Tribute artist devoted to dream
Bet big and maybe you can win big. But sometimes you can bet small and last eight years on the Strip.
Jay White says he has seen a “revolving door” of roommates in the Riviera’s little Le Bistro Theatre, as he did his Neil Diamond tribute there nearly 2,000 times in almost eight years.
But now White says it’s time to double down. He’s doing his last show at the Riviera on Dec. 3, before devoting his energies to creating a theatrical musical based on Diamond’s music.
“I feel like I’ve been moving up the ladder one step at a time,” he says of his years on the Strip.
White spent almost 10 years in “Legends in Concert,” then became one of the first two performers to sign on after the Riviera remodeled an open lounge into the enclosed Le Bistro in early 2002.
“I think if I would have tried to start out with this big production show in Las Vegas and found investors and put a lot of money into something like that … well, you just don’t know how long that is going to last if you have this huge nut to cover.”
But now, White is devoted to the bigger dream. He and his manager, Steve White, met for five hours with a big-time British director, though he says it’s too early to drop the name.
The director was excited about helping White craft a jukebox musical that uses Diamond’s music to tell the story of an immigrant family that comes to America (just like the song) in the early 1900s.
“Many of the songs he’s written are little ministories by themselves,” White says of Diamond’s songwriting. But because Diamond did write most of his own hits, “we would have to have his blessing on this” before the musical could proceed to a workshop version. …
What “Forever Plaid” did to resurrect ’50s harmony groups, The Apple Sisters hope to do for World War II-era girl groups. But the sister act has a bit more edge, and offers original music.
The trio includes Sarah Lowe, a swing in “Jersey Boys” who has played all 50 of the show’s female characters. The group performs at 10 p.m. Friday at the Stage Door Theatre in Town Square shopping center; tickets are $20. …
If you’re not too sleepy from all the turkey and trimmings, tune in to ABC this evening to see part of the Beyoncé concerts people paid big money for at Wynn Las Vegas last July and August.
The 9 p.m. special condenses “I Am … Yours,” the full-length show released earlier this week on DVD and DVD/CD combo. …
Scott Weston, aka “Cashetta — Queen of Magic,” has closed “Magic’s A Drag” at the Harmon Theater. The campy cross-dresser lasted nine months and nearly 200 performances in a room that has been even harder to access than usual, thanks to road construction out front.
Weston will tour through the winter, but plans to remain based in Las Vegas. …
Today is the day Tropicana magician Dirk Arthur converts his show into the “XTreme Magic Holiday Spectacular” with Christmas music and trimmings.
And Friday, all the “Legends in Concert” tributes at Harrah’s Las Vegas add a holiday touch. Even Damian Brantley’s Michael Jackson gets in on the act with “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” …
If a Dirk Arthur Christmas and David Copperfield’s four-show days aren’t enough, there will be even more magic on the Strip when the Fercos Brothers move into Planet Hollywood’s big Theatre for the Performing Arts Dec. 22 through Jan. 3.
Vegas old-timers will recognize the names of brothers Tony and Ferdinand, who use lions, tigers and leopards in their family-friendly show. They date way back to “Lido de Paris,” “Hallelujah Hollywood” and other old-Vegas revues.
My main familiarity with the duo came from photos and show posters that used to adorn two bygone grilled chicken restaurants. If their magic’s as good as their chicken, I’m in. …
At the same time it’s running targeted discounts, Cirque du Soleil is raising ticket prices on all its shows for the Christmas-New Year’s stretch. The exact dates and prices vary by show, but tickets go up $10 to $20 in all price tiers late December through Jan. 2. …
Finally, a Thanksgiving turkey of a claim, courtesy of eagle-eyed show producer Dick Feeney. “The Rat Pack is Back” producer spotted this in an ad for a rival Rat Pack show at the Sahara, launched by former partner Sandy Hackett: “Voted ‘Best Rat Pack’ tribute show on the strip!”
The thing is, the ad from the free ticket service ShowTickets4Locals.com ran on the day of the very first performance last week. So the vote must have taken place even before that, and those who voted had a lot of faith in what they were about to see.
Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.
