John Katsilometes

Story Archive

Big things happening for sports fans at Westgate
Monday, Nov. 9, 2015
Accelerating like an F-1 car hitting the green flag, Westgate officials are in the process of overhauling the hotel’s sports book. The process began in July, with a reported price tag of $13 million. The first phase is almost complete, and the result is, in fact, staggering.
Andy Walmsley’s ‘Drop the Mic’ ready for mime time Nov. 17 at SLS
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015
Emmy Award-winning set designer Andy Walmsley is producing “Drop the Mic.” This sleight-of-mouth cavalcade is set for Nov. 17 at the Sayers Club at SLS Las Vegas. In a distinctively Las Vegas moment, the idea was …
Las Vegas musical ‘The Bandstand’ gets shot on Broadway
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015
Richard Oberacker’s dream for “The Bandstand” was not always spoken. He never wanted to put out in the universe that the musical he had conceived and written with Robert Taylor was destined for Broadway. ...
Rewind: What could’ve been for Trump in downtown Las Vegas
Monday, Nov. 2, 2015
"I’ve never been in a room with such egos. I’ve never seen anything like it," Oscar Goodman recalls his wife saying about a conversation between himself and Donald Trump ...
Brief pay-to-park history; how Ross and Wynn nearly went commercial
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015
The Kats Report Bureau is abuzz with transportation concerns as they relate to the new Las Vegas Arena. We have been reminded this past week that MGM Resorts International might enact parking fees for events at the arena. The venue is to seat 20,000, and the vision for …
Is Las Vegas Arena in ultimate fight for naming rights?
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015
The Kats Report Bureau this week visited the Halloween party hosted by Matt and Angela Stabile at their home in Seven Hills. The Stabiles operate Stabile Productions, on something of a hot streak of late. ...
Monday By the Numbers: ‘Miami Vice’ and unicorn action with Penny Pibbets
Monday, Oct. 26, 2015
For the last several months, Penny Pibbets has been sending packages of odd items to those who donated to her Kickstarter campaign to fund “The Penny Pibbets Show,” which she performed a half-dozen times last December and ...
Penn Jillette’s atheist fundraiser: Bacon, skepticism and Trump on the side
Monday, Oct. 26, 2015
Gaining followers as he sheds weight, Penn Jillette realized a vision in the desert Sunday afternoon: The Slammer, his famous first Las Vegas home, has become a fortress for atheist and skeptical philosophies. That, and some ...
New look makes the most of Mandalay Bay’s great view
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015
For several years, the lofty storeroom at Mix restaurant at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay offered a picturesque view of the Strip. Problem was, hardly anyone could take a picture from that 64th-floor …
‘Divas’ Madonna tribute artist has his own blond ambition
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015
Fan first, tribute artist second. That is the order of progression for Kenneth Banks as he has portrayed Madonna for more than a decade in two Strip productions.
Cheeky changes at Sin City Theater as ‘Crazy Girls’ notches No. 28
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
Sin City Theater has been under operational shifts since “Crazy Girls” producer Norbert Aleman relocated the show. ...
Never arid, Cirque ready to overhaul ‘Love’ and ‘Believe’ in early 2016
Monday, Oct. 19, 2015
It was at Springs Preserve that Cirque du Soleil Senior Vice President Jerry Nadal put a timeline on some highly anticipated upgrades in a pair of shows on the Cirque docket: “Believe” at Luxor and “Love” at Mirage. ...
Monday By the Numbers: ‘Jersey Boys’ marks No. 3,000 on the Strip
Monday, Oct. 19, 2015
This week, Monday By the Numbers opens with a moment caught at the fifth-annual NF Hope Concert at the Venetian’s Sands Showroom. Members of the Paris Las Vegas show “Jersey Boys” were onstage to perform shtick with ex-cast member ...
Donny Osmond voices vocal recovery and return to Flamingo in 2016
Monday, Oct. 19, 2015
Fulfilling a promise he made two years ago to the family of his late friend and fellow Strip headliner Danny Gans, Osmond once more hosted the Danny Gans Memorial Run for Life, a benefit for the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. ...
Former child star’s new spotlight: activism
Monday, Oct. 19, 2015
John Katsilometes catches up with Danny Pintauro, the “Who’s the Boss?” actor who recently shared a big secret on national television and thrust himself into the role of HIV activist.
‘Rock of Ages’ in the final countdown at the Venetian
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015
“Rock of Ages” production members have learned through hotel staff and officials that the musical would be finished, part of a widespread move we’ll call the Venetian Sweep of productions ...
