Troy Heard has stepped in to manage the Onyx Theatre as producing director, keeping the scene mainstay from going dark. “The Onyx has a great history,” Heard says. “Owner Randy Lange and CFO Tom Conroy want to keep the space open, and I agreed to come on and spearhead that.”

Artistically, Heard will model the Onyx after Dad’s Garage in Atlanta, with a very strong improv base and a philosophy of “cheap beer and cheap laughs.” He’s working on getting a beer and wine license, streamlining the ticketing process and turning the soon-to-be vacant Rack retail space into a cabaret lounge. “It will be a more welcoming space,” Heard says. “I want the Onyx to be the premier comic theater of Las Vegas.”

Heard worked fast to get new productions scheduled in the space—with weekly comedy show The GET opening January 16, and the comedic play Four Dogs and a Bone opening January 23 via the Onyx’s in-house company, Off-Strip Productions. The venue will also remain available for other companies to rent for their own productions.