About the Town 9-26-10

A September 16th unveiling of the newly renovated Suncoast Showroom found the venue filled with vibrant, inaugural music.  A selection of Las Vegas headliners sang a song or two to celebrate the enhanced, intimate venue.

Showroom Interior

Cosmetic renovations to the Showroom include warm silver, gold and copper booth upholstery, new tabletops, bright floral wall-to-wall wool carpeting, black and gold patterned wall coverings, a dance floor, decorative wrapped columns, new wall sconces, stage curtains, and drapery. The sidewall treatment is layered with red glass bead panels, and metallic finishes complement the stage proscenium.

Booth Color Scheme

Technical improvements include new acoustic treatments for enhanced sound quality, upgraded monitor wedges, new state-of-the-art stage and dance floor lighting, and a 12,000 lumen video projector and 17-foot diagonal screen.

Carpet Detail

There’s something here for everyone’s eyes and ears, and I haven’t even gotten to the performers yet.  The mini-show featured at the Showroom’s unveiling highlighted maxi-talent.

Las Vegas jazz singer Lisa Smith (Shades of Sinatra) already had command of the stage as media and invited guests entered the Showroom, filling the renovated space with her powerhouse vocals revving up standards like Route 66 and Straighten Up and Fly Right.

Lisa Smith

The Las Vegas Tenors, Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, and Teddy Davey (on crutches) sang Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, each taking a solo turn that filled the room with a classical Italian flavor that left your humble correspondent perched between admiration and awe.  The Tenors will headline in the Showroom on October 16 and 17.

The Las Vegas Tenors, Left to Right, Bobby Black, Bill Fayne, and Teddy Davey

An abrupt, but no less satisfying transition occurred when the Scintas took the stage.  For those who don’t know, Joe (guitar), Frank (piano) and Chrissi (vocals) are Scinta siblings; Drummer Pete O’Donnell is fondly known as the adopted Scinta, but proves he can pound like a paesan.   Frank belted out a robust version of My Kind of Town (Chicago Is) before a fedora-bedecked Chrissi joined her brothers to offer a smooth, sultry version of Blue Bayou.  The quartet will grace the Showroom from December 3 – 5 for A Scinta Christmas.

The Scintas Show Off The Stage

Las Vegas favorite Kelly Clinton, along with special guest Mollie Tenant of Jubilee!, recreated the Judy Garland/Barbra Streisand classic two-song blend of C’mon Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again, their voices blending like smooth, silky tributaries into one harmonious river.  Clinton can be seen in Nunsense, currently at the Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret, when she’s not at the The Bootlegger Bistro, (Monday Nights) hosting Open Mic Cabaret.  On Fridays and Saturdays she appears at the Members Only Stirling Club.

Kelly Clinton, left, and Mollie Tenant (Clinton's ankle injury, Tenant's solidarity)

Clinton introduced longtime friend, onetime Foreigner member and Renaissance man Domenick Allen, who proudly showed off his newly acquired Sammy Davis, Jr. song book, filled with original compositions and arrangements.  Transporting the book in a silver Deal or No Deal case, he removed a page to sing Tomorrow – and no, this one’s not from Broadway’s Annie. The contemplative ballad is pure Sammy, turned pure Domenick thanks to Allen’s vocal skill, evoking a pure, haunting quality that stays with the listener long after the last note fades.

Allen with Original Sammy Davis Jr. Songbook

Allen will headline in the showroom on October 2 and 3, backed by a nine-piece band and showcasing several genres of music.  The Glasgow native has recorded and performed with the legendary Buddy Rich Big Band and is a professional actor, singer and musician who toured the world for four years with Liberace.  He’s appeared on London’s West End and on Broadway, where he co-starred with Helen Reddy in the musical Blood Brothers. NBC’s Days of Our Lives fans will recognize him from his long run as Simon Prescott.

Singing Tomorrow

Along with long-time friends Clint Holmes, Susan Anton, and Martin Nievera, Allen continues to perform in a showcase of solo performances, duets and group numbers known as Vocal Soup.  The show has had multiple engagements at The Orleans and Suncoast Showrooms.

When it was time for the introduction of the special (and secret) guest who would be the first to headline in the newly renovated Showroom, she appeared in a floral top, black pants and mile long sass before Allen could get the words out.  And I mean sass, NOT sash.  Cloris Leachman, whose one-woman show officially opened the Showroom on September 18 and 19, commanded the stage with a playfully mischievous demeanor.

Cloris Takes the Stage

The Academy Award winner with nine Emmys to her credit asked for a glass of champagne and then exhorted the cocktail waitress to “get some pants on for Christ’s sake.”  She confessed to never having heard of the Suncoast before, referred to it as the Sun Grove, and joked that she was the guest of honor because “no one else was available at the time.”

The 84-year-old actress and comedienne, veteran of stage, film and television is no stranger to the joys of crack –wise crack, that is.  She’ll stray from a G-rating at the drop of a hat.  For example, audience members were served champagne for a toast to the new Showroom, which Leachman led, graciously whittling it down to three cheerful words. “F**k you, everybody!”    The crowd roared appreciatively as Leachman went on to describe her role in the new sitcom Raising Hope, where one of her first scenes involves a topless attempt to nurse a baby.

Yes, she CAN play - beautifully

There’s much more to this funny lady than just laughs.  Leachman sat down at the piano to expertly play several elegant pieces (one was entitled To a Wild Rose).  Not everyone knows she’s been a lifelong pianist; they just know they’ve loved this performer for decades, the one with the name that sounds like a mouthwash who possesses a talent so abundant and enduring it qualifies the lady as a national treasure.

The Suncoast Showroom has been renovated, toasted, and inaugurated with some of the brightest jewels in the Las Vegas entertainment crown.  Luckily for locals, that treasure is right in our backyard.

Suncoast Showroom Entertainment Calendar
-    October 2-3 – Domenick Allen
-    October 9-10 – World Stars of Magic
-    October 16-17 – Las Vegas Tenors
-    October 23-24 – Lionardo Piano Follies
-    October 30-31 – Hit Parade, The Show
-    November 6-7 – Roy Rivers
-    November 13-14 – The Association
-    November 19-21 – Society of Seven
-    November 26-28 – Frankie Avalon
-    December 3-5 – A Scinta Christmas
-    December 10-12 – Martin Nievera
-    December 17-19 – Clint Holmes Christmas

For further information:
Suncoast Hotel and Casino
9090 Alta Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89145
702.636.7111 or 877.677.7111
www.suncoastcasino.com