Comedian Jeff Wayne, who just happens to have a face like Fred Flintstone, the body of a true Southerner who loves greasy, sloppy, in your face barbeque food, and the robust humor of the late great Burl Ives, will be performing his one-man show, “Big Daddy’s Barbeque,” for one day only at the Starbright Theater, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., Summerlin, Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Los Angeles Times says this show is “Ferociously funny.” Variety dubbed the show “a one-man riot.” NPR says, “Jeff Wayne has an attitude like Al Bundy, this guy is laughs plus!” Wayne spent many hours researching barbeques, as he began writing the show. Once it was on paper he went to his friend, Ted Lange, who is best remembered as, Isaac (the bartender) on the television series, “The Love Boat,” and asked him if he would direct the show. Lange has kept busy since the “Boat” years directing movies. He just completed filming 26 episodes of “Mr. Box Office,” starring Jon Lovitz, and will be on the “Love Boat” float in the annual Rose Bowl Parade.
Jeff has performed the show over 1,000 times in over thirty cities. From its debut it was a critical and popular success, so much so a television pilot by NBC was made. Wayne and Lange decided it was time to bring “Big Daddy,” to Las Vegas, and this will be its Las Vegas debut. The original national tour and eventual success, was largely obtained by following Rob Becker’s one-man show, “Defending The Caveman,” which continues its long run on the Las Vegas Strip. Kevin Burke, star of, “Caveman,” said of Wayne, “Jeff Wayne is funny. I know he made me laugh so hard, I blew diet Pepsi through my nose. Several times.”
The plot of the show is simple: Jeff plays a letter carrier on his day off. He has his weekly barbeque, where he invites his friends over (the audience), and as he cooks Wayne pontificates and opines. “They say you should cut down on red meat, I stopped using Ketchup.” And he tells his audience about the lady we never see but her presence permeates, his XX-wife Phyllis. “Yes we were married, divorced and then I remarried, I wanted my house back!” There is a problem at today’s barbeque, Phyllis has been given tickets to the opera, and she wants to go. Big Daddy doesn’t. Many critics have had the same response, “it’s like watching Ralph and Alice Kramden in the “Honeymooners,” as Big Daddy tries to laugh, sing and dance his way out of going to the opera.
Wayne was always a funny kid, and as soon as he was able to leave Kentucky, Jeff traveled west to learn how to make people laugh, eventually landing at the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood. A seasoned veteran today, Wayne continues to perform his stand-up comedy at clubs, colleges, cruise lines, and on all the top television shows such as HBO, Showtime, A&E, Fox, and Comedy Central. The late Joe Delaney, of The Las Vegas Sun, tagged him as a “blue collar Lenny Bruce.”
Show time will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday Sept. 21. Tickets are priced at $15.00. And, for the first time, tickets may be purchased on line by going to: http://scscai.com/scscai_home_about.html, and click on ‘BUY TICKETS,” or call the theater box-office at 702-240-1301. “Big Daddy’s Barbecue” is just one of many productions staged by Mistinguett Productions.
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The Venetian Las Vegas and GOMM Productions, LLC have partnered to bring a special engagement, “GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles,” to The Venetian Theatre this week, pre-opening Thursday, Sept. 18. This groundbreaking new show will feature a host of esteemed stars including Emmy award-winner Clint Holmes, 10-time Grammy award-winning vocal group TAKE 6, six-time Grammy nominee and DownBeat Vocalist of the Year Nnenna Freelon, and Stella Gospel Award and Grammy award-winning saxophone star Kirk Whalum. The show also introduces the Las Vegas Mass Choir, under the direction of James R. Smith and Edie Aikels, and features the Las Vegas All-Star Big Band, under the direction of pianist and conductor, David Loeb. This dynamic ensemble of all-star performers will celebrate the genius of American music, Mr. Ray Charles, through GEORGIA ON MY MIND, in the Venetian Theatre through October 29, 2014.
“We are excited to bring this unique show to The Venetian and to fans from around the world who visit Las Vegas,” said John Caparella, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo, and Sands Expo. “It’s a joy to bring audiences back to the golden age of renowned artists performing great songs with a live big band and choir on a world-class stage. The artists in this performance have a combined 11 Grammys, and Vegas’ own Clint Holmes is making his return to the Las Vegas Strip after eight years. This is a celebration of the genius Ray Charles and an evening with “GEORGIA ON MY MIND,” will be a night to remember.”
