Civillico juggles knee rehab and his ‘Headliners Bash’ at Rio
Moments caught from my crisscrossing of VegasVille, where Jeff Civillico is, in fact, as funny as a crutch.
Read on …
FILLING A “KNEED”
Excuse the pun there, but Mr. Civillico is operating at less-than-full capacity these days. The host of the best, if not only, 5:30 p.m. production show at Flamingo Las Vegas’ Bugsy Cabaret, Civillico is back Friday night with his “Headliners’ Bash” at the Rio. The event is a fundraiser for Civillico’s Win-Win Entertainment charity organization, which connects performers to charities in Las Vegas.
Civillico has long been known as one of the two most famous jugglers in the country — the person who has called him that is the other most-famous juggler in the country, Penn Jillette — and is also a terrific unicyclist. But Civillico has been sidelined since undergoing minor knee surgery (the definition of “minor” meaning it is surgery for someone else) on Halloween. He’s planning to resume his schedule at Flamingo in February.
Meantime, Civillico has wrangled an impressive lineup for his fifth “Headliners Bash” variety show. Set for 9 p.m. at Penn & Teller Theater (following a 7:30 reception and silent auction in the lobby), the show stars Clint Holmes and cast members from “Baz — Star Crossed Love,” both at Palazzo Theater; the Las Vegas Tenors, the Bronx Wanderers of Windows Showroom at Bally’s; the cast of “Menopause the Musical” at Harrah’s; and Larry Edwards of “Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas.” The band is Lon Bronson’s All-Star Band (tickets range from $16 to $53, fees not included, and available at WinWinEntertainment.org).
With customary pluck, Civillico plans to host the event even on crutches, saying, “It’s hard to believe we’re already celebrating the fifth anniversary. We’re so grateful that the work we do has resonated with this community, and we look forward to growing our reach in Las Vegas and beyond in the next five years.”
As for Friday’s show, Civillico can still juggle. But the unicycle is a prop best saved for February.
COINCIDENTAL TIMING ACTION
The announcement that “Band of Magicians” is going dark at Tropicana Theater coincides with the news that the former tenant of that theater, magician Jan Rouven, has pleaded guilty of child pornography charges. It was the investigation by the FBI and Rouven’s arrest on those charges in March that helped clear the space for “Band of Magicians” to take that theater. It’s all an unfortunate coincidence for the guys in “Band,” who had zero to do with Rouven or his act.
Now, would-be producers are kicking the tires around the venue to see if anything might work there. The venue will be empty after the “Band” show closes Monday night. Ideas I’ve heard are for a possible headlining series, or an existing Las Vegas production company moving in to take over full operation of that venue.
Also announced this week: “Duck Dynasty” will end its run on A&E on April, an event that has a thread of connection to Las Vegas.
Once one of the hottest and highest-rated shows on cable TV, the show has petered out like a busted duck call and is finished April 12. That’s almost exactly one year after the “Duck Commander Musical,” inspired by the Robertson family TV show and backed by Dodgers Theatricals, celebrated its opening at the Rio. That show lasted five weeks.
HAPS AND HOPS AT IAC
Two familiar names filled the 250-seat showroom at Italian American Club on 2333 E. Sahara Ave. over the past week. Friday night, Michael Monge made his debut at the IAC’s “big room” with a show filled with standards. The turnout and performance was a boost to Monge, who is left looking for a gig after his contract at Encore’s Eastside Lounge timed out in September.
Wednesday night, Jimmy Hopper, who headlined the Fontana Room at Bellagio for several years before the club was turned into Hyde nightclub, fronted a tribute to Three Dog Night. Backed by a host of players from L.A., Hopper’s show lit up the room event though the band had rehearsed exactly twice. He’s hoping to hit the county fair and performance-art-center circuit across the country.
After the show, Hopper and Frankie Scinta of “The Scintas” at the Plaza knocked their heads together about ideas for a run on one of the open stages under the Fremont Street Experience. That Three Dog Night act is made for the throngs of classic-rock fans who amble along Fremont Street.
SWEET TIMES AT ETHEL M
What I have learned this week: The second floor of the Ethel M chocolate factory at 2 Cactus Drive in Henderson (just across from the KVVU Fox 5 studios) was once the apartment of legendary candy magnate Forrest Mars. Having moved to Las Vegas during the latter years of his life, Mars was second-generation head of Mars Incorporated, the parent company of Ethel M.
The company was famously named for Mars’ mother, known for her adept skills in the kitchen.
During peak candy-making seasons, Mars was known to reside in the two-bedroom space overlooking the company’s 3-acre cactus garden and walk those trails with his dogs. The deck of that dwelling still offers a great view of the garden, especially when it is lit up with more than 1 million lights for the holidays.
The garden is alive now, celebrating its 23rd holiday season as a public attraction with its lighting ceremony on Tuesday night. Zowie Bowie, Terry Fator and cast members from “Baz” joined the combined choir from Coronado High School and Schofield Middle School. Chocolate was sampled by guests and I took part in a candy-tasting session in a new “dining” room at the complex.
I was further educated that new employees at Ethel M refer to their first year with the company as “The Ethel M 15.” An indication of the weight gain, an inevitability with all that available chocolate.
John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
