PRESS ROOM
TOP INDIE PROMOTERS UNITE TO CREATE NEW COMPANY TO EXPAND LIVE EVENT LANDSCAPE
BASE Entertainment, Premier Productions, Icon Concerts, Rush Concerts and Peachtree Entertainment Combine To Form New Venture
Venture Brings Together National Promoters Working With Top Artists Including Dude Perfect, Jo Koy, Criss Angel, Zach Bryan, MercyMe, Elevation Worship, Blippi Live, and many others
Houston, TX (January 31, 2023) – Today, a group of market-leading promoters announced they have teamed up to create a new company designed to help expand the live entertainment industry. LiveCo unites the talents of BASE Entertainment, Premier Productions, Icon Concerts, Rush Concerts, and Peachtree Entertainment for the new venture, with financial backing by Waterland Private Equity.
In development for two years by a team of industry leaders, the company brings together some of the most successful live tour promoters and event players to create an innovative new approach to developing and presenting live events, artists, and attractions.
Leading the charge in the consolidation of these top companies and talent is Brian Becker, who previously served as COO of SFX, and CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment and BASE Entertainment. LiveCo operating brands and verticals are led by Michael Pugh and Shane Quick (Premier Productions), Paul Meloche (Icon Concerts), Jacob Reiser (Rush Concerts), Mark Maluso (BASE Entertainment), and Bradley Jordan (Peachtree Entertainment). Additionally, the company is led by a highly experienced and respected team of corporate executives and operating managers from across the industry – all focused on accelerating the company’s organic growth and acquisition objectives.
“Our goal is to make a difference in specific areas of the live event space,” said Brian Becker. “By being able to focus in on key strategic genres where we see tremendous value and room for growth, and delivering a personalized strategy, we can create exciting new opportunities for both performers and fans.”
LiveCo works with leading talent and productions and presents events featuring artists from a wide array of genres, including country, comedy, magic, faith/CCM, family entertainment, variety, and festivals. Among the names currently working with the team are Jimmy O. Yang, Criss Angel, Cocomelon Live, Cody Johnson, Jo Koy, Dude Perfect, Zach Bryan, MercyMe, Elevation Worship, and Gabriel Iglesias.
While the combination of these brands and talent will provide consumers with a full complement of live entertainment options, LiveCo seeks to build and expand upon existing partnerships with entertainment platforms across the industry to create new innovative projects.
“We are committing resources to artists, genres, venues, and markets we believe in and can add value to,” said Paul Meloche. “There is tremendous opportunity in our areas of focus, both in terms of what is already there and what we can develop in partnership with them.”
LiveCo has developed and continues to enhance proprietary software and production resources. Having regional offices in key live entertainment markets across the country will assist in LiveCo’s mission to cater to existing talent, cultivate rising stars, and develop new content, venues, and marketplaces.
“What makes LiveCo unique is that upon joining our group, everyone is a partner and we welcome promoters and entrepreneurs from all facets of our industry to join us in this venture,” said Shane Quick. “We want to build this business with a focus on individuals, reflecting the ethos of our company. The door is always open for new companies to join us and we welcome anyone who shares our vision of creating entertainment for all audiences, no matter where in this country they call home.”
More information on the company can be found on its official website – www.TheLiveCo.Com.
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About LiveCo LiveCo is a growing private equity-backed entertainment company that is focused on delivering rich consumer experiences across various areas and genres of live entertainment including country, comedy, magic, faith/CCM, family entertainment, variety, and festivals. The company represents more than 2,000 live shows and events across its various live entertainment brands, comprised of Icon Concerts, Premier Productions, BASE Entertainment, Rush Concerts, and Peachtree Entertainment. With offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, Las Vegas, Houston, Cullman, Athens and Columbus, LiveCo is positioned as a leader in promoting and presenting popular music events, comedy tours, and live stage / theatrical acts around the country and internationally.
Bat Out of Hell – The Musical to Begin Performances at Paris Las Vegas in September 2022
THE PRODUCERS OF JIM STEINMAN’S
BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL
ANNOUNCE ALL-NEW GLOBAL RESIDENCIES: LAS VEGAS AND LONDON
Bat Out of Hell – The Musical to Begin Performances at Paris Las Vegas on Sept. 27, 2022
To view Bat Out of Hell – The Musical photos and video, click here.
Las Vegas – The award-winning hit production Bat Out of Hell – The Musical, featuring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits, is set to perform in two of the most iconic entertainment destinations in the world – The Las Vegas Strip and London’s West End. The electrifying theatre experience will debut its ongoing residency at Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino on Sept. 27, 2022. Bat Out of Hell- The Musical will also return to London for a limited season at the Peacock Theatre with performances beginning on Feb. 17, 2023.
Tune in today, May 5, at 12 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. ET for a live performance from the Bat Out of Hell – The Musical cast, exclusively streamed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok.
Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell – The Musical is a Rocky-Horror, Romeo-and-Juliet celebration of star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of the tracks caught in a city teetering on the brink of disaster. When Raven falls in love with the rebellious Strat, all bets are off in this love-at-all-costs, rock-and-rollercoaster story based on uncompromising youth.
Bat at Out of Hell – The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography adapted by Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set and costume design by Jon Bausor, original costume designs by Meentje Nielsen, original wig designs by Linda McKnight, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, original casting by David Grindrod CDG, UK casting by Anne Vosser and Vegas casting by Louanne Madorma.
For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Jim Steinman incorporated iconic songs from the Bat Out of Hell albums, including You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), Bat Out of Hell, I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That), Paradise By the Dashboard Light and Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as a previously unreleased song, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most. In Bat Out of Hell – The Musical, the chart-topping rock songs of Mr. Steinman propel an epic story of rebellious youth and passion as Strat, the immortal leader of The Lost, has fallen in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco.
Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 60 million copies worldwide. 16 years later, Steinman scored again with ‘Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell,’ which contained the massive hit ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’.
Bat Out of Hell – The Musical is produced by live theatre juggernauts David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl and Tony Smith, with executive producer Julian Stoneman and managed in Las Vegas by BASE Entertainment.
Ticket prices, performance times and casting for both productions to be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit batoutofhellmusical.com
Find Bat Out of Hell – The Musical on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
The 5 Best Shows To See In Las Vegas Right Now
The 5 Best Shows To See In Las Vegas Right Now
by Larry Olmsted, Oct 1, 2018
Click here to read the full article
By any measure, Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world, and for good reason – there is so much to do, see, experience, eat and enjoy there.
When I first visited Vegas in the early Eighties, the city was drawing about 12 million tourists annually. By 2016 that was up to nearly 43 million, after many record setting years in between. In that period I visited more than forty times, and I’m not sure a year has gone by since the late Eighties when I haven’t been, often several times, most recently a couple of months ago. When I started covering Vegas, it was a city much more focused on gaming. I saw Frank Sinatra on an early trip at a hotel that no longer exists, in a relatively small ballroom. Today, the Chairman of the Board would have his own grand theater and play a months long engagement – a “residency,” the newest Vegas entertainment staple – and likely be sold out every night. I remember when Siegfried and Roy at the Mirage introduced the idea of the elaborate production stage spectacle to the city, and in the past few decades, Vegas has gotten to be much less about chips and felt, and much more about food and entertainment.
So, if you are headed to Vegas today, there is a very good chance you plan to take in a show, or two or three. There are lots to choose from, lots of good ones, and the lineup is always evolving. But to help you sort through this, I’ve tried to pick five top staples that are perennial favorites. I’ve seen many shows in Vegas, but not all, so I recruited some expert friends for insights and opinions, including Mike Hiller, who covers Vegas for the Dallas Morning News and has been there even more than I have; Zeke Quezada, who for years was the Vegas columnist for About.com, knows the city like nobody’s business and recently started a great site, AwaytoVegas.com; and several industry insiders behind the curtain of the city’s entertainment scene. These are our curated picks:
Absinthe: Rib splitting funny, this show was supposed to be a pop up in a tent outside Caesars Palace and was so instantly beloved that after three months, Caesars upgraded to a more permanent tent and it has become a fixture – that was back in 2006. Sort of a parody take off on the Cirque du Soleil acrobatic show model, it combines humor, gymnastic feats, and sideshow performers into a throwback Vaudevillian variety routine. It is by far the smallest of the big Vegas shows, seating just 600 around a stage less than ten feet in diameter, for very intimate theater in the round. It is very, very funny, and also crude and raunchy. It is not for the prudish, so consider yourself warned – if you describe yourself as prim you probably want to skip it, but for the rest of us it is a can’t miss – just about every person I’ve spoken to, including myself, ranked it number one in the city. So has the local city magazine, and the Huffington Post famously reviewed it not only as the best in Vegas, but the one show you should see in your lifetime, period. Due to its popularity, the folks behind Absinthe, Spiegelworld, recently spun off a second show, Opium, in an actual theater in the Cosmopolitan, which I haven’t had the chance to see yet but is next on my list, for sure. Mike Hiller put it bluntly: “I think the best show in Vegas right now is Absinthe.” When I asked Quezada his favorites, he first replied, “Absinthe – it’s edgy, inappropriate and offensive, just like Vegas should be, in a good way though.”
Cirque du Soleil O or La Reve at Wynn: In the category of acrobatic shows using water as a stage, it is basically a tie, and both of these are beloved fixtures for visitors to the Strip. Personally, in the oeuvre of incredible physical feats that boggle the mind mixed with music and lights and general theme, I prefer the dry shows, but there is something about using the water as stage that blows most visitors away. This is its own genre, and one that you can only experience in Vegas, but I’d suggest going to the one most convenient to where you are staying, where you want to have a nice dinner, or where you can get better tickets, as they are too close to call. The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas 2019 (this annual print guidebook is full of truly insider tips for how to buy better tickets, save money, and bypass all the large scale misperceptions about Vegas, is very well done, and if you buy one book to plan your trip, make it this one – and not because I write the golf chapter every year) gives Cirque’s O 4-stars and Wynn’s La Reve (The Dream) 4 1/2. TripAdvisor has them as the second and third most popular production shows in the city, with O enjoying the slight advantage. It’s a coinflip. Even the opinionated Quezada is split: “Le Reve – the combination of water and performance and lighting transports you into a dream. You’ll hold your breath for half the show; O is an impressive Cirque show. Always ranked among the best and a high quality, well produced, performance.”
