Miracle Mile Shops suing magician Steve Wyrick over rent

By Steve Green

Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010 | 4:20 p.m.

Magician Steve Wyrick’s plan to re-open his theater and show at the Miracle Mile Shops in Las Vegas appears to have hit a snag, with the Miracle Mile Shops now suing Wyrick over past-due rent.

Apparently facing financial issues, Wyrick on Dec. 10 abruptly closed the Steve Wyrick Theater at the mall at the Planet Hollywood Resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Besides his own magical show, other entertainers rotated in and out of the theater’s performance schedule.

One act, the 1950s/1960s-style production of the Platters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters and the Marvelettes, filed suit against Wyrick Dec. 11 claiming it had not been paid for work at the Steve Wyrick Theatre.

But since the Dec. 10 closure, Wyrick and his attorney, Dale Rycraft Jr., had said Wyrick intended to reopen the business before the end of 2009. Rycraft last month also said Wyrick generally denies the allegations in the Platters’ lawsuit.

On Tuesday, Miracle Mile Shops owner Boulevard Invest LLC sued Wyrick and his Wyrick Magical Productions Inc. company in Clark County District Court claiming Wyrick Magical failed to timely pay rent and that on Oct. 26 Wyrick Magical signed a stipulation that the company owed more than $208,000 in back rent at that time.

The suit alleges Wyrick Magical further defaulted on the Miracle Mile lease when a contractors’ judgment for $32,000 and a construction lien for $103,000 for work on Wyrick’s theater were recorded against the Miracle Mile Shops and not removed.

The lawsuit says Wyrick on Dec. 23 met with Miracle Mile representatives and "notified Miracle Mile that Wyrick Magical Productions is insolvent and is unable to resume business operations at the premises."

The lawsuit says that on Dec. 29, Wyrick told Miracle Mile officials that Wyrick’s financial partners, investors, agents and/or employees were considering using the Wyrick Theater to operate a new business there.

"Only Wyrick Magical Productions is authorized to enter, access and/or operate any business at the premises," the Miracle Mile lawsuit said.

"If Wyrick Magical Productions' and or Wyrick’s financial partners, investors, agents and/or employees are allowed to enter or access the premises and/or are allowed to operate any business at the premises, such actions would significantly and irreparably harm Miracle Mile," the lawsuit charges.

The Miracle Mile lawsuit asserts claims including breach of contract, since Wyrick had a contractual obligation to conduct business there but has shut down the theater.

Miracle Mile seeks a temporary restraining order blocking Wyrick and his representatives from removing property from the premises, which is now subject to a landlord’s lien.

Messages for comment on Tuesday’s lawsuit were left with representatives for both Wyrick and the Miracle Mile Shops.

Wyrick’s $34 million theater, seating 500 people, opened in early 2007, but business suffered thereafter when the recession reduced visitation to Las Vegas and activity at Planet Hollywood.

Acts that appeared at the theater – but didn’t stay -- include vocalist Martin Nievera, ventriloquist Ronn Lucas and longtime Elvis impressionist Trent Carlini.