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 By
Judy Thorburn
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic
Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer
www.theflickchicks.com
Photos by Stephen Thorburn
The 2007
ARTV Awards
Saturday evening of September 29 my husband and I attended the esteemed
ARTV Awards at Sapphire’s on Industrial Road. The ARTV Awards is the
brainchild of founder Audrey Roberts, a lover of the arts who
established the awards to recognize the achievements of artists from
around the world including South America, Japan and Russia who work in
several mediums. Tickets available for the public were priced at $60.00
for general admission and $300.00 for VIP admission which included the
reception, dinner, open bar, awards show, and after party.
Audrey Roberts
The evening’s event began at 5:30 with a Red Carpet
arrival hosted by entertainer Larry G. Jones, Lark Williams, and Tony
Sacca followed by a private reception in the VIP lounge that featured
works on display by the nominated artists. Afterwards guests entered the
Sapphire showroom where the surrounding walls were decorated with the
nominees’ paintings and artwork and there were assigned tables for the
awards show that included a buffet style dinner and live entertainment.
Host for the show was comedienne, New York native
Michele Balan from NBC-TV's popular reality show "Last Comic Standing,"
who had everyone roaring with laughter with her funny and clever shtick
that included observations about Las Vegas. Winners in each category
were presented with the "Muse" Award, a beautiful crystal sculpture of a
winged female that was handmade and designed by artist Michael Ray.
Michelle Balan
Award presenters included singer/entertainer Clint
Holmes whose son Brent is a graphic arts designer, radio and TV
personality Lark Williams with boyfriend, lead singer of the band Quiet
Riot, Kevin DuBrow, Las Vegas Entertainment Ambassador Tony Sacca, TV
newscaster John Daly and singer Gennifer Flowers (mostly known as
President Clinton’s ex-mistress) who, upon reaching the podium, proudly
declared “I owe my face and body to Dr. Lane Smith”, as she waved to her
plastic surgeon that was sitting in the audience.
Lark Williams and Kevin DuBrow
The winning recipients of the Muse Award in the
following categories were:
Mixed Media: Lincoln Maynard, Las Vegas, NV; Acryllic painting: Delia
Solari, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Watercolor: Yuji Kato, Yokohama, Japan
(whose colorful entourage joined him on stage); Oil Painting: a tie-
Sergey Cherep from Russia and Beti Kristoff from Las Vegas, NV; Drawing:
Alayne Abrahams, Amber, PA; Sculpture: Jason Griego, CA; New
Movement/Kinetics: Royal Richardson Miree, Alabama; Public Art: Tats Cru
- The Mural Kings; and Artist of the Year – Art education: Kathleen
Houlihan, Las Vegas, NV.
ARTV award winners gather on stage
If you are interested in seeing The ARTV Awards, the
show was recorded for future broadcast and will be aired on The Bravo
Channel including 10 one-hour segments featuring the artists honored by
ARTV.
If you would like to submit work for next year’s prestigious ARTV Awards
go to
http://www.artvawards.com/about.htm
"Laugh
Out Loud with The Scintas" at the Las Vegas Hilton
Thursday evening October 2, was the media reception and performance of
the brothers and sister act, The Scinta's new show titled Laugh Out Loud
(or LOL, for short) at the Las Vegas Hilton. It’s been seven years since
they performed at the venue, and several local entertainers including
Clint Holmes, Frank Marino, Rich Little, Phantom star Brent Barrett,
Stephen Sorrentino, Legend’s Rod Stewart impersonator, John Anthony, the
ladies from Menopause, Tony Sacca, Earl Turner, and Zowie Bowie were in
the house as fans and to show their support for their fellow performers.
Of course, 78 year “Mama” Scinta, the delightful and sprite matriarch of
the family and their number one fan, was also in attendance.