LOVE, Cirque du Soleil: This is my favorite of the many Cirque shows in town, and I’m not alone. It is TripAdvsiors’s number one most popular pick in the city in any entertainment category. The Unofficial Guide gives it the highest possible 5-star rating, but they also give 5-stars to sister shows Michael Jackson ONE, and Mystere. Mystere is the original and longest running Cirque option, and I also loved it – a can’t miss classic. I guess it comes down to the fact that I like the Beatles – if you prefer Michael Jackson, go to ONE. So, while I picked LOVE, for this category at least one Cirque du Soleil’s show is a must see, as this particular style has become a Vegas staple (there are three others besides O, though I have zero interest in the Chris Angel Mindfreak version).). They all feature reinvented takes on circus acts, with incomprehensible physical performances that make you rethink what human beings are possible of, all extensively choreographed with a deeply pervasive thematic musical score, costume, effects and so on. Visiting Vegas without seeing at least one Cirque du Soleil show is like going to Paris and never having a croissant. Hiller adds, “My favorite Cirque shows are Beatles LOVE and KA” (also 5-stars).
Celine Dion: It’s your last chance to see Las Vegas’ reigning diva! The international superstar just announced that after more than 15 years, her residency, Celine at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, will come to an end on June 8, 2019. Residencies, or extended performances by a single top artist, have become a regular fixture on the Vegas entertainment scene, and some top examples include Brittany Spears, Elton John and most recently Aerosmith. But Celine Dion basically invented the genre, and has been Sin City’s top one woman show for years. She returns later this month for another extended run, kicking off on October 30, 2018. She is the Queen of the Colosseum, the 4,300-seat theater in Caesars Palace where she headlines, and the amazing thing about this show is that everyone comes out blown away, even people who don’t care about Dion or he know her music. The reason it has been so successful is because she has true star power, is a consummate entertainer, and her world class voice is backed by amazing costumes, lighting, stagecraft, extremely elaborate visual effects including 3D projections, and a 31-piece orchestra.
Magic Reinvented Nightly by Mat Franco: I’m a huge fan of live magic, and this time-honored genre has been enjoying a renaissance in recent years from coast to coast. I recently wrote about the trend and some great palaces to catch live magic shows here at Forbes. But Vegas remains the epicenter of the magic performance world, and the tops in town is Mat Franco, the first magician to ever win the entire season on America’s Got Talent. If you love magic, it’s a no-brainer, and if you are not familiar with the amazing appeal of live magic, there is no better place than Vegas to dive in. It’s been a consistent crowd wower since it opened a few years ago, and walks the perfect line between being family friendly while still featuring some zingers for the adults.
Viva Las Vegas!
CRISS ANGEL UNVEILS BRAND NEW MINDFREAK®
CRISS ANGEL UNVEILS BRAND NEW MINDFREAK®,
AN IMMERSIVE EVOLUTION OF MAGIC,
OPENING DEC. 2018 AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT & CASINO
World-Renowned Illusionist Marks Return to His Original Las Vegas Stage
LAS VEGAS (July 31, 2018) – After more than a decade of dominating the world of magic as the biggest name on the planet, Criss Angel will unveil an over-the-top visual spectacular unlike any other in existence – Criss Angel MINDFREAK®, in the newly-renamed Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino opening Dec. 19, 2018. The brand-new production incorporates cutting-edge technology and boasts more than 75 illusions with 20 never-before-seen effects that will give fans the ultimate immersive experience, showcasing the iconic Angel on a massive scale.
“It’s amazing to be back home at Planet Hollywood, where I began MINDFREAK in 2005. As that TV series changed the trajectory of magic on television, I believe my new show will do the same for live performance, creating a brand-new immersive experience that the world of entertainment has never had,” says Criss.
Hailed as the “#1 Magician on the Planet” by the Las Vegas Sun and dubbed “The Biggest Name in Las Vegas Magic” by Bloomberg Businessweek, Criss Angel is the only magician performing today honored with the highest award in the magical arts, the Lifetime Achievement award from the largest and most prestigious magic organization in the world, the nearly one hundred-year-old International Brotherhood of Magicians, given only five times in its history. He will bring the ground-breaking new MINDFREAK to Las Vegas audiences and introduce more illusions and more technology than any other show, of any kind, in the world. This immersive evolution of MINDFREAK will combine pop culture with Angel’s iconic illusions, gripping audiences with mind-blowing visuals, pyrotechnics, LED effects, interactive lobby installations, memorabilia and more, including cutting-edge technology never before used on a live stage.
“Criss Angel is one of the most innovative magicians in the world and we’re ecstatic to bring his brand-new show to Planet Hollywood,” said Brian Becker, CEO of BASE Entertainment. “This show will shock and charm audiences with Criss’ personal stories intertwined with revolutionary illusions and extraordinary advances in the art and technology of magic on stage.”
Based on Angel’s breakout hit TV series MINDFREAK, which smashed records and counted an audience of more than 100 million viewers in each of its six seasons on A&E, making it the most successful magic show in television history, MINDFREAK at Planet Hollywood will showcase 90-minutes of the most mind-blowing, original and inventive illusions performed to date.
“Planet Hollywood continues to be at the forefront of entertainment in Las Vegas,” said Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment. “Criss Angel’s ground-breaking new show MINDFREAK is an entirely new approach to magic and solidifies Planet Hollywood’s reputation as a premier destination for the absolute best in live entertainment in Las Vegas.
Criss Angel MINDFREAK will begin performances on Dec. 19. Tickets will go on sale to the public Friday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. PT. An exclusive presale for Total Rewards members, Caesars Entertainment’s loyalty program, will be available from Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. PT through Thursday, Aug. 2 at 10 p.m. PT. Tickets start at $69, plus tax and applicable fees and will available at CrissAngel.com and Ticketmaster.com/crissangel, by calling (855) 234-7469 or in-person at the Criss Angel Theater box office. A limited number of VIP Experiences will be available for each performance, including personal escort into the venue, limited edition VIP laminate, photograph and meet & greet with Criss Angel. For groups of 10 or more, please call 866-633-0195 or email Sales@BASEentertainment.com. Criss Angel MINDFREAK was created, directed, and produced by Criss Angel for APWI and is presented by BASE Entertainment.
The Criss Angel MINDFREAK residency will play in the Criss Angel Theater, formally known as the PH Showroom, at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Wednesday – Sunday at 7 p.m.
Criss Angel’s MINDFREAK LIVE!, the “#1 Best-Selling Magic Show in Las Vegas,” celebrates its record-setting 10th anniversary and its last performance at Luxor Hotel & Casino on Oct. 28, 2018. Don’t miss the final performances through October 28th. Get tickets now for this historic production at https://bit.ly/2Ls0yO!
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About Criss Angel
For more than a decade, Criss Angel has dominated the world of magic as the biggest name on the planet. From his role as star, creator, executive producer and director of Criss Angel MINDFREAK on A&E, to countless critically acclaimed television specials, best-selling books, top-grossing retail products, sold-out touring shows and more, Criss is the most influential and imitated magician of the modern era.
His acclaimed series MINDFREAK on A&E is the most successful magic show in television history, resulting in more hours of magic during prime time than any magic show ever. His decade-long live show residency at Luxor Las Vegas was hailed as the “#1 Best-selling Magic Show in Las Vegas” (Extra) and “The #1 Magic Show of All Time!” (Las Vegas Review-Journal) and generated $150 million in revenue in 2010 as reported by Newsweek.
Angel is also the most watched magician in television and internet history, a YouTube sensation. His “Walk on Water” clip has generated over 60 million views alone, and all of his clips combined have generated more than 300 million views. Criss has the largest social media following of any illusionist, with over six million followers.
In 2017, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Criss with the 2,615th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star was dedicated at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard next to the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and across the street from the star of Houdini.
Criss has been named “Magician of the Year” an unprecedented six times, was the youngest magician inducted into the International Magicians Society Hall of Fame, was named the first recipient of “Magician of the Decade,” as well as “Magician of the Century” and “Innovator of the Decade.” Most recently, Angel was given the highest honor in the magical arts – the Lifetime Achievement Award from the largest and most prestigious magic organization in the world (the nearly one hundred-year-old International Brotherhood of Magicians). It has only been given five times in the IBM’s history, and Criss is the youngest artist ever to receive it and the only magician performing today that has been presented with this award.
For more information, visit CrissAngel.com or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CrissAngel.
About BASE Entertainment
BASE Entertainment develops, creates, and manages live entertainment productions and venues in North America and worldwide from offices in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Houston. In addition to Criss Angel MINDFREAK, BASE’s current productions in Las Vegas include Magic Mike Live Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel and Nitro Circus, coming to Bally’s Hotel & Casino in the spring of 2019. Past productions in Las Vegas include Absinthe, Rock of Ages, Million Dollar Quartet, Jersey Boys, Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular, Peepshow, Wayne Brady and Stomp Out loud, among others. Current productions from BASE Hologram, a new division of BASE Entertainment which combines holographic film and AR technology with live performers and other production stagecraft to deliver worldwide touring concerts and theatricals/spectacles and museum and location-based residencies, including Roy Orbison – In Dreams, Callas in Concert, and Jack Horner’s World of Dinosaurs. BASE Entertainment’s founders and partners include industry veterans Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger and Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Clarity Partners. For more information please visit BASEentertainment.com.
About Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Celebrating 10 years, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is the centerpiece of the famed Las Vegas Strip, with 2,500 beautifully redesigned guest rooms and suites showcasing some of the best views in town, along with endless options of unparalleled shopping, distinguished dining, popular entertainment and a bustling nightlife. A bright, bold addition to the resort’s portfolio, the new Ultra-Hip Rooms feature contemporary elegance and luxury bedding. Known as the place to play for its roster of A-list celebrity guests, Planet Hollywood’s 231 newly restyled suites feature stunning views of the glittering skyline and daring décor elements such as suspended sofas, lounge-style living spaces and oversized modern artwork. The resort encompasses more than 100,000 square-feet of gaming, several lounges, impressive restaurants including Gordon Ramsay Burger, KOI, Strip House, and the award-winning Spice Market Buffet, an intimate wedding chapel and the Planet Hollywood Spa by Mandara. The resort also features The Scene Pool Deck with the Strip’s first and only stand-alone wave machine, the FlowRider. Home to the first pop music residency in Las Vegas, Zappos Theater showcases resident headliners Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Richie, Backstreet Boys and Gwen Stefani. The property is encircled by Miracle Mile Shops with more than 170 specialty stores and restaurants. Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR). For more information, please visit planethollywoodresort.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram
MEDIA CONTACT
Dayna Calkins / Tawny Strelic
Kirvin Doak Communications
dcalkins@kirvindoak.com / tstrelic@kirvindoak.com
Bringing Musical Stars Back Via Hologram
Jan. 28, 2018 by David Pogue
Click here for full story.
Many opera fans consider Maria Callas one of the greatest sopranos who ever lived. When she died in 1977, they were heartbroken.
So they might be shocked to learn that Maria Callas is going on tour this spring, complete with a live 60-piece orchestra. Her return is brought to you by hologram— or what’s being called a hologram.
