Joe Brown

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Stevie Wonder: After all these years, still wonder-struck: Fortunately for fans, Stevie is performing and making his celebrated music again; Friday, Nov. 27, 2009; Stevie Wonder is likely the closest anyone will ever get to being a universally loved musical artist. His five-decade career included a run of indelible Motown singles in the 1960s and electronically innovative, socially conscious albums in the ’70s. Wonder, 59, plays the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, and in recognition, we present Seven Wonders.
Philharmonic shows poise in weekend aural safari: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009; Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra has become a familiar staple for orchestras since it premiered in Boston in 1944, but it received its first Las Vegas airing 65 years later, at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall on Saturday night.
Frank Caliendo an impressive impressionist: Caliendo provides surprisingly original takes on some familiar subjects, including sports celebrities and George W. Bush; Monday, Nov. 23, 2009; Does Las Vegas really need another celebrity impressionist? When the impersonator is Frank Caliendo, the answer is a surprising and emphatic yes.
Hilarious, timely, personal: Lily Tomlin at her best: Monday, Nov. 16, 2009; Lily Tomlin is worried. “I worry,” she says, “about being a success in a mediocre world.”
Leonard Cohen back in limelight after 15 years: Iconic singer will play Colosseum; Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009; Some might view this most auspicious yet unlikely occasion as a harbinger of the End Times. Forget hell freezing over, pigs flying, the mountain coming to Muhammad or other adynatons. Leonard Cohen is playing Las Vegas. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, in fact: At age 75, the balladeer, poet, prophet, dark-eyed, sad-voiced ladies man is sliding right into the luxe 4,000-seat venue, between Bette Midler and Cher, next door to the Pussycat Dolls.
Lily Tomlin, Leonard Cohen coming to Vegas: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009; Who ever thought we’d see the day that brilliant comic actress Lily Tomlin, 70, and iconic singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, 75, would deign to perform in Las Vegas?
Two Burtons make magic: Nathan is winsomely funny; Lance slick and expert. Both shows on the Strip are crowd-pleasers.; Monday, Nov. 9, 2009; Following the success of the tiger-taming twosome, Vegas became an abracadabra destination and magicians gradually stepped up in status, from part of a variety lineup to headliner status.
Poet laureate headlines Vegas Valley Book Festival: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009; You might say she is America’s next top poet. Kay Ryan, the United States poet laureate, will make her first appearance in Nevada on Thursday night, when she reads from her work at the Fifth Street School to open the annual Vegas Valley Book Festival.
Wayne Newton: The story, but not the sound: The only thing fans will enjoy about this show is the memories it evokes; Monday, Nov. 2, 2009; I had been warned that Wayne Newton can’t sing anymore. Apparently it’s been common knowledge for years that his voice is shot.
Unashamedly, comedian Kathy Griffin seeks spotlight, lets it fly: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009; Kathy Griffin has nabbed two Emmy Awards for her hit reality show — and she won’t let anyone forget it. She carries the trophies along with her to TV talk show interviews and has done everything short of legally changing her name to “Emmy award-winning comedian Kathy Griffin.” Griffin then set her sights on a Grammy nomination, naming her CD “For Your Consideration” — and got one last year. And now she’s aiming for the Nobel Prize in Literature — or at least a few minutes on Oprah’s couch. The comedian’s autobiography — cheekily titled “Official Book Club Selection” (see item 2) — went right to No. 1 on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list last month. Griffin performs back-to-back stand-up shows at Mandalay Bay tonight.
'The Shawl': Smart and spooky: Mamet play about a psychic, a client and a mysterious third delivers; Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009; “The Shawl,” a seldom-performed three-hander by David Mamet, culminates in a seance.
Two groups, many voices, spellbinding results: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009; Maybe it’s a stretch to call it “Glee” for grown-ups.
A year in, Criss Angel’s ‘Believe’ hasn’t changed much for the better: Monday, Oct. 26, 2009; It’s time for your annual checkup, Criss Angel.