Judy Thorburn, John Anthony, Las Vegas Round the Clock reporter
Dianne R. Davis and Stephen Sorrentino at media reception
At the press reception in the Crown room where we
were all treated to some scrumptious hor devours and an open bar, Las
Vegas Hilton’s V.P. of Communications, Ira David Sternberg, announced
that having the Scintas back performing in his hotel/casino was the
“entertainment prize”. I couldn’t agree more.
LV Hilton VP of Communications, Ira David Sternberg
For anyone who hasn’t seen the Scintas perform live,
now is better then ever to catch them in the Shimmer Cabaret since the
intimate showroom is perfectly suited to their talent, warmth and
ability to connect with the audience. Brothers Joey and Frankie, younger
sister Chrissi and “adopted Irish brother” Pete O’Connell on drums make
up the Scintas, but musical director Christopher Hoffman on electric
piano, pianist and drummer Marc Chauvette, and guitarist and bass player
Mexican born Enrique Corro, all get a chance to showcase their talents
and comically interact with their star performers in this brand new
version of their show that promises to put a smile on everyone in the
audience.
The Osmonds are considered Utah’s first family of
entertainment, but the Scintas have got to own the title of first family
of Las Vegas entertainment. Originally from Buffalo, New York, The
Scintas are a multi talented entertainment force that incorporates
songs, dead on impressions, good, harmless ribbing, and loads of comedy
that will have you, yes, laughing out loud with the Italian siblings and
their stage support.
If you think you’ve seen impressions, well Frankie and Joe put their own
twist on legendary performers such as Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Sammy
Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Elvis, Mick
Jagger, Stevie Wonder and yes, even Kermit the Frog that will please
even the hardest critic or fan with their affectionate and rib tickling
delivery. And that doesn’t include Pete adding some fun to the mix as
Liberace tinkling the ivories in outrageous wig and glittery costume.
Laughing Out Loud with The Scintas at the LV Hilton
The bothers can surely sing but it is petite, kid sister Chrissi with
the big, powerhouse voice that she first showcases with a country song
and sexy renditions of Beyonce and Rhianna’s pop tunes before later
getting into a more serious mode with Josh Groban’s ballad “Your Raise
Me Up”.
Chrissi Scinta
Laughing Out Loud with the Scintas is an extremely
enjoyable show that blends some of the best from their past shows with
new material, and a very funny opening video montage that includes some
off the wall interactions with some of their entertainer friends.
No matter how many times I have seen the Scintas perform I always want
to come back because they exude immense personality, talent, and make
everyone Laugh Out Loud. By the way, LOL could very well stand for Lots
of Love, which is how I feel about the Scintas and their show, and I am
sure you will too.
Showtimes for Laugh Out Loud with The Scintas” in the Shimmer Cabaret
are Friday-Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. with a matinee on Monday at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $49.99 and 64.99 (plus tax and service charge). Tickets can
be purchased at the Las Vegas Hilton box office or by logging onto
www.lvhilton.com , or
www.Vegas.com or by phone at
702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361.
Vinnie
Favorito Celebrates Re-signing
at
O'Shea's
with Party and Performance
Vinnie Favorito is an insult comedian from Boston and one of the best
celebrity roasters in the business. He’s also Italian and proud of it.
With that in mind, the party Favorito threw at O’Sheas Casino to
celebrate his re-signing at the venue included, what else, but an
Italian style buffet of pizza, sausages, meatballs, garlic bread and
salad. The party was befittingly labeled “Check Your F*#@ing Attitude at
the Door” which says it like it is, since the only attitude you are
allowed to have in his presence is a keen sense of humor because
Vinnie’s show is all about targeting and interacting with audience
members with his sharp and biting wit. That’s his shtick, so you better
“Buckle Up”, Vinnie tells everyone before his show to prepare them for
what’s in store.