“We’re celebrating iconic performers and their performances,” said Brian Becker, the CEO of Base Entertainment, which created the Maria Callas show. “And we’re presenting them to audiences to either see them again, or audiences that have never seen them before.”
Most of us think of a hologram as a three-dimensional futuristic projection technology, like Princess Leia in the first “Star Wars” movie: You could walk all the way around her, even see her from the back.
That’s not quite what we’re talking about here. “No, no. This is a 3-D illusion. But ‘holographic technology’ or ‘hologram’ is just a good name that people recognize,” said Becker.
Maria Callas is hardly the first dead musician to take the stage again. The first example that really caught the public’s attention was at the Coachella music festival in 2012, when rapper Tupac Shakur rose from the dead.
The projection technology for that stunt is now owned by a company called Hologram USA. At its theater on Hollywood Boulevard, Hologram USA offers a variety of holographic shows, featuring stars like Billie Holiday.
As it turns out, these high-tech shows aren’t really new. They’re based on a stage effect called Pepper’s Ghost — an illusion popularized in 1862 by a scientist named John Pepper.
An off-stage actor is reflected by a sheet of glass at a 45-degree angle, appearing to the audience as a ghostly, life-like image.
“The projectors are up there, bouncing off a cinema screen that’s nestled to the floor,” said CEO Alki David. “And the image is reflected up, at a 45° angle.”
But how do they get the video of the dead performers in the first place? Especially of Maria Callas, who died well before the age of high-definition video?
Marty Tudor, head of Base Entertainment’s hologram projects, had to re-create her from scratch. “We start with a body double who has to perform, literally,” Tudor said. “And our director worked with our body double for 12 weeks. And then we take the results of that and go to work on it digitally.”
Just as in the movies, special-effects artists then seamlessly superimpose the computer-generated face onto the footage of the body double.
But what about the audio? In Maria Callas’ day, the orchestra and the singer were recorded all at once, in one pass, on one monophonic track. But in this concert, the pre-recorded Callas will be accompanied by a live orchestra! Which means that the company’s engineers had to somehow remove the sound of the orchestra from the 1960 recordings.
“It’s magic!” Tudor laughed.
No, it’s software! “It’s software, and it’s technology, and it’s artistry, frankly. It’s [a] time-consuming, expensive, tedious job. But worth it.”
Base Entertainment is also launching a Roy Orbison concert this Spring, using the same techniques.
“For those of us of a certain age, those artists are all passing. So, the idea that we can relive and recapture some of our youth, I think that’s what’s really drawing people to it,” said Todd Richmond, the director of the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Southern California.
Richmond spends a lot of time thinking about technology and art, and using a device to digitally scan actors for movies, video games, and even holograms.
“Pretty soon, you’ll be able to have performances for the songs you don’t have footage for, and you can have them singing songs that they never sang before,” Richmond said.
“So, someday not only could you have Tupac singing opera, but you could have Maria Callas singing hip-hop?” Pogue asked.
“Absolutely.”
As though that’s not boggling enough: One of the most popular singers in Japan today is Hatsune Miku. She’s a computer-generated voice coming from a computer-generated body.
“She opened for Lady Gaga on one of her tours,” Richmond said. “The singing is all computer-generated based on these algorithms.”
“Audiences are paying to see a pop star who doesn’t exist?”
“Absolutely. Concerts, really, these days exist not so much, I would argue, for the music, but more just the scene.”
Actually, Alki David says that holographic singers are only the beginning. “We did the world’s biggest election in India, for Narendra Modi,” David said. “We had 150 mobile units traveling India, and in 30 days, Mr. Modi was able to canvas the country four times within a month … by live hologram, on a daily basis. He won a landslide majority of, like, 67%-68%.”
“We’re talking about holograms changing the course of history now?” asked Pogue.
“Sure, absolutely.”
David hopes to open 150 hologram theaters across the United States. And Brian Becker says that ticket sales for the Maria Callas and Roy Orbison tours are going well.
Maybe audiences will be convinced by the illusion — or maybe they will see right through it.
But for the present, dead performers from the past are the future of live performance.
BASE Entertainment Announces New Cutting Edge Live Entertainment Company: BASE Hologram
Company Fuses Advanced Holographic Digital and Laser Technology with Live Theatrical Stagecraft to Create Worldwide Concert Tours and Transformative Entertainment Experiences
BASE Hologram to Bring Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roy Orbison and Internationally Renowned Opera Sensation Maria Callas Back to the Stage with Live Orchestras in 2018, Debuting Mesmerizing New Innovation to Live Entertainment
Robust Pipeline of Content Starring Celebrities, Icons and Fantastical Themes and Venues will be Unveiled Throughout 2018
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Tweet it: @BASEHologram is bringing rock legend Roy Orbison and opera diva Maria Callas back to the stage with NEW revolutionary hologram concert experiences. https://BaseHologram.com #OrbisonInConcert #CallasInConcert
Los Angeles, CA (January 11, 2018) – Today, BASE Entertainment – the preeminent live entertainment company behind show stoppers such as Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular, Magic Mike Live, Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly, Absinthe, and The Voice: Neon Dreams – announced the launch of BASE Hologram. The ground-breaking new company will introduce a revolutionary new form of live entertainment artistry that fuses extraordinary theatrical stagecraft with innovative digital and laser technology to bring true music legends back to the global stage in a state-of-the-art hologram infused theatrical experience.
A disruptive and leading force for the past 35 years, BASE Entertainment and its management develops, produces and presents incomparable live theatrical and concert entertainment to audiences in Las Vegas and worldwide. BASE Hologram will focus on two distinct experiences – touring concerts and theater/location-based productions, one of the most aggressive and unique approaches to the field.
BASE Hologram’s debut will be a pair of shows that bring back rock legend Roy Orbison and Opera powerhouse Maria Callas to the worldwide concert stage. Selected for both their resurgence among music lovers of all kinds and their spellbinding command of more intimate venues, Orbison and Callas will perform full-length concerts worldwide, singing all new digitally remastered renditions of their biggest hits backed by live symphony orchestras. Audiences will be fully immersed in this never-before-seen type of concert event as holographic icons interact with both the musicians on stage and the audience.
“BASE Hologram will combine the substantial and still growing demand for live concerts, theatricals and spectacles with the accelerating interest in holographic film technology and new forms of augmented reality and hyper-reality,” said Brian Becker, Founder & CEO, BASE Entertainment and BASE Hologram. “This is a field with vast potential that many have pioneered but never on this large of a scale. We have assembled a creative and marketing dream team across all fronts and are honored that the families of these beloved performers have entrusted us with their legacies. This is going to be a milestone moment in the live entertainment space and we are excited to present it to the public where audiences are not simply watching a show, but are drawn into an ultra-realistic experience where fantasy becomes reality by suspending disbelief.”
Productions will be crafted that can both appear across multiple live entertainment venues, festivals worldwide and reside indefinitely at theaters, museums, attractions, malls, mixed-use spaces and other singular destinations. These game-changing experiences have no limitations, and can range from showcasing artists and icons to celebrities, natural interest topics and fantastical themes, which cannot otherwise be seen live. BASE Hologram has an extensive pipeline of world renowned projects that will be revealed in upcoming months.
BASE Hologram is leveraging Epson’s Pro L-Series laser projection technology to deliver bright, vivid images for its dynamic, awe-inspiring, larger-than-life hologram concert experience. Epson’s award-winning laser technology provides incredible color brightness and inherent benefits of long life and virtually no maintenance – crucial to live events.
“This is something special and given today’s culture, audiences are looking for that unique hook to get them out of their homes and into communal experiences.” said Marty Tudor, Executive Producer and CEO BASE Hologram Productions. “These productions do that in an innovative, creative and immersive way that will change the live show landscape.”
In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert is an enthralling event that will launch in April 2018 in the UK with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Directed by Tony winner Eric Schaeffer (Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet) and presented through extraordinary theatrical stagecraft, In Dreams will recreate the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icon through mind-blowing holographic laser imaging as he performs newly recorded never-before-heard digitally remastered arrangements of his classics with live orchestra.
“This is the first worldwide hologram tour ever of an iconic superstar of this variety,” said Bob Ringe, CEO BASE Hologram Distribution. “As a result, you need a name like Roy Orbison or Maria Callas to be successful. They were both not only gifted vocalists, but they were industry game-changers, just as these tours will be.”
Known for his distinctive, impassioned voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads, many critics describe Orbison’s music as operatic, naming him “The Caruso of Rock.” Between 1960 and 1964, 22 of his songs placed on the Billboard Top 40, which paved the way for his successful career, marked by entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and making him one of the top 100 artists of all time.
“I’ve seen first-hand the impact artists like Roy Orbison have had on today’s generation,” said Schaeffer. “What many younger music fans may not realize is just what Orbison meant to his industry and our musical culture. He was an amazing song-writer, singer and performer who is responsible for a stunning catalogue of hits. This production is about putting the spotlight back on the creative genius of Roy Orbison and to be able to share it with all the generations.”
Universally recognized as one of the great music legends and praised by everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Elvis Presley, Orbison’s catalogue includes such chart-toppers as Oh, Pretty Woman, You Got It, Only The Lonely, Crying, I Drove All Night, It’s Over and In Dreams. This tour will allow fans old and new to get the chance to experience one of the most iconic and revered figures in the history of the medium in a spectacular and thrilling new way as Orbison and his trademark three-octave range voice come back to the stage he commanded for decades.
Orbison’s impact continues today as the newly released album, A Love So Beautiful: Roy Orbison With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, has quickly skyrocketed up the UK and Australia music charts. Meanwhile, initial UK and Australia 2018 tour dates for the Orbison hologram concert events has been selling to an overwhelming success.
“My father had a special transcendent vocal ability that made him something of an anomaly in the world of pop and rock, but that’s what endeared him to his fans,” said Alex Orbison, President Roy Orbison Music. “For our family it was an amazing emotional experience to see this for the first time and we know audiences worldwide will have the same reaction.”
In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert will launch in North America in September 2018. Additional tour dates will be announced in the coming months and more information can be found at www.orbisoninconcert.com.
Callas In Concert will bring the famed opera star back 40 years following her passing through breathtaking state-of-the-art digital and laser projection for a live full concert experience featuring original recordings digitally remastered. The live event is scripted and directed by Creative Director Stephen Wadsworth, a veteran of many of Callas’ theaters, including La Scala, the Met, Covent Garden, who last directed Terrence McNally’s Callas play Master Class on Broadway, and runs the post-graduate opera training at The Juilliard School. The event will be conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos, whose career spans opera, symphony and Broadway, where he served as Music Director of Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, among many other hit shows.
