23 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Wayne Bernath
Lance Burton.
Published Saturday, April 3, 2010 | 7:54 p.m.
Updated Saturday, April 3, 2010 | 9:38 p.m.
Writing from Mandalay Bay Events Center at the moment, at the Bernard Hopkins-Roy Jones Jr. fight card, but the entertainment buzz is suddenly centered on a magician at an MGM Mirage property a bit to the north: Monte Carlo’s Lance Burton.
The hotel’s chief resident headliner for more than a decade, Burton is suddenly the focus of reports originated by Channel 3 entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs that he is abruptly leaving the hotel. In her Twitter feed over the past hour, Jacobs has reported that an "excellent" source has told her Burton was told to cut his show’s budget. In turn, she reports, he has told the company he would rather leave, and the company plans to turn him loose.
However, at this time neither MGM Mirage spokeswoman Stephanie Heller nor Burton’s PR rep Wayne Bernath have confirmed those reports. “I can’t confirm or deny,” said Heller, who is on-site and (coincidentally) who herself is leaving MGM Mirage on April 23 to move to Israel in four months.
Said Bernath: “At this time it’s just a rumor.”
The 50-year-old Burton opened at Monte Carlo in 1996 and has had one of the more successful and critically acclaimed production shows on the Strip. In July of 2009, he signed an extended six-year contract with the hotel for him to continue performing at the theater bearing his name until 2015.
Updates to be provided as the evening unfolds.
Update: Don't expect any update from a hotel official until after the weekend. Can't confirm. Can't deny. For now, that's a 30.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
Looks like a power play to me. I suspect they want to move Copperfield to his specially designed theater so they can open there theatre hes using now 7 days a week for other events. Best of luck to you Lance what ever you do.
Make em disappear Lance, I've seen your show and don't change a thing.
They tell Burton to cut his budget so Murren can get his bonus!!!
Lance Burton would draw in a great crowd to nearly every theater on the Strip. The question in my mind is, what resort currently has space available for his 7:00 to 8:00 curtain?
Outside of the MGM Mirage group, the Flamingo has Donnie and Marie, Bally's has Jubilee, Harrah's has Legends, the Mirage has Love, TI has Mystere, and the IP has Human Nature.
What else is there?
Now is not the time to grandstand, Lance. You made your point now do what they want. If the powers-that-be asked you to cut your budget, cut your budget. Closing your show will put alot more people out of work. Better to lose a just a few employees rather than ALL of them.
And perhaps your boss is painting you into a corner so you do quit--it would save them so much money if you break your contract. You have to look at the whole picture and play along. But never cut off your nose, Magic Man.
No loss as far as I am concerned. Saw the show, left early. Got comps a few months later and stayed for the whole thing. Not sure why, I guess I had nothing better to do that night.
To Davidheaton............. Suncoast is available.
Maybe they are having trouble filling seats. They just gave a new offer to MGM Mirage employees where you can buy tickets for $20 each.
I have to agree with vegasobserver and vegassucks. Vegas is in a recession, and a lot of shows have closed, like Steve Wyrick, Follies Bergiere, Scarlett, etc. It seems like most shows in Vegas are either very big budget shows like Cirque du Soleil or very small budget shows, like "Bite". "Bite" and "Scarlett" had only 5 or 6 dancers, taped music, and very minimal sets. Possibly the economics don't work as well for medium budget shows like Lance's.
Does Lance ever change his show? I saw it twice a couple years apart,and it was exactly the same. I dunno,but if I did a show,I would have to change it up every now and then.
I think Lance needs to enter the real world and take a cut like all the rest of us who buy show tickets have already done.
about time this show got dumped, would be nice to bring something in more stimulating, but then again the IQ here in LV is not good. with LV being the arm pit of america, the "wow a bird" or "wow a plane disappeard" is par for people here, anything higher and the bellboys & ditzy cocktail girls will get confused..
Palace Station? I don't think he is ready to stoop that low. Besides, Stations will want to pay him below industry standard wages and on top of that, aren't most venue employees union? The Fertittas can't handle that.
Hope Lance can get a government job...they never cut anything!
move copperfield over from mgm---look out ladies!
I foresee Harrah's giving him a call to headline their newest acquisition, Planet Hollywood. Lance may not be the draw he used to be but a refresh of the show and new theatre might just be enough for Harrah's.
Lance Burton is the most skilled magician performing today! He has spent years developing his skill, routines, and presentations. He was the first American to bring home the World Champion Cup. Why should he change his act when it is a classic that can be watched over and over and still be entertaining. I am also a magician that has a weekly show on the east coast and am friends with a lot of big name entertainers. And none can top Lance Burton or even come close.
He could do well at Planet Hollywood, Caesars, The New Cosmopolitan Resort, Wynn or they could get rid of that terrible Elvis show... not likely.
After thought! Maybe Lance is tired and needs a break or at least a change. I agree with VEGASimmonshin, maybe a change of theaters and a little time to refresh his show and himself would be just the ticket.
why...WHY was my comment removed?
it was essentially the EXACT same tone and wording as this comment that is still up there:
"about time this show got dumped, would be nice to bring something in more stimulating, but then again the IQ here in LV is not good. with LV being the arm pit of america, the "wow a bird" or "wow a plane disappeard" is par for people here, anything higher and the bellboys & ditzy cocktail girls will get confused.."
Branson Missori is availible.
Well... I'm thrilled... that he's moving on!! Lance's show was decent... not amazing, but decent... his magic/illusions... but I HATED the theater... it was OLD, run-down and literally STUNK so bad, the smell was so bad and strong, I had a headache almost the whole show! The seats were uncomfortable also! But the smell was the WORST! I can't believe they haven't updated that theater/showroom, and it smelled like it hadn't been CLEANED in YEARS! If you looked around the theater, you could see holes, cracks, bad paint areas... all things that COULD have been fixed. But I don't think they could ever get that smell out of there, without totally refurbishing the showroom... demo it out, and start over.
It would be great if he started over at another casino/showroom... both a showroom AND performance that is fresh, clean and updated!!