|
 By Judy Thorburn
and Debbie Hall
Photos by Stephen Thorburn
The last few weeks has been filled with anticipated debuts,
anniversaries, mind reading, magic, music, colorful men and LOVE.
Tuesday evening Media Diva Judy got to experience The Mentalist, Gerry
McCambridge, first hand as an audience member, and also as one of the
chosen participants, during his new show that debuted at the Hypnotic
Lounge inside the Stardust Hotel and Casino. For those not familiar with
the award winning, The Mentalist, who has appeared on many national TV
shows and has had his own TV special with more to come, let me tell you,
this guy is amazing. I have seen numerous performers whose act depends
on their so called psychic and/or mind reading abilities, but New York
born McCambridge whose show consists of a mixture of comedy, mind
reading, intuition and predictions is in a class all his own. Because
everyone that was invited were asked not to RSVP for this, his opening
night media event, he didn’t know those in attendance so as to dispel
any conspiracy. The way he works is this – he randomly picks audience
members who then select each other as volunteers. No one knows how he
does what he does, which includes telling participants certain names,
addresses or often obscure information related to them, or synchronizing
the time on his watch to the exact time on another’s whose hands have
been moved and stopped at a setting only they could know. The Mentalist
offers $500,000 to anyone who can prove he uses audience plants or
collects any information prior to the show to accomplish his amazing,
impossible to believe mental feats. I don’t have to be a psychic to
predict his show at the Stardust will be a success. Word of mouth will
do the trick. The Mentalist appears at the Stardust Wednesday through
Sunday at 5PM and Monday and Tuesday 8PM. Tickets are $29.95 plus tax.
www.thementalist.com
"Mentalist" Gerry McCambridge reads Judy's mind
Wednesday, June 21 was the 10th Anniversary of Lance Burton, the Master
Magician’s show at the Monte Carlo. It was a star-studded event with
dozens of celebrities walking the red carpet and sitting among the
audience who were there to celebrate a decade of excellence inside the
$27 million theatre built especially for him. Among the VIP guests were
comedian George Wallace, Robert Goulet (who as a great sport, was called
on stage to assist in a fun illusion) and his wife Vera, Alan Thicke,
Mac King, “Mind Freak” magician, Criss Angel, ventriloquist Ronn Lucas,
EROCKtica star Gabriella Versace, Penn & Teller and the aforementioned,
Gerry McCambridge. Afterwards the celebration continued at a fabulous
cocktail reception that gave guests a chance to meet, greet, and get a
photo op with the man being honored, along with meeting his proud mother
who was by his side. Part of the award winning magician’s appeal is his
likeable manner and still boyish good looks. Burton opened his show on
June 21, 1996 and after more than 4,000 performances he is still going
strong with one of the most successful, popular, family friendly shows
on the Las Vegas strip. As the invite stated, “The Master Magician has
had his show revamped, revised, upgraded and enlarged…if you’ve liked it
before you will love it even more when you see it again…it’s bigger and
better than ever.” They got that right. Burton’s show includes audience
favorites of making some live geese and doves appear out of nowhere,
levitating a ball with a mind of its own, bringing a youngster out of
the audience to assist him in an illusion, and even making a white
Corvette sports car rise above the stage and disappear. But, he has
added some new high tech, cutting edge illusions that are phenomenal.
That evening he debuted an illusion called “Solid Gold Lady”, which has
him transforming his lovely assistant, Monique located on one end of the
stage into a solid gold statue from the $10 million worth of gold bricks
and coins that are stored inside an industrial safe on the other end of
the stage. Amazingly, it is done right in front of our eyes. Burton
proves in his show that his creative talent is constantly evolving. For
a change of pace and to give Burton a break, comedy juggler Michael
Goudeau takes the stage and entertains with his act that includes
juggling apples, knives, a chainsaw, flaming torch and bowling ball, but
not all at the same time. Lance Burton Master Magician performs 2 shows
on Tuesday and Saturdays, 7 and 10PM, and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
at 7PM at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. Tickets (not including
applicable taxes and fees) are $72.55 for mezzanine and $60. 50 for
balcony, and can be purchased at the box office or by calling (877)
386-8224 or (702) 730-7160.
