Theater News

Las Vegas Spotlight: April 2011

La Vida Loca

Ricky Martin
(© Tristan Fuge)
Ricky Martin
(© Tristan Fuge)

April has arrived, and Las Vegas is getting “showered” with an abundance of top notch entertainment that will be anything but taxing. Caesars Palace presents some big names at The Colosseum. On April 22-24, Janet Jackson (Ms. Jackson, if you’re nasty) brings her “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour” to Vegas. Also at The Colosseum is Ricky Martin, as always, “Livin’ la Vida Loca” with his “Musica + Alma + Sexo” World Tour (April 30). And Celine Dion continues her run at Caesars (April 1-17). Over at The Mirage is none other than that “Wild and Crazy Guy” Steve Martin, who’s appearing with the Steep Canyon Rangers for some banjo and bluegrass on April 29-30. Also at The Mirage this month are the usual Aces of Comedy: Jay Leno (April 1-2), Kevin Hart (April 8-9), Ray Romano (April 15-16) and Lewis Black (April 22-23).

Culture lovers will enjoy Nevada Conservatory Theatre’s new translation of Euripides’ The Trojan Women at UNLV’s Blackbox (April 1-10). Telling the tale of a particularly barbaric episode during the war between Athens and Sparta, it’s a bleak and agonizing portrait of the brutality of war. On a lighter note, NCT also presents Michael Frayn’s comedy Noises Off at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre (April 29-May 8). The side-splitting theatrical farce tells the tale of backstage chaos as a cast rehearses a disastrous flop appropriately titled “Nothing’s On.”

Las Vegas Little Theatre presents the Paul Rudnick comedy Jeffrey at the LVLT Mainstage (April 1-17). Directed by Jay Joseph, it’s the hilarious and touching tale of Jeffrey, a gay actor/waiter in New York who swears off sex due to the AIDS epidemic, and then meets the man of his dreams… who happens to be HIV-positive. And in the theater’s Black Box is the winner of the 3rd Annual New Works Competition, Brandon Jones’ When Mom Died on Saturn (April 29-May 16).

Mandalay Bay has gone country this month, starting with the Jagermeister Country Tour featuring Dierks Bentley at Mandalay Bay Beach (April 2). You’ll definitely “Feel That Fire” with this one. Meanwhile, at Mandalay Bay Events Center, it’s the ACM Fan Jam with Sugarland (April 3). And on April 30, you won’t want to miss the Tiger Jam with Keith Urban and John Mayer. MGM Grand is also getting its country on in April. At the MGM Grand Garden Arena is “Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” (April 4). The lineup reads like a who’s who of country music: The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Reba and Carrie Underwood are scheduled to perform with honorees Jason Aldean, Ronnie Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill and Blake Shelton.

The Joint at the Hard Rock is really firing things up this month. It’s your last chance to see “Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits” as the guitar legend wraps up his stint in Vegas (April 20-May 1). Meanwhile, DJ Tiesto is still spinning his groove at the Hard Rock on April 2. “Help Is On The Way” when Rise Against, along with special guests Bad Religion and Four Year Strong, appear on April 5. And on April 14, Grammy winners Arcade Fire trade in “The Suburbs” for Vegas, joined by Local Natives. The Las Vegas Hilton has a lot to offer. At the Hilton Theater, legendary rock group Chicago will “make you smile” on April 8-9. Later this month, “Sweet Sensation” soul singer Stephanie Mills is joined by R&B singer/songwriter Will Downing (April 23). At The Hilton’s Shimmer Cabaret, there’s plenty of comedy to be had. You can hang with Mark Curry (April 6-10), or check out Hal Sparks (April 13-17).

The Palms, as usual, provides an oasis of music. Singer/songwriter Pete Yorn is joined by Ben Kweller at The Pearl Concert Theater on April 8. Also at the Pearl is R&B singer Brian McKnight. Over at The Lounge, punk/folk rocker Chuck Ragan appears from April 19-20, and Royal Crown Revue gets things swingin’ on April 21-23. Over at Paris Las Vegas, Barry Manilow continues his run at the Paris Theatre (April 8-17). Looks like he made it. At The Wynn, Garth Brooks and his one-man show is a sure bet for some top-shelf entertainment (April 8-9).

The music keeps pumping at The Cosmopolitan‘s Chelsea Ballroom throughout the month. Swedish songbird Robyn proves she’s “Indestructible” on April 14. On April 15, English folk band Mumford & Sons hit the stage. And on April 16, Nas & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley bring their hip-hop/reggae fusion sound to Vegas. At the Tropicana‘s Gladys Knight Theater is, appropriately, Gladys Knight, who begins her special engagement this month (April 5-30). The “Empress of Soul’s” show, “A Mic and a Light,” includes singers, dancers, an 11-piece band, and Merald “Bubba” Knight, one of the original Pips. Green Valley Ranch‘s Grand Events Center continues to give audiences some 70s-80s love. On April 2, Heart goes “Crazy On You.” And on April 29, there will be plenty of “Head Games” when Foreigner rocks out.

Over at The Orleans Showroom, “Get Ready” for The Temptations, when they bring their Motown sound to town on April 1-3. Fans of comedy – and 1980s “Saturday Night Live” – will get their fix with appearances by alumni Dennis Miller (April 8-10) and Dana Carvey (April 16-17). Not to be outdone, the Suncoast Showroom boasts another former “SNL” cast member (and current star of “Weeds”) Kevin Nealon on April 2-3.

At Treasure Island, it’s comedy, blue collar-style, when Bill Engvall brings his popular, country fried act to Vegas (April 8). Over at The Venetian Showroom, funnyman Tim Allen gives audiences a taste of his macho humor as he continues with his limited engagement (April 1-9). Yet another former “SNL” cast member, the hilarious David Spade provides big laughs on April 29-30. And the witty Rita Rudner continues her Vegas residency throughout the month of April.