“The event will appeal to generations of audiences who never experienced Callas and who may know little about her beyond her reputation, as well as to opera lovers who are very familiar with her work, her recordings, and her complex life story,” said Wadsworth. “We’ve had the opportunity to curate one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, and we must do that with great care – from her fantastically diverse repertoire to her revealing gestural language and her complicated relationship with her audience. We are all in different ways close to Callas’ influence, because her work had a huge impact on every artist working in music, opera, acting, stage design and fashion.”
Callas left a forever lasting impact on the world of opera as the definition of the diva as artist – and still one of classical music’s best-selling vocalists and, arguably, the greatest soprano that has ever lived. In 2007, she was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in the same year, voted the greatest soprano of all time by BBC Music Magazine. Five years later her list of accomplishments grew again when she was voted into Gramophone Magazine’s Hall of Fame. Callas will be heavily in the spotlight once again over the next year with a new film documentary, book and CD collection being released commemorating her extraordinary life.
This tour will allow audiences to experience the legendary emotional force that is Maria Callas. From one moment to the next, fans will feel her passionate heat, cool detachment, heartrending vulnerability, fierce confidence, and breathtaking grace. Audiences will bear witness as she inhabits her operatic characters, and evokes the drama that inspired her name, La Divina.
Callas in Concert will launch in Tokyo in May 2018 and tour dates will be announced in the coming months. More information can be found at www.callasinconcert.com.
Additional information may be found at www.basehologram.com.
—
About BASE Hologram
BASE Hologram, a BASE Entertainment Company, develops, produces, and distributes live theatrical entertainment and location-based productions worldwide from its offices in Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas and Houston. These productions utilize state-of-the-art holographic digital and laser technology and expert theatrical stagecraft to create experiential entertainment. BASE acquires and manages intellectual properties to create an ever-growing roster of engaging and immersive cutting edge content. BASE Hologram’s current touring production activity includes In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert and Callas in Concert. BASE Entertainment’s founders include industry veterans Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger, along with Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Clarity Partners. For more information please visit www.basehologram.com and www.baseentertainment.com.
Further information:
United States
DKC
Brett Gold (NY)
brett_gold@dkcnews.com
212-981-5231
Jessica Smith (LA)
jessica_smith@dkcnews.com
310-280-2018
Magic Mike Live Is the Sizzling-Hot (and Surprisingly Empowering!) Show Women Deserve
Magic Mike Live Is the Sizzling-Hot (and Surprisingly Empowering!) Show Women Deserve
January 4, 2018 by KIRBIE JOHNSON
popsugar.com
I am not shy or modest by any means, so the idea of my four friends and myself attending Magic Mike Live at the Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas didn’t scare me. I say “scare” because some women walk into male revues utterly terrified. Will some dude with giant muscles remove me from my seat and grind on me until the cows come home? (For some, this is a dream. I see you.) But revues are supposed to cater to women, right? They’re meant to get us excited, not traumatize us. And although I did huddle my body behind a bar table so as to block any touching or escorting — hey, I do have a partner and wanted to respect him — I quickly realized this show was not just a bunch of hot guys getting seminude. In fact, it was a delightful feminist experience. Yes, really. Here’s why Magic Mike Live is one of the best shows in Vegas, but be warned: some spoilers ahead.
It’s Full of Clever Surprises
The best part of the show has to be the surprise element, and I don’t mean in a “performer surprises you with his massive package after tearing off his dress blues” way. Allow me to explain: when the show first starts, a short guy who is loud, obnoxious, and crass kicks things off. I don’t feel bad saying this because that’s literally what he was cast to do. He’s making comments to women in the audience I’ve seen men get slapped for. After a few minutes of gross fodder, a few men who can only be described as dressed like the Village People approach the stage.
This is the moment where I looked at my friends and thought we needed to leave, posthaste. Then I see a woman who looks completely helpless. She’s approached by a man in a firefighter outfit. He is fully humping her face, and she looks mortified — but it doesn’t stop there. She’s escorted onto the stage and sprayed with white silly string that’s been positioned to shoot out from the fireman’s groin area.
Clearly, this is not magical. That poor woman’s jumpsuit is probably ruined. I hope they pay her back. And where is Channing? He does not know what women want! Poor Jenna Dewan.
I have no idea what happened to the jumpsuit, but the initially terrified woman grabbed the mic and went into a full on monologue about mythical unicorns, and it was then we all realized she was a part of the act. In fact, she was the MC, Lyndsay Hailey. Solid. The creepy dude and the lazy Village People were rushed from the stage while Lyndsay sat and spoke to the mythical unicorn in her head, which just so happened to have Channing’s voice. (Again, solid.)
After that, she speaks to us, woman to woman. What do we want? What are we sick of? What are we hoping to get out of this? Which leads me to my next point . . .
‘Magic Mike Live’ stage show in Las Vegas: My favorite thing to come out of the shit show of 2017
Hypable
1:30 PM EST, NOVEMBER 7, 2017
BY LAURA MORAN
EDITED BY DONYA ABRAMO
Ever wish you could live inside the world of Magic Mike? Well, now you can. And it’s everything you want it to be.
But first, some background: Do you know this exists? Many women don’t. I do, because I am a passionate fan of both Magic Mike and Magic Mike: XXL. I do, because when I first heard that Channing Tatum was developing a live show I fell to my knees, thanked a god I didn’t know previously existed and signed up for their email list. I do, because months later, as a member of their email list, I received an incredibly thorough and thoughtful questionnaire, because Channing Tatum wanted to know what I wanted in the show.
I spent the next 45 minutes answering questions like:
- What’s the sexiest movie you’ve ever seen? (9 ½ Weeks.)
- What’s the hottest outfit a guy could wear? (Jeans and a white t-shirt.)
- Is there anything you wish your boyfriend would do but you’re too shy to ask him? (The dishes.)
I read these questions and knew we were off to a good start.
The show officially opened this past April, in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. And this past Thursday night at 10:30 PM, along with three of my closest lady friends, I saw it.
And my world changed.
You must understand:
THE MAGIC MIKE LIVE SHOW IN LAS VEGAS IS A FEMINIST ANTHEM.
What? How is that even possible? Isn’t it oily men in green thongs showing us their butts? No. No, it’s not.
Your reference point is probably Thunder From Down Under. You probably went once for your cousin that you only kinda like’s bachelorette party. And you probably had to wear a stupid sash and one of her friends from middle school probably got super drunk and you had an okay time. But you never want to go back.
And I have to admit, I actually liked Thunder From Down Under at the time because I thought that was all I could have. I thought if I wanted to have a fun night out with my girlfriends in Vegas I would have to watch terrible dancing by hairless men who smelled like coconut. I thought I would have to get fake sprayed in the face by fire hoses. I didn’t realize I deserved more.
Magic Mike Live knew I deserved more. Even when I didn’t.
I didn’t realize I deserved a women’s bathroom with tons of stalls and great beauty lighting. I didn’t realize I deserved a super-cute waiter that, when he noticed that my friend got cold during the show, went to look for a sweatshirt for her and when he couldn’t find one, moved our seats closer to the stage. I didn’t realize that I could tell a man what I thought was sexy and he would listen. And deliver.
I’ve told you what the show isn’t, so now let me tell you what it is. If you want to go in completely unawares, stop reading now because there are a few spoilers ahead!
Magic Mike Live is set up like a cozy club, with seats surrounding the stage, theater-in-the-round style. And the MC is a woman! Of course it is! That makes so much sense. And she is awesome and delightful and thinks the guys are just as hot as we do. And they are hot. Like, if you saw any of these guys in real life you’d sneakily take a picture and send it to your best friend to be like, how hot is this guy??? And the guys are super diverse – a rainbow of sexy, if you will. A bunch of them have tattoos (thank you for listening, Channing!) and they are all ripped to high heavens. But not gross ripped, you know? Just like, this is an absolutely appropriate level of ripped-ness.
One has a puppy! One plays the drums! One salsa dances! And yes, they recreate the three best dances from the end of Magic Mike XXL. And yes, they dance to “Pony.” Oh, and best of all — NO ONE HAS A SPRAY TAN. Actually, that shouldn’t be a spoiler. *Spoilers Done*
I could say more, but I don’t want to give the magic of the show away in words. I want you to see it. This show can’t be described – it can only be felt.
And if you’re still worried about thongs and butts, know this: there are no thongs in the show. And only one butt, if I remember correctly. Because as we ladies know, a butt is great, but a super-hot dude in a fitted suit who can really dance is way, way great-er.
I guess what I’m saying is this: If you’re going to Las Vegas for a bachelorette party, a dirty 30, a divorce party – for any reason at all, go to MAGIC MIKE LIVE. It’s better than Britney, it’s better than Cirque du Soleil. As my friend shouted at me mid-way through the show: “THIS. IS. BETTER. THAN. HAMILTON.”
And if you’re not going to Las Vegas, but you love the Magic Mike movies, get your three closest girlfriends together and go. I want to spread the love and acceptance and joy I felt at the show to every girl out there.
I’m also saying thank you, Magic Mike Live. Thank you. I’m also saying I’ll be back.
Laura Moran is a TV comedy writer who lives in LA.
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS CELEBRATES EXPLOSIVE SUCCESS WITH NEW 2018 PERFORMANCE DATES AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO - Press Release
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS CELEBRATES EXPLOSIVE SUCCESS WITH NEW
2018 PERFORMANCE DATES AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
Tickets for 2018 Performances Now on Sale
LAS VEGAS – Following a highly successful first quarter in Las Vegas and continuous demand for the show, tickets for 2018 performances of MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS are now on sale. Offered exclusively at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, patrons may purchase tickets for performances through April 2018; performances beyond April will be placed on sale at a later date. For more information, please visit MagicMikeLiveLasVegas.com.
Hailed as “the modern strip show we deserve” and the “best girls’ night out” in Vegas, MAGIC MIKE LIVE invites fans to experience an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind striptease spectacular guaranteed to bring the heat. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 6, guests can enjoy new show times at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., allowing more flexibility when reserving tickets.
“We are always looking for new ways to cater to our guests,” said Scott Armstrong, Senior Vice President Operations of BASE Entertainment. “By implementing this new schedule, our guests will have ample time to prepare for the evening’s events, enjoy a leisurely dinner, and/or kick off their evening with a late-night performance. They’ll be able to do it all.”
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS currently performs Wednesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., with the new schedule beginning Sept. 6. Ticket prices start at $49, with weekend prices starting at $55. Tickets are available for purchase by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com or MagicMikeLiveLasVegas.com. A $45 VIP meet and greet add-on is available with any ticket purchase and includes a meet and greet with the cast and a souvenir photo. For groups of 10 or more, please call 866-633-0195 or email Sales@BASEentertainment.com.
