Las Vegas Sun

November 22, 2009

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Joe Brown joined the Las Vegas Sun in 2008 as a reporter, critic and blogger focusing on entertainment and culture. A writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience in print and electronic media, Joe worked as a writer and editor at the San Francisco Chronicle and The Washington Post before gambling on a move to Vegas.

Comedian Lily Tomlin resurrects classic characters in her Las Vegas debut, but also introduces an el
Hilarious, timely, personal: Lily Tomlin at her best
Monday, November 16, 2009
REVIEW:
By Joe Brown
Lily Tomlin is worried. “I worry,” she says, “about being a success in a mediocre world.”
Wayne Newton: The story, but not the sound
Wayne Newton: The story, but not the sound
Monday, November 2, 2009
REVIEW: The only thing fans will enjoy about this show is the memories it evokes
By Joe Brown
I had been warned that Wayne Newton can’t sing anymore. Apparently it’s been common knowledge for years that his voice is shot.
In
'The Shawl': Smart and spooky
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
REVIEW: Mamet play about a psychic, a client and a mysterious third delivers
By Joe Brown
“The Shawl,” a seldom-performed three-hander by David Mamet, culminates in a seance.
Douglas Peterson conducts the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society chorus Sunday at UNLV's Artemus H
Two groups, many voices, spellbinding results
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
REVIEW:
By Joe Brown
Maybe it’s a stretch to call it “Glee” for grown-ups.
Nevada Ballet Theatre dancers perform in
Nevada Ballet Theatre dazzles by degrees
Monday, October 19, 2009
Review: New artistic director Canfield heats program to a thrilling techno-music boil
By Joe Brown
For his first program as new artistic director of Nevada Ballet Theatre, James Canfield used the frog-in-a-pot-of-water strategy. The curtain opened on Saturday night with a comforting and familiar, business-as-usual, lukewarm performance of George Balanchine’s “Rubies.”
Chazz Palminteri, who has acted in dozens of films, will close a two-year national run of his one-ma
Compelling ‘Bronx Tale’ is refreshingly good theater
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
REVIEW:
By Joe Brown
I wondered why Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale” was suddenly booked into the Venetian Showroom for a limited run this month.
Clowns ply their chilling trade Friday at Fright Dome at Circus Circus. One of the 5-acre venue's at
Fright Dome: Circus Circus fear factory teems with terrific human horrors
Monday, October 12, 2009
REVIEW:
By Joe Brown
If your friends and colleagues show up strangely and suddenly hoarse or voiceless one morning, it’s a good bet that they visited Fright Dome the night before. Or that they are moonlighting there.
The cast of
'Company': Musical about couples, pal proves hard to stage
Monday, October 5, 2009
REVIEW:
By Joe Brown
My friend’s cell phone rings as we’re driving to see “Company” at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre on Friday night. After a few minutes of small talk, it becomes clear that the caller is distressed about her spouse.
[img/photos/2009/09/22/scaled.090922SUN-liza_minelli.jpg]
Not content to coast, Liza Minnelli soars in Broadway reprise
Friday, October 2, 2009
REVIEW:
By Joe Brown
Death-defying and life-affirming, Liza Minnelli’s Wednesday night performance at the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand exceeded all expectations.
Mentalist Luke Jermay performs his act at O'Sheas Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009.
'Mental' at O’Sheas may not amaze, but will at least amuse you
Monday, September 28, 2009
Review:
By Joe Brown
“Mental,” a new mind-reading show at O’Sheas, invokes a Las Vegas oxymoron: “Mind” and “reading” don’t really go together in this town.
Sparks, curses fly in resonant play about love
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Review: In darkly funny production, acting shines
By Joe Brown
For days afterward, I couldn’t stop thinking about “Reasons to Be Pretty,” the latest play by Neil LaBute, at UNLV’s Black Box Theatre. And not just because I had to write about it.
Dana Kreitz performs during a dress rehearsal Thursday for
In zany spoof about ‘reefer,’ the joke’s on squares
Monday, September 21, 2009
Review:
By Joe Brown
About halfway into Act I of “Reefer Madness: The Musical,” it hits you: Chris Mayse picked, produced and directed this show just so he could play God. Really.
Robin Zander of Cheap Trick sings almost all the lead vocals in
Cheap Trick performs original homage to classic Beatles album
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Music:
By Joe Brown
How do you prefer your Pepper? That was the question last week among Beatles devotees deciding between newly released CD versions of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
From left, Thomas Chrastka (as Andrew), Stacia Zinkevich (as Waverly), Tony Foresta (as Ron) and Can
Courageous play wrings humor from unlikely setting: 9/11
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
REVIEW:
By Joe Brown
Is it too soon? That was the big question when plays and movies about AIDS began to appear.
Performers sing
'Working': A show about work
Monday, September 14, 2009
REVIEW: Cast and crew competently present praise for jobs big and small
By Joe Brown
When the lights go up on “Working,” a musical about, well, working, it seems as if the show has made a dent in Las Vegas’ unemployment problem all by itself.
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