John Katsilometes
Story Archive
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With 'Funhouse' and Billy Joel, Steve Wynn has taken a capital approach
Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 Of "Funhouse," Steve Wynn says, “The key to understanding life is nothing is as it appears to be.” Hmmm ...
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Staging Human Nature is second nature to Andy Walmsley
Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 When Emmy Award-winning set designer Andy Walmsley sees a stage, he also sees opportunity.
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'Million Dollar Quartet' cast is a band working in concert
Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 "Million Dollar Quartet" is opening at Harrah's, and this show about rock 'n' roll is a great rock show, too.
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Boyz II Men's Nate Morris sings the praises of S.F. 49ers
Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 One might expect Nate Morris to be a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. Not so. He's a 49er fan.
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The guys in Human Nature have become the City Council of Motown
Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 Human Nature arrived in Las Vegas in 2009 and quickly grew to be one of the city's top live acts.
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Sunset Thomas: Chicken Ranch's biggest star is still a fan favorite
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 Sunset Thomas is touring the 2013 Adult Entertainment Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel, but you can catch her at a nearby brothel, too.
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In ‘major review,’ Cirque lops 400 jobs, most in Montreal headquarters
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 Cirque du Soleil has seven shows on the Strip and another -- the Michael Jackson production -- planned this year for Mandalay Bay.
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'Pin Up' sets a date as Claire Sinclair is joined by ex-'Bite,' 'Superstars' singer
Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 At age 21, Claire Sinclair is starring in a Strip production, and the calendar is flipping fast.
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When Holly Madison built a big house for her dogs, the HOA started yapping
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 Holly Madison had a house built in her back yard for her three dogs, leading to some backbiting from her HOA.
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Miss New York didn't go to pot on Sam Champion's gun question
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 The stage question is not particularly weighty in the Miss America Pageant, but it's a moment to be remembered.
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Familiar figure fills seat at Miss America; novel Nobu approach to room service; Sweets delivers 'Burlesque' party
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 Alana Lee was onstage for the 2012 Miss America Pageant. Tonight, she's in the audience.
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Upon return to the Strip, Taylor Hicks is moving (closer) to Paris Las Vegas
Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 Taylor Hicks is moving from Indigo at Bally's to Napoleon's Dueling Piano Bar at Paris Las Vegas.
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Don't call Lee Meriwether a 'former'; Gallagher's Las Vegas tour; Zowie Bowie takes a Windows seat
Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 Lee Meriwether won the Miss America title in 1955 but had to overcome resistance to become a successful actress.
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Sharing a few moments from the esteemed violinist Sasha Semenoff
Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 Sasha Semenoff was one of the most beloved musicians in Las Vegas who loved performing and watching performers.
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With 'Rock of Ages' leading the charge, Las Vegas has max headroom for '80s nostalgia
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013 "Rock of Ages" at the Venetian is more than a trip down memory lane. It's a gnarly trip down memory lane.
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Snooki nails the fragrance in Las Vegas appearance
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is taking entrepreneurship seriously with Snooki Couture and Snooki Nails.
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Big Elvis preps for 'GMA' as Las Vegas celebrates No. 78 for the King
Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 Pete Vallee is the city's biggest Elvis tribute act and appears Friday on "Good Morning America."
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What's the value of 'Vegas Family Values?' David Saxe is about to find out
Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 David Saxe controls 15 shows on the Strip and has a family steeped in Las Vegas entertainment history.
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Gamal Aziz jumps from MGM Hospitality to new post with Wynn
Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 Gamal Aziz has spent more than a dozen years with MGM Grand and the MGM Hospitality Division, but is reuniting with Steve Wynn.
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Rudy walks onto -- or, in this case, into -- BCS title game
Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 Rudy Ruettiger has faced countless obstacles in his life and career and will be in Sun Life Stadium pulling for Notre Dame in the BCS title game.
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'Sin City Rules' sashays into the sunset, but there is a better idea out there
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 A concept to focus reality TV show cameras on Las Vegas headliners is a more inspired idea than the torpedoed "Sin City Rules."
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After three years, Don Marrandino leaves post in Atlantic City
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 Don Marrandino is one of the more charismatic executives to work in Las Vegas. He resigned his post in Atlantic City effective Friday.
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Claire Sinclair makes a New Year's Eve dash to be remembered
Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 Claire Sinclair was treated to a sprint from the Stratosphere to Fremont Street and back on New Year's Eve.
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A long way from Findlay Prep, Mike Peck develops a pro coaching resume in Boise
Monday, Dec. 31, 2012 Mike Peck walked away from one of the most successful high school programs in the country to coach a D-League team in Boise, where his team has already lost a dozen games.
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Great guitarist Esteban plans to go around the world in a single show
Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 Esteban can play any variety of style on his acoustic guitar. So he does just that.
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Steve Wynn ends 2012 flying high with a new $65 million jet
Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012 Steve Wynn's Gulfstream G650 jet is just the seventh of its type to be sold anywhere in the world.
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Brody Dolyniuk makes the call, and artists respond for Newtown benefit show at Boulder Station
Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012 Brody Dolyniuk knew he wanted to help the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. He has managed to put together a great show set for Jan. 6.