Hard Rock Hotel spaces out; ‘Baz’ meets Human Nature for the holidays
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Center Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel. This is my first sit-down visit to the recently renovated meeting place ...
Monday By the Numbers: ‘Alice’ goes skyward; Kenny Davidsen summons the ladies
Monday, Oct. 12, 2015
This week, Monday By the Numbers draws data from column favorites “Alice — A Steampunk Concert Fantasy” and Kenny Davidsen’s bow-tie-palooza at Tuscany. “Alice” returns to the stage and ...
Rick Harrison: ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ was never a ‘Pawn’ shot
Monday, Oct. 12, 2015
Rick Harrison made time for his presidential favorite, Marco Rubio, on Friday evening at the grand opening of Pawn Plaza. But Harrison has had no time for the TV show once hosted by Rubio’s rival, Donald Trump.
Janet Jackson’s May date in Las Vegas is Las Vegas Arena
Monday, Oct. 12, 2015
After Janet Jackson’s cancellation of her two shows at Planet Hollywood, the arena for her return to Las Vegas was listed as “MGM Arena.” That led to speculation that Jackson would be ...
Hard Rock Cafe has been part of Vegas lore for 25 years and counting
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015
The Hard Rock Café marked its 25th anniversary in September. In its honor, here are 25 facts about the venue ...
The Judds double down on that warm, family vibe
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015
Ya gotta love The Judds, for whom every day is Mother’s Day. Naomi and Wynonna have opened their series of nine performances, a mix of music and mirth, at Venetian Theater. ...
Monday By the Numbers: NBT, Cirque in step for ‘A Choreographers’ Showcase’
Monday, Oct. 5, 2015
The performances are Sunday, and again Oct. 18, at Mystere Theater in Treasure Island. These one-of-a-kind showcases are at 1 p.m.; tickets are $25 and $45 and available at NevadaBallet.org.


Route 91 uses more than one route to appeal to masses; Phish talk abounds
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is once more Route 91 Harvest Country Music Fest at Las Vegas Village. Huge operation. As Hilary Rodham Clinton once said, it takes, like, an entire community … a township …
Failing bus doesn’t stop A Thousand Horses at Route 91; ‘Rock Vault’ shuffles lineup
Friday, Oct. 2, 2015
Performing to great response as the sun goes down is A Thousand Horses, who earlier today were calling out, “My kingdom for a thousand horses,” as the band’s bus broke down en route to ...
‘Green River’ meets Canal Shops as John Fogerty set for eight-show spree at Venetian
Friday, Oct. 2, 2015
The onetime home of “Phantom” is welcoming John Fogerty. Announced today is a quickie residency by rock icon Fogerty at Venetian Theater from Jan. 8 to 23. This confirms information ...
No MGM Resorts: It’s now Las Vegas Village and Las Vegas Festival Grounds
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015
Turns out these “MGM Resorts” titles have been a little too, shall we say, narrowly focused. Today the names of the wide-open spaces that host music and cultural festivals on the Strip are ...
Citing voice issues, Janet Jackson calls off Axis performances
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015
According to a news release sent by Live Nation, which is booking Janet Jackson’s tour, the 49-year-old superstar is following medical advice to rest her vocal cords. ...
Charlie Daniels hits December gold with official NFR song
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015
Charlie Daniels owes his affiliation with Las Vegas to Lake Tahoe. And Frank Sinatra. And Willie Nelson. This rodeo ride to Las Vegas does make sense, as it has led ...
Can arena lure Mayweather into ring to fight Pacquiao again?
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015
Based on the announcement that George Strait will be one of the first entertainers to play at Las Vegas Arena, there was a strong feeling that Floyd Mayweather Jr. indeed would fight ...
Buddy, ‘Baz’ and Burton top notes on the scene
Friday, Sept. 25, 2015
I have to reinforce my support of “For the Record: Baz” here, as the long-ago column from … what, Thursday? … seemed to indicate I have a waning confidence in the show’s prospects in Las Vegas. ...
Viva Imagine Dragons: Band is kicking around ‘Vegas’ song idea
Friday, Sept. 25, 2015
Imagine Dragons needs a Las Vegas song. Not a song that is sort of ambiguously about their history in Las Vegas. “It’s Time” is that sort of song. But a song that describes the city ...
Monday By the Numbers: Pitbull and poetry; Lionel Richie and his ’84 Olympic party
Monday, Sept. 21, 2015
This week, after a brief respite of one (or, 1) week, Monday By the Numbers is back and focusing on this obvious pairing: Lionel Richie and Pitbull. It’s not such an ill-fitting duo given ...
