John Katsilometes

Story Archive

It’s a cabaret doubleheader this week as ‘Cast Party,’ Composers Showcase give Cabaret Jazz a workout
Monday, Sept. 15, 2014
In the vicinity of these two showmen, no open mic is safe. We talk of the esteemed Jim Caruso and the similarly esteemed Keith Thompson, both of whom are bringing showcase performances to Cabaret Jazz this week. ...
Mayweather-Maidana rematch leads to another fan stampede at MGM Grand
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014
Fans streamed back into the arena about 9:20 p.m., as the crowd had largely emptied out of the venue. Hotel officials said initial reports of shots being fired and guns being drawn were false ...
Facing down the ’Zilla thrillas on Fremont Street
Friday, Sept. 12, 2014
First, you merely stare in suspended belief. You stare at the crowd massed far below as you are harnessed into a contraption hooked to a metal wire more than 100 feet above Fremont Street Experience. And you stare at ...
Bingo! Life Is Beautiful sets its gallery, street program in downtown Las Vegas
Friday, Sept. 12, 2014
Patrick Duffy sounds as if he’s on top of the world, and maybe he is, metaphorically. But in fact, he’s on top of an old hotel in downtown Las Vegas. “I’ve spent the day on the roof of the Western,” says the city’s great art collector ...
Pia Zadora suffers head injury in golf cart accident
Friday, Sept. 12, 2014
Las Vegas entertainer Pia Zadora suffered a head injury Thursday evening when she fell from a golf cart near her home in Summerlin, her husband, Mike Jeffries, said. Zadora, 60, is in intensive ...
Need a few bath towels? Styrofoam stage props? A chandelier? Hit the Clarion
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014
It’s the Crazy Clarion Liquidation Sale, one time only, happening at 10 a.m. today at the hotel on Convention Center Drive just west of the Marriott, east of the Royal Resort and … in the middle of our hearts. ...
Truck barrels through Stratosphere front entrance
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014
In what officials believe is the first such incident at the hotel, a vehicle crashed through the glass doors at the front entrance of the Stratosphere late Wednesday. Witnesses said ...
The pit is closed for the Dealertainers at the Quad
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014
The show’s closed for the Dealertainer lineup at the Quad. The approximately 30 dealers and performers who worked the Dealertainer pit at the hotel were reportedly told in a meeting Monday that the program would be ending ...
Like SLS, Delano Las Vegas seeks a new sense of self
Monday, Sept. 8, 2014
The objective at Delano Las Vegas is to be entirely unique from its former title. But it’s not as simple to achieve as it was at SLS. There is this niggling matter of a resort partnership with all of the other MGM Resorts properties, especially ...
Crazy Horse Too closed again: What went wrong?
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014
One of the most famous, and infamous, gentlemen's clubs in Las Vegas reopened last year after a long hiatus, but on a temporary license. A mix of unexpected tragedy and bad behavior conspired to prevent the establishment from earning a permanent license — for now.
A night with ‘Elvis’ helped Cyndi Lauper embrace Las Vegas
Friday, Sept. 5, 2014
Elvis changed Cyndi Lauper’s view of Vegas. It wasn’t really Elvis, of course. It never is. But the man in the jumpsuit braying “Suspicious Minds” was actually Lauper’s cousin Johnny Edwards ...
David Perrico’s departure trumpets end of era at ‘Pin Up’
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014
David Perrico, the highly regarded and extensively experienced music director of the production show at the Stratosphere, has told the show’s producers that he would be ...
Jerry Mitchell laces up ‘Boots’ in his return to Las Vegas
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014
“Kinky Boots” won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Choreography (marking Jerry Mitchell’s second Tony Award in a 25-year career, the first being for “La Cage Aux Follies” in 2005) and also for Best Score. ...
Cosmopolitan fires back at Spiegelworld with $6M countersuit in ‘Vegas Nocturne’ dispute
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014
In all, The Cosmopolitan specifies a half-dozen claims against Spiegelworld and is seeking more than $6 million in damages — not including punitive awards and legal fees. ...
What to know about The Other Hotel opening
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014
The opening of SLS Las Vegas has overshadowed another Strip hotel unveiling set for this week. The debut of Delano Las Vegas is upon us. The property once known as The Hotel at Mandalay Bay is ...
Club kingpin Mike Galam is out as Crazy Horse Too sits dark
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014
Um, maybe it’s the location? Maybe the parcel on which Crazy Horse Too is simply cursed? Not likely, but that enclave of debauchery ...
As Jerry Lewis accepts Australia’s top honor, rare MDA Telethon video surfaces
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014
There was once a time when the entire country was tuned in to Jerry Lewis on Labor Day Weekend, but on Friday afternoon it was a handful of dignitaries who joined Lewis at Reynolds Hall in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts ...