Vinnie Favorito with Judy Thorburn at Re-signing Party
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
Vinnie’s act inside O’Sheas Comedy Theatre starts off
with a few jokes from rehearsed material before he starts f-cking with
the audience. From there on its all off the cuff. Noone is safe,
regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or whatever else he deems worthy
of his brand of humor. Vinnie has no restrictions and randomly picks on
members of the audience with questions about their occupations and where
they come from. That’s all he needs to fuel his fire and goes on with
enough ammunition to make fun of anyone, no matter who they are and what
they do for a living. Vinnie loves to play up to stereotypes and at this
particular evening’s performance, an elderly woman, a young Black man, a
few Mexicans, a Jewish couple, some Southerners, and even an ex-priest
were fodder for verbal abuse as well as a day care teacher, hairstylist
and international DJ. Somehow, Vinnie has an uncanny ability to work the
room and cleverly link aspects of his different victims. Of course,
everything he says is in jest and meant to be harmless.
Vinnie Favorito
Like a hypnotist’s act, the material changes with the
audiences and so no two shows are ever the same. I can attest to that
since I have seen him perform several times. One thing is for sure. I
have said it before. Vinnie is one of the funniest and quick witted guys
around who never fails to give audiences just what they came for - an
evening of hilarious fun.
Vinnie proclaims to have the “edgiest show in Las
Vegas. I am the new Don Rickles. Deal with it”, he says. He’s got that
right - and audiences do, with pleasure!
Show Times for The Vinnie Favorito Comedy show at O’Sheas is 7:30 and
9:30 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday; 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are priced at
$39.95 for general admission, but guests must be 18 years of age or
older.
Men of
Chippendales Celebrates 2000th Performance at Rio
Saturday evening the fabulous Men of Chippendales, the hot and sexy all
male revue that drives women crazy, celebrated their 2000th performance
at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino making it the longest running male
revue. After the show, a cake was brought out on stage and a gift bag
was presented to all the ladies who were in attendance.
Men of Chippendales
Photo by Judy Thorburn
There is reason the show has been labeled “The
Ultimate Girls Night Out”, because when the gorgeous bunch of male
specimens come out on stage dressed as doctors, military men, cowboys
and construction workers, and bump, grind, tease, strip down to almost
nothing, the ladies let go of their inhibitions and behave like
screaming wild women. On this particular night they were so loud I wish
I had brought along ear plugs.
Chippendale Men (from left) Steve Kim, John Rivera and Juan DeAngelo
pose for photo at meet and greet after performance
Photo by Judy Thorburn
The show also consists of sequences in which a few
lucky ladies are brought onto the stage to interact with the hunks in a
game of sexual fantasy. And occasionally, several of the dancers venture
into the audience for a more up close and personal connection.
At the forefront of the male hotties, and there is no denying each fits
the mold as every woman’s male fantasy, is tall, dark, and handsome,
Bryan Cheatham, who does triple duty as the emcee, featured vocalist,
and lead dancer/hard bodied stud.
The Men of Chippendales are served up nightly as delicious, non
fattening pleasures packed in magnificent eye candy. For bachelorette
parties, divorcee, birthday celebrations, or just a fun evening with the
gal pals, if that doesn’t add up to the Ultimate Girls Night Out, than
nothing does.
Tickets are priced at $39.95 and $49.95 plus tax and fees. Call the box
office at (702) 777-7776 for show times and reservations.
Other
recent and upcoming happening in Las Vegas include:
juhl, a mixed-use project located at the southeast corner of Bonneville
Avenue and Third Street, is participating in the first-ever Live It Up!
Tour presented by the Vertical Lifestyle Coalition, a joint effort by 11
local mid-rise developments to promote the new urban lifestyle in Las
Vegas. The Live It Up! Tour is a four-day event for local residents to
visit each of the 11 properties and learn more about the benefits and
attractions of mid-rise living. Tour participants will receive a custom
“Passport to Living” to be stamped at the sales gallery of each featured
property. Completed passports will be collected at the end of the tour
for a chance to win a variety of exciting prizes including the grand
prize of a complete room makeover. The four day event takes place
Friday, October 12 from 10 am to 7 pm; Saturday, October 13 from 10 am
to 7 pm; and Sunday, October 14 from 10 am to 5 pm. To find out how to
visit juhl on the Live It Up! Tour, please visit
www.liveituptour.com .