Mr. Las Vegas is back: Wayne Newton returns to Shenandoah
Monday, Sept. 21, 2015
Wayne Newton, for decades an icon of the Las Vegas entertainment scene, thought he’d never return to Casa de Shenandoah, where he’d lived since 1968. Buzz Aldrin seemed more likely to return to ...
J.Lo promises ‘All I Have’ during big closing night at iHeartRadio Festival
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015
This year’s iHeartRadio Music Festival lineup was as robust as ever, although late drops by Janet Jackson (for an ear malady) and The Who (viral meningitis for Roger Daltrey) cut into ...
Casa de Shenandoah shines amid stars; Piff parlays ‘AGT’ run into headlining gig
Friday, Sept. 18, 2015
The Wayne Newton museum is now open, and the VIP party Thursday drew an impressive and wide-ranging collection of Las Vegas name-checks. Carrot Top; Lance Burton; Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton-Holmes; Sabrina Bryan; Melody Sweets of “Absinthe”; Mark Shunock, Troy Burgess and Robert Torti of “Rock of Ages”; Jennifer Cox; Chippendales guest host Tyson Beckford; and ...
Door is open for Jerry Seinfeld in Las Vegas, especially if he’s holding it
Monday, Sept. 14, 2015
Jerry Seinfeld is on the other line, and he is explaining how his inventive mind can still open doors to new material. That is actually how he develops a new joke, sometimes. ...
He kept the party going on Fremont Street
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015
Jeff Victor, president of the Fremont Street Experience, has been instrumental in organizing nightly events in downtown Las Vegas and has less than a month left on the job. Today, live performances are staged every night at ...
Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto: Sights and sounds from MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Andre Berto engage in "High Stakes" at MGM Grand, with the stakes for Mayweather very high as he puts his unbeaten record on the line ...
Jerry Lewis makes trophy case; Siegfried & Roy deal four of a kind
Friday, Sept. 11, 2015
Wayne Newton will be awarding Jerry Lewis a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Global Gaming Expo during the G2E awards ceremony Sept. 30 at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel. The ...
SLS Las Vegas-Fred Segal ‘productive collaboration’ closes out
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015
For the hotel’s first year of operations, Fred Segal was the exclusive clothing and accessories retailer at SLS Las Vegas. The hotel now has other plans.
How ABBA wound up playing in Las Vegas church; Lisa Marie Smith signs for another year in ‘Pin Up’
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015
“Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” keyboard virtuoso Tom Lipps has a pretty spirited side gig: He fills in occasionally at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway in Henderson.
‘Alice’ rolls into Brooklyn Bowl
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015
The rock musical/production show “Alice — A Steampunk Concert Fantasy” is back onstage Oct. 13, booked for a one-off at Brooklyn Bowl in the Linq Promenade. ...
After 45 years, Tiffany Dry Cleaners is movin’ on up
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015
After 45 years in Commercial Center, the preferred cleaner of many Strip productions is relocating to a larger space.
Headliner action at Axis; Flavor Flav lights up Carrot Top’s show at Luxor
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015
This was Friday in a nutshell — a nutshell wrapped in neon — for The Kats Report Bureau: A Q+A column about Naomi Judd. Afternoon rehearsal action with Criss Angel as he preps his “Supernaturalists” production ...
Naomi Judd: ‘I’m psyched’ for The Judds’ run at Venetian
Friday, Sept. 4, 2015
Naomi and Wynonna Judd are riding into the Wild West village of … well, the Venetian Theater, on Oct. 7. The Judds are booked for nine shows in the former “Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular” theater. The dates …
On the funny beat: Kevin Hart looms large at Cosmopolitan; Rocks Lounge reaches for laughs; Bonkerz goes long at the Sayers Club
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Fuel coffee bar at the Hard Rock Hotel, where the home entertainment center is playing video and audio of Bob Marley & The Wailers in concert, “I Shot the Sheriff” the selected number.
Monday By the Numbers: Celine’s standing O’s, ‘Baz’s’ run at Light, AFAN and a whole lotta tail
Monday, Aug. 31, 2015
Monday By the Numbers this week visits the Colosseum, Light, the Spiegeltent and the Joint. These are spaces. The humans are Celine Dion, the cast of “Baz,” Melody Sweets and the crowd at the annual AFAN Black & White Party. ...
Don’t shoehorn Steve Madden into one niche
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015
Designer of women’s shoes hopes to expand his brand to higher circles of fashion.
All by herself? Not Celine Dion, who soars in return to Colosseum
Friday, Aug. 28, 2015
We are so fully aware of Celine Dion’s family and life story because she has grown so naturally into our own Las Vegas community. She is willing to share her life’s triumphs and struggles, during performances onstage and away ...