VegasChatter

Tags: Interviews / Shows / Cast Member Confessions / The Lion King / Mandalay Bay / Kissy Simmons / Vegas in LA / → All Tags

Cast Member Confessions: Why You Shouldn't Be Late to 'The Lion King'

It's no secret that we love the shows of Vegas but after seeing so many, we've become curious about the cast members who star in them! So every once in a while, VegasChatter will be doing Cast Member Confessions--interviews with talented Vegas cast members about life on and off the stage, scandalous or not. Know of a cast member we should talk to? Tell us who!

Previously, we've told you what not to do when visiting Vegas but there's one thing we strongly recommend you should do when in town--and that's to go see a show. Too often Vegas shows get overlooked because visitors are so distracted by everything else from the casinos to the malls, restaurants, pool scenes, nightclubs and the big A--alcohol.

But seeing a show not only enriches your Vegas experience (and keeps you from losing money at the tables for a few hours), you'll also see some mighty talented people hard at work--like Kissy Simmons.

Kissy plays the lead role of Nala in "The Lion King" which is currently in residence at Mandalay Bay. This is a role she originated here in Vegas in March 2009 after playing Nala for six years on Broadway. Six years!

more ›

Tags: Interviews / News / Elvis / Elvis Impersonators / → All Tags

What Would Elvis Think of Elvis Impersonators? Here's What

Norm Clarke, Sam A Thompson, Loanne Miller Parker, Dick Grob and Armand Thomas

As well as being accosted by various Elvi at the Las Vegas sign last weekend, we also got some proper, OMG-is-this-really-happening Presley action when we attended the CVA’s Elvis media forum on Sunday at the Bellagio.

Norm Clarke was presiding over a panel consisting of two of Elvis’ security guards - Dick Grob and Sam A. Thompson - Loanne Miller Parker, widow of Colonel Parker, and Armand Thomas, Director of Creation for Viva Elvis.

We’ll give you the goss on Cirque reshaping Viva Elvis and the delightful Loanne’s views on Vegas down the line (suffice to say, the CVA should really get her on board as a Vegas ambassador) but for now, we’re going to let you in on our private – yup, one on one - conversation we had with bodyguard Sam Thompson (who's now Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada) after the forum.

Still smarting from our triple-Elvis overdose at the sign on Friday, we asked him what he thought the King would have made of all the impersonators around today. Great minds think alike – turns out he actually asked the man the same question a year or so he died. (Yes, Elvis impersonators were around back then – who knew?) This is what he said:

He had a quote: he said “emulation is the sincerest form of flattery”. He really felt flattered that people took the time to emulate him. He didn’t like the fat, 40-year old impersonators and attacks like that - he was human like everybody else - but in terms of people emulating his music and his moves, he was fine with it.

He also reckons that Elvis would love Viva Elvis – more on that another day. But not all the impersonators are off the hook. He went on to say:

I don’t think he would have liked the proliferation of the bad Elvises that are around now, or Fat Elvis. Things like that go beyond the point of flattery – you’re doing it for self-aggrandizement. Most of us abhor those kinds of people and I think Elvis would too.

So there you have it. FYI, Sam also shook our hand. Which, if you think about it, is basically the same as getting a handshake from Elvis Presley, albeit once removed. So if you see someone wandering round the Strip with a right hand that doesn’t look like it’s been washed since Sunday, come say hello, ok? And we’ll pass The Touch Of Presley onto you.

Tags: Interviews / Spas / Wynn / Encore / Ella Stimpson / → All Tags

Whether You Run The Marathon or Sleep Through It, Here's How Encore Suggests You Relax

Taking a break from all the CityCenter Madness, we'd like to remind you that the Las Vegas Rock n' Roll Marathon is taking place on Sunday!

As the official host hotel of the race, The Wynn Las Vegas is pulling out all the stops for marathon runners and supporters. One place inside the Wynn and The Encore that we expect to be pretty busy this weekend? The spas.

But with so many relaxation options to choose from, we sought out Ella Stimpson, director of spa operations for The Spa at Encore, to suggest some post-Marathon treatments, whether you're a runner or not.

more ›

Tags: Poker Tournaments / Planet Hollywood / Poker Managers / Interviews / Joe Viator / → All Tags

Go All-In with Planet Hollywood's Poker Room on Twitter

Hey poker fans, listen up: the poker room manager at Planet Hollywood has launched a Twitter account, and is giving away some pretty sweet deals to people who follow him there.

The manager, Joe Viator, launched his account, @phPokerMgr, late last month. Already, he’s given away VIP tickets to Peepshow (with Holly Madison), VIP tickets to America’s Got Talent, T-shirts and a PH-branded poker chip set.

Viator also has tweeted about celebrity sightings in the poker room. Last week, for instance, he tweeted that Ja Rule was playing $1/$2 No-Limit (why such low stakes, Rule?). He also dished that poker pro Vanessa Rousso would be swinging by during filming of a Vegas special for celebrity gossip channel E!, and announced that "Hollywood" Dave Stann, a professional blackjack player, would be playing this coming weekend.

more ›

Tags: Vegas Music Scene / Thee Swank Bastards / Double Down / Interviews / Vegas Bands / → All Tags

Thee Swank Bastards Shred Up The Tiki Circuit

All this week, VegasChatter will be profiling the local Vegas Music Scene for hot upcoming bands, DJs and solo acts. Will any of these homegrown musicians become the next Killers? Possibly. And wouldn't you want to say you knew about them way back when? Of course you do. So start reading now.

Jesse Del Quadro, the dexterous lead player for one of the city’s best surf guitar bands, Thee Swank Bastards, (bassist Shaun Coleman and a series of guest drummers round out the band) has recently finished a successful tour of the West Coast. After showing off his serpentine licks in San Francisco and Portland on the burgeoning Tiki circuit for all the tikiphiles (a throwback to the 60s when Tiki culture was at its peak, hence the compatibility of the Bastards’ kinetic retro sound) Jesse is back home, ready to share his take on music, traveling and Vegas.

more ›