Throughout the month of October Discovery Card members have the chance
to Walk Up And Win an assortment of prizes up to $10,000 cash at the
Silverton Casino. Everyone who participates in Walk Up And Win is
guaranteed to win a prize valued over $5 and includes point grants,
dining certificates and free slot play. To qualify to win all prizes
including the coveted $10,000, players need to simply swipe their
Discovery Card at designated promotional kiosks. Walk Up And Win will
take place 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October.
Dining prizes include, but are not limited to, a free entrée at Sundance
Grill, a free meal at Seasons Buffet, a free meal at Mi Casa Grill
Cantina and a free drink at Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge. Other prizes
include a free night at Silverton Casino Lodge, a $5 straight table bet
and one spin on a giant wheel for a chance to claim $10,000 cash.
Players Club point prizes range from 2,500 to 25,000 points.
Silverton Casino Lodge’s Discovery Card membership is free. Members must
be at least 21 years of age or older and provide a valid form of ID.
Points earned do not have cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash.
For more information, please call (702) 263-7777 or visit
www.silvertoncasino.com
The Galleria at Sunset Mall in Henderson is hosting a series of
educational activities and displays about recycling, sustainability and
protecting the environment beginning on October 13th when HallowGREEN
kicks off with a “green” fashion show featuring CCSD school children in
costumes made from household recyclables. Community groups including
representatives from the Clark County Department of Air Quality, the
Sierra Club and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection will be
onsite to provide demonstrations and answer questions. Republic Services
will provide free recycling bins for shoppers to take home. HallowGREEN
continues on the 31st with Safe Street Halloween. Shoppers are invited
to can come dressed in their scariest costumes and enjoy the pumpkin
patch, trick-or-treating, costume contests, “scaryoke” and HallowGREEN
eco-displays throughout the mall.
Emmy winning, controversial comedian Kathy Griffin will return to the
Mandalay Bay Theatre Friday, October 12 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets
are priced at $60 inclusive and are available at any Mandalay Bay box
office. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call the Mandalay
Bay box office at (702) 632-7580 Tickets also are available for purchase
at www.mandalaybay.com .
International psychic, spiritual teacher and best-selling author Sylvia
C. Browne is scheduled to return to the Excalibur for a series of
appearances starting October 13 thru December 15, 2007. Browne will
discuss many captivating topics during her show and also will use her
insights into “the beyond” to give live readings on-stage to select
members of the audience. For dates and times call the Excalibur box
office at (702) 597-7600 or visit
www.excalibur.com Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 plus
tax and fees. To charge by phone with a major credit card call the
Excalibur box office.
On Saturday, October 13 at 8 p.m, this season’s winner of NBC’s popular
laughfest, “Last Comic Standing” Jon Reep and finalists Lavell Crawford,
Ralph Harris, Amy Schumer and Matt Kirshen will be taking the stage of
the Orleans Arena for an evening of great stand-up comedy and
entertainment. Tickets are on sale at the Orleans Arena Box Office and
range in price from $30.00 to $40.00 (all inclusive). For more
information call 702-284-7777 or visit
www.orleansarena.com .
On Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Nevada SPCA, Las
Vegas’s no-kill animal sanctuary
www.nevadaspca.org , will host the first, one of a kind inaugural
Family, Fur & Fun Festival to celebrate the animals living in our
community, to reach people of all ages to share compassion and respect
for animals, educate the public about responsible pet ownership, and to
further the NSPCA's humane education efforts. The FREE event that is
open to the public will feature a day filled with furry friends, food,
entertainment, educational interactive activities for children and
adults of all ages, special guests, pet adoptions, a microchip clinic,
information on proper pet care, products, and entertainment for Las
Vegas families and their pets, with a special focus on humane education.