AARP’s full slate gives reason to embrace your age: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009; This is a particularly good week to be over 50 in Las Vegas: AARP, the world’s largest member organization for people 50 and up, is taking over the town starting today, with a celebrity-salted three-day national-attention-getting event called “Vegas@50+.”
Nevada Ballet Theatre dazzles by degrees: New artistic director Canfield heats program to a thrilling techno-music boil; Monday, Oct. 19, 2009; 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.”
Compelling ‘Bronx Tale’ is refreshingly good theater: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009; I wondered why Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale” was suddenly booked into the Venetian Showroom for a limited run this month.
Fright Dome: Circus Circus fear factory teems with terrific human horrors: Monday, Oct. 12, 2009; 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.
CineVegas hiatus another grim economic indicator: Just as arts scene was blossoming, recession moved in; Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009; The first leaf fell last year. The branches seemed almost bare when, last week, the CineVegas International Film Festival announced it will be sitting out what would have been its 12th year. It’s clear that the chilling villain is the economic downturn, which has brought a blight to the Las Vegas landscape.
'Company': Musical about couples, pal proves hard to stage: Monday, Oct. 5, 2009; 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.
Not content to coast, Liza Minnelli soars in Broadway reprise: Friday, Oct. 2, 2009; Death-defying and life-affirming, Liza Minnelli’s Wednesday night performance at the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand exceeded all expectations.
Jason Egan, owner-operator of Fright Dome: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; This town has seen the likes of Mafia heavies, UFC brutes and Carrot Top. But the scariest man in Las Vegas is 31-year-old Jason Egan.
'Mental' at O’Sheas may not amaze, but will at least amuse you: Monday, Sept. 28, 2009; “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: In darkly funny production, acting shines; Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009; 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.
Liza Minnelli: Vegas-bound, Dahling: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009; Before there was Britney, before Shakira or Madonna — before there was Cher, even — there was Liza. And so she remains, now and forever, world without end, amen. Liza Minnelli is playing the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand Friday through Wednesday.
In zany spoof about ‘reefer,’ the joke’s on squares: Monday, Sept. 21, 2009; 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.
Cheap Trick performs original homage to classic Beatles album: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009; 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.”
Courageous play wrings humor from unlikely setting: 9/11: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; Is it too soon?
That was the big question when plays and movies about AIDS began to appear.
'Working': A show about work: Cast and crew competently present praise for jobs big and small; Monday, Sept. 14, 2009; 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.
Orchestra rides guest soloist to thrilling high: Passion and intensity define Philharmonic’s season opener; Monday, Sept. 14, 2009; If he could go back in time, I wonder if Las Vegas Philharmonic conductor David Itkin might rejigger the order of the three pieces he planned for the orchestra at Saturday night’s season-opening performance.
Value economists can’t measure: Art shouldn’t have to be justified by return on investment; Friday, Sept. 11, 2009; A week or so ago, I wrote a review of a show playing out of town. Way out of town. About 600 miles away, in San Francisco.
Using the familiar as lure, Nevada Pops charms: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009; Although Nevada Pops shares a good chunk of its DNA with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, it has an entirely different, visibly relaxed vibe.
‘Wicked’ worth the trip from Vegas: Monday, Aug. 31, 2009; The day may come when it seems you’ve seen every show in this entertainment Oz. When you can’t face the infernal interior of your car.
‘Jersey’ boys are steppin’ out for solo shows: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009; Three “Jersey Boys” step out of character and off their Palazzo stage, appearing around town in solo showcases and benefit revues.
'Matsuri': These acrobatics to be enjoyed, not pondered: Monday, Aug. 24, 2009; There seems to be only one word uttered throughout “Matsuri,” and that’s the title itself.
Audience reaction isn’t always what it seems: Friday, Aug. 21, 2009; Something funny happened at the theater the other night. But it wasn’t on the stage.