For more information, please visit MagicMikeLiveLasVegas.com.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erica Benken / Kate Whiteley, Kirvin Doak Communications
702-737-3100
EBenken@kirvindoak.com / KWhiteley@kirvindoak.com
ABOUT MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS:
Hailed as “the modern strip show we deserve” by USA Today, declared “the most-buzzed-about new production” in Las Vegas by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and celebrated as “the show that has everything you could ever want” by Glamour UK, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS is an all-new, first-class entertainment experience based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL. Serving as “the cure to the common male revue” (Las Vegas Sun), the show recreates the mythic Club Domina as a cabaret nightclub space inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that has been fully redesigned to capture the magnetism of the Magic Mike franchise. The state-of-the-art venue is designed with the capabilities to house a show that features 13 of the hottest and most talented men in the country performing in front of, behind, above and all around the audience. Conceived by Channing Tatum and co-directed by Tatum and film franchise choreographers Alison Faulk and Teresa Espinosa, the show features sexy and daring themed dance and strip routines punctuated by one of a kind acts from a wildly diverse cast of performers. MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS is a sizzling 360-degree dance and acrobatic strip tease spectacular guaranteed to bring on the heat.
ABOUT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO:
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is Las Vegas’ off-strip playground, just minutes and less than three miles from McCarran International Airport. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an energetic entertainment and gaming experience with the services and amenities associated with a boutique luxury resort hotel. The property is known for its innovative nightlife and music scene where acts such as The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, Incubus, Foo Fighters, Carlos Santana, Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses and KISS have all performed. Features of the property include the newly-remodeled 11-story Casino Tower with 640 rooms and suites, 17-story Paradise Tower with 490 rooms and suites; the 15-story HRH All-Suite Tower with 359 suites, eight spa villas and seven penthouse suites, which has received the AAA Four Diamond Award; 60,000 square feet of casino space featuring Peacock High-Limit gaming and Asian gaming amenities; 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting and convention space, which was named a Smart Meetings 2016 Platinum Choice Award winner; more than $4 million in rare music memorabilia; Reliquary Spa; Kelly Cardenas Salon – a Paul Mitchell® Focus Salon; 4.8 acres of tropical pool paradise, which was voted as the No. 1 “Best Hotel Pool” in the 2015 USA Today 10Best Readers Choice contest; the world-famous pool party REHAB Beach Club; live music/entertainment venues The Joint, Vinyl and Club Domina, the home of Magic Mike Live Las Vegas; restaurants Culinary Dropout, Nobu, Pink Taco, Mr. Lucky’s Café, Goose Island Pub, 福Fú Asian Kitchen, Oyster Bar, Pizza Forte, Dunkin’ Donuts and coming soon MB Steak; a fitness center; trendsetting retailers John Varvatos, Affliction, Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co., Chill by Hudson, Hootenanny and Bezel. New shops opening soon – Night and Day and Shine. For room availability and additional information call 800.HRD.ROCK (800.473.7625) or visit hardrockhotel.com. Follow Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates.
Magician Mat Franco Unveils Namesake Theater Marquee at The LINQ Hotel & Casino - Press Release
Magician Mat Franco Unveils Namesake Theater Marquee at The LINQ Hotel & Casino, July 10
Franco Receives Key to The Strip and Proclamation of “Mat Franco Day” in Clark County
Yesterday (July 10, 2017), magician Mat Franco had the honor of unveiling his new namesake marquee, Mat Franco Theater at The LINQ Hotel & Casino, which was renamed by the center-Strip resort in celebration of his continued career success. Kicking off the milestone afternoon, the property’s regional president, Eileen Moore welcomed the crowd of invited guests and fans before inviting Mat to help her in unveiling the venue’s new signage. “Today’s a special day for us here at The LINQ, because we’re able to rename The LINQ Theater in Mat’s honor and really put a world-class stamp on our property,” shared Moore.
After revealing the long-awaited marquee, Franco expressed his gratitude for his producers and management teams at BASE Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment, and Red Light Management, as well as his mass of supporters and fans. “But we have more than a quarter of a million people who’ve all come through these doors over the last two years to thank most of all,” shared Franco.
Moore returned to the floor to introduce Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who presented Franco with a plaque proclaiming July 10, 2017 as “Mat Franco Day” on the Las Vegas Strip and throughout the county. Commissioner Kirkpatrick concluded the presentation by surprising Franco with his very own Key to The Strip, an honor bestowed upon The Strip’s top entertainers and public figures.
Afterward, the cast and crew of MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY and executives from Caesars Entertainment, BASE Entertainment, and Red Light Management gathered in the venue’s meet and greet room for a private champagne reception. “We knew from the beginning that we had someone special on our hands,” toasted Base Entertainment CEO Brian Becker. “Here’s to many more years of success, Mat!”
Nearing the second anniversary of his first-ever headlining production, Franco has been hailed “a master magician for the millennial generation” (Las Vegas Sun), and MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY has received critical acclaim for being “unlike anything the Entertainment Capital of the World has ever offered” (Vegas.com). For tickets and more information, visit MatFranco.com.
For hi-res images from the unveiling event, click here:
https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/jGN2OmwbDO
Courtesy: Mike Kirschbaum/Tony Tran Photography
# # #
About MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY
Mat Franco takes the stage in MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY in the newly renamed Mat Franco Theater at The LINQ Hotel & Casino with a fun and feel-good twist on magic that defies all expectations. Named “Best Show” by Las Vegas Weekly and voted “Best Magic Show” in the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Best of Las Vegas Awards, MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY treats guests to an unparalleled production with an innovative and immersive approach to magic that’s driven by Mat’s passion and imagination. With his signature brand of breezy humor, Mat mixes his amazingly inventive and stunning magic with crowd-guided improv, creating a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that’s unique and unforgettable to each audience. For more information, visit MatFranco.com and connect with the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @MagicReinvented.
About The LINQ Hotel & Casino
As the social hub at the center of the Las Vegas Strip, The LINQ Hotel & Casino offers a total of 2,253 newly renovated rooms including 244 suites with two unique penthouses and 25 cabana rooms with direct access to the pool. Positioned between Flamingo Las Vegas and Harrah’s Las Vegas, guests experience one distinctive destination with The LINQ Promenade and High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel. Designed with the modern traveler in mind, the resort launched the first fully integrated self check-in program on the Las Vegas Strip in 2015. Enjoy celebrated chef restaurant Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar, voted “Best Gastropub of 2015” by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, award-winning Hash House a Go Go and direct access to O’Sheas Casino, Off The Strip and Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar. Entertainment and nightlife experiences include 3535, a unique take on the lobby bar, TAG Sports Bar, a state-of-the-art gaming lounge, as well as popular entertainers such as Frank Marino’s “Divas Las Vegas” and magician Mat Franco, “America’s Got Talent” Season Nine winner. The LINQ Hotel & Casino offers a reimagined pool deck featuring two pools, the new 15,000-square-foot Spa at The LINQ and fitness center, The Silver Sky Chapel for intimate weddings and 63,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, please visit TheLINQ.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find The LINQ on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Media Contacts:
Thomas Judd / Erica Benken
Kirvin Doak Communications, 702.737.3100
tjudd@kirvindoak.com / ebenken@kirvindoak.com
Magic Mike Live: The New Ladies' Night - Travel Weekly
Magic Mike Live: The New Ladies’ Night
They come in droves. A squadron of women wearing neon wigs cut into blunt, perky bobs. A gaggle of ladies in sashes and pink headbands that read “hen party.” A parade of cocktail dresses and high heels with the occasional sash or tiara sprinkled in. It’s Sunday night in Las Vegas, but at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino it is definitely ladies’ night.
In fact, since “Magic Mike Live” opened inside the off-Strip casino in April, it’s been ladies’ night every night, except Mondays and Tuesdays when the male revue is dark. Created by actor Channing Tatum and co-directed by choreographer Alison Faulk,
“Magic Mike Live” loosely follows the storylines of the original film (which itself was loosely based on Tatum’s experiences as a stripper). This time, Mike’s a server, taken under the wing of the show’s host and cast to be transformed into the slick, chiseled, male dancer ideal. As you might imagine, much body rolling and screaming ensues.
Natalie Morales and Jenna Bush Hager visit Channing Tatum’s ‘Magic Mike Live’ - Today Show
Natalie Morales and Jenna Bush Hager visit Channing Tatum’s ‘Magic Mike Live’
Everything You Need to Know About the Hot Cast of Magic Mike Live - Cosmopolitan
From the May 9, 2017 article posted on cosmopolitan.com
After the credits rolled on 2015’s Magic Mike XXL, fans started asking, “When will there be a Magic Mike 3?” Little did they know the next iteration of the franchise would be Magic Mike Live, an extravaganza of very hot guys showing off their best moves in very little clothing at Vegas’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. As the show’s director, Channing Tatum reconnected with the films’ dream team of choreographers — Alison Faulk, Teresa Espinosa, and Luke Broadlick — and they created a show that, in his words, “actually worships women and makes them go, ‘This is our night.’” Adds codirector Allison: “We’re trying to give women as much as we can through this show—romantic, sexy, and funny moments.”
It took hard work (“Imagine Allison and me doing yoga moves on top of each other trying to figure out choreography,” says Channing. “Like ‘Can you put your butt more on my ear?’”). And creative thinking (“We asked ourselves, What do women want?” recalls Allison. “It’s a complicated answer!”) And mind-blowing talent (“I can dance a little,” allows Channing, “but these guys are the best dancers in the world”). In the end, they pulled off an experience that takes crowd-pleaser to a new level.
Don’t count out a future guest-appearance from the original Magic Mike. “If I’m ever in shape on these guys’ level again, the first thing I’m gonna do is run to Vegas,” says Channing. “I’m dying to get back out there and go a little crazy.”
A 'Magic Mike Live' Bachelorette Bash! - Ellen Degeneres
113 thoughts I had watching Magic Mike Live - Glamour Magazine UK
113 thoughts I had watching Magic Mike Live
Like many people, best-selling author Lindsey Kelk thought strip shows were tacky. Then she went to see Magic Mike Live in LAs Vegas…
By Lindsey Kelk
As far as I was aware, live male strip shows were tacky entertainment: ropey looking, long haired men thrusting in a line, oiled up to the gills while wearing bow ties, and little else. Was it possible that our beloved Channing Tatum had somehow taken a misstep with his latest venture?
Ten minutes into the show and I realised I could not have been more wrong. All hail Channing, the man can do no wrong. Here are 113 thoughts that crossed my mind during Magic Mike Live…
Highlights below.
Click here for the full story.
79: “This is my favourite thing I’ve ever done and I saw Britney last summer.”
97: “The dancers are all coming down stairs in amazing three piece suits and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. We’re at a strip show and the sexiest thing in the world is fully dressed men. This is genius
109: “This is my favourite ever Vegas show.”
