Rob Garrett and Jason Tenner, at Westgate Las Vegas

Rob Garrett
Rob Garrett

Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino has announced the addition of two new entertainment offerings in the Shimmer Cabaret, “Neil Diamond: The Tribute,” starring Rob Garrett as the “King of Diamonds,” and the K.O.D. Band will begin on Wednesday, September 24. A revamped, “Purple Reign: THE Prince Tribute Show,” starring Jason Tenner will debut on Wednesday, October 1.

“Westgate is committed to entertaining audiences with a variety of world-class entertainment options,” said Rick White, Vice President of Entertainment at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. “Both of these amazing and highly-entertaining tribute shows are sure to excite our guests. We look forward to seeing how customers respond to the new line up at the Shimmer Cabaret, which now includes two kings and a prince.”

Often referred to as the “King of Diamonds,” the “Neil Diamond: The Tribute show,” is a spellbinding recreation that makes audience members proud of the portrayal of the legendary superstar. Known as “America’s #1 Neil Diamond Tribute Artist,” Garrett has been performing as Neil Diamond for more than 20 years, and has received numerous awards including the “2008/2009 Male Musical Tribute Act of the Year,” award presented by the Entertainment Network at the Celebrity Impersonator Convention. The show can be seen nightly at 8:30 p.m., dark Monday and Tuesday. Tickets start at $45. Locals can receive 2-for-1 pricing and military personnel can purchase tickets for $19.

“Purple Reign: THE Prince Tribute Show,” is an authentic, high-energy, must-see performance for Prince and live music fans alike. Tenner has been depicting “The Artist” for nearly 20 years and has been recognized as “Best Tribute Act” and most recently was named “Best Impersonator” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal 2014 Best of Las Vegas Readers’ Poll. Tenner has performed as a musical guest on Late Show with David Letterman. This show can be seen nightly at 10:15 p.m., dark Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. Tickets start at $49 and locals can receive special $19.99 pricing.

Both shows add to the already existing Shimmer Cabaret lineup that includes, The King starring Trent Carlini which can be seen nightly at 6:30 p.m., dark Tuesdays. The Shimmer Cabaret is a 350-seat venue with a balcony and state-of-the-art sound system that has been hailed as a “Las Vegas gem.” Many notable celebrities have performed in this venue including Keith Urban, Sheena Easton, Rita Rudner, Andrew Dice Clay, David Brenner and more. For more information or to purchase tickets please call the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Box Office at 800-222-5361, or visit http://www.thelvh.com/calendar.

 

Alonzo Bodden
Alonzo Bodden

The Laugh Factory, located on the mezzanine level of the New Tropicana Hotel, will be presenting, Alonzo Bodden, along with Thai Rivera, and hosted by Patrick Deguire this week (Sept. 22-26) .  Show times are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., nightly with tickets priced at $34.95 and $44.95.

Bodden’s material is “cynically good-natured,” and the older he gets, the less good-natured it gets. His first big comedy break was being included in the New Faces of Comedy lineup, at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. Ten years later, Bodden became the winner of season three of “Last Comic Standing.” He has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Show with Craig Kilborne,” “The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show,” and Comedy Central, to name a few. Bodden has hosted numerous TV series including “101 Cars You Must Drive” on Speed TV and “America’s Worst Driver” on the Travel Channel. He was a panelist on “Inside The Vault,” a syndicated TV show from Telepictures. He’s played a security guard, bouncer, criminal, or cop on numerous shows including, “Angel,” and ABC’s “The Neighbors,” as well as in the films “Bringing Down the House” starring Steve Martin and “Scary Movie 4.” He can be seen on season seven of “Californication,” and has a Showtime special and DVD titled “Who’s Paying Attention?”