Lance Burton with his mother at the 10th Anniversary
Party at The Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. See our special photo gallery
(Link at bottom of page)
You’ve got to hand it to those creative geniuses! Composer Andrew Lloyd
Webber, producer Harold Prince and others from the creative team behind
the most successful musical in history, Phantom of the Opera, have
reworked their masterpiece into a new lavish, ninety minute production
that can only be seen at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Renamed in its
abbreviated form, “Phantom- The Las Vegas Spectacular” is staged in a
stunning new $40 million, 1,800-seat theatre built especially for this
show. We had the pleasure of experiencing the musical during Media
Night, June 23rd and Media Diva Judy and photog hubby also made it to
the Official Gala Premiere on Saturday night to cover the VIP Red Carpet
arrivals. The entire Media invited evening was grand, starting with the
7PM show through the VIP reception at 8:30PM, which was held in the
Veronese Ballroom. Everything about this “Phantom” is pitch perfect -
the actors and their amazing voices, the gorgeous sets, costumes,
lighting, sound, enhancing special effects and pyrotechnics and, of
course, all the original songs, none of which has been deleted. Not
having seen the original, longer musical, we can’t imagine it being any
better. From the moment you take your seat you can’t help but be drawn
into the romantic/tragic tale and transported to the past, as the
theatre is designed to look like a 19th century opera house with drapes
that come off the surrounding walls revealing lifelike mannequins seated
as opera patrons of that era. Nightly audiences are sure to be amazed
watching a giant chandelier broken with its pieces suddenly rise from
the stage and fly above their heads only to become magically assembled
and made anew under an 80 foot wide dome. The lead roles of the Phantom,
Christine, and Carlotta have been double cast due to its demanding
10-show schedule. For the early performance we attended, a very sexy
Brent Barrett played the Phantom, and the radiant, young Sierra Boggess
was Christine. Both are sensational in every aspect, demanding attention
from every emotional lyric or action evoked. In fact, Brent singing the
beautiful “Music of the Night” so rich with feeling, delivers the best
rendition we’ve ever heard (sorry Michael Crawford). He brought tears to
our eyes. From what we have been told, the other actors in these roles,
Anthony Crivello and Elizabeth Loyacano, who were in the later show, are
equally superb. Right now the bar has been set for any other upcoming
musicals to follow. Possibly the most magnificently staged musical to
ever hit Las Vegas, Phantom is worth every penny of the ticket price
(which range from $75 to $150). Trust once you see it, you will want to
come back again. Tickets can be purchased at the Venetian box office,
(702) 414-7469 or toll free (866) 641-7469, or on line at
www.venetian.com
"Phantom" stars
Elizabeth Loyacano, Anthony Crivello, Sierra Boggess and Brent Barrett.
See our special "Phantom" photo gallery (link at bottom of page)
Sunday evening of June 25th was media night for The Platter’s vocalist
Curtis Bridgeforth at The Kiss Lounge on Sahara and Decatur, where he
sings up a storm in a memorable tribute to his favorite artist, pop diva
Diana Ross that he calls “A Man on Ross: My Motown Memories”.
Accompanied by fellow Platters, Arnold Parker and Terry Forsythe on back
up vocals and a seven piece band, Bridgeforth takes the audience back
through forty years of Ross’ career from her beginnings with the
Supremes through the last ten years of her solo career, with a resume of
songs that include Motown hits, jazz, the blues, and pop. It was a
welcome and enjoyable experience listening to Bridgeforth, a male
vocalist rather than a female singer, belting out each rendition of
Ross’s songs with genuine, heartfelt love and respect for the music that
has been an inspiration in his life. Doors open at 9:30PM, with a multi
media presentation highlighting Ross’ and Bridgeforth’s careers. Tickets
are $25, can be purchased at the door, or by calling 702-235-2036.