111: ” In an entire ninety minute show about strippers, we only saw two bums and yet I completely understand why they’re selling vibrators outside. That was the coolest, funniest, sexiest show I’ve ever seen.”
112: “Amazing dancing, hot guys, cool girls, a feminist story, Saint Laurent ankle boots, Channing Tatum and a unicorn. This show has everything you could ever want.”
MAGICIAN MAT FRANCO TO BE HONORED WITH NAMESAKE THEATER AT THE LINQ HOTEL & CASINO IN CELEBRATION OF CAREER SUCCESS - Press Release
MAGICIAN MAT FRANCO TO BE HONORED WITH NAMESAKE THEATER AT THE LINQ HOTEL & CASINO IN CELEBRATION OF CAREER SUCCESS
Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly Extends Residency Run at The Mat Franco Theater
with Increased Performance Schedule, New Dates On Sale Monday, May 1, at 10 a.m.
Tweet It: . @TheLINQ Theater, home of @MagicReinvented, to be renamed ‘The Mat Franco Theater’ in celebration of @MatFrancoMagic’s continued success!
LAS VEGAS (April 28, 2017) – After logging nearly 600 performances of his first-ever Las Vegas residency, MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY at The LINQ Hotel & Casino, the dazzling LINQ Theater is being renamed in honor of celebrated magician Mat Franco. Going into effect for performances starting July 10, which go on sale through the end of the year on Monday, May 1, at 10 a.m., fans can continue to experience the young magician’s mystifying talent and breezy humor in the newly renamed space. For tickets and more information, visit MatFranco.com.
“The show’s success is really a testament to my fans and supporters that have catapulted my little hobby into a phenomenon,” said Franco. “A huge thank you also goes out to my partners at BASE Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment and Red Light Management. Their efforts have been integral parts in making this dream a reality!”
Throughout a nearly decade-long career as a professional magician, Franco continues to pioneer new frontiers in the magic and entertainment worlds with one clear objective in mind: bringing happiness to his audiences. Since long before taking the stage in his first-ever resident production, the 28-year-old magician has worked tirelessly to cultivate his talents and personal brand in hopes of, one day, achieving every entertainer’s dream of having a theater named in recognition of their career.
“Mat Franco is a one-of-a-kind performer and his show, MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY, has been a wonderful addition to The LINQ Hotel & Casino,” said Eileen Moore, regional president of The LINQ Hotel & Casino. “We are thrilled to introduce The Mat Franco Theater in honor of his continuing success in Las Vegas.”
Named “Best Magic Show” by Las Vegas Review-Journal and “Best Strip Show” by Las Vegas Weekly, MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY continues to receive rave reviews from fans and critics alike since opening in August 2015.
“BASE Entertainment is thrilled to celebrate this milestone with Mat and our partners at Caesars Entertainment and Red Light Management,” shared Brian Becker, BASE Entertainment CEO. “This attests to Mat’s incredible talent, work ethic and vision, and we are incredibly excited to be a part of Mat’s bright future in Las Vegas.”
MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY continues to amaze and inspire audiences at The LINQ Hotel & Casino Thursday through Tuesday at 7 p.m., with a 4 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday. Ticket prices start at $59 and are available by phone at 800.745.3000, in person at The Mat Franco Theater box office, or online at MatFranco.com and Ticketmaster.com. A VIP experience is available with a $50 upgrade on any section + all applicable fees, per person. The VIP experience includes a personal meet & greet and photo with Mat Franco directly following the performance, a VIP laminate, a signed keepsake souvenir and a complimentary beverage. For tickets and more information, visit MatFranco.com, and connect with the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @MagicReinvented. For groups of 10 or more, please call (866) 633-0195 or email Sales@BASEentertainment.com.
For hi-res images of MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY, please click here:
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Courtesy: MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY
For broadcast quality b-roll of MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY, please click here:
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Courtesy: MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Thomas Judd / Erica Benken
Kirvin Doak Communications, 702.737.3100
tjudd@kirvindoak.com / ebenken@kirvindoak.com
About MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY:
Mat Franco takes the stage in MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY at The LINQ Hotel & Casino with a fun and feel-good twist on magic that defies all expectations. Fresh from his triumphant win on America’s Got Talent and his follow up primetime special, Mat Franco’s Got Magic on NBC in 2015, Mat presents an unparalleled production and innovative approach to magic-making that’s driven by his passion and imagination. With his signature brand of breezy humor, Mat mixes his amazingly inventive and stunning magic with crowd-guided improv, creating a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that’s unique and unforgettable to each audience. For tickets and more information, visit MatFranco.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @MagicReinvented.
About The LINQ Hotel & Casino
As the social hub at the center of the Las Vegas Strip, The LINQ Hotel & Casino offers a total of 2,253 newly renovated rooms including 244 suites with two unique penthouses and 25 cabana rooms with direct access to the pool. Positioned between Flamingo Las Vegas and Harrah’s Las Vegas, guests experience one distinctive destination with The LINQ Promenade and High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel. Designed with the modern traveler in mind, the resort launched the first fully integrated self check-in program on the Las Vegas Strip in 2015. Enjoy celebrated chef restaurant Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar, voted “Best Gastropub of 2015” by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, award-winning Hash House a Go Go and direct access to O’Sheas Casino, Off The Strip and Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar. Entertainment and nightlife experiences include 3535, a unique take on the lobby bar, TAG Sports Bar, a state-of-the-art gaming lounge, as well as popular entertainers such as Frank Marino’s “Divas Las Vegas” and magician Mat Franco, “America’s Got Talent” Season Nine winner. The LINQ Hotel & Casino offers a reimagined pool deck featuring two pools, the new 15,000-square-foot Spa at The LINQ and fitness center, The Silver Sky Chapel for intimate weddings and 63,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, please visit TheLINQ.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find The LINQ on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram.
'Magic Mike Live' is the Modern Strip Show We Deserve - USA Today
‘Magic Mike Live’ is the modern strip show we deserve
LAS VEGAS – Here’s something I never expected to say: I got a lap dance from a male stripper, and it wasn’t awkward. For that, I thank Channing Tatum.
The shockingly smooth performance was part of a preview for the Magic Mike star’s new male revue show, Magic Mike Live, opening Friday at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.
Tatum and co-director Alison Faulk, the choreographer from the film franchise, deliver on the stripping, but not in the outdated, trite way you know.
Instead, the new show doesn’t involve Village People outfits, jackhammer gyration, complete nudity and dollar bills. On the contrary, it features dancing, singing, piano playing, drumming, aerial acrobatics and even a pas de deux in the rain. Women are encouraged to throw pink “you’re welcome” slips in lieu of money at the performers seen in the audience, on the stage, atop the bar and midair.
The 90-minute performance manages to be a strip show with substance. Like a romance novel come to life, it’s a piece of erotic entertainment made for a woman’s gaze.
CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR LAS VEGAS' SEXIEST NEW SMASH, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS - Press Release
More Than 25,000 Advance Tickets Sold for Performances
Beginning March 30 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
LAS VEGAS (FEB. 24, 2017) – The search is over! Following a nationwide man-hunt, casting for the highly-anticipated production, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS is now finalized. Inspired by the ever-popular Magic Mike film franchise and conceived by the film’s star Channing Tatum, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS will feature 13 of the hottest and most talented males from around the country. Preview performances for the sizzling production will begin on Thursday, March 30 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino inside of the mythic Club Domina. The show will celebrate its official opening night on Friday, April 21.
Following the buzzed-about ticket on-sale announcement made by Tatum on the Season 14 premiere of Ellen in September, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS has sold more than 25,000 advance tickets, amounting to more than $2.5 Million in ticket sales, and continues to sell fast! Tickets for all performances are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
“We are overwhelmed with the incredible response Magic Mike Live has received since tickets went on sale and we can’t wait to reveal this groundbreaking new production to Magic Mike fans around the world,” said Vincent Marini, Creative Director and Executive Producer, BASE Entertainment. “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the tens of thousands of guests who have already made Magic Mike Live one of the hottest tickets in town and encourage everyone else to secure their tickets now while good seats are still available.”
Built to give guests an immersive, first-class entertainment experience, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS will feature sexy and daring themed dance routines punctuated by one-of-a-kind acts from a wildly diverse cast of performers. Performed inside of the intimate, 450-seat mythic Club Domina – a state-of-the-art cabaret nightclub fully redesigned to capture the magnetism of the Magic Mike franchise – guests will be enveloped in this 80-minute, 360-degree dance and acrobatic striptease spectacular.
“Magic Mike Live is breaking new ground for Vegas entertainment and is in line with the continuing evolution of our property, and the cutting-edge amenities we’re committed to offering our guests in the months and years to come,” said Jody Lake, Chief Operating Officer, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “We’re very excited to be working closely with Channing and his team to realize his vision for the show.”
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS is co-directed by Channing Tatum and film franchise choreographers Alison Faulk and Teresa Espinosa, and is produced by Free Association, in conjunction with United Talent Agency, Aloris and June Entertainment, Warner Bros., BASE Entertainment and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS will perform Wednesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm and 10:00pm. Ticket prices start at $49 and are available by phone at 800.745.3000, or online at Ticketmaster.com or MagicMikeLiveLasVegas.com. A $45 VIP Meet & Greet add-on is available with any ticket purchase and includes a meet and greet with the cast and a souvenir photo. For groups of 10 or more, please call (866) 633-0195 or email Sales@BASEentertainment.com.
For more information, please visit MagicMikeLiveLasVegas.com. Connect with MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
MANWÉ SAULS-ADDISON – This native New Yorker has been performing his whole life, working with some of the best. From Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyonce and Liza Minnelli – to name a few – as well as being a regular on Saturday Night Live since 2004 and more recently a principle dancer for the hit show Lip Sync Battle.
LUKE BROADLICK – Luke Broadlick is a multi-talented entertainer. He moved to Los Angeles to become an actor and became that and so much more. At the age of 14, Luke booked a national commercial following his first audition, leading him to guest star roles and TV spots. At 16, Luke was a six-time (ISKA) and 13-time (NASKA) World Champion Martial Artist. He also booked Britney Spears’ Circus Tour at the same age. Since then, Luke has toured and worked with artists such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, John Legend, Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, The Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and many more, performing on countless shows from the Academy Awards and AMA’s to the Super Bowl. Luke has also worked with big brands like Nike, McDonald’s, Disney, Nickelodeon and Samsung, to name a few. Luke has choreographed for Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Tour, JBalvin’s Energia Tour, both Magic Mike films and now, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS. Now 25, Luke is a husband and father who enjoys every moment given, living a bicoastal life between Los Angeles and Atlanta.
