Thursday, May 25, 2006 | 7:17 a.m.
Who: Trenyce in "V - The Ultimate Variety Show"
When: 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly
Where: The Aladdin's V Theatre
Tickets: $64 and $74
Information: 932-1818
It was only a matter of time before a contestant on the popular Fox series "American Idol" ended up as a headliner on the Strip.
The first is Trenyce, a 26-year-old vocalist who peaked at No. 5 during the show's second season in 2003, the year that Ruben Studdard nosed out Clay Aiken for top honors.
Trenyce (Lashundra Treniese Cobbins), a native of Memphis, Tenn., debuted Tuesday as the featured performer in producer David Saxe's "V - The Ultimate Variety Show" at the Aladdin.
The revue features a variety of specialty acts, including magicians, acrobats and comedians. Trenyce performs three songs in the show.
"What makes this so special," she said, "is that this is the first time that the show has had a featured performer, and also the first time an 'American Idol' performer has appeared in Las Vegas for an extended period of time."
Trenyce says she has a long-term contract and will appear in two shows, six nights a week.
Since her appearance on "American Idol," Trenyce has performed in several stage productions around the country and appeared in concert in Russia.
She moved to Las Vegas nine weeks ago, before landing the gig at the Aladdin.
"I moved here on a whim," she said.
Since arriving, she says she has been spending her time attending shows, networking and performing with such local entertainers as Clint Holmes, Earl Turner and George Wallace. And she spends a lot of time in the studio during the day, recording her first album.
She will take a break from her featured role with "V" this summer when she travels to Indianapolis to star in the musical "Dreamgirl," from June 22 to July 14.
Trenyce landed the part in "V" while attending a local audition for the upcoming NBC talent competition series "America's Got Talent," which will premiere June 21.
The series, which will be hosted by Regis Philbin, is being produced by "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell.
Trenyce didn't make the cut for the new show, but Saxe was in the audience during the audition and tapped her to perform in his production.
She was delighted with the turn of events.
"I didn't want to do the TV show anyway," Trenyce said. "It was at the suggestion of my manager - I was dead set against it.
"But it was all for the better. I got a chance to meet David Saxe, and now I'm headlining in Las Vegas."
And that has left her a little nervous.
"I do have a few butterflies, but they are good butterflies," Trenyce said.
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