By John Katsilometes
“Monty Python’s Spamalot” at Wynn Las Vegas is showing the proverbial chink in the armor. Or maybe it’s a real chink in the proverbial armor.
Whichever, beginning at the end of the month (that’s this month, June) the show is cutting back its schedule from nine shows per week to seven. Lopped like the limbs of the ill-fated knight who tangles with King Arthur are the 10 p.m. performances on Tuesdays and Fridays. It will likely be described as a “summer schedule” change, but I’d bet it’s a “permanent schedule” change.
Most Strip shows have soft-selling time slots. For “Spamalot,” the late performances on Tuesdays and Fridays have been a concern since the production launched in March. Another development to watch for is who replaces John O’Hurley when his contract expires in September. If he doesn’t sign on to extend his role as King Arthur (and he’s really funny, Steve Martin-type funny, in that role) and the production opts for a lesser star, you know money is a concern. But if a star in O’Hurley’s class is signed, the cut-back schedule will have helped shore up the production’s financial books.
Meanwhile, always look on the bright side of life (everybody!).
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The latest rumored tenant at Neonopolis is the Spanish-language network Telemundo, which is said to be looking at studio space in the largely latent mall on Fremont Street.
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Pomp and circumstantial evidence: The Orleans Arena is hosting 19 high school graduations this month. The high volume of traffic (also known as “people”) at the arena might pay off someday. The first groups of grads who took their diplomas when the arena opened four years ago are now 21 years old, which is old enough to visit that other part of the resort that helps build arenas.
The Orleans Arena is also hosting a UNLV basketball game this season, when Fresno State visits on Dec. 8, a first for the venue, which is glad to be known for anything that doesn’t include “Gladiators” in the title.
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Dennis Hopper, a member of the CineVegas Film Festival board, will be Dave Berns’ guest at 10 a.m. Tuesday on KNPR 88.9-FM’s “State of Nevada.” It’ll be a phoner, but live, so you can call in with questions/comments/burning desires.
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This posting from Craig’s List, dated May 31 and brushed up for public consumption: “I will pay you $75 to take out my trash. It’s all bagged and ready to go. The only catch is trash day is on Monday and I want it out Friday (Saturday at the latest) so you’d have to take it to a dump or a Dumpster behind Taco Bell or a Wal-Mart parking lot. I really don’t care. Just get it out of my life.” The haul was five stinky bags, along with three bags of recyclable material. Says the trash hoarder: “I’m not cruel, just lazy, busy and afraid of the trash.” Hey, put it to music. The posting was down today.
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Release me: A notice from the Miss America Organization informs that Miss America Lauren Nelson (who was crowned right here amid the neon of the famous Las Vegas Strip at Planet Hollywood in January!) attended the Army Ball in L.A. on Saturday night. I heard the entertainment was Spinal Tap.
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Abrupt news from University Theatre today is that there is no more University Theatre. Well, there is, but it’s no longer hosting live music. All of the shows scheduled for University Theatre have moved to Jillian’s, at the earlier-mentioned Neonopolis, which is not closed but only seems like it. The reason given in a news release was that University Theatre is not zoned for live music and was operating under a temporary license, and that moving to Jillian’s, which is zoned for live music, was easier than obtaining the proper permanent license.
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Vegas moment: Dan Kulin, the public information officer of Clark County, spotted out of his jurisdiction today at the Las Vegas City Hall complex. He was picking up paperwork following a recent fender-bender that marked his Ford Explorer.
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Plate in my head: It’s not from that album, but in honor of the 40th anniversary of the release of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” and Paul McCartney’s new “Memory Almost Full,” we go with GETBACK on a black BMW 325i. The driver might not be a Beatles fan, but we are.
Fabulous Las Vegas appears daily (well, almost) at this Web site. John Katsilometes can be reached at 990-7720, 812-9812 or at [email protected]