Sahara Hosts "Clint Holmes Unplugged Holiday Show"
Las Vegas favorite Clint Holmes will share his holiday spirit at the Sahara from December 17th to the 31st. Joining him on stage will be the former lead singer for Foreigner, Domenick Allen, and long time Musical Director (and Las Vegas Tenor) Bill Fayne.
Bill Fayne and Steve Tuminello
This might be our last chance to see Clint here before his "Just Another Man" musical heads to Broadway.
Bill Fayne and Steve Tuminello
This might be our last chance to see Clint here before his "Just Another Man" musical heads to Broadway.
"Shades of Sinatra" Fills the Showroom at The Suncoast
Check out my Review on the MUSIC SEEN
"Just Another Man" World Premier In Las Vegas at UNLV
Thursday June 7th was the world premier of Clint Holmes musical, "Just Another Man" at the Judy Bayley Theater on the campus of UNLV. My guest, entertainer Loretta St. John and I arrived at 7:30 PM and ran in to entertainer Martin Niviera. I had brought a “MUSIC SEEN” button as a gift for Loretta and luckily brought an extra because Martin said “Steve where’s your button?”. I pulled out the extra button to give to Martin and he immediately put it on to wear for the night.
Our host, Bob Randolph greeted us and gave us our tickets for the show and the after party. When we walked in we saw a lot of familiar faces and I was glad to see Clint’s Manager Rory Rosegarten, who had flown in from New York. Loretta and I had not seen Rory since the taping of the Clint Holmes PBS Special from Harrah’s over a year ago. I had talked to Rory on the phone back in August to get some professional advice for my partner, Marjorie Andrade, while we were attending the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. It had been a while since we had talked and it is always good to see him even though he had to leave right after the show for a flight back to New York so he could attend an event on Friday. Rory not only manages Clint Holmes but also comedian/actor Ray Romano. Rory was Executive Producer on the hit Television Show "Everybody Loves Raymond".
Rory Rosegarten, Loretta St. John and Steve Tuminello
When the curtain rose and the show started it became another incredible night and the show was tightened up even more than the first night of the Preview that we attended last Friday. During the intermission I spoke to Rory again briefly and he had to excuse himself for an interview with Norm Clark of the Las Vegas Review Journal.
The show had a few minor changes from the premier last week and ran smoothly through the final act. The audience gave a standing ovation and cheered the cast.
In the foyer of the theater after the show I ran in to friends Steve Arnold and wife Cathy Rich. Steve and Cathy own A&R Management and have just launched the Buddy Rich line of Drums.
Loretta St. John, Steve Arnold, Cathy Rich and MartinNiviera
The after party at The Rainbow Bar & Grill
When we arrived at The Rainbow Bar & Grill we walked in with Steve & Cathy. The restaurant was reserved for the after party and there was food galore.
Celebratory Cake
Dennis Bono, former Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt, Loretta St. John and Steve Tuminello
Loretta St. John and Clint Holmes
Steve Tuminello, Earl Turner and wife, and Larry Moss
Musician David Hart & Rebecca
Bob Randolph and Diane Hart
Stephanie Cook
Celeste Lero
Loretta St. John and “The Nicest Door Man She Has Ever Met”
Jean Pierre La Font told us he had been a cryptologist with the U.S. Department of Defense (cracking codes) and was starting a new software and web design business.
Clint Holmes is "Just Another Man" Ready for London and Broadway
The World Premiere of “Just Another Man” at The Judy Bayley Theatre began with the first preview last night Friday June 1st. Associate Producer, Bob Randolph arranged for our tickets. While picking up our tickets at “will call” we ran in to Martin Niviera who had just returned from performing in the middle east.
The lobby of the theater was filled with familiar faces and when we entered the 550 seat theater it was almost full. The Nevada Conservatory Theatre in association with Tom Quinn and Associates presented this extraordinary thought provoking play.
Clint and his musical director, Bill Fayne, have been working on this project for close to three years. They brought in acting coach of the stars, Larry Moss to direct the musical. Larry who worked with Helen Hunt in “As Good as it Gets” (Academy Award), Hilary Swank in “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Million Dollar Baby” (Academy Awards) Tobey Maguire in “Seabiscuit” and Leonardo Di Caprio in “The Aviator” (Golden Globe Award and Academy Award Nomination) was so impressed when he saw Clint’s Show at Harrah’s Hotel & Casino Las Vegas he cried by the third song. Larry knew from that moment that Clint had to have a Broadway type musical as the vehicle to showcase his extreme talent to the world.
The two hour and thirty five minute show has a fifteen minute intermission which occurs after the first hour and a half. The play is based on Clint’s life and the characters are composites of many people.