This should have stayed in ‘South Park’ creator’s drawer: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009; “Cannibal! The Musical” begins promisingly enough. The title is funny, the backdrop is a mountain scene painted “South Park”-style, the comedy begins with a “Deliverance” banjo duel involving a toy beaver, a pushbroom, a hoe and an audience volunteer.
Explaining the red carpet’s role in Las Vegas: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009; In recent years the red carpet phenomenon has invaded Vegas like a crimson tide.
Taste of tropics a welcome escape: ‘Once on This Island’ soars at Spring Mountain Ranch; Monday, Aug. 17, 2009; Everything seems so shouty! and strident! lately. With all the political and financial ruckus rattling everyone’s nerves, sometimes even Las Vegas’ most escapist shows can seem to agitate rather than entertain, coming at us full speed and full blast with their brights on.
Please forgive my excitement for the fall arts season: Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009; Journalists, we are told, are not supposed to take an advocacy position, and that includes arts reporters and reviewers.
‘Bite’: As lifeless as its bloodsuckers: Vampire show disappoints despite hitting cultural sweet spot; Monday, Aug. 10, 2009; It’s common knowledge what vampires dislike: crucifixes, garlic, wooden stakes, daylight, mirrors ...
First he’ll be at the sound board, then the mike: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009; He was there at the birth of two of the most important rock albums of all time. But Alan Parsons would rather talk about avocados.
'Jubilee!': Topless and timeless: Vestige of Old Vegas entertainment is gaudy, prismatic, classic and ... gay?; Monday, Aug. 3, 2009; How to convey the contradictory feelings provoked by “Jubilee!,” the wonderfully awful, terribly terrific, 28-year-old Las Vegas showgirl spectacular at Bally’s?
Michael Jackson’s death changes attitudes toward tribute band: Monday, Aug. 3, 2009; A year ago — even a couple of months ago — a Michael Jackson tribute band would have seemed an iffy, even laughable, proposition.
Wayne Brady: Fresh, relevant and funny: Showcase of performer’s multiple talents embodies best of the Strip in ’09; Monday, July 27, 2009; If I had to pick just one show that represents the best of everything contemporary Las Vegas has to offer, I would pick, without hesitation, Wayne Brady and his “Making %@it Up” act at the Venetian.
Bigger than Barney or Elmo: Aussie supergroup will stop here. But if you’re the parent of a toddler, you probably already knew that; Thursday, July 23, 2009; If you remember it, the saying goes, you probably weren’t really there. That’s the received wisdom about veterans of Woodstock, the mega-rock concert that marks its 40th anniversary next month.
Playful and ageless, Charo a sultry sensation still: Monday, July 20, 2009; There is a framed black-and-white photograph of Charo on the wall at the Riviera. It is dated 1982. That was 27 years ago. Charo somehow looks even better now.
Critically praised ‘Shear Madness’ to end run, in Las Vegas anyway: Thursday, July 16, 2009; “Shear Madness,” the interactive murder mystery at Town Square, calls itself “America’s longest-running comedy.” That may be true in Boston and Washington, D.C., where the show is still running after more than 20 years.
Summer of ’69 gave us more than just Woodstock: Tuesday, July 14, 2009; Any moment now, the news cycle and national conversation will shift from political scandals and celebrity deaths to hippie hype: Aug. 14 is the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, the epic four-day rock festival which drew more than 30 bands and more than 300,000 fans to a farmer’s field in Bethel, N.Y.
'West Side Story': The story, you’d recognize; the music — maybe not: Monday, July 13, 2009; I cannot in good conscience recommend the Super Summer Theatre’s staging of “West Side Story” at Spring Mountain Ranch, even as an excuse to wiggle your bare toes in the damp grass and enjoy the cool breezes and starlight and snacks at 1950s prices.
5 reasons we really don’t like Kenny G: Friday, July 10, 2009; Last Friday, Joe Brown made all the Thomas Kinkade fans angry. This week, he thought, "What the heck, I’m on a roll here; I’ll get the Kenny G lovers all riled up. They’re the same thing, after all."