CHICAGO Starring Christie Brinkley at the Venetian Theatre

Christie Brinkley and the national tour of the Tony Award-winning hit musical CHICAGO opened last night as Roxie Hart, for a limited seven-show engagement at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas through April 14, following a limited engagement at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. The show hits the stage at 7:30 p.m., has an intermission, with a total time of about 2 ¼ hours, every night.  There are two additional matinee shows at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14.

Christie Brinkley

Supermodel and actress Brinkley received critical acclaim in 2010 when she made her Broadway stage debut as merry murderess Roxie Hart in the Tony Award-winning hit musical CHICAGO. She continued her stage success reprising the role in London’s West End for a limited four-week run and again, wowed the sold-out audiences. She honed her comedy chops in the hit comedy “Celebrity Autobiography,” where superstar memoirs are acted out live on stage. “Celebrity Autobiography” featured first-rate comedic ensemble performing from the actual memoirs of a wide range of celebrities and in a reoccurring role as “Gayle Gergich” on the NBC hit comedy, Parks and Recreation.  Throughout her phenomenal career as one of the country’s most successful and recognizable supermodels, Christie excels as an artist, writer, photographer, designer, actress, philanthropist, environmentalist, and political activist. Combining her modeling experience with her artistic talents and diverse interests, Brinkley launched a line of natural skin care products as part of her company, Brinkley Beauty.

Now in its 22nd glorious year of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is the longest-running revival on Broadway and the longest-running American musical! With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse (whose life is currently an eight-part mini-series on FX with the title “Fosse/Verdon), music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

CHICAGO The Musical

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

This particular road tour is very fortunate to have the powerful voice of Lana Gordon playing the part of Velma Kelly, the prime performer in the play. Ms. Gordon sings most of the major hits in the show, including  “All that Jazz”, “Cell Block Tango”, “I Can’t do it Alone”, and “I Know a Girl.” She teams up with Roxie on “My Own Best Friend” closing out Act One. Gordon appeared on Broadway in The Lion King and the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. Over the last 10 years, she has performed throughout Europe in various productions including Chicago as Velma, Sister Act as Deloris Van Cartier, Tarzan as Kala, West Side Story as Anita, and the title role in Carmen Cubana.

Christie and Lana are joined on this tour by Peter Lockyer as Billy Flynn, Paul Vogt as Amos Hart, Jennifer Fouche as Matron “Mama” Morton, and D. Ratell as Mary Sunshine, and a group of 12 fantastic dancers, actors, and chorus.  This a tight tour.

Lana Gordon, Peter Lockyer and Christie Brinkley

Christie Brinkley is a nice surprise.  She has a very pleasant personality and connects well with her audience, especially when attired in the sheer black mini-dress, which of course shows her curves and all.  I personally found her performance as the lead actor in the 22-year-old- award- winning play well done. And the closing two numbers, “Nowadays” and “Hot Honey Rag.” performed by Christie and Lana are just what the audience came to see. Christie put a lot of work in coming back to the show after being away for a number of years, and it shows. She dances, acts, and sings and does a very professional job of it. In plain English, folks, she works her butt off!

The national tour is directed by David Hyslop and choreographed by David BushmanWalter Bobbie is the director of the original New York Production and Ann Reinking is the original choreographer in the style of Bob Fosse. CHICAGO features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer. The production also features orchestrations by Ralph Burns, supervising music direction by Rob Fisher.

Tickets for the engagement at The Venetian Theatre start at $75, plus applicable fees, and go on sale now. Tickets will be available for purchase at venetian.com, in person at The Venetian Resort box offices, or by phone at 702.414.9000 or 866.641.7469.

 

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:

Las Vegas Aviators: Aviator and Spruce

The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE: HHC) unveiled Tuesday evening, in true Las Vegas fashion, the new mascots for the Las Vegas Aviators®: Spruce and Aviator. Created expressly to illuminate and celebrate the team’s new aviation-themed moniker, the mascots made their Southern Nevada debut on April 9, 2019, at the season opener and first-ever game to be played at Las Vegas Ballpark®

“With a new name, a new Ballpark and a new affiliation with the Oakland Athletics, the Las Vegas Aviators have launched an exciting new chapter in the team’s 37-year history as the city’s oldest professional sports team,” said Don Logan, President and COO, Las Vegas Aviators. “The mascots are a fun way to better connect the team with the community, not only on game days but throughout the year,” he said. “We expect Spruce and Aviator to become staples at community events year-round, representing the team and putting a smile on the faces of everyone they meet. Mascots are not just for kids these days, but they are for fans of all ages. We are confident Spruce and Aviator will become popular team ambassadors.”

 

Las Vegas Ballpark

Originally from Las Vegas, Spruce is a goose who lived in the Bellagio fountain as a gosling. From a very early age, he was involved in “Show Biz,” given that his parents were part of a magic act on the Strip. In his new role as the Aviators’ mascot, he is thrilled to be following in their entertainment footsteps. One day when he was old enough to migrate, Spruce set off with his family, but quickly realized he wasn’t a great flyer. Looking for a soft landing, he spied the outfield pool at the Las Vegas Ballpark and decided to call it home. His new friends at the Ballpark named him “Spruce” after the Spruce Goose, the unofficial nickname of Howard Hughes’ H-4 Hercules aircraft, which flew just 70 feet above Long Beach Harbor before landing on the water.

Spruce now lives at the Ballpark full-time and dreams of being a great flyer and adventurer like his hero and fellow mascot, Aviator. He’ll do anything to impress him and even dresses like him but can’t seem to get it quite right. True to Spruce’s roots, he’s a larger-than-life character who is always getting in over his head. His aim in life is to fly again one day and hopefully the Las Vegas Ballpark fans will give him the uplift to get off the ground! His favorite food is the Hungry Hotshots Kids Meal at Las Vegas Ballpark; and his favorite film is “Top Gun,” of course.

Las Vegas Aviators

While Spruce is an open book, Aviator is a bit of a mystery. No one knows exactly where he came from or how he ended up at Las Vegas Ballpark, but his flight suit and gear are really out of this world, suggesting he’s had some pretty fantastic adventures and seen some astonishing places.  Rumor has it Aviator is an ex-pilot once stationed at Nellis Airforce base where he was testing the top secret “Intergalactic Jet Propulsion System” that appears on his flight suit today. He is still engaged in classified missions and, for this reason, he can never reveal his true identity.  Aviator loves helping young flyers to get off the ground and achieve the impossible. So much so, he’s taken Spruce under his wing and will try every trick in the book to get his friend airborne. Aviator is completely focused on Spruce, the team, and the fans, and never leaves a squad member behind.  Aviator loves The Hercules hotdog, part of the specialty FlyDog collection served at Las Vegas Ballpark. His favorite movie? “The Aviator,” of course!

The Las Vegas Aviators have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada. The 2019 campaign will mark the 37th season in the Silver State as a proud member of the Pacific Coast League and the inaugural season in the new Las Vegas Ballpark. The Stars (1983-2000)/51s (2001-18) have reached the 300,000 mark in “home” attendance in all 36 seasons previously at Cashman Field. The Aviators are also in their first season as the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, and the franchise won the PCL championship in 1986 and 1988.

Well, gang, I just want to letcha all know that a night at the Theater wouldn’t hurt. The price is right, and it’s a good show.

I’m outa here!

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