Clint's Harrah’s show unfolded like a story with a beginning, a middle and an end and is the core of this musical. The musical deals with a lot of emotions and family dysfunction with the thread of racism woven throughout the story. Even though Clint and his sister and parents lived in upstate New York there was distinct racism against bi-racial couples and their families during the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Some familiar songs from the Harrah’s show such as “1944” as well as new material is intertwined throughout the dialogue of the play. The crowd enjoyed the show which ran smoothly except for one technical difficulty (microphone) which was covered immediately.
Steve Tuminello, Lindsay Hebberd, Sandra Benton, Debbie Sirianni and Ron Crews
At the end of the show we saw Sandra Benton, star of “Menopause, the Musical” and her photographer friend Lindsay Hebberd. Our friends Ron Crews and Debbie Sirianni joined us for the show.
Larry Moss, Sandra Benton and Steve Tuminello
I spoke with Larry Moss and he said he was here tonight because of Clint Holmes and Lena Horne. Lena Horne was a big influence on Larry and his career. We both agreed that Clint is the last of the consummate all around entertainers. He is a true song and dance man. Clint’s “Mouth Percussion” and SCAT singing is unique among performers.
Clint Holmes and Mom after the show
Clint’s mother Audrey, who at 91 years young could pass for twenty years younger, has obviously passed on the “forever young” genes to Clint who also could pass for twenty years younger.
Clint Holmes and Martin Niviera
After the show we talked with Bill Fayne. Also in the audience was an L.A. based camera man Lenny Manfred who was filming an upcoming documentary on Larry Moss. The producer of this documentary, Mitzi Kapture, from L.A., was giving direction and will be shooting footage on Larry over the next several weeks.
After the show most of the cast and entertainers from the audience went to The Stirling Club for the after party. I spent time talking with Producer/Director Mitzi Kapture and Larry Moss in the cigar room. My friend Allison Lear (grandaughter of famous inventor Bill Lear) came over to join us after a game of pool.
Mitzi Kapture, Steve Tuminello and Allison Lear
Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton performed on stage and sang together. Sandra Benton and Skye ("Menopause, The Musical") also joined Kelly on stage.
After Party at The Stirling Club
Tickets for the limited Las Vegas engagement are available by clicking below...
Martin Nievera Livens Up the New Planet Hollywood
Monday night at The Palms hotel on the break in “The Lounge”, I had the pleasure of meeting Martin Nievera and Celia Geronimo through my friend Gabriel “Santana” Falcon, percussionist with Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns. We were invited to see “Martin Live” the show at the Planet Hollywood in the Miracle Mile.
I learned than Martin Nievera is a big star in the Phillipines and the large Fillipino presence in the audience was a testimony to his popularity in his native country.
Martin opened strong with his 9 piece power band with many familiar faces. Three of the Fat City Horns players Nathan Tenouye on trombone, Danny Falcone on trumpet and Gerry Merra on saxaphone. Gabriel Falcon on percussion and vocals, Mundo Juillerat on guitar, George Bryant on drums, Ricardo “Cocho” Arbe on second keyboards, Adrian Garcia on bass and Musical Director/keyboards, Lorenzo “Lorrie” Ilustre.
Martin had the audience in the palm of his hands with his quick wit and versatile singing style. He even did some singing impressions like Johnny Mathis. Dave Siefkes, Editor of Las Vegas at its Best, really enjoyed the audience interaction. Martin actually turned the lights up on the audience and had some dialogue interaction with Dave.
Martin, while interacting/interrogating with two Fillipino audience members who had been married for over 17 years was able to develop enough personal information to spontaneously compose an impromptu personalized song for the couple. He is truly amazing with his adlibs between songs. His audience inclusion guarantees that no two shows will ever be the same.
Female Vocalist, Jenevi Bakch came out front from singing back up and was featured while Martin took a brief break. She tours with Wayne Newton when not on stage with Martin Nievera. The show which starts to end in only one hour concludes after a fifteen minute encore tribute to Broadway.
After the show Gabriel Falcon introduced me to two friends that were in the audience. Music producer Steve Arnold and Kathy Rich, daughter of famed drummer Buddy Rich were in the audience with us.
Gabriel Falcon, Martin Nievera, Taylor Michaels and Steve Tuminello
"Martin Live" is definitely a repeat for the staff at Las Vegas at its Best.
Shows at the Steve Wyrick Magic Theater inside The Miracle Mile (formerly Dessert Passage) at the new Planet Hollywood start at 5 PM every day but Friday.
Marty Allen Celebrates His 85th Birthday at Gold Coast
The Restaurant Insider, Loretta St. John, invited me to the press showing of Marty Allen and wife Karon Kate’s new show at The Gold Coast, “Hello Dere”.
Marty Allen best know as half of the Marty Allen- Steve Rossi comedy duo for years on stage, and in film and television. This comedy team has the distinction of performing on the same night as The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, not once but twice.
