Discount ticket booths at war

The war is on. A new discount ticket outlet has opened a few storefronts away from the signature outlet of the company that dominates the market.

Vegas Tix 4 Less has new locations in the Showcase mall -- known for its pop-art Coca-Cola bottle -- and inside O'Shea's casino.

It's not the only competition for Tix 4 Tonight, which sells discounted show tickets under the Coke bottle and in five other locations. In fact, the new Showcase kiosk of Tix 4 Less is the same camera-store location once held by a vanquished competitor.

But this is the one producers have been talking about. Vegas Tix 4 Less is a division of Vegas.com, the Greenspun Corp. operation that in recent years consolidated much of the market for full-priced ticket sales.

Rumors of Vegas.com entering the same-day discount game are the apparent reason why Tix4Tonight operator Mitch Francis -- who enjoys a near monopoly -- has pressured show producers for exclusive contracts.

Now some producers feel they're being squeezed in the middle. They don't want to be dropped by Francis, and wonder if he really would drop a big kahuna such as Cirque du Soleil for doing business with both discounters. But they also say the new operator could use Vegas.com incentives to entice them.

Vegas.com spokesman Bryan Allison compares the two operations to a retail outlet store, and says the goal is to keep the new venture from siphoning business from full-priced sales.

If you look at the product rather than who is backing the operation, it's hard to say which is David and which is Goliath. On a recent afternoon, the new start-up offered more tours than shows, and the only upper-tier titles were Danny Gans and "Tony 'N' Tina's Wedding." The more-established Tix4Tonight offered Cirque titles, the Blue Man Group and even Wayne Newton.

"I didn't want any half-price tickets," grumbles one producer. "They cut everybody's throat by coming in anyway. Everybody has raised prices since they got here. And now (Tix4Tonight) is upset that someone else is coming in? If they all went away, I'd be happy."

A "mark 'em up to mark 'em down" syndrome driven by the discount booths may contribute to a collective rise in ticket prices despite the recession. ...

"Shear Madness" may open after all, on May 8. Customers of the booming Town Square shopping center have spotted signage advertising the show since September, when the interactive mystery comedy was first reported in these pages.

Executive producer Terrence Williams is vague about the delays and speculation that the economy scared investors into hibernation and/or trying to renegotiate the shopping center lease. "We've been trying to position ourselves to survive the economic downturn," he says.

A six-person cast had fully rehearsed the show before being released in January. Most still were available to jump back in and pick up where they left off. "Madness" will open with six shows per week and probably will be followed by improv comedy from a new troupe, helmed by alumni of The Second City. ...

Comedian John Padon didn't keep his "Sin City Comedy" at the Harmon Theater a month before what he perceives as a better deal came along. He's moving it inside the same Miracle Mile mall, to a new venue inside the V Theater. Theater operator David Saxe has long been developing the empty second-floor space that sits above Cheeseburger Oasis.

Padon's mix of comedy and burlesque, now called "The Sin City Comedy Show," opens May 14. "It's a beautiful room for comedy," he says of the new 300-seater. "It's just a much better room."

The comedy revue probably will be joined by "The Mentalist," Gerry McCambridge, moving over from Hooters.

The Harmon Theater hasn't filled the "Sin City" time slot directly, but did book a new afternoon attraction, impressionist Rich Natole, to open "Voices of a Generation" on May 15. ...

The Imperial Palace is hosting a news conference Wednesday, apparently to confirm the Australian vocal group Human Nature as the new resident act. The showroom has been vacant since "Legends in Concert" moved next door to Harrah's Las Vegas. The quartet reinterprets Motown classics with some type of official sanction from Smokey Robinson, which will be more fully explained Wednesday. ...

Frank Marino goes back to work soon, but not in the new drag show he has been trying to sell ever since "An Evening at La Cage" closed at the Riviera.

Instead, he's the latest guest star in "Tony 'N' Tina's Wedding" at Planet Hollywood.

"I've never had another job," says Marino, who went into "La Cage" almost directly from high school. He will be in drag but play himself (not Joan Rivers), and will be written into the interactive dinner show as a family friend.

Marino's stint begins May 8. He is confirmed for two weeks, much like past guest stars Kato Kaelin and Roddy Piper. "If he brings in unique visitors it's possible that it could just be him (in the future)," says co-producer Raphael Berko.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.