …
Downtown Las Vegas takes on a Boston hue in rockin’ DLV show
Saturday, July 16, 2016
The night was a celebration of Boston’s 40th anniversary and DeYoung’s remarkable verve even as he is now DeOld — 69, as he happily told the crowd early in the evening.
In ‘Love’ celebration, Cirque plans for tomorrow and revamps ‘Yesterday’
Friday, July 15, 2016
Cirque’s stage shows opened 20 years ago with “Mystere” at Treasure Island, and with the most recent activity on the Strip completed, there is a feeling the company has finally settled on the right amount of “content” (or, shows) in Vegas.

Blog Entries

Bagatelle Beach Club renamed Havana Room and Beach Club; closes to public in favor of private events
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Bagatelle Beach Club is becoming a private matter. The pool, restaurant and club connected to Tropicana and operated by The One Group has closed to the public and will exclusively host private functions.
To theme or not to theme: Casino executives might have this debate
Thursday, April 11, 2013
What might transpire in a conversation between casino executives over how a new resort should be themed.
Richard Petty Experience a crash course in thrill racing
Thursday, March 7, 2013
I have what can be best described as an Issue With the Wall. It’s the lengthy barrier along the backstretch at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Appropriately, it is painted in thick black letters reading, “Las Vegas Motor Speedway.”
'Mystere' hysteria: Michigan man has seen show 100 times — and counting
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013
John Hunt slides into his row at Mystere Theater, something he has done 99 times before. On this night, No. 100, he has an aisle seat in Row D, just a few feet from the lip of the rounded stage.
From jilted bride to Wedding Queen of the West, love has been a journey for L.V. chapel owner Charolette Richards
Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013
Charolette Richards is rightfully considered the Wedding Queen of the West. As proprietor of A Little White Wedding Chapel since the late 1960s, her Las Vegas wedding fortress has hosted more than half a million services.
Penn & Teller: Two decades of real Las Vegas magic
Monday, Jan. 28, 2013
For all of their communal artistry and shared experiences and success, Penn & Teller differ on the moments that made them fall for Las Vegas. For Penn Jillette, it was a quick side trip to Vegas he made with a group of friends in the late 1980s. The plan was to tour the Grand Canyon, but, you know, Vegas was right there.
Gamal Aziz jumps from MGM Hospitality to new post with Wynn
Monday, Jan. 7, 2013
Gamal Aziz has spent more than a dozen years with MGM Grand and the MGM Hospitality Division, but is reuniting with Steve Wynn.
Forget Dallas -- NFR is most likely staying put in Las Vegas
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
Officials of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Las Vegas Events have never allowed a National Finals Rodeo contract to expire. They don’t plan to let this one go dark, either. To state it simply: Unless there is a rift that no one in either camp can foresee entering this year’s rodeo showcase, NFR will stay in Las Vegas for a long spell.
Cirque hopes a touch of the bizarre in ‘Zarkana’ breathes life into Elvis Theater
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012
The lead character in “Zarkana” is a tortured magician named Zark, who is trapped in an abandoned theater, having lost the love of his life and his gift of magic. Begging to the beyond for the return of both, Zark is plunged into a bizarre, arcane universe replete with surreal sights and echoing sounds. In a broader sense, there’s a different sort of return-to-magic effort being made at Aria.
‘Cirquespeak’ is a language — or anti-language — of its own
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012
As Paul Bisson conveys “Cirquespeak” to the audience, he is not exactly singing. He’s playing an instrument, which happens to be his voice.