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Denise Truscello/WireImage/DeniseTruscello.net
The “Rock of Ages” grand opening after-party at the Venetian on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013.
Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 | 4:04 p.m.
Rock of Ages opening night
It was so much raucous and outrageous fun that it might be considered illegal even by Las Vegas standards. The official premiere of the musical “Rock of Ages” at The Venetian on Saturday night was a rock ’em and sock ’em, knockout, over-the-top smash.
Celebrities in the audience included gorgeous and glowing Holly Madison, just two months away from delivering her first baby daughter; new Venetian headliners Human Nature; new Stratosphere topless cabaret starlet Claire Sinclair; volatile “Top Chef Seattle” kitchen queen Carla Pellegrino; and rockers from throughout the years. Our thanks to Denise Truscello of WireImage for her photo gallery and to Christopher Rauschnot @24kMedia on Twitter for his video posted on YouTube.
At the curtain call, the cast joined an enthusiastic, wildly cheering audience. There was nothing but praise for the energetic kids in the cast. Almost everybody had a flashlight to wave along with some of the powerhouse songs -- 23 in all.
This is an unmitigated hit. It’s fun, oh so much fun! You’ll be dancing in the aisles with the music. The voices are powerful. The actors are filled with unbridled enthusiasm and happiness. They are having as much fun as the audience. Don’t let this party ever end; it’s just too good and fun.
There was big news at the premiere and after-party in the former Dos Caminos restaurant in the adjoining Palazzo that had been used for rehearsals:
* A new version of “America’s Got Talent” will return to the former Jersey Boys theater in the Palazzo at the end of this month, with winners and finalists from various seasons.
* The four Australian pop singers who comprise Human Nature tell me that they have a whole new show with a lot of surprises in store when they open in the Venetian Showroom on Jan. 19.
* The quirky and outrageous musical “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” is getting a three-month early summer run at The Venetian. (The hit Australian boys-will-be-girls dance-tour show was an Oscar-winning 1994 film starring Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving and Terence Stamp.)
“Rock of Ages” is the new toast of the town. It’s bigger, better and bolder than the Broadway original I’d seen in the fall, and even though the producers don’t like my comment, it’s much, much better than the dismal movie version with Tom Cruise last summer. Hollywood should have left best alone, and if they’d hired theatrical director Kristin Hanggi, they’d have been basking in the glow of Saturday night’s gala premiere. I interviewed producer Scott Zeiger of Base Entertainment during rehearsals.
“Rock of Ages” is one rollicking good time and a show to make a must-see on a Las Vegas visit -- for ages 14 and older. It’s pure sing-along and dance-along fun, and you’ll feel as young as you were in the 1980s all over again.
Congratulations, kids: You are the best of casts and the nicest of folks. You deserve a long run, and watch out for those Hollywood talent scouts who will try to steal you away to those bright lights that sometimes never shine, as alluring as they might look. Stay on the Strip -- and become superstars!
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
With top accommodations, first-rate entertainment, high-end shopping and a slew of acclaimed chefs, the Palazzo has positioned itself as one of the most luxurious resorts on the Strip.
More than 3,000 all-suite rooms start at 740 square feet and are decorated in a modern, yet classic, Italian style. Each room features a sleeping area, with a king or two queens, and a sunken living room area with floor to ceiling windows.
A cathedral ceiling tops the Palazzo casino, while a second 80-foot dome brings natural light to the property's lobby. The 105,000 square foot casino features more than 2,000 slots and 80 table games but lacks the stale smell of cigarettes, as the property is LEED certified with smoking off limits in most of the Palazzo — including 50 percent of the casino floor.
Dining at the Palazzo is among the best of the Strip, starting with Wolfgang Puck's CUT. Chef Simon To serves up authentic Chinese cuisine at Zine, while Sushisamba combines Brazilian and Peruvian flavors with Japanese techniques. At LAVO, club-goers can dine on Mediterranean dishes before heading upstairs to the bath house-inspired nightclub.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
Rehearsal photos and stages are a lot more fun than when the "big night" arrives and the audience is dressed to the nines in bling.
In "Robin Speak" this means that the free bar was stocked with top brand booze, the arm-charms and other unescorted ladies were HOT and the free food was catered by someone famous.
However, it is a great show, so much better than the movie. Talent as we would expect from a Vegas show of this caliber. And it has a real band that can ROCK!!
worst entertainment exec team on the strip. clueless idiots. main guy doesnt even know his wife is banging half of summerlin behind his back.