Curtis Bridgeforth performs at Kiss Lounge
LOVE, the latest Cirque du Soleil creation, a co-production with Apple
Corps Ltd., the musical legacy of The Beatles, premiered Friday, June 30
but the press was treated to one of two preview performances, either
Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Media Diva Judy and photog hubby, Stephen
covered the Gala Premiere Red Carpet event on Saturday where
the incredible turnout of VIP’s included Sir Paul MaCartney, Ringo
Starr, Yoko Ono, Julian and Cynthia Lennon, Olivia Harrison and son
Dhani, Edgar Winter, Ravi Shankar, Sheila E, Brian Wilson, Steven Van
Zandt, Billy Crystal, Mina Suvari, and dozens of other A-list
celebrities from TV, stage, screen and the music world.
Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach, Paul MCartney, Yoko Ono,
Olivia Harrison and Dhani Harrison on the red carpet gala premiere. See
our extensive "The Beatles - Love" photo gallery (link at bottom of
page)
The personal friendship and mutual admiration between the late George
Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté was the beginning of
this new musical creation.
LOVE brings the magic of Cirque du Soleil together with the spirit and
passion of The Beatles to create an intimate and powerful entertainment
experience and the essence of love that John, Paul, George and Ringo
inspired during their musical legacy.
Sir George Martin, The Beatles original producer, and his son Giles
Martin have been working with the entire archive of Beatles recordings
to create the musical component for LOVE. “I think we have achieved a
real sense of drama with the music, the audience will feel as though
they are actually in the theatre with the band. People are going to be
knocked out by what they are hearing!” said Giles Martin.
Using the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios, Sir George and Giles have
created a unique soundscape for LOVE. “We wanted to make sure there are
enough good, solid hit songs in the show, but we don't want it to be a
catalog of ‘best of's’,” said Sir George Martin. “We also wanted to put
in some interesting and not well-known Beatles music and use fragments
of songs. The show is a unique and magical experience.”
Dominic Champagne, who directed and wrote the original concept for the
show, explained his vision for LOVE. “I wanted to create a Beatles
experience rather than a Beatles story, taking the audience on an
emotional journey rather than a chronological one, exploring the
landscapes and experiences that have marked the group's history,” said
the director.
LOVE showcases the aesthetic, political and spiritual trends of the
1960s and is inspired by the poetry of the lyrics. The creative team
designed a series of scenes inhabited by colorful characters in
extravagant costumes. The international cast of 60 channels a raw,
youthful energy evoking the exuberant and irreverent spirit of The
Beatles. High-energy fusions of urban, freestyle dance, aerial
performance and fast-paced athleticism make LOVE a visual and musical
feast.
LOVE is presented in a custom-built theatre at The Mirage featuring 360˚
seating and advanced high definition video projections with 100-foot
digital, moving images. The panoramic surround sound system envelopes
the audience.
TICKET PRICES are $150, $125, $99, $69 and the show schedule is Thursday
through Monday with no shows on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. There will be
two shows nightly at 7:30pm & 10:30pm. To reserved tickets by phone,
call 702 792 7777 or 800 963 9634 or go online at
www.cirquedusoleil.com ,
www.thebeatles.com or
www.mirage.com
Blue Man Group continues to grow and branch out with the release of Live
at the Venetian-Las Vegas in July 2006 with the single and video for
“Rods and Cones,” available for download. Blue Man Group Records, the
recording label for the Blue Man Group, featured cuts from the full
album during a meet and greet recently at the lovely AquaKnox restaurant
in the Venetian. The newly designed Blue Man Group production at the
Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has been a big hit with audiences (Blue Man
Group also performs internationally in New York, Boston, Chicago,
London, Berlin and Toronto) and their album, Live at the Venetian-Las
Vegas, captures the intensity and excitement of their performance.
Downloads will be available on ITunes.com.
The Media Divas enjoyed the Anniversary party of the VooDoo Lounge at
the Rio with dessert, drinks and partygoers. The view is breathtaking,
the music is pulsating and this remains one of the places to see and be
seen. While some clubs might come and go, the VooDoo Lounge shows how it
is done with detail to food, service and music. It was quite a night for
all of us and we are looking forward to the next anniversary.
SPECIAL
"PHANTOM" PHOTO GALLERY
SPECIAL "THE BEATLES - LOVE" PHOTO GALLERY
SPECIAL "LANCE BURTON - 10th ANNIVERSARY" PHOTO GALLERY
Remember, The Media Divas make entertainment news DIVALICIOUS!
|