Ray Charles is an American treasure who transcended racism, cultural upheavals, and spread his gospel, blues, jazz and country sound around the world. Charles won every major award from the Georgia Hall of Fame to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, from the Kennedy Honors to a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. This show celebrates his music.
“GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating The Music of Ray Charles,” is produced and directed by award-winning music producer Larry Rosen and is part of his JAZZ ROOTS Concert Series. The current presentation at The Venetian Theatre is presented by producer Larry Rosen and entertainment executive/producer Peter Primont through GOMM Productions, LLC.
“Our mission is to honor Ray’s life and his music,” Rosen said. “It is extremely important that people understand that this music, which was created in America by a diverse society, is celebrated all over the world. The music is a melding of blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and lots of soul. It will make you clap your hands, move your body, and enjoy being alive.”
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling The Venetian Box Office at 702-414-9000 or online at www.venetian.com. For more information on “GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles,” and the musical performers please visit http://bit.ly/VenetianGOMM.
Langdon Flynn Communications, a Las Vegas-based Public Relations firm, today announced the promotion of Michelle St. Angelo to the role of Vice President. St. Angelo had served as the firm’s Director of Development for the previous three years. “Three years ago we made the decision to bring Michelle in to our firm,” said Steve Flynn. “It was one of the best decisions we made as a company. Her role in helping chart the course for Langdon Flynn has been invaluable and the progression to her new role was a natural one.”
“Michelle brings a ton of experience and savvy to our Vice President position, plus a tremendous relationship with both our client base and our internal staff,” Ken Langdon added. “As someone who had a successful business before joining us at Langdon Flynn, I have the utmost confidence in her capabilities as our company continues to evolve.” In addition to her development role, St. Angelo will oversee a variety of aspects of public relations for the company that lists such high profile accounts as The Venetian and Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, the Life is Beautiful Festival, AEG Live Las Vegas, Wolfgang Puck Restaurants, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, Carrot Top, Stations Casinos, Human Nature, and Rao’s Restaurant Group among others. The firm will celebrate its fifth year in business this coming November. “Working at Langdon Flynn beside Ken and Steve for the last three years has been a great joy of mine, and a rewarding career move,” stated St. Angelo. “I’m humbled by their decision to promote me, grateful to continue my work with an amazing team of professionals, and excited by the new growth opportunities ahead for our agency.”
Bill Dawes, who is headlining this week in the Laugh Factory at the New Tropicana Hotel along with Tina Giorgi, and Las Vegas native Jay Reid, is a triple threat: actor, comedian, and writer, whose high-energy delivery mixes adult subjects with comedy everyone can relate to. He has appeared in several hit shows including “Sex and the City,” “Oz,” and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” in addition to recurring roles on “Damages,” “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” Dawes also played an acting and writing role in the DVD cult hit “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.” As a comic, Dawes just finished co-starring in his second Broadway show, “Bronx Bombers,” where he starred as Mickey Mantle.
Ms. Giorgi is a crowd-pleasing intelligent comedienne. Reviewers refer to her performances as “comedy with a brain.” She has been featured on CBS’s “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” Fox’s “Comics Unleashed,” and Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.” She can also be heard weekly on the New York radio show “Mulrooney in the Morning.” Giorgi’s proudest acting accomplishments occurred recently with her participation in the original comedy, “Shut Up Sit Down & Eat,” a hilarious night of Italian dysfunction. Giorgi co-wrote and co-stars in the groundbreaking comedy with four other stand-up comics. The show is currently running off-Broadway in New York City.
Since age 19, Jay Reid has been entertaining audiences in small clubs throughout Las Vegas, and has since appeared in comedy venues from Los Angeles to Iraq. Reid’s first big break came when he was chosen to be a contestant on BET’s “Coming to the Stage,” a comedy competition, where he went head-to-head in a weekly comedic battle against other rising comedians. The popular funnyman was featured in the blockbuster movie, “21” starring Kevin Spacey. He recently appeared on Showtime’s highly anticipated comedy special “Bill Bellamy’s Ladies Night Out Comedy Tour” and currently travels the country with Bill Bellamy on the hot-ticket tour.
Well, gang, that’s about it for yet another week.