RYAN CARLSON – Ryan was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He is excited to open MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS, directed by Channing Tatum. Ryan began his dance training at age 12 at Center Stage Dance Company, and he is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. He is a company member of Rasta Thomas’ “Bad Boys of Dance,” and he was in the original cast of the first National Tour of FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL. Ryan is excited that you are here to learn more about his journey.
JEREMY DENZEL – Jeremy Denzel is a professional dancer/actor from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He began dancing upon being discovered by Robbye Thomas at his performing arts middle school (McKinley Middle). A natural born athlete, Jeremy’s passion shifted slowly but surely from sports to the stage. Upon entering high school he trained under the legend Debbie Allen whom he continued to perform under for five years before beginning his professional career dancing and also acting in multiple major film projects, including: Pitch Perfect 2, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Bolden, Atlanta and Step Sisters.
KYO DOMINICK – Kyo Dominick was born in Brooklyn, New York. He’s a 24 year-old charismatic, debonair gentleman that loves to perform every chance he gets. His New York roots make him who he is and you can see it in every move he makes. When Kyo is not working he enjoys cooking and giving back to his community with his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
ANTON ENGEL – Originally from Switzerland, Anton is a professional dancer with a Swedish nationality and is fluent in French, German, Swedish and English. Anton started his dance career as a break-dancer at the age of 13. Today, Anton is a professional dancer working in London where his career as a dancer started. Anton has performed for various artists and TV shows, including artists like Fifth Harmony and comedians like Alan Carr, Michael McIntyre and for big audiences like the Royal Family, as well as on world-known channels like BBC for the BBC Music Awards, on ITv and Channel 4. From hip-hop to ballet, dancing is his passion and will always be.
BRANDON FOSTER – Brandon is a professional dancer from Davenport, Iowa currently residing in the greater Los Angeles area. Before moving to L.A. in 2014, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University and began working in Product Development for John Deere. After three years, Brandon’s drive and passion for stardom soon led him to quit his boring desk job and move out West for a more fun and exciting life.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Brandon has quickly made a name for himself within the entertainment industry, working in television, film, print and even live stage performances. He has appeared on television’s most popular networks including NBC, ABC, the Disney Channel, FOX, VH1, E!, SPIKE and Bravo. Additionally, Brandon has had the honor of performing with artists like Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Natalie La Rose and many others. In his spare time, Brandon enjoys going to the gym, cheering on his Chicago sports teams and playing golf with his buddy Jesse.
SEBASTIAN GONZALEZ – Sebastian started professional training at the School for the Performing Arts in Puerto Rico at the age of 15. In 2011, Sebastian relocated to Chicago and subsequently to Los Angeles. He has toured with Taiwanese pop star Jolin Tsai, danced for Jennifer Hudson, Todrick Hall, and performed for companies like Reebok and Oakley. Sebastian is excited to merge his passion for dance and fitness with his innate Latin fire on the MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS stage.
LYNDSAY HAILEY – Lyndsay has been writing, performing and directing comedy for over a decade. An alumna of the Second City National Touring Company, she has performed improv and sketch comedy all over the world. She is also the creator and star of several critically acclaimed one-woman shows, including the Chicago Tribune Critic’s Choice Award winning 30% Chance of Hailey. Her film credits include Close Quarters and Uncle Kent 2, which won the 2015 Viewer’s Choice Award at SXSW. She loves her mommy and daddy. Follow her @lyndsayhailey or lyndsayhailey.com.
JESSE MORALES – Jesse, a native Texan, enjoyed the bright lights of the stage at an early age. After high school, he saved his money, moved to Los Angeles to learn from the best and pursued his dream to be a performer. His journey has led him here to the MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS stage. Jesse loves acting, photography and sports, especially playing golf with his buddy Brandon, who is also in MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS.
RYAN PIRES – Ryan was born and raised in Salinas, California before moving to Bend, Oregon and his current home in Los Angeles – now he’s on his way to Las Vegas! Ryan loves action/ outdoor sports and is without a doubt an adrenaline junkie. He has a horribly offensive sense of humor and is always looking for a good laugh. Ryan comes from a family of mechanics and loves his motorcycle and old cars. His love of death metal got him into playing drums but he also has an obsession with Blues and is a bit of a hip-hop nerd.
JD RAINEY – JD is originally from Seattle, Washington where he played sports since childhood including gymnastics, football, wrestling, martial arts, and track & field. He has been dancing for 21 years, gaining experience in the styles of breaking, popping, locking, and hip-hop, and is still a student of dance – constantly learning new styles and concepts. JD also dances with his crew, The “Massive Monkees,” and has won numerous b-boy competitions nationally and internationally, ncluding: 2004 World b-boy Championships, 2012 R16 World b-boy Championships and 2013 Hip Hop International World Championship.
CHELSEA PHILLIPS REID – Chelsea Phillips Reid hails from Oak Ridge, Tennessee where she began performing as a child with Dolly Parton at Dollywood. After performing at multiple theme parks, Chelsea toured internationally as “Jenny the Music Teacher” with Sesame Street Live! She was also a featured vocalist with Celebrity, Princess and Carnival Cruise Lines. Favorite roles include: “Pam” in 50 SHADES! THE PARODY, “Fay Apple” in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, and “Rosemary” in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS....Chelsea was a featured singer in VEGAS! THE SHOW at Planet Hollywood. She is thrilled to join the cast of MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS. Follow her on Instagram @chelseaphillipsreid.
DAVID TERRY – Originally from Indiana, David has been seen performing on stage and national television with numerous artists including Madonna, Bastille, Neil Patrick Harris, the cast of Saturday Night Live, and Shaun T. Performing has taken David around the world to train with teachers like Popin Pete, Mr. Wiggles, and choreographer/artist development expert Robin Dunn. David recently finished performing in the iLuminate ‘Artists of Light’ Saudi Arabian Tour, as well as the lead male track in the Off-Broadway hit, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. He couldn’t be more excited to be joining the cast of MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS. Follow him at www.itsdavidterry.com or @itsdavidterry.
JACKSON WILLIAMS – Jackson was born in 1984 and grew up in the little town of Peterborough, England. Jackson left home at the age of 16 for London to pursue his dream of professional dancing and acting. To date, he has had an amazing career, working with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Ellie Goulding, Whitney Houston, Little Mix, Robbie Williams, and Take That among others. Jackson has performed on multiple top-rated UK TV shows over the past 10 years and has been lucky enough to perform at the Olympics and Rugby World Cup. Jackson enjoys playing ‘proper’ football, swimming and the occasional sunset beach walk. He can be a bit of a trouble maker, is extremely cheeky, and never says no to a night out. His prized possession and equal number one love is his Harley (equal to Mum of course).
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Media Contacts:
Erica Benken / Kate Whiteley
ebenken@kirvindoak.com / kwhiteley@kirvindoak.com
Kirvin Doak Communications
(702) 737-3100
3 BASE ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS NAMED IN ALL-TIME VEGAS TOP 20 LIST - Las Vegas Weekly
THE 20 GREATEST SHOWS IN LAS VEGAS HISTORY
As much as by its ever-changing casino skyline and massive population boom, the evolution of Las Vegas can be traced back through its showrooms. From dancers in headdress to aerialists in face paint, dazzling magicians to Broadway-voiced crooners, and white tigers to sock puppets, this town has opened its stages to a wild array of performances over the past six decades, loosely grouped under the umbrella “production show.”
12. Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular
By the time the final curtain fell on Harold “Hal” Prince’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic magnum opus in 2012, more than 2,600 shows had been performed inside the custom-built theater at the Venetian. Theatergoers were immersed into Phantom’s dark, twisted and romantic obsession with ingénue Christine. The production’s sounds, sights, songs and sets—including a trip deep into the catacombs and a stunning crash from an even more stunning chandelier—impressed millions of visitors and infused a unique glitz that was wholly Las Vegas.
8. Jersey Boys
Las Vegas has seen its share of Broadway productions, but few clicked like this musical based on the lives of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. From the razor-sharp script courtesy of Marshall Brickman to the performances of Travis Cloer as Valli and Erich Bergen as Bob Gaudio, this show delivered laughs, tears and nostalgia like few Vegas productions had before. Oh, and having some of the greatest pop songs in history didn’t hurt. Jersey Boys began its run at the Palazzo and ended it eight years later on September 18 at Paris, making it the longest-running Broadway-to-Vegas show to date.
1. Absinthe
When Absinthe came to Las Vegas in 2011, the New York cabaret/circus hybrid faced an uphill climb. It was supposed to play at the Fontainebleau; when that mute behemoth didn’t open, Caesars Palace allowed Absinthe to pitch its tent in its front yard, albeit temporarily. Thousands of performances later, they’re still profaning the glory of Rome, and for one simple reason: A performance of Absinthe is almost criminally fun.
Absinthe is the domain of the Gazillionaire, the gold-toothed, foul-mouthed, lecherous dirtbag who runs the show, and Penny Pibbets (or her cousin, Joy Jenkins), his deliriously horny assistant. Together, they introduce the show’s variety acts: the beautiful burlesque chanteuse Melody Sweets; the goofball tightrope act Esteemed Gentlemen of the High Wire; twin tap-dance duo Sean and John Scott, and more. Oh, and Penny uses a sock puppet in a way that scandalizes you, her and cotton itself.
The true genius of Absinthe is that this scrappy production show never tips its hand. It mocks Cirque du Soleil, yet its aerial acts are every bit the equal of what you see in a Cirque show. Gaz’s interactions with the crowd, while unrelentingly crude and insulting (and funny as hell), aren’t far removed from the Rat Pack-era banter that made this town great. And yet, for the entirety of Absinthe’s 90 wildly entertaining minutes, you feel like you’ve discovered something new, or stumbled onto a secret meeting of acrobats, dancers and reprobates. And the first thing you want to do after is tell everyone you know.
MAGICIAN MAT FRANCO MAKES LARGE DONATION OF NEEDED SUPPLIES TO THE ANIMAL FOUNDATION IN CELEBRATION OF FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY - Press Release
Today (Sept. 9, 2016), magician Mat Franco presented The Animal Foundation with a donation of more than $5,000 in much-needed animal care supplies and $1,680 in monetary gifts to benefit the more than 30,000 animals that are cared for annually by the organization. The master of sleight-of-hand met with representatives from the state’s largest open-admission animal shelter for a tour of the eight-acre property and to make the sizable donation, which was the product of a month-long, community-driven supply drive held in partnership with Sunny 106.5 FM and Petco in celebration of a tremendous year of continued success and sold-out audiences at MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY at The LINQ Hotel & Casino.
“Unlike humans, animals don’t have a voice to speak for themselves,” shared Franco. “So I was excited to find a way to help out our furry friends while thanking the community who’s been so supportive of our show in the process.”
