John Katsilometes

Story Archive

Shangela steps to the front as ‘53X’ takes shape
Friday, March 25, 2016
Shangela takes a seat at a table near the performance stage of “53X,” and it is apparent instantly that this person is a singular embodiment of the show: She … is … hosting. ...



Cameo’s Larry Blackmon explains red codpiece; ‘Alice’ blows up at Brooklyn Bowl
Friday, March 25, 2016
“Alice: A Steampunk Rock Concert” played its most recent date Wednesday night at Brooklyn Bowl. The latest change in the production is in the form of the backing band. ...
Chloe Crawford to co-star in Criss Angel’s ‘Mindfreak Live!’ at Luxor
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Criss Angel has made official what has been apparent since last fall: He plans to make Chloe Crawford a star in his magic universe. Crawford is to be a co-star in ...
Lorena Peril’s next port is a return to ‘Fantasy’
Monday, March 21, 2016
Having toured Europe and set up shop in Puerto Vallarta over the past three years, Lorena Peril is returning to Las Vegas for what she says is …
Monday By the Numbers: An ode to a comic for the ages
Monday, March 21, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers is dedicated to one of our favorite comedy legends. First, a quick story about this man, one I have told before: About a decade ago, I was working out on a StairMaster at Las Vegas Athletic Club ...
Jerry Lewis’ nutty 90th: Jokes, revelry and two cakes
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Throughout the day Wednesday, Jerry Lewis was wondering if anything was being planned for his 90th birthday. He was asking his family such cryptic questions as, “Are we doing anything tonight?” Of course. Lewis was given a surprise wingding at ...
Tropicana acts quickly on cutting loose Jan Rouven
Thursday, March 17, 2016
This might be the fastest vanishing act in the history of Strip entertainment. Having been arrested by the FBI on child pornography charges, illusionist Jan Rouven has been ...
Party purveyor: Pitbull returns to the Axis to unleash more ‘Time of Our Lives’
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Musically, Pitbull rolls out an impressive collection of club hits that leave you thinking, “I didn’t know that was a Pitbull song.”
Jerry Lewis at 90: ‘It’s a monster number’
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
The gentleman at the right is seated just off the aisle at the Jennifer Lopez show “All I Have” at Axis at Planet Hollywood. Delivering him to this spot in this 4,000-seat venue has been ...
Parking 101: An insider’s advice on how to navigate Las Vegas garages
Sunday, March 13, 2016
John Katsilometes attends a lot of events around Las Vegas, so he’s become a bit of an expert on getting in and out of parking garages efficiently. He shares some of his secrets ...
‘Spoofical’ cleans up the ‘Poop’; ‘Showstoppers’ seeks singer
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Las Vegas producer David Saxe has pulled the reins on his “Spoofical the Musical” production, which has been pushed back by several weeks from its originally announced Feb. 8 opening ...
Billy Idol brings an unbridled energy to his House of Blues residency
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
"We’re celebrating what we’ve done, in a way, and that’s why we’re playing this Vegas revue."
Sir George Martin’s love for The Beatles never flagged
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
The opening might of “The Beatles Love” in June 2006 was so spirited that I walked fast on my way out of the theater so I could spin around and see the expressions on the faces of that first audience. ...
Dunn’s not done as ‘Together in Vegas’ adds July dates at the Colosseum
Monday, March 7, 2016
Ronnie’s ready to rock. A corner of the triangle of country superstars Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn is prepped for a return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Ronnie Dunn is ...
Monday By the Numbers: USA Sevens, Cameo, more Chazz Palminteri
Monday, March 7, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers returns with a flourish, focusing on charity and rugby and some funk. ...
Elvis exhibits in need of a makeover
Sunday, March 6, 2016
If the King is going to remain relevant for future generations, the people who want to preserve his legacy need to figure out more engaging ways to present his story ...
Original Santana lineup to jam once more at House of Blues
Friday, March 4, 2016
The legendary band that Carlos Santana reassembled in the studio is reuniting onstage, too. The original Santana band featuring Gregg Rollie on keyboards, Neal Schon on guitar, Michael Carabello on percussion and ...
