‘Ba-Da-Bing’ rings in new run at Ovation Theater

Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 | 8:38 a.m.

The interactive dinner theater show "Ba-Da-Bing" debuts Saturday at the Aladdin after spending more than a year at The Orleans.

Producer Ben Morgan has signed a five-year joint venture agreement with the owners of Ovation Theater for 10,000 square feet upstairs in the two-story, 30,000-square-foot property located in Desert Passage mall.

Morgan, who plays Cousin Vinnie in the mob-spoof musical, said the contract is worth more than $10 million, based on anticipated revenue from ticket, liquor and food sales. The agreement includes an option for another five years.

"We're real excited," Morgan said.

Keeping with the trend of getting as much use out of a room as possible, Morgan plans to bring in additional shows including "Ba-Da-Boom," which is a version of the topless show "Heat Wave" that was at the Las Vegas Hilton about four years ago. "Ours will be sexy, but it won't be topless," Morgan said. "We're family oriented."

"Ba-Da-Bing" general manager Mike Hughes says the company is also considering putting in a couple of variety shows, a comedy show and possibly a late-night adult show.

"This is a much better venue for us," Hughes said.

The move to Aladdin means more than just added space and a permanent home, Hughes said, noting that The Orleans is a venue favored by locals and "Ba-Da-Bing" has much wider appeal.

"We've built up the show into a world-class dinner theater in the past three years," Hughes said. "We have a great following. We're known worldwide. People from Europe, Asia, everywhere seek us out. Everybody loves it."

The premise of "Ba-Da-Bing" (a show meant for fans of all ages) is a surprise birthday party for mob boss Mr. Big. Audience members become part of different families attending the party.

Morgan debuted the production at Alexis Park in June 2001, moved it to the Greek Isles in January 2002 and to The Orleans in October of that year, where it was performed in a dining area in Sazio's.

Because of its broader appeal, Hughes said a place on the Strip is more appropriate for the production.

"There is more of a mainstream clientele here," Hughes said. "People are looking for great deals on shows and dinners."

The leased space includes a lounge that seats 80 to 100 and a room that is being converted into a dinner theater capable of seating 200 to 250.

Because the renovation of the theater won't be completed for at least a month, the show will be performed in the lounge. When the theater opens, the lounge will become the Speakeasy Lounge and feature music by the Gary Colombo Trio from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly.

Hughes said the theater will have the feel of a warehouse and feature such props as large wooden doors with sliding peepholes through which fans must say the secret password ("Ba-Da-Bing") to be admitted.

Drinks, served by waitresses in flapper dresses, will be served in coffee mugs, and police will raid the place every hour.

Hughes said there will be a lot of atmosphere to the theater, including "a couple of goombas at the entrances who will frisk everyone when they come in."

He said the show will have its own chef and serving staff, unlike at The Orleans, where cooks and waiters were shared with diners who did not attend the dinner theater.

"That put a heavy load on the staff, and sometimes they weren't prepared for it," Hughes said.

The Aladdin venue originally was the nightclub and restaurant Sevilla, which briefly featured Charo in "Bravo" last year. John Stuart, best known for creating "Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace, produced the show.

Financial difficulties forced the Sevilla owners into bankruptcy.

Martin-Harris Construction did the construction work on the property. Bill Hibbard, the company's chief financial officer, said to recoup its losses, Martin-Harris bought the space and turned it into a theater for "Ovation."

"Ovation" is a revue created and initially co-produced by David Saxe (producer of "V, The Ultimate Variety Show" at The Venetian and "Showgirls of Magic" at San Remo) and Stuart.

Last month Stuart bought out Saxe, who is busy creating a "V" franchise in San Francisco.

Hibbard says the decision to buy the property and turn it into an entertainment venue was based on sound advice from trusted counselors.

"We had some advisers out of New York and Dallas evaluate the facility, which had been a steakhouse and nightclub," Hibbard said. "To recoup our investment, they said the entertainment approach was the best way to do it."

Hence, they converted the club into a dinner theater and built the OV Cafe and the OV Bar outside the theater.

Hibbard said the company is going to lease the Ovation Theater to a dance production, "All You Can Dance," for daily two matinee performances (at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.). And they may put in a late-night show.

Beginning Sunday "Ovation" performances will be at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and "Ba-Da-Bing" will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Even though the shows overlap, Hughes said since the upstairs venue has a separate entrance from "Ovation" and will be in a soundproof room, there won't be any conflicts in the two productions.

Martin-Harris won't be in the theater/restaurant forever.

"We are building it into an operating entity to make it available for sale," Hibbard said. "We will stay in it as long as we can produce a profit, and until we can get a reasonable offer. General contractors don't generally stay in theaters very long."

He says this is his first experience in entertainment.

"I've never been involved in anything like this before," Hibbard said. "It's fun and it's a challenge, but it's incredibly different from anything I've done."