Throughout the month of August, the young magician offered fans and community members the opportunity to receive a complimentary ticket voucher to experience MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY in return for the donation of a minimum of $10 worth of items from The Animal Foundation’s wish list, which was comprised of blankets, collars, harnesses, leashes, dog and cat treats and toys, and more.
“We are grateful for Mat’s generosity in organizing this donation drive on our behalf, and the community for the overwhelming number of donations,” said Elysia Sheldon, events manager at The Animal Foundation. “These donations will not only help the animals at The Animal Foundation, but also pets in under-served areas of the community.”
The Animal Foundation houses and provides care for thousands of lost, unwanted, neglected and abandoned animals of varying species each year, and is in constant need of supplies to continue providing top-quality care for its animals. To learn more about the needs of The Animal Foundation, visit AnimalFoundation.com.
Named “Best Strip Show” by Las Vegas Weekly, MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY opened in August 2015 to rave reviews by critics and audiences alike. Vegas.com hails the production as “90 minutes of mind-bending magic,” and Las Vegas Sun has dubbed Franco as “a master magician for the millennial generation.” For tickets and more information, visit MatFranco.com and connect with the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @MagicReinvented.
For a link to select images from the donation presentation, please click here:
https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/Et9Fx
Courtesy: Samuel Boeres
For broadcast quality b-roll of MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY, please click here:
https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/mLn5Y
Courtesy: MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY
About MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY
Mat Franco takes the stage in MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY at The LINQ Hotel & Casino with a fun and feel-good twist on magic that defies all expectations. Fresh from his triumphant win on America’s Got Talent and his follow up primetime special, Mat Franco’s Got Magic on NBC in 2015, Mat presents an unparalleled production and innovative approach to magic-making that’s driven by his passion and imagination. With his signature brand of breezy humor, Mat mixes his amazingly inventive and stunning magic with crowd-guided improv, creating a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that’s unique and unforgettable to each audience. For more information, visit MatFranco.com and connect with the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @MagicReinvented.
About The LINQ Hotel & Casino
As the social hub at the center of the Las Vegas Strip, The LINQ Hotel & Casino – voted “Best New Hotel” by Vegas Chatter – offers a total of 2,253 newly renovated rooms including 244 suites with two unique penthouses and 25 cabana rooms with direct access to the pool. Positioned between Flamingo Las Vegas and Harrah’s Las Vegas, guests experience one distinctive destination with The LINQ Promenade and High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel. Designed with the modern traveler in mind, the resort launched the first fully integrated self check-in program on the Las Vegas Strip in 2015. Enjoy celebrated chef restaurant Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar, voted “Best Gastropub of 2015” by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, award-winning Hash House a Go Go and direct access to O’Sheas Casino, Off The Strip and Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar. Entertainment and nightlife experiences include 3535, a unique take on the lobby bar, TAG Sports Bar, a state-of-the-art gaming lounge, as well as popular entertainers such as Frank Marino’s “Divas Las Vegas” and magician Mat Franco, “America’s Got Talent” Season Nine winner. The LINQ Hotel & Casino offers a reimagined pool deck featuring two pools, the new 15,000-square-foot Spa at The LINQ and fitness center, The Silver Sky Chapel for intimate weddings and 63,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, please visit TheLINQ.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find The LINQ on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram.
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Media Contacts:
Erica Benken / Thomas Judd
ebenken@kirvindoak.com / tjudd@kirvindoak.com
Kirvin Doak Communications, 702-737-3100
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS DEBUTING AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO ON MARCH 30, 2017 - Press Release
Oprah Winfrey joined the festivities as well with a cameo in Ellen’s “Magic Michelle,” where she along with Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Chrissy Teigen and Olivia Munn created their own female revue. The elated audience was then surprised with 2 tickets each to MAGIC MIKE LIVE and a 2 night/ 3 day stay at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Starting today, fans everywhere can now purchase their own tickets to experience MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS through ticketmaster.com or magicmikelivelasvegas.com, or by phone at 800.745.3000.
Beginning with preview performances on March 30, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS will recreate the mythic Club Domina as a cabaret nightclub space inside Hard Rock that is being fully redesigned to capture the magnetism of the Magic Mike franchise. The state-of-the-art venue is designed with the capabilities to house a show that features thirteen of the hottest and most talented men in the country performing in front of, behind, above and all around the audience.
Conceived by Tatum, the show will be co-directed by Tatum and film franchise choreographer Alison Faulk. Produced by Free Association, in association with United Talent Agency, Aloris Entertainment, Warner Bros., BASE Entertainment and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS is built to give women an immersive, first-class entertainment experience. With sexy and daring themed dance routines punctuated by one-of-a-kind acts from a wildly diverse cast of performers, MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS is a 360-degree dance and acrobatic strip tease spectacular.
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS is being created for guests 18 and older. Preview performances at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas begin March 30, 2017. MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS will be performed Wednesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm and 10:00pm. Ticket prices start at $49 and are available by phone at 800.745.3000, or online at Ticketmaster.com or MagicMikeLiveLasVegas.com. A $40 VIP Meet & Greet add-on is available with any ticket purchase and includes a meet & greet with the cast and a souvenir photo. For Group orders of 10 or more, call 1-866-633-0195 or email Sales@BASEentertainment.com.
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Media Contacts
Kate Whiteley, Kirvin Doak Communications
About Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is Las Vegas’ off-strip playground, just minutes from McCarran International Airport. Built in 1995, the property completed a $700 million expansion in 2010. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an energetic entertainment and gaming experience with services and amenities associated with a boutique luxury resort hotel. The property is known for its innovative nightlife and music scene where acts such as The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi and Paul McCartney have all performed. Features of the property include 1,504 rooms and suites; a 60,000 square foot casino; 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting and convention space; Reliquary Water Sanctuary, Spa & Salon; a 4.8 acre tropical pool paradise; world-class dining; renowned live music/entertainment venues; more than $4 million in rare music memorabilia and a variety of on-trend retail outlets.
About BASE Entertainment
BASE Entertainment develops, produces, and manages intellectual properties and venues for live entertainment in North America and internationally from offices in New York, Houston, Las Vegas, and Singapore. In addition to Magic Mike Live Las Vegas at the Hard Rock, BASE’s current productions in Las Vegas include Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly at the Linq, Absinthe at Caesars Palace, Rock of Ages at The Rio, Puppet Up at the Venetian, Jersey Boys at Paris, and Million Dollar Quartet at Harrah’s. In addition, BASE operates the Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and the theaters at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. BASE also produces museum quality touring and residency exhibitions including Sea Monsters Revealed and Battle for Texas: The Experience. BASE Entertainment’s founders and partners include industry veterans Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger, and Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Clarity Partners. For more information please visit BASEentertainment.com.
MAT FRANCO - MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT THE LINQ HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS - Press Release
Since the show’s launch in August 2015, MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY has celebrated more than 300 performances and continues to grow in popularity, astounding nearly, if not completely, sold-out crowds nightly inside of the LINQ Theater. For tickets and more information, visit MatFranco.com.
For a link to select images from the presentation, please click here:
https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/1WZty
Courtesy: MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY
For broadcast quality b-roll of MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY, please click here:
https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/mLn5Y
Courtesy: MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY
About MAT FRANCO – MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY:
Mat Franco takes the stage in MAGIC REINVENTED NIGHTLY at The LINQ Hotel & Casino with a fun and feel-good twist on magic that defies all expectations. Fresh from his triumphant win on America’s Got Talent and his follow up primetime special, Mat Franco’s Got Magic on NBC in 2015, Mat presents an unparalleled production and innovative approach to magic-making that’s driven by his passion and imagination. With his signature brand of breezy humor, Mat mixes his amazingly inventive and stunning magic with crowd-guided improv, creating a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that’s unique and unforgettable to each audience. For more information, visit MatFranco.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @MagicReinvented.
About The LINQ Hotel & Casino:
As the social hub at the center of the Las Vegas Strip, The LINQ Hotel & Casino – voted “Best New Hotel” by Vegas Chatter – offers a total of 2,253 newly-renovated rooms including 244 suites with two unique penthouses and 25 cabana suites. Positioned between Flamingo Las Vegas and Harrah’s Las Vegas, guests experience one distinctive destination with The LINQ Promenade and High Roller observation wheel. Enjoy celebrated chef restaurant Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar, Hash House a Go Go and direct access to O’Shea’s Casino, Off The Strip and Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar. Entertainment and nightlife experiences include 3535, a unique take on the lobby bar, TAG Sports Bar, a state-of-the-art gaming lounge, as well as popular entertainers Jeff Civillico and Frank Marino’s “Divas Las Vegas” in The LINQ Theater. Opening late spring 2015, The LINQ Hotel & Casino will offer a re-imagined pool deck featuring two pools, a new 15,000-square foot spa and fitness center, the Vortex Roof Deck, additional retail, as well as meeting space. For more information visit www.TheLINQ.com , like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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Media Contacts:
Erica Benken, ebenken@kirvindoak.com
Thomas Judd, tjudd@kirvindoak.com
Kirvin Doak Communications, 702-737-3100
ABSINTHE AT CAESARS PALACE SHOCKS, TEASES AND SURPRISES LAS VEGAS AUDIENCES - Press Release
ABSINTHE has been hailed “sexy, funny, unabashedly raunchy” by the Chicago Sun-Times and voted “Best Show” by Las Vegas Weekly, Vegas SEVEN and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Hosted by ABSINTHE’s outlandish producer, The Gazillionaire, and his raucous assistant, ABSINTHE transports the audience into a circus-like atmosphere featuring world-class artists exhibiting incredible feats of strength, balance, danger and unfathomable flexibility only a few feet away from the audience.
Embraced by the Las Vegas community and fans worldwide, ABSINTHE continues to delight sold-out audiences with its jaw-dropping performances and hilarity. The cast of ABSINTHE has welcomed a lineup of celebrity guests such as Neil Patrick Harris, Channing Tatum, Britney Spears, Rebel Wilson, James Franco, Elijah Wood, Olivia Newton-John, P!nk, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Vince Young, Kaley Cuoco, Ice-T and Coco, David Copperfield, Cedric The Entertainer and others.
ABSINTHE performs Wednesday-Sunday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. with no shows on Monday or Tuesday. The schedule is subject to change without notice. Tickets can be purchased online at www.AbsintheVegas.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets can be purchased in person at the ABSINTHE, Planet Hollywood, Bally’s, Paris and Rio box offices. For groups of 10 or more, please call (866) 633-0195 or (702) 853-5950.
For additional information on ABSINTHE, visit AbsintheVegas.com.
Follow ABSINTHE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @AbsintheVegas.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kirvin Doak Communications (702) 737-3100
Erica Benken / Thomas Judd