‘Splash’ sues Riviera to block cancelation

Brian Seals

Tuesday, June 2, 1998 | 10:40 a.m.

The producers of the musical "Splash" sued the Riviera Operating Corp., claiming a lack of promotion is hurting the show and seeking an injunction to block its cancelation.

KR Entertainment, which produces the show that is performed at the Riviera hotel-casino, filed the suit last week in Clark County District Court. Also named as defendants are ROC Chief Executive William Westerman and Vice President Robert Vannucci.

KR claims the hotel-casino has breached the parties' contract by "failing to use its best efforts to market tickets to the 'Splash' show" and by "marketing, to the detriment of the 'Splash' production and KR Entertainment, other shows at the Riviera, including 'Crazy Girls' and 'La Cage."'

The "La Cage" and "Crazy Girls" productions are well-known to most Las Vegans thanks to advertising showing La Cage's Frank Marino, a female impersonator; and Crazy Girls' scantily clad female dancers.

Moreover, the suit accuses Westerman and Vannucci holding "secret discussions" to thwart ticket sales to the show. KR's suit points to complimentary tickets given to people for the show totaled 16,532 between January and April of 1997 and 3,734 between January and April 1998.

Attendance at the show is pivotal to the show being renewed. Riviera and KR reached an agreement in April 1994 for KR to produce the show. The show is set to run through June 30, 2000. But there is an option to extend the show's run another five years if the show averages 7,000 attendees per week during the two-week period ending June 30, 2000.

The suit seeks damages and an injunction "against any attempt by defendants to cancel the 'Splash' production or to remove KR Entertainment from the showroom where the 'Splash' production takes place."

Riviera executive Duane Krohn would not comment on specifics of the suit. "We will vigorously defend against it and we think it is without merit," Krohn said.