Real rockers Arsenal fuel ‘Rock of Ages’ at the Venetian
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014
“Rock of Ages,” which is deep into its second year at the Venetian, features a dynamite cast of Broadway-caliber performers but leans heavily on a live band at the back of the stage. ...
‘O’ artist released from hospital after suffering injury during Russian Swing act
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014
An artist in Cirque du Soleil’s production of “O” at Bellagio was injured Wednesday night after hitting the stage while dismounting from the show’s Russian Swing act. Cirque officials have ...
Singing, joking and grooving to the end, Cook E. Jarr closes with a flourish at Harrah’s
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014
What is to become of Cook E. Jarr, whose name brings to mind the heyday of Las Vegas lounge schmaltz? He arrived more than 30 years ago toting the act Cook E. Jarr & The Krums, ...
Add The Wayner to the Nevada 150 all-star show; Cook E. Jarr closes run at Harrah’s
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts President Myron Martin landed Mr. Las Vegas for the upcoming sesquicentennial all-star show Sept. 22 at Reynolds Hall: Wayne Newton has agreed to ...
From downtown to Sunset Station, the creative among us are cranking it up this evening
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014
Rare is it in VegasVille that we are treated to such a spate of groovy events on a Tuesday night. Tonight is one of those rare nights, as some hyper-creative artists are performing downtown, in Green Valley and on the Strip. ...
On tap for ‘Absinthe’: Twin dancing tandem of Sean & John
Monday, Aug. 25, 2014
Sean and John Scott, more famously known as Sean & John, are premiering in “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace on Thursday night. The duo has most recently performed in “Vegas Nocturne” at the Cosmopolitan’s Rose. Rabbit. Lie. but were left without a stage ...
Clarion, the former Debbie Reynolds hotel, to close Labor Day Weekend
Monday, Aug. 25, 2014
The hotel opened by film legend Debbie Reynolds on Convention Center Drive seems to be fading to black. The Clarion Hotel Casino has reportedly announced ...
SLS opening draws some real players; Jewelers of Las Vegas accessorizes Fred Segal
Monday, Aug. 25, 2014
The fury of Friday night’s grand opening at SLS Las Vegas has subsided, when guests began waiting in line for as long as 4 hours before the requisite fireworks, ribbon cutting and flooding of the casino floor at midnight. ...
Lawsuit: Siegel stiffed old family friend
Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014
Business has gotten personal between the daughter of prominent real estate agent David Atwell (who died in November) and timeshare mogul David Siegel, who recently bought ...
As it reignites north end of the Strip, SLS means Seeking Local Support
Friday, Aug. 22, 2014
It’s difficult not to feel melancholy as SLS Las Vegas resurrects this famous parcel at the corner of Sahara and the Strip. It’s been the zombie apocalypse on this corner long enough, three years and change since the closing of ...
Cirque plans to spin ‘Zumanity’ and ‘Love’ anew
Friday, Aug. 22, 2014
Cirque du Soleil put on quite a scene Thursday afternoon at McCarran International Airport, as artists from “Love” at the Mirage bounded about the baggage claim area to celebrate The Beatles’ performances at the Las Vegas Convention Center 50 years ago this week. ...
AFAN fills an LMNT-al need with Black & White Party host Bryan Chan
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014
Maybe LMNT was a big deal for boyband fans, but the troupe is but a memory today for Bryan Chan, who spent several years as the frontman for Chippendales at the Rio and Saturday night co-hosts the 28th annual AFAN Black & White Party at the Joint. ...
SLS boss giving resort’s ‘tribe’ a place to go
Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014
After three years of renovations, SLS Las Vegas is ready to open its doors to the public. The owner of the old Sahara insists he is not concerned about the resort’s location on the north end of the Strip. Here's why ...
Fright Dome fires up ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’
Friday, Aug. 15, 2014
In the horror-film genre, the most exciting form of massacre is, of course, a chainsaw massacre. Preferably achieved in the great state of Texas. Fright Dome is teaming with the great ...
It’s a return to ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ and ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ on the Strip
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014
I first caught The Fab at the late swill house Mad Dogs & Englishmen and also at the late lounge at Palace Station, spending quite a few addled evenings shouting such requests as “Rocky Raccoon!,” “Revolution No. 9!” and “Anything By The Rutles!” ...
From Las Vegas Convention Center to ‘Love,’ it’s a Beatles life
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014
“Unbelievable,” says Stuart Pitz, who was in the audience at the Convention Center for The Beatles on Aug. 20, 1964. “Deafening. Crazy. And what I remember at the start of that show was poor Jackie DeShannon, who was basically booed off the stage.” ...
‘Sydney’ might not go dark; Cheaza headed to China; fetching notes at Nevada SPCA charity event
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Starbucks on Sunday at Planet Hollywood, where upstairs the new adult revue “Sydney After Dark” from SPI Entertainment is performing its final show later at the old “Peepshow” showroom. ...
