Las Vegas Sun
Frankie Moreno sings during a performance of the Broadway-based open mic and variety show “Cast Party” on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at Cabaret Jazz in the Smith Center.
By John Katsilometes
Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 | 4:56 p.m.
In the vicinity of these two showmen, no open mic is safe.
We talk of the esteemed Jim Caruso and the similarly esteemed Keith Thompson, both of whom are bringing showcase performances to Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts this week.
Caruso is back with his freewheeling “Cast Party,” set for 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are still available and are $20 and $30 at the Smith Center box office. Trust me, this is a high volume of high-volume entertainment.
Often attempting to attract even “ventriloquial” artists, Caruso typically arrives with a list scrawled on a notepad and reads the names of folks he expects to perform. It’s often a scramble to the stage and always a madcap path to the finish with Mr. Caruso and his piano sidekick Billy Stritch.
The two have been performing at Birdland in Manhattan for the past decade and in March took the show to the Appel Room at Lincoln Center in New York. These performances are Caruso’s great passion, as it gives him a chance to tell his wildly entertaining tales of Liza Minnelli, Charles Nelson Reilly and growing up in Dallas, where he once co-starred in a nightclub show titled “Son of a Bitch.”
Caruso’s co-star in that show was his mother.
Over the past couple of years in Las Vegas, Caruso has drawn such stars as Donny Osmond and Susan Anton to the shows, along with Clint Holmes, Frankie Moreno, Reva Rice, Eric Jordan Young and members of “Vegas! The Show” “Jersey Boys” and “Phantom – the Las Vegas Spectacular.” The list is always fluid, and Caruso is forever seeking an Osmond, a ventriloquist and an Elvis impressionist to fill out the field.
On
Wednesday, “Jersey Boys” music director Thompson brings back the Composers Showcase, which is typically sold out, all the way, for its monthly performances. Show time is 9:30 p.m., tickets $20, and it would not hurt to check the Smith Center box office on the day of the show to see if any tickets have been returned to the venue.
The Showcase unearths many gems; most recently, numbers from Richard Oberacker’s “Bandstand” have been unveiled at these performances, and Oberacker might well have a major hit in the making based on the reception of the show in its full showcases in New York (more on that in an upcoming column).
This is the first time “Cast Party” and Composers Showcase have been held the same week. The two shows are similar in that they are variety presentations. But they are unalike as Thompson has a setlist of scheduled artists who work out original songs for the audience.
Comparatively, Caruso and Stritch pretty much just let it fly, but, because this is Las Vegas, both shows are winners.
The Society Inc The Smith Center for the Performing Arts offers a blend of performances by resident companies and touring attractions. The 5-acre cultural campus features three performance spaces, which includes a main performance area with more than 2,000 seats. This downtown cultural center of Las Vegas looks to educate, entertain and excite community members.
OUR MISSION
To provide and preserve a high-quality performing arts center that is embraced by the community and recognized as a vital force by supporting artistic excellence, education and inspiration for all.
OUR GOALS
To entertain, educate, enrich and inspire the southern Nevada community.
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
Thanks to the generous support of our dedicated founders, members, donors and community partners, The Smith Center continues to provide a wide variety of services for Southern Nevada residents, including access to world-class performances, inspirational Education and Outreach programs for students and teachers, and a unique space to host events, meetings and special occasions. Celebrating our fifth season, we depend upon public support to fulfill our mission and serve as the Heart of the Arts for many years to come.
With ticket sales covering just 75 percent of our operating budget for each season, the remaining 25 percent comes from the community we serve. Philanthropic support at all levels helps provide programming that entertains, educates, enriches and inspires. By giving to The Smith Center, you play a vital role in providing an important resource for our community.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are many opportunities to volunteer and play a direct role with your community's performing arts complex. Volunteers engage with staff and patrons to enhance experiences at The Smith Center, and can serve in various capacities including tour guide/docent, usher, security team member or community ambassador. As important members of The Smith Center team, volunteers help us remain financially sustainable and provide numerous services for the community. Please show your support for The Smith Center's mission by gifting your time and unique skills.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Members' annual support provides crucial resources for The Smith Center's artistic programming, education opportunities and cultural enrichment each year. There are a variety of giving options and levels, and Members receive exclusive benefits and behind-the-scenes opportunities based on their level of support. To learn more, please visit www.thesmithcenter.com/support-us/members.
The Encore Society recognizes those generous donors who have included The Smith Center as a part of their estate plan. Corporate Sponsorship is available to companies to underwrite all, or part, of a program, performance or event.
Fanfare! is The Smith Center's young progressional networking organization, open to anyone with an interest in the performing arts who is between the ages of 21-40. And our Show Dedication allows for the celebration of an individual or special occasion with unique recognition opportunities during a specific performance.
SERVICE AREA
The Smith Center provides world-class performing arts and outreach and education throughout the Southern Nevada region.
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2012.
The organization originally formed in 1996 as the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Myron G. Martin President and CEO Donald D. Snyder Chairman Dr. Keith Boman Vice Chairman Mark Tratos Secretary Michael Yackira Treasurer David Dunn Alan M. Feldman Richard Haddrill Fred Hipwell Nancy Houssels Todd-Avery Lenahan Scott MacTaggart Jerry Nadal John Nelson Richard Plaster Rory Reid Kim Sinatra Roger P. Thomas 4104 Cathedral Falls Ave North Las Vegas,
NV
702-749-2000
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
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