Vanessa Williams’ unannounced cabaret act was highlight of Black & White Ball

By JOHN KATSILOMETES LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

8 years ago

Vanessa Williams accepts her Nevada Ballet Theatre Woman of the Year award during the annual Nevada Ballet Theatre Black and White Ball at Pinyon Ballroom at Aria on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. (Denise Truscello)

Vanessa Williams sings with her longtime friend Howard Hughes Corporation CEO David Weinreb during the annual Nevada Ballet Theatre Black and White Ball at Pinyon Ballroom at Aria on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. (Denise Truscello)

Vanessa Williams is shown with artists from Cirque du Soleil on the red carpet prior to the annual Nevada Ballet Theatre Black and White Ball at Pinyon Ballroom at Aria on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. (Denise Truscello)

Nevada Ballet Theatre co-founder Nancy Houssels is shown addressing the audience during the annual Black and White Ball at Pinyon Ballroom at Aria on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. (Denise Truscello)

Shown prior to the annual Nevada Ballet Theatre Black and White Ball at Pinyon Ballroom at Aria on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017: Las Vegas director Randy Slovacek; Women of the Year honoree Vanessa Williams and her husband, Jim Skript, and Slovacek’s partner, publicist Michael Caprio. (Denise Truscello)

Vanessa Williams is shown with her husband, Jim Skript, during the annual Nevada Ballet Theatre Black and White Ball at Pinyon Ballroom at Aria on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. (Denise Truscello)

Vanessa Williams thanked the audience for rewarding and supporting the arts.

Then she added, “The arts are so important. They are essential for mankind.”

Applause.

Williams was honored as the 2017 Nevada Ballet Theatre Woman of the Year during the annual Black & White Ball at Aria’s Pinyon Ballroom. Williams joins a renowned and diverse list of honorees that began with Elaine Wynn in 1985 and includes luminaries Celine Dion, Bette Midler, Priscilla Presley, Marie Osmond and Olivia Newton-John. The late Florence Henderson and Debbie Reynolds, who both died in 2016, had also received the honor.

The evening’s program also included a full-page tribute to Wendy Plaster, who also passed away last year and was one of the NBT’s greatest supporters and co-chairwoman.

Williams was selected as this year’s honoree after being connected with NBT representatives by longtime friend David Weinreb, Chief Executive Officer of the Howard Hughes Corporation in Las Vegas. Their deep friendship dates to their days at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, N.Y.

Williams is an international recording star, of course. But Weinreb is a pretty fair singer, too.

“He had his own band, when he was 12 years old,” Williams said from the stage. “He toured all around upstate New York, with his name on the front of the drum kit.” Williams then asked if Weinreb would join in a couple of numbers with the house band, led by David Perrico of Pop Strings Orchestra, and the two smiled and swapped lines through “On a Clear Day” and “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

The gala-closing performance would actually make a cool cabaret act in Vegas. “The Best for Last” would be an apt title, but I think it’s already taken.

THAT’S RANDY, BABY

Another friend in the crowd was Las Vegas director and freelance journalist Randy Slovacek. The two met in 1981 while attending Syracuse University, where both were music theater majors. Slovacek related Williams’ unflagging support when he was recovering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2009. Slovacek (whose huband is esteemed Vegas publicist Michael Caprio) was left bald from his chemotherapy treatment when the two met after a Williams performance at Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill’s in Primm.

He remembered Williams welcoming him with “You look fab with your bald head.” She then offered, “Do you want to hang backstage and have chardonnay and fried chicken?”

When Slovacek introduced Williams, he turned that memory into a metaphor: “Like chardonnay, she’s always elegant, light, bright and intoxicating. And like fried chicken, she is truly ‘soul food,’ always making everyone around her feel comfortable, relaxed and at home.” It was a moment worth toasting — and pass the wings, please.

LOVE THIS POWER

The superstar lineup for the annual Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” gala is taking shape — with Jon Bon Jovi and Gwen Stefani now onboard. The April 27 fundraiser for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health will be held at MGM Grand Garden Arena. This year’s honorees are MacAndrews & Forbes Inc. Founder, Chairman and CEO Ronald O. Perelman and tennis great (and Vegas native) Andre Agassi. Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center founder Larry Ruvo says there will be more famous names announced in the coming weeks.

WYNN NOTCHES NO. 75

Las Vegas resort pioneer Steve Wynn celebrated his 75th birthday last Thursday night with about two dozen revelers at at the home of longtime friends Larry and Camille Ruvo. Wynn and Larry Ruvo were originally partners in a liquor distribution business in 1970, a burgeoning company that became Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. Today, Ruvo is the company’s vice president and general manager.

LONDON CALLING

In Saturday’s column, I noted The Killers’ July 8 appearance at the British Summer Time Hyde Park festival in London was their first appearance in the U.K. in a dozen years. Not so. It is their first concert in London in 12 years. In 2014, they hit Glasgow, Scotland; and Chelmsford, Staffordshire and Liverpool in England.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily 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.