Theater News

Las Vegas Spotlight: November 2010

Clay Man

Jason Alexander in The Donny Clay Experience
Jason Alexander in The Donny Clay Experience

November is here, with plenty of entertainment in Vegas to be thankful for.

Tony Award winner Jason Alexander returns to Vegas as motivational speaker Donny Clay in The Donny Clay Experience at the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand, November 4-10. An interactive, partially improvised evening of comedy, music, and theater, this will be a show to remember. Also at the MGM Grand, Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, commemorates the 30th anniversary of the original release of The Wall, with a newly-mounted state-of-the-art production of his landmark masterpiece at the Garden Arena (November 26).

Treasure Island is serving up some choice comedy this month. A lady you’ve loved on The View – and one of only five entertainers to win an Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award – Whoopi Goldberg performs her cutting-edge humor on November 12. And another comedy legend, Bill Cosby, sits down for some wry storytelling on November 26.

At Planet Hollywood, the So You Think You Can Dance tour arrives on November 12. Currently scheduled for the line-up are Season 7 finalists Adechike, Ashley, Billy, Jose, Kent, Lauren, and Robert, along with All-Stars Ade, Allison, Courtney, Dominic, and Kathryn, and last season’s winner, Russell. They’ll be doing their hottest routines in Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Ballroom, Tango, Broadway, Salsa and more.

Some legendary names in music are performing at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. For those wanting some “Hot Legs” other than their Thanksgiving drumsticks, Rod Stewart will be singing his greatest hits (November 6-21). And the incomparable Miss Diana Ross is bringing her “More Today Than Yesterday” tour to The Colosseum on November 12-13. It’ll be an evening of the iconic performer singing her biggest songs, not to mention some spectacular costumes and stage designs. Also at The Colosseum, Emmy-winning comedienne Kathy Griffin serves up her brand of holiday cheer on November 27.

Over at the Wynn, Garth Brooks continues to wow audiences with his run at the Encore Theater (November 5-21). Over at Mandalay Bay, you’ll be screaming “OMG” when Usher, along with special guests Trey Songz and Miguel bring the OMG Tour to town on November 13. And on November 26, legendary “ranchera” singer Vicente Fernandez brings his unique sound to Vegas. At the Orleans, R&B superstar Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds gives his fans some new jack swing on November 6-7. And Frank Sinatra, Jr. will do it his way on November 19-21.

You loved him when he played high schooler Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation, and now Drake is bringing his hip hop sound to The Joint at the Hard Rock on November 6. Contrary to her song title, Sheryl Crow isn’t “Leaving Las Vegas” — in fact, she’s playing at The Joint on November 14, while L.A. based rockers Lifehouse are “All In” when they play on November 19.

At the Hilton, 70s rockers Heart will go “Crazy on You” on November 13, and Charlie Wilson, Gap Band alum (and solo artist in his own right), is joined by Alexander O’Neal and Cherelle on November 26-27. But there’s more than just great music at the Hilton – for you comedy buffs, Andrew Dice Clay performs his no-holds-barred brand of humor (November 11-21), and Mark Curry (of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper fame) cooks up laughs on November 26-28.

At The Mirage, cigar smoking, scotch drinking funnyman Ron White gets into some serious comedy on November 5-6. Jo Koy, named by Daily Variety as one of the “10 Comics to Watch” brings his unique brand of humor on November 13. And the always witty Ray Romano and Kevin James dish out some big laughs on November 19-20.

The Venetian won’t disappoint fans of folk-rock singer-songwriters when Marc Cohn appears on November 13. The Grammy Award winner will perform songs from his latest album “Listening Booth: 1970” along with his greatest hits. And at The Pearl Concert Theater at The Palms, alternative rock supergroup A Perfect Circle get “Emotive” when they play on November 20-21.

As for legit fare, over at the Las Vegas Little Theatre Mainstage is John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt, A Parable (November 5-21). Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it’s the story of a nun in a Bronx Catholic school, circa 1964, who suspects a popular priest is engaging in inappropriate behavior with a student.

The Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents Frank Wedekind’s Spring’s Awakening at UNLV’s Black Box Theatre (November 19-December 5). First performed under heavy censorship in 1906 Germany, the story about the sexual adventures of four teenagers closed after one night in 1917 New York, amid charges of obscenity. The tale of these not-so-innocent teens is as relevant today as it was back when it was first introduced.