John Katsilometes

Story Archive

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.

Giles Martin reshapes, and protects, the Beatles’ legacy

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Giles Martin was seated on a director’s chair onstage at the Love Theater at the Mirage when he was unexpectedly upstaged by an underdressed interloper.

Drai’s officials tell Chris Brown: We need to talk

Monday, July 11, 2016

In the face of published reports that Chris Brown has been ousted from Drai’s, officials representing the club say that first, they need a conversation with the oft-troubled ...

The Gossy run is set to end at Caesars Palace

Monday, July 11, 2016

Matt Goss is set to close out his Caesars Palace run in September. Rumblings around the scene are that the Gossy Room is to be redesigned and reopened under a famous nightclub brand specializing in live music.

More buzz about our new NHL team, and the end of a downtown era

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Principal owner Bill Foley is busy assembling his front-office staff for Las Vegas’ NHL team, which could be called the Black Knights. One focus of speculation around the scene happens to be a former …

Melody Sweets’ ‘Call of the Wild! Jungle Burlesque’ swings into Caesars on July 30

Friday, July 8, 2016

Having embarked on thematic treks through the Old West, a turn-of-the-century circus and Coney Island, Melody Sweets is taking to the wilderness for her next solo show.

Review: ‘Mindfreak Live!’ is Criss Angel saying, ‘Watch me now!’

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Criss Angel wants it. He wants it so badly. He wants to be the biggest, baddest, greatest magician in the history of recorded time, space and dimension.
He wants that so bad he can ...

Linking Vegas, Idaho and ‘Idaho!’ with a gem of a road trip

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

The idea was not to spoof Idaho itself, but to parody the concept of theatrical convention. But it didn’t hurt to match some of the references in Idaho with “Idaho! The Comedy Musical.”

Dividing line: Why Las Vegas city leaders aren't invited to ceremonies on the Strip

Sunday, July 3, 2016

The Strip’s location is unincorporated Clark County. Calling it the Clark County Strip would be accurate but not nearly as sexy. This is common knowledge for locals, an issue that’s not particularly pertinent until …

VIP list at Criss Angel’s opening-night ‘Mindfreak Live!’ has eclectic Flavor

Saturday, July 2, 2016

To the right was Tony Orlando. Behind him, Andrew Dice Clay. A few rows below, actor Gary Oldman. This was the partial list of celebs who turned out for Criss Angel’s premiere of “Mindfreak Live!” at Luxor. Angel certainly …

Brad Garrett lets the cards fly at MGM Grand

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Brad Garrett’s annual Maximum Hope Foundation poker tournament is set for Saturday at MGM Grand, in the open area adjacent to the “Ka” theater and at the entrance of Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill.

Angel’s retooled ‘Mindfreak Live!’ bows at Luxor

Thursday, June 30, 2016

We are set to experience the formal unveiling of Criss Angel’s "Mindfreak Live!” This is the magic extravaganza supplanting the long-running “Believe” at the Criss Angel Theater.

Frankie Moreno’s ‘Under the Influence’ set to close at Planet Hollywood

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

At once explosive and short-lived, Frankie Moreno’s “Under the Influence” production at Planet Hollywood Showroom is set to end after Saturday’s performance. Moreno himself said Tuesday night an end to the run is in the offing.

New gaming spaces, restaurants underline Cosmopolitan's ongoing transformation

Sunday, June 26, 2016

At this moment in his career, Bill McBeath at once looks up to Steve Wynn and down on his famous designs. “I think he is the modern-day Walt Disney,” McBeath says of Wynn from his perch in that Cosmopolitan office. So it’s a case of the pupil ascending to compete with the master …

NHL betting at T-Mobile is possible (there’s an app for it); no shakin’ in Elvis’ old theater

Saturday, June 25, 2016

The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Sully’s Bar at Bally’s, just off the hotel’s Flamingo Road entrance. A great place to hang for a bit before hustling across the street to Cromwell, because if your destination …

Review: Brooks brings the spectacle in Las Vegas return

Saturday, June 25, 2016

What happened to the guy who used to play Encore Theater a few years ago? The guitar-packing cowpoke who stood and strummed between a pair of potted plants? The guy who was music's version of “Between Two Ferns,” who laughed and sang and told his life story …

Las Vegas NHL chief Bill Foley: ‘This is not going to be a 10-year program’

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Bill Foley sidestepped a commemorative street sign reading “NHL Hockey Boulevard” to talk for a time about his hockey team. ...

Homegrown musical ‘Idaho!’ opens in Las Vegas with one eye on Broadway

Thursday, June 23, 2016

“The only reason we are here is because I couldn’t think of anything to rhyme with Wyoming.”

Even before talk of pro pucks, Las Vegas has been a major league city

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Eight years ago, almost to the day, a group of experts with a deep education of pro sports visited the Las Vegas Sun offices for a round-table discussion about the city’s potential as a big-league city. ...

The Stanley Cup: Still looking great at 123

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

At the after-party of the 2009 NHL Awards at Palms Pool, a fan who had succumbed to revelry leapt into the water and began swimming toward an object standing on a platform in the middle of the water. No ordinary object, this. It was ...

Imagine Dragons’ charitable pulse still strong in Orlando benefit concert

Monday, June 20, 2016

Ben McKee was peacefully navigating the Rogue River in Southern Oregon on the night of the terrible shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. So he did not immediately learn of that tragedy and ...

