Latino tribute show debuts

Courtesy

Left: Among the performers in “Superstars Latinos” is Tatiana, who impersonates Jennifer Lopez. Middle: Producer Stephen Sorrentino says the Friday show at Texas Station could open the door for a tour of other Station casinos. Right: Performer Ines is a Shakira tribute artist. The singers will be backed by an eight-piece Latin band.

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Thursday, May 29, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Las Vegas producer Stephen Sorrentino brings a new show, “Superstars Latinos,” to the 1,200-seat Dallas Events Center at Texas Station on Friday.

“We have one shot at Texas Station to see how it works and if the fans like it then we may get to tour various Station casinos,” says Sorrentino, who’s also one of the country’s top Elton John tribute artists.

The high-energy, 90-minute musical is a tribute to Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan and Ricky Martin. It features singers backed by an eight-piece Latin band.

“It’s English and has shades of both Spanish lyric and Spanglish,” he says. “Two of the cast members speak fluent Spanish, so there will be a blend. Though this is a Latin show, all these artists are huge in the American/English-speaking market.”

“Superstars Latinos” is one of 13 productions Sorrentino has on his shelf, including “Superstars Live,” “The British Invasion,” “La Mascarade” (a female impersonator show), “United We Stand” (a patriotic show) and “Country to the Bone.”

Sorrentino is betting the Latin show will be a hit at Texas Station, which has a large Hispanic fan base.

“There’s really nothing for the Latinos in this town, especially for the locals,” he says. “We’re putting a lot of production value into the show — the band, five stars, dancers from Los Angeles.”

Sorrentino will switch hats July 19, when he changes from producer to entertainer. He will perform his Elton John routine at the Armadillo Lounge in Texas Station.

Details: “Superstars Latinos,” 8 p.m. Friday, Dallas Events Center, Texas Station, $24.95, 547-5300

Doing Dusty proud

Katy Setterfield should start looking for a home in Las Vegas.

The British entertainer who won a contest for a three-month engagement with “Legends in Concert” captivated the Vegas audience who caught her recent debut at the Imperial Palace, performing a tribute to the late Dusty Springfield.

Setterfield sang “Son of a Preacher Man,” “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” “I Only Want to Be With You” and “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” and received the most enthusiastic applause of the evening.

If there was any doubt that Setterfield could make it in Vegas, she settled that issue. The question now is, can Vegas keep her?

She won the Vegas appearance on BBC’s hit series “The One and Only ...” in February.

The engagement coincides with the 25th anniversary of “Legends in Concert,” which has added Marcel Forestieri, a dead ringer for Jay Leno.

“Legends” is one of the longest-running shows in town, debuting May 5, 1983, with tributes to Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, Bobby Darin and Elvis. On Stage Entertainment now has “Legends” shows in Branson, Mo.; Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Atlantic City.

Details: “Legends in Concert,” 7:30 and 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, Imperial Palace, $53.80 to $70.80, 794-3261

Comedy room opens downtown

The North and the South met onstage with the May 21 debut of the club Comedy After Hours at Fitzgeralds.

Marc Ryan, a Louisiana native, and J. Jay Boyd, a native of New York, were the first headliners to perform for the new show in the casino’s 120-seat showroom.

Producer Robert Burke says there will be a new cast of headliners each week. Adam Hunter and Richie Holliday headline this weekend, and Tim Young and Ross Duncliffe come in next week.

Downtown has been a tough sell in recent years, but productions at Fitzgeralds (“Country Superstars Tribute”), the Plaza (“The Rat Pack Is Back”) and the Golden Nugget (“Defending the Caveman”) have proved there is a market for the right show.

One thing Comedy After Hours has going for it is no competition. There are no comedy rooms in the neighborhood — the last one was the Comedy Zone at the Plaza.

One thing the new show has going against it is that it’s beginning at the start of summer, which historically has not been a good time to debut.

“We’ve got to start sometime,” Burke says, “and this way we can get the bugs worked out.”

There were a few bugs on opening night — mostly microphones that didn’t work. Once the mikes were functioning, fans had fun.

Details: Comedy After Hours, 9 p.m. Thursdays through Tuesdays, additional performances 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Fitzgeralds showroom, $28.95, 388-2400