Well, this is my third show! It’s the best so far! Yes! We are going to have a party soon to celebrate our first year. I’ll fill you in on the details later.
And now a word from our sponsor ….
As always, I want to give a shout-out to John Stiles, who shoots and edits our show in his studio. Check out his other shows at WWDBTV.COM. For you entertainers out there who need a rehearsal video, call John. He is very reasonable and good at what he does. He has taught me a few new tricks about performing in front of the camera and dressing to look best for the show. It’s nice to work with a pro.
On this week’s show, we sat down with Ms. Edie, who performed for years as the emcee in Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity show for years. We talk about how the show pushed the social norms of the time. She also updates us on her summer shows in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she has worked for several seasons. However, her first stop on the way was New York City. Her show is titled “Dance Edie Dance,” a perfect title for a long-legged, classically trained dancer.
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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Edie stepped in at the last minute for my show. I had booked another female impersonator who canceled actually without notice. I found out when I called to confirm.
This is a real pet peeve of mine. If I commit to something, I make every effort to show up. At the very least, if a problem arises, I contact the person immediately.
Unfortunately, this type of behavior is prevalent in the Drag World. This is one of the things that give drag queens a bad rep.
Girls, if you say you’re going to do something or appear somewhere, SHOW UP! It’s called being professional!
We met some of the cast of the upcoming Follies show, which runs April 11-14 at the Aliante. Legendary showgirls Suzanne Jipson and Teri Thorndike, along with performer, company manager and associate producer Tim Molyneux, talk about the show and how it reflects what Las Vegas is going through, now. With the closing of the Tropicana (We will get into that more later!), everyone feels nostalgic for showgirls and old Vegas. Teri worked in the Folies Bergere at The Tropicana for years. She started in the 1970s when it had a full live orchestra. This remake of the famous 1971 Sondheim Broadway musical has a 30-piece orchestra with 45 performers. One of my favorites is Andrea McArdle from the original Broadway show “Annie.” Big production! I can’t wait to see it. Get your tickets here.
https://showgirlscomehome.com/tickets
We talked to Tim about how he coordinates all these details, sings in the show and deals with the countless details. We also talked about the many Stephen Sondheim songs that have become standards. I looked up the top 100 songs by Sondheim and was shocked to find out that one of my favorites, “Broadway Baby,” was not in the top 25! So, naturally, we had to break into a song for the show. Once we started, we had to ham it up, and all the guests started singing different portions of Sondheim songs. It was a hoot! Tim spoke about some of the showgirls in their 90s who will appear in the show and talk about the old days.
Finally, my dear friend Suzanne and I discussed some Vegas history and what it was like performing on the Strip in the 1980s. What fun!
During the show’s filming, Suzanne and I talked about our dear, talented friend, Rich Rizzo, who passed away about two years ago. He was one of the top choreographers in Las Vegas. He staged and choreographed such shows as “Jubilee,” “Folies Bergere,” “Hello Hollywood, Hello,” “Lido” and many others. He also performed in many of those shows and traveled all over the world with his incredible talent. Rich and Suzanne worked as a team all over town for several years. They even performed at my club in 2021 to a packed audience. Suzanne produced a “celebration of life” for Rich shortly after his passing. It was an amazing evening, with all the local performers coming out to pay respect.
ABOUT TOWN
Speaking of the closing of the Tropicana…
March 28 was the Folies Bergere Party—Adieu, Tropicana, and so many beautiful showgirls (and boys) were there to share memories. Teri Thorndike (We had her on the show!) attended along with Cindy Doumani, a former showgirl at the Thunderbird and one of the former owners of Tropicana. She is a class act, and I know it was an emotional time for her, but she joined in the conversation and shared many great memories.
Laughter is the best medicine.
The Laugh Factory at the Tropicana featured five funny comedians, and one of the featured comics, Ron Pearson, brought the club full circle. He was the first comedian to open the room 35 years ago when it opened as Rodney Dangerfield’s Comedy Club. The club has transformed over the years as The Comedy Stop, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club and The Laugh Factory. For the past 12 years, Ron has appeared in all clubs. He was honored to be the last comic to perform in the space for its last show on March 31.
- Mondays Dark reminds me of when the Strip kids used to meet at a bar or showroom after work and jam together with good music, friends and a few (or more!) drinks. So much talent we had; and still do!
Host and well-known Las Vegas announcer Mark Shunock has taken that to another level by showcasing the Strip kids and raising money for local charities.
He, the staff, and performers celebrated his birthday on April 1 while raising $10,000 for Nevada Fertility Advocates.
The legendary Clint Holmes made an appearance and sang Melissa Manchester’s “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” It reminded me of the old days when Clint performed at Harrah’s. I loved it when he pulled his mother, Audrey, out of the audience to steal the show with George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” She died in 2011 at the age of 95. (Mother’s Day is coming up! For those of you who can, call your mama!) I miss mine!
Mondays Dark is the best entertainment bang for your buck. Tickets start at $20 and showcase some of the most talented performers in our city—all for a good cause!
Catch the next Monday’s Dark April 19 show with a Rolling Stones theme to benefit the Pharar Foundation, which provides dental care for those battling cancer, struggling with chronic conditions and patients with organ transplants.
- The anticipated Atomic Golf Las Vegas opened on March 22, with a ribbon-cutting and shooting the “ceremonial” ball out of an “air cannon.”
I am not a golfer, but Atomic Golf, located next to The Strat, offers four floors of fun with six full-service bars and the Tap Room, which features Bottom’s Up technology and a collection of locally brewed beers. Then, there is the state-of-the-art Cosmic Lounge, chef-curated menus with elevated food and beverage offerings, and high-definition display screens for sports and entertainment viewing. I am ready to wear my cutest golfing outfit and have fun.
Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman, City of Las Vegas Mayor – Photo by Debbie Hall
DON’T MISS
The shows at the fairly new Queen Bar Las Vegas have been doing brisk business. It is located at 1215 S. Las Vegas Blvd. downtown. One of my favorite events there, and there are many, is “The Queen Comedy Ball” every Sunday at 8 p.m. It is an open mic night hosted by good friend JC Lopez. It is open to anyone who wants to test their comedy chops! Check it out at QueenLV.com.
Coming up soon is the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA) “Closet Ball 2024,” to be held at Badlands Las Vegas. The competition is on April 13 and is open to individuals who haven’t participated in drag for a year. Contestants will have one hour to complete their transformation and dazzle you with their performance to vie for the coveted title of “Closet Ball 2024.”
The Big Horn Rodeo, an annual event, will run from May 23 to 26 this year. All sorts of events take place each day. Yours truly, along with some amazing entertainers, will be hosting and entertaining on Saturday, May 25, at Horseman Park.
Don’t miss Stephanie Danderson’s “My-o-My” show every Thursday at the Flex Club located at 501 E. Twain. Showtime at 9:30 SHARP. Stephanie does not do “drag time.” For those who might not know, drag shows are notorious for not starting on time. If a drag show is listed to start at 10 p.m., you are lucky if it is going by 11 p.m. As a long-time performer in many club shows, I must admit it’s true. The main reason for delaying a drag show at a club (or any show) is waiting for the crowd to appear. People have gotten so used to the shows starting late that they show up late. I am with Stephanie in trying to break this cycle. If shows actually start on time, people will learn that the old “drag time” is no longer there. We can only try!