Marty was celebrating his 85th birthday which we learned later was actually March 23rd and he looked great.
The show opened with his beautiful wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, singing and talking to the audience and warming us up for Marty’s barrage of one liners with Karon playing Steve Rossi’s role as the “Straight Man” or “Straight Woman” in this case.
I found myself laughing uncontrollably at jokes that Loretta, who is somewhat of a comedienne herself, could not believe I had not heard before. She commented that several of the jokes were old jokes, but said Marty probably wrote the joke originally. That is a testament to his longevity in the business. It was an amazing delivery of material that even a much younger person would have had trouble remembering.
Loretta and I were happy to see two of our musician friends in Marty and Karon’s band. David Kowalski on keyboards and David Dubuc on guitar. David Dubuc worked with my brother, Phil, in Las Vegas years ago with the David St. David Band and I learned that David had worked with Loretta as well during that same time period.
The ninety minute show is split equally between Karon and Marty and provides a great blend of music and laughter. The surprise at the end of the show was Marty’s longtime friend, Ernest Borgnine coming up on stage from the audience. He looked great at age 90.
After the show the press filled audience moved upstairs to an after party with food and beverage.
We saw a lot of old friends and Loretta’s friend that had invited us, Howard Jochsberger, who was one of the directors of the show.
Loretta St. John and Howard Jochsberger
Marty Allen and Monti Rock III
Loretta St. John, Marty Allen, Karon Kate and Steve Tuminello
I talked with my friend, musician/singer Ron Crews, last night and he commented that he and Debbie Sirianni saw “Hello Dere” Sunday night and thoroughly enjoyed the show.
Marty Allen best know as half of the Marty Allen- Steve Rossi comedy duo for years on stage, and in film and television. This comedy team has the distinction of performing on the same night as The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, not once but twice.
Marty was celebrating his 85th birthday which we learned later was actually March 23rd and he looked great.
The show opened with his beautiful wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, singing and talking to the audience and warming us up for Marty’s barrage of one liners with Karon playing Steve Rossi’s role as the “Straight Man” or “Straight Woman” in this case.
I found myself laughing uncontrollably at jokes that Loretta, who is somewhat of a comedienne herself, could not believe I had not heard before. She commented that several of the jokes were old jokes, but said Marty probably wrote the joke originally. That is a testament to his longevity in the business. It was an amazing delivery of material that even a much younger person would have had trouble remembering.
Loretta and I were happy to see two of our musician friends in Marty and Karon’s band. David Kowalski on keyboards and David Dubuc on guitar. David Dubuc worked with my brother, Phil, in Las Vegas years ago with the David St. David Band and I learned that David had worked with Loretta as well during that same time period.
Loretta St. John and David Dubuc
The ninety minute show is split equally between Karon and Marty and provides a great blend of music and laughter. The surprise at the end of the show was Marty’s longtime friend, Ernest Borgnine coming up on stage from the audience. He looked great at age 90.
After the show the press filled audience moved upstairs to an after party with food and beverage.
Helen DiMario and Loretta St. John
Ernest Borgnine and Steve Tuminello
We saw a lot of old friends and Loretta’s friend that had invited us, Howard Jochsberger, who was one of the directors of the show.
Loretta St. John and Howard Jochsberger
Marty Allen and Monti Rock III
Loretta St. John, Marty Allen, Karon Kate and Steve Tuminello
I talked with my friend, musician/singer Ron Crews, last night and he commented that he and Debbie Sirianni saw “Hello Dere” Sunday night and thoroughly enjoyed the show.
“Hello Dere” is running at The Gold Coast Wednesday through Sunday in the Showroom at 7:30 PM.
Menopause The Musical
One Year Anniversary in Las Vegas
at The Las Vegas Hilton
“Shimmer Cabaret”
Every night in the Shimmer Cabaret at 7 PM you will see women over 40 in the audience going crazy with laughter at the identifiable scenes from “Menopause, The Musical”.
This all started on March 28th, 2001 in Orlando, Florida in a tiny 76 seat theater that was converted from a perfume shop. The play opens with four women at a Bloomingdale’s lingerie sale with nothing in common except a black lace bra and hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, chocolate binges and more.
Since there are more than 38 million post WWII baby boomer females in this country there are more women than ever at one time experiencing “The Change”. The music in the show is a joyful parody of 25 re-lyricized classic baby boomer hits, like "I heard it through the Grapevine", "You no longer see 39” and the disco favorite “Stayin’ Awake! Stayin’ Awake!”
Writer/Producer Jeanie Linders created the show as a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived The Change.
The show has actually evolved in to a “Grassroots” movement of women who deal with life after 40 and all of the challenges that result in their mental, physical and spiritual freedom.