All four-legged and two-legged family and friends are invited to come
out and partake in The Family, Fur and Fun Festival at the beautiful
Willows Park in Summerlin, located at 2775 Desert Marigold Lane and
Count Diero Drive, just one block west of S. Hualapai between Desert Inn
and Sahara Avenue in Summerlin South.
Ay 8 p.m. on October 19, the UNLV Dance Department at UNLV, in
celebration of its 30th anniversary, presents a special concert titled
“Pioneers to the Future,” inside the Judy Bailey Theatre. The show will
be an eclectic mix of dance choreographed by UNLV dance professors
honoring longtime professor and program founder, Dr. Carole Rae. Tickets
are priced at $15 General Admission,$5 students/seniors/military/UNLV
faculty & staff. Call 895-ARTS (2787) for more information.
On Saturday, October 20 The UNLV Performing Arts Center presents The
Broadway Divas at 8 p.m. as part of the New York Stage & Beyond Series.
Direct from the casts of Broadway’s biggest shows, the Broadway Divas –
Shayna Steele, Emily Skinner, Kate Baldwin, and Kimberly Grigsby – sing
brand new arrangements of Broadway tunes by Tony Award-winner Jason
Robert Brown (Parade, Urban Cowboy) and Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party).
Tickets for the show are $40, $55, and $85 and can be purchased at the
Performing Arts Center Box Office at 895-ARTS (2787) or by visiting
www.pac.unlv.edu . Student rush
tickets are $13 each and available one hour prior to each event, based
on availability and with valid student I.D. UNLV faculty and staff
discounts also are available. A $1 facilities fee, in addition to the
ticket price, is charged on all Performing Arts Center tickets.
On Monday October 22 The UNLV School of Architecture will present a
lecture by Rajat Gupta, senior lecturer and co-director of the
Architecture Unit of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development in
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, England. The lecture titled
“Incorporating Low Carbon Technologies in Buildings: Carbon Emissions’
Reduction Planning,” will inform people about ways to reduce carbon
emissions and will take place in the Architectural Studies Library of
the Paul Sogg Architecture Building on the UNLV campus. Prior to the
lecture, a reception will be held in the lobby at 6:30 p.m. Both the
reception and lecture are free and open to the public.
Music and fashion icon Gen Stefani returns to The Pearl at the Palms
Casino Resort following her concert at the Grand Opening of the theater
earlier this year. Stefani is schedule to perform on Friday, October 26,
2007 at 8:00 p.m. with support from rising 17 year old pop star Sean
Kingston whose hit single is “Beautiful Girls”. Tickets for Gwen Stefani
are $153.00 and $253.00 plus any additional service fees. Doors will
open at 7 p.m. For more information please call 702-942-6888.
Impressionist Rich Little, Dean of Impersonators and master of more than
200 voices, will headline a brand-new show at the Golden Nugget for a
20-week performance schedule starting Oct. 25 with shows running
Thursdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $39 plus applicable
taxes and fees and are available through the Golden Nugget Ticket
Office. Little’s performance schedule extends through April 6, 2008,
with breaks Dec. 3 through 26 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 9, 2008. The
performance is dark Mondays through Wednesdays.
Singer/songwriter/actor Billy Ray Cyrus best known for his hit single
“Achy Breaky Heart,” will perform at Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert
Arena in Primm, Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced
at $24.95 and $34.95, plus applicable taxes and fees, and are available
at Buffalo Bill’s Box Office or by calling 1-800-FUN-STOP.
Popular contemporary swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform at
Springs Preserve’s one-of-a-kind 1,800-seat outdoor amphitheater on
Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. Dance areas will be available for fans
to dance and/or show off their swing dance skills. Tickets priced at $25
and $35 (tax and fees not included) are available now at the Preserve
box office. The Preserve is located at 333 S. Valley View Blvd,
approximately five minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.
I’ll be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las
Vegas.
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