A Vegas Tale: Chazz Palminteri to talk it up at Italian American Club
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Chazz Palminteri tells a story about vodka, but, as so many of his stories, it is really about people. ...
Mike Tyson squares off with himself in ‘Undisputed Truth’
Thursday, March 3, 2016
The former heavyweight champion's autobiographical monologue returns to the MGM Grand and runs through June 26.
A $4.5 million violin is placed in the hands of Las Vegas ace at L.V. Phil show
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is New York-New York, where on Saturday the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is hosting its annual head-shaving fundraiser ...
Prima long overdue for primo Vegas real estate
Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016
It seems so simple to rename a street for a famous person. Unfortunately, it's not.
Steve Martin + Martin Short = March 6 at Caesars — then what?
Monday, Feb. 22, 2016
Steve Martin will be joined by Martin Short on March 6 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show is titled “An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life” and is to be an onstage back-and-forth ...
Monday By the Numbers: Ready for run-walk action with Cirque du Soleil
Monday, Feb. 22, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers focuses on the 15th annual “Run Away With Cirque du Soleil” 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk set for March 12 at Springs Preserve. ...
Kats’ 50th birthday soiree Feb. 28 is fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Monday, Feb. 22, 2016
We’re using the event of my 50th birthday to have a bash worthy of that demarcation and also to raise money for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds childhood cancer treatment and research. ...
Chippendales hits new heights at Chateau with ‘53X’
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016
The first Chippendales offshoot in Las Vegas, “53X” opens March 11 at Chateau at Paris Las Vegas. Performances are 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets start at $29.95 for ...
Giles Martin is asked, ‘You know Paul McCartney?’; cupid’s arrow finds Brad Garrett
Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016
If you are asking the musical question, “Where’s the 'Love' at Mirage?": The Cirque-Beatles production is dark for upgrades to the show, which eventually will coincide with its ...
Mr. Las Vegas grateful to serve those who serve
Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016
John Katsilometes checks in with Wayne Newton, a longtime supporter of the USO who recently celebrated the organization’s 75th anniversary.
To the finale, ‘Jubilee’ was in a class by itself
Friday, Feb. 12, 2016
Showgirls have a way of crying. The tears fall and flow, but the smiles are ever-radiant. The look on the faces of those elegant women and, yes, the oft-overloooked showboys was one of …
The ‘Jubilee’ conundrum: The showgirl production was beautiful, but got trapped in time
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016
The curtain closes on the iconic show on February 11.
Forever a showgirl, Diane Palm bids adieu to ‘Jubilee’
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016
You feel this moment coming as Diane Palm talks of her days in “Jubilee.” This feeling hangs heavily over the conversation, that sense that stuff is about to get real. It happens when Palm is asked what advice she would give herself ...
Mike Tyson’s combination of ‘scripted freestyle’ is back for Round 2 at MGM Grand
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016
Mike Tyson’s introspection, talking of being a husband and parent, has always belied his glowering image as one of the storied heavyweights in boxing history. It is that quality that has made his autobiographical one-man show, “Undisputed Truth,” a hit ...
Hall & Oates: Great duo, great deal at MGM Grand
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016
Hall & Oates are rightfully billed as a multiplatinum rock duo, but you won’t have to dole out multiplatinum prices to see them play MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 23. ...
Monday By the Numbers: Sports books’ semi-Super profit, Chinese New Year and supercharged cars
Monday, Feb. 8, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers takes a spin with Super Bowl 50, Chinese New Year and our friends at Dream Racing, the supercar attraction, which in January celebrated its fourth ...
An Oscar Goodman-Pete Rose gambling summit? Bet on it
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016
During the past two days, we’ve hit Brody Dolyniuk’s orchestral production at the Smith Center, visited Mr. Lucky’s 24/7 at Hard Rock Hotel, met up with the L.V. Phil, Storm Large and Pink Martini before that performance ...
What’s to come of the brightest stars of ‘Jubilee’?
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016
To the millions who have seen “Jubilee” over its 34-year history, the costumes have been as much a part of the show as the performers. They are stars unto themselves, these ...
