All-ages show ‘Ovation’ debuts at Aladdin

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 8:49 a.m.

Producer David Saxe didn't have much time to savor the rave reviews of the media and others who attended a special showing of his latest production, "Ovation," at Aladdin on Wednesday night.

Immediately following the 10 p.m. show he had to rush home and grade 250 papers by 95 students in his entertainment class at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"They review all the shows in town," the 34-year-old veteran of Las Vegas show business said. "I haven't graded them in three weeks."

Saxe has been a little busy lately, producing "Showgirls of Magic," a topless show at San Remo, "V The Ultimate Variety Show" at The Venetian and his new "Vegas Baby" interactive comedy game show at O'Sheas.

A great believer in syndication, he's preparing to take "Showgirls" to Japan next year and he's opening a version of "V" at Pier 39 in San Francisco in April.

"I believe 'Ovation' has the same potential," Saxe said.

He's also starting production in Atlantic City on "Giddy-Up," a country music show which he hopes eventually to bring to Las Vegas.

And there are a couple of other projects he didn't care to elaborate on.

"I have great ideas for two really big shows that I'm working on," Saxe said.

"Ovation" co-producer John Stuart is equally busy.

In addition to his "Legends in Concert," which has five production companies around the nation, he's busy working with Dan Aykroyd on a Blues Brothers show that will soon open in Chicago and eventually come to Las Vegas.

Until recently, Stuart and Saxe have followed their own career paths.

Their paths crossed when the two joined forces to put together the "V" production in San Francisco.

They combined their expertise for "Ovation" earlier this year when the owners of the Seville nightclub/restaurant defaulted on a $1.2 million debt and M&H Building Specialties Inc. took over the property in Aladdin's Desert Passage.

Charo had been performing at the venue at the time.

"I brought Charo to town," Stuart said. "First at The Venetian, then the Sahara and then here.

"When Seville went bankrupt, M&H, to try and get their money back, asked me to come up with a production show. David and I were working on the show 'V' together at Pier 39 in San Francisco."

Saxe and Stuart came up with "Ovation," a variation of "V," the premise of which is a revue containing specialty acts -- jugglers, magicians, comedians and others who generally open for headliners or provide a break within a production show.

"It's a takeoff on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' " Stuart said.

Saxe said he first was asked to bring 'V' to the Aladdin, but the production has been so successful at The Venetian since its debut more than a year ago that he didn't want to move the show.

Instead, he presented M&H with "Ovation."

The show's cast includes comedian and memory wizard Mark Kornhauser, the tap dance team "All That!", magician Jason Byrne, puppeteer Christopher, juggler Anthony Gatto, gymnasts Aerial Adage, balancing performer Tino Ferreira and singer Serena Henry.

"What makes the show is the acts, the uniqueness and how they are displayed," Stuart said.

For the production, M&H turned the former restaurant into the 400-seat Ovation Theater, complete with theater seating.

"This is not a big showroom so we don't have room for tons of dancers and a lot of production," Stuart said.

Saxe says the show is something everyone can enjoy, but it's geared to a slightly different audience than "V."

"We've been billing this as 'V' for Generation-X," Saxe said. "It's kind of skewed to a younger audience -- the specialty acts are winners of the latest round of TV talent shows like 'Fame,' 'Dance Fever' and '30 Seconds of Fame.' "

Saxe, who has been producing shows since age 15, says variety entertainment is making a comeback.

"And these are the best guys in the world," he said. "Every act deserves a standing ovation."

Saxe says there are so many great variety acts in town that he will never run out of artists.

"I could probably put four shows together with just variety acts and sell out most of the time," he said.

"Ovation" bucks the Vegas trend of focusing on adult entertainment.

"Me, personally, I will always just do family-type shows," Stuart said.