Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

BBR’s ‘Alice’ to open its trunk of surprises at Hard Rock Hotel

BBR

Ira Kuzma

Savannah Smith and David Perrico perform during the showcase for BBR at T Spot in Tuscany Suites on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2013.

Click to enlarge photo

Anne Martinez and Savannah Smith of BBR perform during the showcase for BBR at T Spot in Tuscany Suites on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2013.

The famous lyric talks of a world of pure imagination, and at first blush the production “Alice — A Steampunk Concert Fantasy” seems just that.

But this concept under the title of BBR (two blondes and a revolution is the acronym) is more than that. It’s hard work — a lot of hard work — dedication, talent, experience and an ethereal collective belief that a seamy, steampunk-inspired rock opera can work in a Las Vegas resort.

“We wanted to break the rules,” founder Anne Martinez says. “We wanted to give Las Vegas something it has never seen before.”

The rock musical based on Lewis Carrol’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” has indeed found a home, or at least a temporary residence, at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel. An updated version of the show that has bounced around VegasVille for nearly two years premieres at 11 p.m. Feb. 17. The next dates are all Wednesday nights: March 18, April 1, May 20, June 17 and July 15. Tickets are $30; $10 for Nevada residents, and go on sale 10 a.m. Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel box office.

The “Alice” concept was developed soon after the premiere of BBR in April 2013, the original format being a blonde, brunette and redhead. Martinez and co-star Savannah Smith soon moved to the center of the act after the redhead of the group — Tara Palsha of “Vegas! The Show” at Planet Hollywood — left and is now living in New York. Martinez devised the “Alice” idea with Smith, one of the city’s busiest and most-talented vocalists, and choreographer and dancers Ryan Kelsey of “Pin Up” and the terrific Claudia Mitra, late of that show and many other Strip productions (“Peepshow,” “Vegas! The Show” and Eric Jordan Young’s “Shakin’ ” among them).

The show has performed to a strong following of locals at Tuscany’s T Spot Lounge, Sunset Station’s Club Madrid and, most recently, Vinyl.

Martinez, who has pitched the show to resort executives in town and also recruited its powerhouse cast, began talks with Hard Rock Hotel officials about four months ago.

“I have so much respect for the Hard Rock as an entity, and it just feels right for the show to be there because it is all about the music,” she said. “We just need to continue to build it organically.”

“Alice” is an attack show, no doubt about it. David Perrico is the music director, leading a nine-piece band, and has written new charts for familiar pop and rock numbers. “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics, “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, “Janie’s Got a Gun” by Aerosmith and The Beatles “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” are all in the production. Martinez promises at least one new number, a shakeup in the order of songs, and new original music penned by Kelsey (who also is a composer and guitarist of high aptitude).

“We’ll have a lot of musical surprises,” says Martinez, who also is a principal singer in “Jubilee” at Bally’s. “That’s what so great about being part of this team. Everybody is so sweet and creative.”

Martinez has bolstered the cast by adding White Rabbit and Cheshire Cat characters and is continuing the concept of a guest star as the Red Queen. Claire Sinclair, Sabina Kelley, Skye Dee Miles, Jaime Lynch and Carol-Lyn Liddle of “Raiding the Rock Vault” are among the previous Red Queens. Martinez plans more dialogue to stitch the numbers, keeping in the whimsical tenor of Lewis’ source work, backed by a score that will reliably rock the house.

The hope is for BBR’s “Alice” show to grow as a five-night-a-week performance.

“But until we get there,” Martinez advises, “we need to take these baby steps.”

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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