 

Thai Rivera
Thai Rivera

Thai Rivera will make you uncomfortable in the best way possible. His politically incorrect style of humor has taken the comedy world by storm. Rivera is a favorite and regular at clubs such as the Hollywood Improv, and of course the World-Famous Laugh Factory. Thai has performed with some of the biggest names in the world of stand-up such as Russell Peters, Gabriel Iglesias and Jo Koy. He has also been featured on Comedy Central, NuvoTV and Logo TV. His disarming style and easygoing delivery will put you at ease, and there is no doubt that by the end of his set he will be one of your new favorites. Rivera’s comedy has not only taken him across this country but as far away as Australia and Thule Air Base in Greenland, where he performed for U.S. troops.

 

Patrick DeGuire
Patrick DeGuire

After losing a significant amount of his vision due to a disease called optic neuritis, Patrick DeGuire discovered that laughter could be self-therapeutic, and thus he began his career in stand-up comedy. Patrick has since appeared on national television numerous times including Comedy Central, “¡Qué Locos!” on Galavision, and “Loco Comedy Jam” on Telemundo, among others. DeGuire can be heard on the nationally syndicated radio show, “The Bob & Tom Show,” and has toured/performed with such comedians as Dave Attell, David Alan Grier, George Lopez, and Paul Rodriguez. Besides headlining at the top comedy clubs in the United States, DeGuire has also performed for the U.S. troops overseas in Bahrain, Cuba (Guantanamo Bay), Djibouti, Dubai, Guam, Honduras, Iraq, Japan, and Korea.

 

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:

B.B. King
B.B. King

The inaugural “Big Blues Bender,” featuring a Grammy Award-winning lineup of superstars, will be hosted at the renowned Riviera Hotel & Casino, kicking off on Thursday and running through Sunday (Sept. 25-28),  packages for the can’t-miss festival,  are now on sale. With a dazzling lineup full of musical legends and fan favorites, the Big Blues Bender will cover an expansive spectrum of genres, including blues, rock, zydeco, gospel,and funk. The legendary B.B. King and George Thorogood & The Destroyers, will headline the festival, which will also feature the soul-stirring harmonies of the Blind Boys of Alabama, the masterful accordion sounds of Buckwheat Zydeco, Charlie Musselwhite and his legendary harp, Ana Popovic with her powerful vocals, Tab Benoit, and Coco Montoya. Festival packages, including lodging at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, and tickets to the five-day festival, begin at $599.00, plus tax and applicable fees per person. Packages include the “Boom Room,” and the “Wang Dang Doodle VIP Package”.  For locals the Riviera  has created a “Locals Ticket,” beginning  at $75.00 a day with a valid Nevada ID. Ticket packages are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.bigbluesbender.com. Guests must be 21 years or older to purchase ticket packages and 18 years or older to attend the Big Blues Bender. For more information and the full Big Blues Bender lineup, please visit www.bigbluesbender.com.

 

Earl Turner
Earl Turner

Powerhouse showman Earl Turner brings energy, excitement and entertainment in his return to the Suncoast Showroom, September 27-28. After earning 50 cents for his first performance when he was 13 years old, Turner was smitten with show business, and by age 19, was traveling the country as a frontman with various show bands. As a solo artist, Turner scored a Top 40 dance hit in Europe in the mid-1980s with “Love Caught You By Surprise.” A renowned Las Vegas stage veteran, Earl  has appeared at numerous resorts and showrooms on and off the Strip. In 2004, Harrah’s New Orleans transformed the Mansion Ballroom into The Earl Turner Theatre, where he performed for two years. Turner has received numerous awards, including “Male Vocalist of the Year” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In 2005, Turner was voted one of the “People to Watch” by the New Orleans Magazine, and was inducted into the New Orleans Music Hall of Fame. He works closely with a number of prominent charities, including The Special Olympics, Opportunity Village of Las Vegas, and The Blood Center of Louisiana.
Turner has unearthed his ‘80s cassettes for “My 80’s Contemporary Songbook,” a night of “totally awesome ‘80s music.” Showtime is 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available starting from $15.95, plus tax and convenience fees. Tickets can be purchased at any Boyd Gaming Box Office, by calling 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

Well, gang, that’s about it for this week.

I’m outa here!

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