Keith Thompson News

Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson of M&M American Dance Theatre is bringing their 30 year love story to the stage. The song and dance team will perform 'CONTACT!' at the South Point's 400-seat showroom on May 21.

The Kitchen presents the next installment of the institution's longest ongoing series, Dance and Process. The program of new works features artists Liana Conyers, Julie Mayo, Michael Mahalchick and Suzan D. Polat. These performances are the culmination of a ten-week group process of sharing work and feedback. Dance and Process is facilitated by Moriah Evans and Yve Laris Cohen.

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival has added two more opportunities for audiences to experience Trisha Brown Dance Company. Originally a five-performance run, August 16-19 in the Ted Shawn Theatre, the Pillow has added a Thursday matinee to the company's schedule. Members of Trisha Brown Dance Company will also perform the site-specific work Trisha Brown: In Plain Site at the Clark Art Institute on Sunday, August 13, a co-presentation of Jacob's Pillow Dance and the Clark. An icon of American dance with extensive Jacob's Pillow connections spanning more than 30 years, choreographer Trisha Brown died March 18, 2017. In a New York Times obituary, chief dance critic Alastair Macaulay wrote “Few dance inventors have so combined the cerebral and sensuous sides of dance as Ms. Brown did, and few have been as influential. Her choreography…helped shape generations of modern dance creators into the 21st century.”

In this passionate and original show of dance and love songs, the gifted and elegant husband and wife song and dance team Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson, featuring their company M&M American Dance Theatre, will present “CONTACT!” at the South Point's 400-seat showroom on Sunday, May 21, 7:30 p.m. The

The blending of the music of Broadway and the Las Vegas Strip returns for an encore performance with vocalist Daniel Emmet and virtuoso pianist Philip Fortenberry. 'In Concert,' with special guest cellist Lindsey Springer, will be performed at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on March 27.

The inaugural cohort of The Field Leadership Fund announces Moon Shine, a wine reception with pop-up expressions, to be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the National Black Theatre (NBT) in its current 48th season themed In Pursuit of Black Joy.

Check out the top stories from Las Vegas you might have missed this week and more!

Last night (March 7, 2017), The Smith Center for the Performing Arts celebrated its milestone Fifth Anniversary with a sold-out, commemorative concert featuring Broadway favorites, local talents and more. Emceed by Broadway veterans and stars of THE LAST FIVE YEARS Adam Kantor (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF) and Betsy Wolfe (BULLETS OVER BROADWAY) each talked about the last five years at The Smith Center. Featured performers included Brent Barrett (PHANTOM - THE LAS VEGAS SPECTACULAR), Santino Fontana (CINDERELLA) and Jessica Fontana (IDAHO! THE COMEDY MUSICAL), Chandra Lee Schwartz (WICKED), Teller of Penn and Teller, Nate Dendy (THE TEMPEST), Christopher Convery (KINKY BOOTS), J. Elaine Marcos (MISS SAIGON), Christine Hudman (IDAHO! THE COMEDY MUSICAL), Ashley Loren (BAZ - STAR CROSSED LOVE), Randal Keith (LES MISERABLES), Bruce Ewing (PHANTOM - THE LAS VEGAS SPECTACULAR), Alex Ellis (IDAHO! THE COMEDY MUSICAL), Joan Sobel (PHANTOM - THE LAS VEGAS SPECTACULAR), and Nicole Pryor Dernersesian (PHANTOM - THE LAS VEGAS SPECTACULAR) presented under the musical direction of Keith Thompson. Additionally, Las Vegas favorite Clint Holmes joined GRAMMY® and Tony®-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn onstage for an unforgettable performance of 'This Is the Moment.'

In celebration of Southern Nevada residents' tremendous accomplishment in creating their own world-class performing arts complex, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts welcomes community members to attend its 5th Anniversary Concert at 7:30 p.m. today, March 7.

In celebration of Southern Nevada residents' tremendous accomplishment in creating their own world-class performing arts complex, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts welcomes community members to attend its 5th Anniversary Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7.

