Ellen Sterling - Page 9

In the fall of 2008, both Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil were pilloried by press and fans - fans of both Angel and Cirque - when Criss Angel Believe opened. It was touted as a perfect marriage of styles, Angel's goth, edgy act and Cirque's artsy "reinvent the circus" form. It was a marriage made in hell. Instead of blending into a cohesive, entertaining whole, the elements clashed. But, Cirque promised a retooling and the result is much better and, even, fun.

There are always lots of things you can do for fun in Las Vegas but,starting this week, there are two special things you could do for funny in Las Vegas. That's because Rita Rudner is back with her own show at the Venetian and Bobby Slayton is back for a limited run at Hooters.

When I moved to Las Vegas in 2005 it was widely touted as the city with the fastest growing Jewish population in the country. But, for a Jew from metropolitan New York, it was still quite a culture shock. In New York, everyone seemed to know the basic Yiddish phrases - and Italian phrases, too - and traditional food for holidays was easily available. Still today in Las Vegas, people one might imagine should know better - some in positions or great influence - may still use phrases like "you people" when asking a question of a Jewish person

It is a perfect combination - the ultra-cool of Frank Sinatra's music and put it with the heat of Twyla Tharp's choreography. Add sets, costumes and lighting and you have the show that opened Saturday night at Wynn Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is a unique city. One of - if not the - world's top tourist destinations, it seems a city that has it all - top-notch resorts, outstanding dining, excellent shopping, fabulous entertainment....well, you get the idea. It is a city of superlatives. And, judging by that standard, Domenick Allen fits right in.

Lior Suchard (top left) is a mentalist. I have seen him work his skill - or, perhaps, art - many times, both onstage and for casual audiences. What he does is jaw-droppingly astonishing. I saw new Suchard's show in the Palms in Las Vegas at a press night and, please be assured, there is no more cynical audience than members of the press. One even proved that by implying in print that Suchard set up segments of his act before the show.

It took me more than five years of being in Las Vegas but I finally saw Frank Marino's show. The city's best-known, and longest-running, drag performer is now in Divas Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace. The very special occasion the night I saw it was the celebration of Marino's 25 years as a Las Vegas Strip headliner.

In a very un-churchlike setting - the Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret, another venue where you can watch the show while drinking - Nunsense opened a six-month run, playing Wednesdays through Sundays at 4 pm.

It was a typical Las Vegas summer of entertainment. There were the big arena shows - Lady Gaga, Dylan and Mellencamp among them, the resident shows like Jersey Boys and Phantom (both wonderful), Cirque shows and the stars who have found homes on Las Vegas stages and play here regularly. Among those are Donny and Marie, David Copperfield, Tom Jones….the list is a long one, a good one. Las Vegas is - if you're not looking for a lot of traditional theater or opera (yes, we do have ballet!) - a great place to find entertainment.

Anthony Crivello laughs when he tells the story. In March 2006 he was appearing in the Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of the Georges Feydeau farce, A Flea In Her Ear directed by Gary Griffin.

I've always believed that recommending a show, like a restaurant, can be risky. If the person to whom I'm recommending it doesn't have the same (literal or figurative) taste as I do, there's a chance they wil not like it as much as I. But I can say with no reservations that Wayne Brady: Making It Up is a must-see in Las Vegas.

Sgt. Pepper Live Featuring Cheap Trick is, simply, a dazzling-to-look-at show with great music that has pleased multitudes.

In May, 2007, Girls Night: The Musical had its American premiere at in Scottsdale. Since then, it's toured successfully in the UK and the US. It is now running off-Broadway, at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and the Seminole Hard Rock in Florida. Tim Flaherty (photo left), owner of Entertainment Events, Inc., the producer of the show, was very excited to bring it to Las Vegas and, specifically, to the MGM Grand, located on what he calls 'the best real estate in Las Vegas.'

When I looked back on my review last year of Human Nature's show Iremembered how I tried not to gush or use too many superlatives. It wasn't easy. Their tribute to Motown is stunning, especially because Human Nature - Toby Allen, Phil Burton and brothers Andrew and Michael Tierney - is a group of four white guys from Sydney, Australia.

With Bette and Elton gone and Céline's return 10 months away, Cher is the only Diva-In-Residence in Las Vegas and last night she celebrated her second anniversary at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Much of her 90-minute show is as it was two years ago. And Cher herself seems timeless. She remains much the same as she was 45 years ago when she started. Still, there have been additions to the show that really stand out.

Last night Las Vegas wished Jersey Boys a happy second birthday and the Jersey Boys thanked the city with a performance that was brilliant.

Barry Manilow opened Friday night at Paris Las Vegas and his show is, in a word, gorgeous.

Elvis is back in Las Vegas and it looks like his show will run forever. Of course, I mean Viva Elvis, the seventh Cirque du Soleil show on the Las Vegas Strip. It is one of the centerpieces of the new MGM Mirage City Center, located in a new theater in the Aria Hotel and Casino.

Jason Alexander is a gifted actor. His impressive theater resume includes a Tony for Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Max in the LA production of The Producers, serving as the director of several shows. Of course we know him Seinfeld and other TV gigs. In The Donnie Clay Experience, now at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas Alexander is a motivational speaker, encouraging his audience to live better his way.