In Las Vegas, Robin Williams remembered as ‘one of the most beloved and respected comics ever’
Monday, Aug. 11, 2014
Jerry Lewis learned the news of the death of comic great Robin Williams this afternoon while Lewis was watching CNN. A phone call to Lewis at his Las Vegas home was ...
Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame gala is a champagne wishes and caviar dreams affair
Monday, Aug. 11, 2014
On Saturday night, I was glad to be present as the man I refer to as Ubiquitous Robin Leach (URL for short) was honored with the inaugural Mark Smith Ambassador Award by the Nevada Broadcasters Association at the Four Seasons Las Vegas.
After updated Facebook post, Beauty Bar owner drops lawsuit
Monday, Aug. 11, 2014
The lawsuit issued by Beauty Bar co-owner Darin Feinstein against club patron Megan Trivette has been withdrawn. The settlement was reached as Trivette, a customer who had posted on her personal Facebook page ...
Can a musical from Las Vegas make it in New York? Richard Oberacker is finding out with ‘Bandstand’
Friday, Aug. 8, 2014
Maybe the most apt way to describe Richard Oberacker’s emotions at the moment are “mitigated excitement.” His new musical “Bandstand: A Musical,” co-created with lyrics-writing partner Robert Taylor, could become "something extraordinary." ...
Spiegelworld takes the Cosmopolitan to court over ‘Vegas Nocturne’
Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014
On the night “Vegas Nocturne” closed at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Spiegelworld founder and self-styled impresario Ross Mollison raised a champagne glass and proclaimed, “ ‘Vegas Nocturne’ is a hit!” Since that night on July 12, the show has not been heard from ...
Old Vegas crooning at Wynn/Encore; Old Vegas oratory from Oscar Goodman
Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014
Oscar Goodman is getting worked up for his next monologue and (at times) standup appearance at the Plaza on Thursday night. This is the “Oscar’s Monologue” series; the topic is a favorite of the former mayor. ...
A snit, a post and a bizarre lawsuit at Beauty Bar
Monday, Aug. 4, 2014
Inside of a week of owning Beauty Bar, Darin Feinstein found himself in a verbal tiff with one of his patrons. Inside of a month, he has filed a lawsuit against that patron in a case ...
Palms’ sign change is a sign of the times; Franky Perez soars with strings
Friday, Aug. 1, 2014
When you spend as much time as I do at the Palms, you take note of even the subtlest changes. Such as, the removal of the Maloof family name from ...
‘Spider-Man’ is out, but something is brewing at Wynn/Encore
Friday, Aug. 1, 2014
Philip William McKinley’s name — all three of them, in fact — certainly surfaces with great frequency at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas. ...
‘Star Trek’s’ Walter Koenig still secure playing Chekov (with a V)
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Walter Koenig is an easygoing sort — until you question the Russian accent, which he exaggerated on a famous TV show a long time ago. ...
Tara Palsha’s teary departure; SLS finds fast friend in Monorail; ‘MDQ,’ ‘Jersey Boys’ represent on tavern scene
Monday, July 28, 2014
Tara Palsha cried her way through her final performance at “Vegas! The Show” on Friday night. Palsha is leaving this week for New York, to start a new life with her fiance, model Scott Moats, and to take a shot at ...
Westgate owner climbs high again; Agassi stays grounded in Reno
Sunday, July 27, 2014
David Siegel was raising crane again, while Andre Agassi was raising money for UNR and Greg Maddux was being praised in Cooperstown, N.Y. ...
‘Miss Dorothy’ ushers in her 90th birthday at Caesars; Pavel Chekov muses about brushes
Friday, July 25, 2014
The week was brightened by the smile of 90-year-old Colosseum usher Dorothy Brooks. “Miss Dorothy,” as she is uniformly known, celebrated that birthday Wednesday before the Shania Twain performance. Miss Dorothy still pulls three shifts a week at ...
A thunderstruck John Payne takes ‘Rock Vault’ to court
Thursday, July 24, 2014
As predictable as a rock fan shouting “Free Bird!” at a Skynyrd show, the dispute between John Payne and his former mates at “Raiding the Rock Vault” has wound up in court. That Payne sought a legal avenue in the wake of his departure from the show was ...
Nevada 150th all-star show is one to be remembered, if not recorded
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Thus far, the Nevada 150th event has snared an impressive lineup. Acts, individuals and productions to be represented include Las Vegas entertainment legend Jerry Lewis, Cirque du Soleil, “Jubilee,” “Jersey Boys,” ...
‘Scoring irregularities’ might send two Nevada contestants to national teen pageant
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
On June 1, Las Vegas Academy of Arts student Amy Smith was crowned Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen. Smith is representing our state at next week’s national competition in Orlando, Fla. If it were only that simple ...