Powerhouse Broadway belter Niki Scalera celebrates the life and career of Dame Shirley Bassey with her one-woman cabaret concert, "Bassey and Me," at The Smith Center's intimate 240-seat Cabaret Jazz showroom today evening, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2:30 p.m.  Tickets are now on sale starting at $25 and can be purchased at The Smith Center Box Office by phone 702-749-2000, or online at www.thesmithcenter.com.          

Powerhouse Broadway belter Niki Scalera celebrates the life and career of Dame Shirley Bassey with her one-woman cabaret concert, "Bassey and Me," at The Smith Center's intimate 240-seat Cabaret Jazz showroom on Saturday evening, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2:30 p.m.  Tickets are now on sale starting at $25 and can be purchased at The Smith Center Box Office by phone 702-749-2000, or online at www.thesmithcenter.com.          

Get ready to mash things up! In celebration of the opening night performance of IDAHO! THE COMEDY MUSICAL this Saturday, July 9, Mayor Carolyn Goodman has proclaimed July 9, 2016 "IDAHO! THE COMEDY MUSICAL DAY" in Las Vegas. A proclamation ceremony will take place in Symphony Park at 6 p.m. that evening, which is open to the public, and will be followed by the opening night performance at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Hall. The proclamation ceremony will take place in front of an epic 18-wheel, 6-ton Big Idaho Potato Truck, which will remain on display in Symphony Park through Tuesday, July 12. Tickets to this 'spudtacular' production are still available, and include admission to the Ida-Ho-Down after-party on Saturday night. For more information, please visit TheSmithCenter.com.

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' announces its 26th season of adult, alternative musical theatre, including the world premiere of a new revised version of the wild, 1969 adult jazz-rock musical CELEBRATION, by the creators of The Fantasticks, running Sept. 29-Oct. 22, 2016; followed by Kander & Ebb's rarely produced gem ZORBA, running March 2-25, 2017; then the regional premiere of the pitch-black 2002 jazz-rock musical THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, based on the famous novel and film, running June 1-24, 2017; and the world premiere of the third installment of New Line's own creation, the new revue OUT ON BROADWAY: THE THIRD COMING, running August 3-19, 2017. All New Line's mainstage shows will be in the company's new home, the Marcelle Theater, the new blackbox theatre in Grand Center, St. Louis' arts district.

On Sunday, May 29, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts hosted the fourth annual Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards, recognizing the extraordinary talent and sheer dedication found in Nevada's high school theater students. The event welcomed 19 nominees to compete at the regional finals inside Reynolds Hall, concluding the 2015 - 2016 school year with the announcement of this year's winners.  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at all the winners below!

On Sunday, May 29, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts hosted the fourth annual Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards, recognizing the extraordinary talent and sheer dedication found in Nevada's high school theater students. The event welcomed 19 nominees to compete at the regional finals inside Reynolds Hall, concluding the 2015 - 2016 school year with the announcement of this year's winners.

Celebrated for its roster of unparalleled musical theatre offerings, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts announces the complete cast for its debut of IDAHO! THE COMEDY MUSICAL, exclusively at Reynolds Hall this July. Written by Buddy Sheffield with music by Sheffield and Keith Thompson, preview performances will be held July 6 - 8, followed by the official opening night on July 9 and additional performances July 10 - 17. This limited engagement will offer patrons the rare opportunity to see the show as it is being developed.

'A tale of love on the prairie baked to bawdy perfection,' IDAHO! THE COMEDY MUSICAL will make its highly-anticipated debut on Saturday, July 9 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Serving as The Smith Center's second, home grown production, IDAHO! tells the story of wife stealin', spud peelin', double dealin', and so much more. Tickets will be available to the general public on Friday, April 1 at 10 a.m. PT. For more information, visit TheSmithCenter.com.

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' celebrates its 25th anniversary season of adult, alternative musical theatre, with 25 TO LIFE! an evening of songs from New Line's first twenty-five years, for two nights only, tonight and tomorrow, January 5-6, 2016, at the Sheldon Concert Hall, behind the Fox Theatre in Grand Center.

New Line Theatre, "the bad boy of musical theatre," celebrates its 25th anniversary season of adult, alternative musical theatre, with 25 TO LIFE! an evening of songs from New Line's first twenty-five years, for two nights only, January 5-6, 2016, at the Sheldon Concert Hall, behind the Fox Theatre in Grand Center.