Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Here’s a new venue for ‘Rent’

What: "Rent."

When: 8 nightly March 29 through April 2. Additional performances at 2 p.m. April 1-2.

Where: Paris Las Vegas' Le Theatre Des Arts.

Tickets: $47.70, $58.70, $69.70.

Information: 946-4567.

Baseball and Broadway went head to head, and it is best described as a tie game.

Both came out winners.

"Rent" was scheduled for the Cashman Theatre March 29 through April 2.

Two exhibition games between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres were scheduled for Cashman Field on March 31 and April 1.

"Both games are sold out - that's 12,000 fans there the same time as 'Rent,' " said Torrey Russell, director of West Coast Operations for BACI Management, the company bringing the musical to town next week.

To avoid a parking nightmare, Russell found a different venue, one that should have fans of both events doing the wave.

"Rent" is moving to Paris Las Vegas' Le Theatre Des Arts. Russell couldn't be happier.

"It makes for a much more intimate evening," he said. "It's more regal, and theater-like. I'm sure our patrons will love it."

And the parking is free.

The performance times and days are the same. The ticket prices are the same.

Russell said those who have already purchased tickets should take them to the Paris box office on the day of the show and they will be exchanged for a comparable seat.

He noted that many fans who buy season tickets for BACI's Broadway series get the same seats for every performance.

"If they have seats one, two and three at Cashman, they will have seats one, two and three at Paris," Russell said.

The transfer to the Strip was made possible by the recent closing of "We Will Rock You" at Paris.

There will be seven performances of "Rent," a story about a group of young Bohemians struggling to survive in the face of AIDS, destitution, drug addiction, homelessness and other tragic problems.

The musical is a modern version of Puccini's "La Boheme."

It was written by Jonathan Larson, who died days before the production opened off-Broadway in 1996. It went on to win four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel).

"Rent," directed by Michael Greif, also won the Pulitzer Prize.

Tim Weil is the musical director; Marlies Yearby choreographer; Angela Wendt costume designer; Paul Clay set designer; and Blake Burba lighting designer.

The movie version of the Broadway production was released in 2005.

"The movie didn't do that well as far as the box office," Russell said. "But it helped the Broadway (show) - sales tripled after the movie came out."

It also may have helped the touring company.

"The movie reached a different audience, one that may not normally go to the theater, but now they will," Russell said.

But the stage production has a lot of avid fans.

"One lady has paid to see it 58 times," Russell said.

"Rent" is one of several productions brought to Vegas by BACI Management for its Broadway season, which usually includes four or five productions.

"Cats" will be at the Aladdin June 7-11.

Jerry Herman

Legendary Broadway composer/lyricist Jerry Herman is coming to UNLV for a one-night performance in the fall.

"Hello, Jerry!" is part of the university's New York Stage & Beyond series.

The show is scheduled for Oct. 21. The time and ticket prices will be released at a later date.

Herman, the Tony Award-winning composer of "Mame," "Hello, Dolly!" and "La Cage aux Folles," will sing and play piano. Performing with him will be recording artist Jason Graae; Emmy-winning singer/actress Karen Morrow; and Las Vegas' own Paige O'Hara.

O'Hara, perhaps best known as the voice of Belle in Walt Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," is a member of the cast of the musical "Menopause" at Hilton Las Vegas.

Herman made local headlines in 1999 when he wrote a Las Vegas-inspired musical, "Miss Spectacular," that was slated to debut at the Mirage, then owned by Steve Wynn.

Nothing came of the production, although it was mentioned as a possible show for the Venetian in 2003.

Several songs from "Miss Spectacular" will be performed during Herman's UNLV appearance.

Local entertainment writer Esther Lynn, a fan of Herman's music, suggested to UNLV officials that Herman be added to the series.

She said she helped UNLV get in touch with Herman through O'Hara and Jim Semmelman, a former Las Vegan and the stage manager for "The Today Show," who has worked with Herman.

"Ain't Misbehavin' "

The Broadway musical "Ain't Misbehavin' " is coming to the Plaza for an open-ended engagement.

Entertainment Coordinator Andrea A. Woods says the revue, based upon the music of Thomas "Fats" Waller from the 1920s through the 1940s, debuts April 26.

Waller - jazz pianist, organist, composer - rose to fame during the height of ragtime and jazz popularity.

The production opened on Broadway in 1978 and ran for 1,604 performances.

Among Waller's many numbers in the production are the title hit (written in 1929), "Ain't Misbehavin,' " "The Joint is Jumpin'," "Honeysuckle Rose," "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie."

The local cast includes A.J. Phillinganes, Nona Johnson, Cassandra Williams, Lyrehc (pronounced lyric) Jordan and Neil Taffe (background singer for Gladys Knight).

Jarrett-Martini is the producer of the show.

The 90-minute show will be in the Plaza Showroom at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.

Tickets for the show are $19.95. For the show and dinner the price is $49.95.

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