Musical family act reunites for Josh Keating show at Starbright

After five years, they’re back. The Keating name will again take the stage at 7 p.m. July 8 at the Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas W. Ryan Blvd.

This time, the show is scheduled to be headlined by Josh Keating.

“The last time I performed here was in April of 2010, and we had a successful show, and the year before that, we sold out entirely,” he said. “I was talking with Melissa Spina (director of community services for Sun City Summerlin), and she thought that the (response) was so great, it would be a good idea to have the family come back again. It’s kind of like a friends thing, where I’m featuring the family as well.”

He will be joined by his father, Ken, and younger brother, Alex, who will back him as part of the nine-piece band. His dad plays piano, and his brother plays the drums. The three have been performing for years, but for this event, Josh is the main attraction.

“I wanted to bring back the feel of the Keating show — the family thing we used to do. We were known for pop opera,” he said. “But this time, it’s me. I’m not a 17-year-old kid anymore, so I wanted to (take the stage alone) … I want people to know that after five years, we’re back performing.”

In the show, Josh will be performing audience favorites, ranging from Rat Pack-era hits to opera. Expect everything from Bobby Darin to Andrea Bocelli. Joshua plans a tribute to classic movies, singing songs by Andy Williams and Barbra Streisand. He said it’s important to keep such songs alive, as “we don’t get to enjoy that type of music anymore.”

His father will join him for a couple of the songs.

The five-year hiatus was due to the 24-year-old’s educational pursuits: Josh recently earned his master’s degree from Pepperdine University. But the need to perform never left him. At the Southern California school, he was a member of the select chamber choir and the concert choir.

Spina said the Keating show sold out the last time. She booked this year’s show.

“It was so great to see Josh again,” Spina said. “Him coming back, it was like, he’s so grown up now, because he was so much younger last time. I remember how great he and his dad were together. And the Sun City audience, they just loved them.”

Josh has been on stage since he was 14. During that time, he has performed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and also at a VIP event called A Night with Tony Bennett and the Stars. He was recognized at the event as a Rising Young Star and received a standing ovation from Bennett.

His biggest musical accomplishment was when he entered a competition alongside hundreds of other Las Vegas singers for Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam to Stardom. He was chosen as a top three finalist and was sent to Malibu, Calif., where he met and performed for Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster.

Josh and his father have traveled the world performing on cruise ships such as those run by Crystal Cruises. The Keatings, a father-and-son duo, quickly became a well-established act in Las Vegas, which is why their success translated over to the stage in Branson, Mo.

He was part of “The Keatings … A Father and Son Musical Experience,” which ran for about five years starting in 2006 at the Hamner Barber and Branson Star theaters in Branson. There, Josh was nominated for Best Male Vocalist of the Year by Branson Show Awards out of a pool of hundreds of singers.

In November 2012, Josh, alongside many other Las Vegas entertainers, performed with Streisand at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. He has also performed at many of the weekly shows at the Suncoast and Sam’s Town and was a finalist in last year’s “Las Vegas Has Talent” at the Suncoast.

The family performed at the Starbright in 2009 and 2010, each time selling out their shows.

Even while pursuing his degree, Josh and Alex, an undergraduate student at Pepperdine, performed at area restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Tickets are $12 per person and are on sale at the Mountain Shadows, Desert Vista and Pinnacle Community centers or at suncity-summerlin.com/starbrighttheatre.htm.

To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.