Las Vegas’ hockey honeymoon must be precursor to a lasting marriage

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Novelty is fickle, and Las Vegas is a fickle city. This is especially true for locals and tourists figuring out how to spend their entertainment dollar. Las Vegas is unique not only as the largest metropolitan outpost in North …

EDC’s roots at LVMS planted 20 years ago; Tiesto takes a spot with The Who, Bon Jovi

Friday, June 17, 2016

The vision of the original architects of Las Vegas Motor Speedway is certainly a prominent reason for the success of the Electric Daisy Carnival. But this is maybe a coincidental vision, as LVMS was not built ...

Mark Shunock’s Mondays Dark to relocate and more from the VegasVille scene

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

South Point's newly-renovated lounge, new shows at Planet Hollywood and more.

Monday By the Numbers: ‘Cabaret’ and its rich history open at Smith Center

Monday, June 13, 2016

This week, Monday By the Numbers focuses on the legendary musical “Cabaret,” the touring version of which makes a stop at Reynolds Hall in the Smith Center ...

Tragedy sparks prayer vigil at centers in Las Vegas, Reno; Reno arch to go dark

Sunday, June 12, 2016

The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada is holding a prayer vigil tonight at 7 at the organization’s headquarters, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. ...

Penn Jillette’s ‘Director’s Cut’ should carve cult following; Ron White hosts righteous hang

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Penn Jillette’s appearance at the Reason Rally last weekend didn’t go off without a hitch, or a Hitchens. An uncommonly long soundcheck on the Washington Mall kept Jillette in the grassy expanse for ...

Frank Marino: ‘Riviera was never a drag for me’

Saturday, June 11, 2016

The legacy of entertainment at the Riviera lives on throughout Las Vegas, and even beyond. Undeniably, one of the hotel’s foremost ambassadors and spokesmen has been a hot lady named ...

‘Jersey Boys’ to close at Paris Las Vegas on Sept. 18

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

“Jersey Boys” is closing, the cast and crew were notified this evening at Paris Las Vegas. Its final show is Sept. 18. Officials from production company Dodgers Theatricals met with the creative team after the performance tonight and announced ...

Clint Holmes looking to uncork an ace with ‘Between the Lines’

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Clint Holmes is a very good tennis player, one reason he is so fit at age 70. Naturally, the way to win at that game is to find the lines and fire shots at those boundaries. Holmes’ new show ...

Jim Murren discusses high-end Park MGM, ‘romantic’ NoMad and ‘the best of the best’

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

An effort to revive Monte Carlo has been three years in the making and led to the announcement Friday that the resort is to be renamed Park MGM and NoMad Hotel, a $450 million deal in partnership with Sydell Group and MGM Resorts International.

Festivals have been a game-changer in Las Vegas, but how much is enough?

Monday, June 6, 2016

The emergence of festivals has changed the face of Las Vegas entertainment, making it more competitive than ever. But in a market where so much entertainment is already being staged, is it possible to oversaturate? What’s become abundantly clear is that in the effort to make the city a major festival destination — led by Las Vegas Events and MGM Resorts executives, ...

Forever truculent, Muhammad Ali shook up our world

Saturday, June 4, 2016

We watched a lot of fights together in those days, many of them involving “The Greatest.” It was Ali vs. Jerry Quarry, Ali vs. Kenny Norton, Ali vs. Joe Bugner, Ali vs. Ron Lyle, Ali vs. Earnie Shavers, Ali vs. Leon Spinks. Always …

Jerry Lewis, Celine Dion and the ‘A-flat’ moment at Caesars

Saturday, June 4, 2016

When the elegant woman in the white dress knelt next to the man seated in the armchair, he smiled and said, “I sing, too.” ...

Buzz out of the Park Theater: Lady Gaga joining Justin Timberlake in headliner lineup

Friday, June 3, 2016

The information posted this week by my colleague Ubiquitous Robin Leach noting that Justin Timberlake is being reeled in as one of the resident headliners at the Park Theater at Monte Carlo seems ...

How many houses can one city keep full?

Sunday, May 29, 2016

How many arenas are too many? How many are enough? In Las Vegas, we’re about to find out. Announced last week was a partnership between Las Vegas Sands and Madison Square Garden for a 17,500-seat entertainment venue to be built on the …

Holly Madison makes the dates in ‘Vegas Diaries’ rollout

Saturday, May 28, 2016

There are literary deadlines, and there are the deadlines of life. Holly Madison understands both. The due date for her second child and second book have been inconveniently aligned, with Madison initially facing a June release date for ...

Bill Medley totally righteous at Composers Showcase; Penn Jillette’s latest book to diet for

Friday, May 27, 2016

The Kats Report Bureau once again was ensconced at Composers Showcase of Las Vegas on Wednesday night, and it was a genuine Hall of Fame experience. For the first time, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performed ...

It’s Vegas … Straight Up as Chris Phillips opens gig at South Point

Friday, May 27, 2016

Sometimes we refer to him as Zowie Bowie, other times just Chris, but regardless he always brings the party. Chris Phillips-as-Zowie Bowie filled ...

Bob Arum: I am ready to promote Trump vs. Sanders

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Bob Arum knows weird. In 1973, he promoted Evel Knievel’s attempt at clearing the Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls, Idaho, in a rocket cycle. The entire spectacle ...

Unshakable Tommy Wind stays steady as Vinnie Favorito bolts for Hooters

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Tommy Wind Theater is a cozy family operation housed in the 21,000-square-foot fortress that was once Club Utopia and most recently Boulevard Theater across from Monte Carlo in the strip mall ...