Paul Johnson nails it down as the new Drew in ‘Rock of Ages’
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016
Paul Johnson can at once rock, and build, the house. A man who hammers it down on and off the stage, Johnson has ascended the spiral staircase of “Rock of Ages” at ...
Rocking in Rio with ‘Ages’ changes; L.V. Phil takes on pink hue
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016
One performer who will not rock in Rio for long is Mark Shunock, the magnanimous actor who portrays Lonny who has announced on his Facebook page that he is leaving ...
Monday By the Numbers: A statistical summary of Super Bowl 50
Monday, Feb. 1, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers focuses on Super Bowl 50, where we finally drop the Roman numerals and ask the question, “In how many Super Bowls did Roman Gabriel of the Rams play?” ...
CEO says MGM Resorts’ Park will be a busker-free zone
Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016
John Katsilometes relays a message from CEO Jim Murren about why SpongeBob SquarePants will not be welcome at the new entertainment …
The Amazing Johnathan, Psychic Tanya and ‘Mondays Dark’ prove Las Vegas charity knows no bounds
Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016
Sometimes you don’t see the busy weeks coming. The week just passed was one of those in VegasVille, a weeklong rollout of parties, performances and events that was almost impossible for even this scribe to …
Jerry Lewis returns — briefly — as MDA spokesman
Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016
Jerry Lewis is back as a spokesman on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, having recorded a video in support of the MDA’s new logo and tagline. The clip is to be used ...
The Kats Report: J.Lo’s ‘All I Have’ goes all-out all the time
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016
The production is generous, tireless and imaginative—all qualities shared by Lopez. There are no half-measures with this woman, and at the end you feel spent, which is the intended result.
Zowie Bowie leaves Station Casinos: ‘Nobody is more shocked that I’ve done this than me’
Monday, Jan. 25, 2016
Chris Phillips told me, “I am tired of doing the high-leg kicks and having a job that is all about making people dance and buy alcohol. I’m so over all of that, and I’m the kind of guy who needs to be hungry to make something happen.” ...
Monday By the Numbers: A standing ‘O’ for one of Cirque’s greatest shows
Monday, Jan. 25, 2016
This week, Monday By the Numbers delves (or, dives) into “O” at Bellagio. This show remains one of Cirque’s bestselling and most-appreciated productions, (water) logging more than 17 years on the Strip. I caught the show again ...
Santana sets release date for ‘Santana IV’; ONJ and Marie Osmond bond at NBT
Monday, Jan. 25, 2016
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Mizuya lounge at Mandalay Bay, where the band of the moment is The Limit, fronted by John Lombardo, an original singing gondolier at the Venetian and stellar rock vocalist. The tune is ...
Heard it through the grapevine, and it is fact: John Fogerty is back this fall
Monday, Jan. 25, 2016
It is not a surprise that rock legend John Fogerty has added more dates to the eight he banked in his first spree covering this month. The show was terrific, the biggest pure rock show in that venue and among the most electrifying of ...
Rick Harrison of ‘Pawn Stars’ plans sports memorabilia authentication event
Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016
Harrison recently campaigned for his buddy, Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio, at an event at the Intercontinental Miami hotel. In October, Rubio was on hand for the grand opening of Pawn Plaza, Harrison’s cluster of businesses on the same parcel as Gold …
It’s game(s) on at Encore Players Club; Adrian Zmed keeps score with ‘Grease 2’ revival
Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
Adrian Zmed has reportedly played the role of Danny Zuko onstage more than any other actor, dating to various Broadway and national tours of “Grease.” ...
Hoda and Jenna of ‘Today’ hit Las Vegas: ‘Everybody’s a something’
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016
In our 24/7 town, there is always time for “Today,” and the NBC morning show hit the Strip for a live broadcast this morning and banked Friday’s show from Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace. ...
Human Nature to launch ‘Jukebox’ at Sands Showroom in March
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016
Sidestepping the Motown theme that has proven so successful at two Las Vegas hotels, Human Nature is launching “Jukebox,” set to open March 29 at their home theater, Sands Showroom ...