Downtown Las Vegas show going on ‘hiatus’ on July 6
A show we like, and news we don’t: We are confidently informed Amy Saunders’ “Mavericks” at Plaza Showroom is headed for a hiatus.
The plan is to go dark after performing July 6, returning mid-September. But hiatus often means a “bye-atus” in this city. As we say, see you at the reopening.
There are issues off-stage with “Mavericks,” s reportedly dissatisfaction inside the production team, and a need for fast cash to keep the show going.
While prepping for Friday’s performance, Saunders said only, “I’ll plead the 5th right now.” Saturday she confirmed the show’s July 6 restart.
Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel is also declining comment. Word of the show’s impending shutdown surfaced Thursday afternoon.
The adult-variety production opened at Plaza Showroom in May 2024, after a run at Cheapshot on Fremont East. With Saunders as host, the show has wonderful talent, unique appeal and beautiful staging The production’s edgy-funny format is led by Saunders, a famous sword-swallower and manic comic host.
Among the specialty-act highlights have been Michelle L’amour’s derriere-flexing ‘Butthoven’s 5th Symphony” number and Julie Atlas Muz’s cursed-hand routine — in which her severed hand appears to violate her body. These acts for years have been popular on the “neo-burlesque” circuit.
Usually donning her turban and white jumpsuit at events, Saunders also zealously promoted the show’s comparatively inexpensive ticket pricing (starting at $39 for locals, up to $99, all-inclusive) and a free-parking voucher as selling points.
The show is a classic four-wall partnership, the production team leasing the showroom from the hotel. “Mavericks” is co-produced in a partnership of of Saunders; Matt Franzetti, late of Spiegelworld and BASE Entertainment; Scott Prisand of “Rock of Ages,” “Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel In Concert,” and Criss Angel’s stage show; Michael Speyer of “Peepshow,” “Absinthe,” “Rock of Ages,” “Million Dollar Quartet,” Mat Franco’s show and also Angel’s production; and Rob Kolson, a veteran Broadway producer and owner of Apollo Theatre in Chicago.
Reportedly, all those partners remain Mavericks” production team. But discussions are ongoing. The real need is for funding, which might require persuading the hotel to back the show. Agreeing to that plan would itself be a maverick move.
Prior to “Mavericks,” Plaza’s most recent shot at a production show was “A Mob Story” from September-December 2018. Famed “Splash” producer Jeff Kutash and former mob figure Michael Franzese partnered in the Mafia-themed musical. The theater was redesigned and its tech upgraded, the show lavishly appointed with and Andy Walmsley-designed set, ornate costumes, a pair of singers and full dance team. It never made money.
Over the years, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” headliner Louie Anderson and the Comedy Works club series was run in the room. None of them had long-term viability.
“Mavericks,” with its dynamic host and cast and endorsed by visionary resort exec, seemed different. It still might be. As one veteran downtown arts figure said, “It shouldn’t just be the best-kept secret.”
Going to bat for Brady
Aces and Raiders owner Mark Davis’s favorite item in the Hall of Excellence collection is the silver-and-black Louisville Slugger bat emblazoned with “Muhammad Ali” on the barrel and signed by Ali as “Cassius Clay” in silver ink. “A very rare combo,” the Davis toured the facility Wednesday, a couple of days before opening. He has enlisted Brady as an investor in both of his major-league franchises.
Muscling in
The former Duo Vector act from “Absinthe,” Misha Furmanczyk and Lukasz Szczerba, will be featured on Tuesday’s episode of “America’s Got Talent.” The strength tandem is now known as The Bodyguards. We expect strength to remain. Furmanczyk and Szczerba were fan favorites from the opening of “Absinthe” in April 2011, through their final bow this past April.
Mattoons catch Chesney
Dane and Lisa Mattoon caught Kenny Chesney in Las Vegas on his way to international fame, and during his run at Sphere.
The Vegas couple reunited with Chesney, in a manner of speaking, on June 6 at Sphere. The Las Vegas couple were in the crowd nearly 30 years after Chesney played a happenstance role in their engagement at Texas Station. As we related in January, The then-Lisa McElveen was the hotel’s director of slot operations. Dane was a rookie with the Henderson Police Department.
In November 1996, Dane arranged for a proposal moment during Chesney’s autograph-signing appearance to promote his show at Railhead at Boulder Station, a Texas Station sister property.
“When I walked up to get an autograph, he asked if I was Lisa and said he had heard a lot about me,” Lisa recalled in January. “The next thing I knew, Dane was tapping me on the shoulder, holding a dozen roses and got down on one and proposed.”
Yes to that, she said. The couple had a blast at Sphere, which is sort of an advanced concert experience from Railhead.
“There were Technical color movies at one point, then IMAX, HDTV, and now I believe there’s a thing called Sphere-a-Vision,” Dane said. “At some points, Kenny was 100 feet tall and there was no distortion of the image. The moving through the water towards the No Shoes Nation felt like we were on a boat. Going down the high school annual picture clips felt like we were on a rollercoaster in a tunnel of pictures.”
Well put. The couple recommends the venue, and of course Chesney, to anyone. The country superstar is outta Dodge after this weekend’s shows.
‘Jaws,’ ‘Bruce,’ and Vegas
Friday was the 50th anniversary of the release of “Jaws” in theaters. There is a Vegas link to the toothy blockbuster. “Bruce,” the musical based on the film’s development, remains a living project.
“Bruce” is a vehicle of musicians, composers and writing Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor. Oberacker said Friday he hopes to host a reading of the reworked script, in partnership with Vegas Theatre Company, at a yet-to-be announced location.
The film charts the film’s against-all-odds development, with the title based on the mechanical shark’s nickname. The problematic prop was actually named for Steven Spielberg’s attorney.
The musical ran at Seattle Rep’s Bagley Wright Theater in May-June 2022, and was sampled at The Composers Showcase at Myron’s before that. Oberacker’s description, “This is a story about how a 26-year-old unknown looked at a project, and said, ‘I am going to do this,’ even when he didn’t have the cast he wanted and the weather, the schedule, and even the title character keeps breaking down.”
Oberacker and Taylor have Broadway cred. The partners co-wrote “Bandstand,” which ran for 166 performances at Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre before closing in September 2017.
Cool Hang Alert
On the topic of productions in VegasVille, “The Way West” premieres at Myron’s at 7 p.m. Thursday. The musical assembles five stories based on real-life characters, who collide at the Mountain Meadows in the Utah Territory in 1857. The score is modern-American folk music. The cast is loaded with Broadway vets. The show is a benefit for The Composers Showcase. Go to TheSmithCenter.com for intel.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
