‘Rock of Ages’ is a party on the run to Rio

A loud party needs a willing host even more than it needs a well-stocked bar. That made the decision about where "Rock of Ages" could move a lot easier.

The '80s-themed musical wraps a three-year run at The Venetian on Jan. 3 but reopens at the Rio on Jan. 25. The move "became a no-brainer," says co-producer Scott Armstrong, when The Venetian didn't renew the show's three-year lease and Caesars Entertainment approached Armstrong's Base Entertainment with an interest in co-producing.

The Venetian's loss of interest was a bit of a surprise, considering Las Vegas became the flagship production of the campy musical after it closed on Broadway early this year and that it was cross-promoted with a casino bar named after the show's rock club setting, The Bourbon Room.

On the other hand, The Venetian has seen a regime change. John Caparella, the president who brought the musical in, left earlier this year and was replaced by George Markantonis.

Rumors that at least one of the three Venetian and Palazzo theaters will be remodeled and downsized also make sense, as all three have more seating capacity than most ongoing Las Vegas shows require these days. The "Rock of Ages" venue seats 1,800, including 700 seats in a balcony that was never used.

The Rio venue seats as many as 650, and Armstrong says the curved video walls, cocktail tables and bar in the back of the room will "will lend to more of a party environment."

Base and Caesars also inherit upgrades to the stage area made by the Broadway producers of the short-lived "Duck Commander Musical" earlier this year.

The biggest risk is the off-Strip location. The musical will have to focus more on advance sales or otherwise motivate impulse buyers who could opt for an easier-to-reach choice at same-day discount booths.

But again, you go where you're wanted. And "Caesars really wanted us," Armstrong says, offering the large reach of its Total Rewards players club database for marketing. "We feel like 'Rock of Ages' can be a destination show where people will travel to see it."

The demographic nostalgic for '80s rock is compatible with Rio shows Chippendales and Penn & Teller without being direct competition for either. And along with planned upgrades at the Rio, the stage abandoned by the bygone Mardi Gras parades in the Masquerade Village may become a "Rock of Ages" stage to "make a splash on the property" and promote the show on-site, Armstrong says. ...

You go where you're wanted, unless you stay where you're wanted.

The comedian known as Carrot Top celebrated 10 years at Luxor last weekend and announced another five-year extension with the hotel.

No small feat, considering the competition from weekend stand-up headliners and the fact that stand-ups Rita Rudner, George Wallace and Bobby Slayton all ended their year-round presence on the Strip in the past few years.

"I was actually shocked myself after doing 10. I was shocked it had been 10 years," says Carrot Top, known offstage as Scott Thompson. "I feel like I just started."

He attributes his longevity to his fans. "That's the only reason I'm still here. If they weren't coming, I wouldn't still be doing it."

He loves living in the desert, but the desert hasn't been loving him back, sending him to a voice doctor. The doctor told him "Ten years, six nights a week, screaming over music, it's not going to get much better. I've got to learn to do it like these singers, like Rod Stewart and these guys. Learn how to save my voice." ...

If you saw my recent show review you know I was already big on vocal quartet Human Nature's holiday show. But if you needed more motivation (sigh, I'll get over it), Friday and Saturday's shows are both half price and a benefit for Aid for AIDS of Nevada's client service programs. Use the promo code HNAFAN if you order through Ticketmaster. ...

Finally, Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday is over, but next Saturday can be just as much fun for retro-Vegas lovers.

First, the dynamic duo of Art Vargas and Laura Shaffer do their "Vintage Holiday Live!" show at 7 p.m. at Ron DeCar's Event Center.

After that one, you'll still have time to kill before heading to the Fizz club at Caesars Palace by 11:30 p.m. to help "Absinthe" chanteusse Melody Sweets celebrate both her birthday and the release of her single, "Santa, Maybe ...".

Sweets wrote the song with Mike Williams, New York-based co-writer of her "Burlesque in the Black" album. She recorded the song (available in iTunes) at Eric Plante's Las Vegas studio. "We used the take that made Eric giggle the most when listening back," she says.

Sweets will sing and burlesque star Michelle L'amour will perform Saturday for those who want to live up to every nonsentimental cliche about Christmas in Vegas.

— Read more from Mike Weatherford at reviewjournal.com. Contact him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com and follow @Mikeweatherford on Twitter.