The night I went to see the show, my friend, Sandra Benton (actor, singer, director and producer and a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York City) was starring as “Power Woman” the business executive. Cheryl Spencer (made her Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Metropolitan Opera debuts all in one year!) as “Earth Mother” the “Free Spirit” from the 60’s, Paige O’Hara (widely known as Disney's heroine, Belle in the critically-acclaimed BEAUTY & THE BEAST and recently completed a highly-successful sold-out 20 city tour of Japan as a Special Guest Star with the Tokyo Philharmonic) as the aging “Soap Star”, and Lori Legacy-Hunt (actress, singer, impersonator, songwriter & ventriloquist and has the ability to completely transform her appearance and voice to impersonate Dolly Parton, Charo, Lucille Ball, etc.) as the “Iowa Housewife”.
I was happy to hear “Live” musicians performing the popular songs. Musical Conductor, Michael Dubay, was on keyboards, Don Meoli on drums and Jonathan Rem on bass.
In discussion with Sandra I learned that many women come to see “Menopause The Musical” over and over bringing friends or their husbands to see what they experienced. It’s become almost like a “Cult” musical if there is such a thing, they call it a “Sisterhood”
It’s sort of a “Group Therapy” that lets these women know that what they are experiencing is “Normal” and they are not crazy.
I asked Sandra why they call it “Menopause”? I noticed that one of the characters didn’t have much need for her husband during this time. I was wondering if it was a derivative of Men-On-Pause?
Sandra suggested that I do some research on the internet and I just went to Web MD and lo and behold, I could not believe what I discovered. Web MD said Doctors are finding that some MEN are experiencing Menopause. Shouldn’t it be “Womenopause”? This just does not make any sense to me.
Anyway if you want to have a great time with some audience participation you’ve got to see “Menopause The Musical” at the Shimmer Cabaret where there is not a bad seat in this 350 seat showroom.
Steve Tuminello, Loretta St. John and Sandra Benton
The show runs every night at 7 PM with a 2 PM matinee on Wednesday and a 4 PM matinee on Saturday and Sunday.
EDITORS NOTE:
Our Restaurant Insider Loretta St. John, who has been a long-time singer/musician/comedienne/performer in Las Vegas casinos attended the show with Steve. She was an opening act for many stars, a former backup singer with Wayne Newton and with Bobby Darin, and did a world tour with the revival of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Loretta was really knocked out by the show and the powerful performances! Do yourself a favor and see this wonderful production. You should see it more than once so you can see the alternate cast (Skye Dee Miles, Laura Lee O'Connell and Annette Houlihan Verdolino). Space prevents me from listing all of their wonderful accomplishments on this website, so be sure to pick up a show program and read up on the amazing careers of these talented people!
Our Restaurant Insider Loretta St. John, who has been a long-time singer/musician/comedienne/performer in Las Vegas casinos attended the show with Steve. She was an opening act for many stars, a former backup singer with Wayne Newton and with Bobby Darin, and did a world tour with the revival of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Loretta was really knocked out by the show and the powerful performances! Do yourself a favor and see this wonderful production. You should see it more than once so you can see the alternate cast (Skye Dee Miles, Laura Lee O'Connell and Annette Houlihan Verdolino). Space prevents me from listing all of their wonderful accomplishments on this website, so be sure to pick up a show program and read up on the amazing careers of these talented people!
Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theater gets a “5 Star Hug”
My two daughters Natalie age 16 and Gianna age 8 came to visit me here in Las Vegas several weeks ago. I wanted to take them to see a show that they both could enjoy even though they have an age differential of almost 8 years. I had heard about Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theater from a friend who said her 17 year old daughter really enjoyed the show. This past summer while on vacation in California the only show that Gianna wanted to see was the Animal Actors Show at Universal Studios Theme Park. We saw the show three times and she totally loved it. So, I knew we would be safe with this entertainment scheduled for the weekend.
Well, once we were seated in the showroom which was much larger than I had anticipated but still intimate enough to have a good seat from almost anywhere in the theater, she was glued to the stage and had a big smile on her face throughout the whole show.
Gregory Popovich told the story of being from Russia and coming from a circus family. In this show his daughter and wife as well as several assistants help him with his various juggling, magic and animal acts in the show. We learned that all of the animals were rescued from shelters and trained to perform in the show. This show with it’s variety of entertainment is definitely a show for “children of all ages” as they say. My older daughter was totally entertained and really enjoyed the show. Since they have had cats and birds growing up they could identify with Popovich’s “Animals are People too” slogan.
“Dad, That was a 5 star.”
You can see Gregory Popovich's amazing show at the V Theatre at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in the Miracle Mile Mall (formerly Aladdin Desert Passage).
Click on Link Below for Tickets
Show time is 3:30 from Saturday through Thursday.