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There seems no colder, or warmer, place on Earth than Lava Hot Springs
Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 Lava Hot Springs boasts an official population of 407, down by about 100 from a decade ago.
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Dave Perrico to appear on PBS on Jan. 18; new vocal trio raises eyebrows; Elvis-Andy Kaufman meeting revisited
Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 Trumpet ace David Perrico drew the attention of PBS producers during a Pop Evolution show at the Palms.
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Plaza productions bitten as hotel splits with Anthony Cools
Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 A week ago, the Plaza was home to four productions. Now it's down to one, at least through mid-January.
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Tony Clifton lives! At least, he does at midnight at the Wranglers game
Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 Tony Clifton, a lounge legend who has been portrayed by at least three individuals, is on the ice at midnight with the Las Vegas Wranglers.
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Roseanne is headed to the factory of laughs at the Trop
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 Roseanne Barr is headlining six nights a week at the Laugh Factory at Tropicana.
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Mayor-to-mayor call worth $50,000 at Hurricane Sandy fundraiser; fans picking up the tab for Jaymes & James
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 A swiftly assembled charity event to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy drew $100,000 on Sunday at New York-New York.
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Clint Holmes set for another year at Cabaret Jazz; Rick Thomas is cat-free in return
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 Clint Holmes told the audience at Sunday's matinee performance at Cabaret Jazz in the Smith Center that he would be back in '13.
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Penn Jillette says skewering of 'Celebrity Apprentice' and Donald Trump is not, um, hair-raising
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 In his latest book, Penn Jillette hammers the show on which he is a cast member, "Celebrity Apprentice," and mocks Donald Trump.
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American Country Awards at Mandalay: A spectacle for Las Vegas -- and Fox
Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth co-host the ACAs again at Mandalay Bay, where the performances are more pertinent than the awards.
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Mike Tyson unveils his charity and speaks highly of Agassi and Muppets
Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 Mike Tyson is hoping to send his new organization Mike Tyson Cares across the country. And, maybe, he'll also be depicted as a Muppet.
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Tim & Faith a classic case of performance and personality over production
Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 Country couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill sang it well and played the role of superstars ideally in their debut at the Venetian.
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Attacked on TV, Alicia Jacobs enforces her own 'Sin City Rules'
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 Alicia Jacobs took a risk by taking part in "Sin City Rules," the TLC reality TV show premiering Sunday.
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Venetian Theater and 'Soul2Soul' is Robert Deaton's new artistic 'Casa'
Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 Robert Deaton once had a chance to make a little history in Vegas, years ago at Casa de Shenandoah, but was busy with NBC. Now, he's back in Las Vegas, producing the Tim McGraw-Faith Hill show “Soul 2 Soul” at the Venetian Theater.
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In this corner, Lorena Peril gets patriotic; Hurricane Sandy fundraiser shows L.V.-New Orleans-N.Y. synergy
Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 Lorena Peril of "Fantasy" has never sung the national anthem at a fight as big as Saturday's Pacquiao-Marquez bout at MGM Grand.
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Back in the saddle, Shania Twain delivers a showcase of force and horse
Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 Shania Twain fulfilled her promise to invoke her story into her new show "Still the One" at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace.
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Holly Madison's Neon Museum tour; 'Pinup' news from Stratosphere; myriad changes at Plaza
Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012 EDC founder Pasquale Rotella says he is often stopped while trying to access his own festivals -- except when he's with Holly Madison.
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Shania Twain voices vocal confidence as 'Still the One' trots out at Caesars Palace
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 A confident, enthusiastic Shania Twain met the media a day before tonight's formal premiere of "Still the One" at the Colosseum.
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LVH Theater opens doors to Broadway; Clint Holmes runs sprint at Cabaret Jazz; Lon Bronson teams with Tower of Power
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 The Toys for Tots benefit show at LVH Theater on Friday costs $19 and is loaded with stars.
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Celebrities
Holly Madison ditches the 'Peepshow' corset and prepares for motherhood
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 Ready for her biggest challenge yet, the Queen of the Strip continues to keep everyone guessing. This spring, Holly Madison and the producers of "Peepshow," the adult revue in which she has starred as Bo Peep, announced she would leave the Planet Hollywood show on December 30. It was to be the end of an era, albeit a relatively short one, for the woman who arrived in town in the fall of 2008 and quickly embarked on a hard-focused campaign to become “Miss Las Vegas.”
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Upon passing, Jack Wishna remembered as a man who loved Las Vegas
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 We both loved Las Vegas, more than anything. That is why I got along so famously with Jack Wishna. He loved it here. I love it here. And when we had lunch together at Capital Grille at Fashion Show mall (where he always ordered the Wishna Salad), we would talk about why we loved Las Vegas.
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NYE at Pure will be Nicki at night; CeeLo taking over Chateau
Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 A fiery judge on "American Idol" and one of the top-selling figures in contemporary music, Nicki Minaj will appear at Pure on New Year's Eve.
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Cars so intricate you need a 30-minute training session just to get behind the wheel
Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012 Exotics Racing is where you go when you want to get your race on — a process more involved than it seems.
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Can ya dig it? MDA posts 2012 fundraising total
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012 The MDA once announced its fundraising total as its telethon ended. These days, you need to dig into a website to find this year's $58.7 million figure.