There’s a new show in town, folks, and its downtown at Hennessey’s Tavern, 425 Fremont Street (actually corner of Fremont & Las Vegas Blvd. South). “Only You,” starring Derek David, opened earlier this month and has been receiving rave reviews from fellow scribes. I personally have not been downtown to see it for myself, but plan on seeing it soon.
David, a 40-year member of the Platters, is trying to revive the true dinner show, by inviting everyone to take a trip down memory lane with some of the biggest hit makers to ever perform on a stage in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Besides Derek, “Only You” will showcase some of the most popular music and, hopefully, dazzle audiences with such hits as “The Great Pretender,” “What Becomes of a Broken Heart,” “Twilight Time” and, of course, the title song, “Only You.”
“It’s our hope that the resurrection of soulful music from some of the best singers in Las Vegas will become a regular stop for residents and visitors alike,” David said.
“Only You” showcases a number of singers. Besides David, there will be Rheda K. Solo of the Marvelettes, Arnold Parker of the Platters, Terrance Forsythe, Donald Pinkney and pianist Paul Badia. Choreography was designed by Papote Varet, with the showroom and costumes designed by Executive producer, Rita Bliss.
A three-course dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. with the show start set for 8:00 p.m. nightly (dark on Tuesdays). Tickets start at $39.95, plus fees, for general admission, and $69.95, plus fees, for VIP seating. Call 702-382-4421 for reservations.
Keeping with Downtown, “The Fremont Street Experience,” is gearing up to get pretty groovy with its “Summer of the ‘70s” promotion. The music and culture from the decade of the 1970s will return to downtown this summer with a festival and free concert series. The 102-day promotion will kick off Memorial Day Weekend and run through Labor Day Weekend.
“This year, as a follow-up to last year’s successful ‘Summer of ’69’ which drew record nightly crowds to the downtown area, we decided to move to the next decade and focus on the ‘70s,” Jeff Victor, president of the Fremont Street Experience, said. “Throughout this summer, we will present headliners and tribute bands who will bring back the diverse music of the decade.”
Some of those groups are disco diva Gloria Gaynor, who will be performing the opening weekend, followed on June 5 by glam rockers, “Sweet,” during the Vegas Cruise car show weekend. Some of the other groups booked are: The Little River Band, Blue Oyster Cult and Jefferson Starship, who will rock on Sept. 4, (Las Vegas is one of the groups’ stops during its 40th anniversary tour). There will also be an Ultimate Elvis Weekend, with a contest, on July 23-24, to find the best Elvis in Las Vegas.
THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:
Earlier this month officials from the M Resort Spa Casino and Cox Communications announced an agreement to televise the M Resorts innovative new cooking show, “Martini Time with Chef Tina Martini.” The show airs on Cox 96 in Southern Nevada three times a day, two days a week. Check you cable guide for time and days.
If you remember, we wrote a review on Ms. Martini in a column a while back and, at that time, I thought it just might end up as a real live TV show. Ms. Martini is known as the “naturopathic chef,” with her unique ability to connect and educate people on the nutritional value of food we eat. Chef Tina will continue to perform her regular live shows, Thursday-Sunday at Noon and 4 p.m. in the custom cooking studio inside the Studio B Buffet. For ticket information call (800) 745-3000.
Cedar City residents, and actors from around the globe, are in the final stage of preparations for the forthcoming Utah Shakespearean Festival, which gets underway the end of June and runs through Oct. 23. A special announcement was made earlier this month at a press conference held in Salt Lake City, that two long-time Utah Festival actors and directors were named as joint artistic directors for the Tony Award-winning theatre company: David Ivers and Brian Vaughn were given the honors after working as actors and directors for more than fifteen years.
Ivers comes to Utah from the Denver Center Theatre Company in Colorado, where he spent nine seasons as a resident artist. Vaughn is coming from the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, where he has been a member of the resident acting company since 1997. The two men take over the organization, which has been previously managed by two associate artistic directors, Kathleen F, Conlin, and J.R. Sullivan, in addition to R. Scott Phillips, who will continue to serve as executive director.
Well, gang, another week of news. I’m outa here!