Hoping to join Evil Dead The Musical and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the progression of locally produced musicals to casino showrooms is Summer Camp! The Musical, which opens tonight at the Onyx Theatre, near what used to be the Sahara. (Say, we haven’t heard much from Sam Nazarian lately, have we?) Seen above are lead actors Joe Hynes and Tony Blosser in the show’s first number, which was previewed Wednesday at, of all unlikely places, Downtown‘s tony Smith Center for the Performing Arts, aka “St. Smith’s.” (Composer Angela Chan is at the ivories.) Author/lyricist/director Troy Heard‘s writing should hold no shocks for audiences reared on Family Guy and Adult Swim. Older casino patrons might be given pause, particularly when the “glory hole” manifests itself or our heroes compete to win the “Kotex 500” race.
However, if Sirc Michaels could do it,* perhaps Heard’s Table 8 Productions can follow. (Evil Dead has never played to less than 30% of capacity, a metric that far exceeds mega-flop Surf the Musical‘s best nights.) Heck, Best Little Whorehouse has managed to stay upright, despite dizzying ticket prices, and I’m told that the proceeds are being reinvested into improving its production values. Good on them. As for Plaza Las Vegas‘ attempt to host “the legitimate stage,” that didn’t work out so well, through little fault of Plaza management.
* — Michaels has also spun some off some of the Evil Dead cast into a V Theater original, Awesome 80s Prom: 8 News NOW (Disclaimer: I am currently rehearsing a supporting role in Table 8‘s September production of Hamlet, a gig so good it was worth trading in my seat at Las Vegas CityLife‘s drama desk.)
Do-It-Yourself Vdara Death Ray:
Yes, you can have one of your very own, as this Arizona couple discovered.
