Tag Archives: Lion King

April 2, 2010 · 12:17 PM

Bernard Hopkins Expected to Trounce Roy Jones Jr. in Las Vegas on Saturday

Bernard Hopkins, 45, is a minus-500 betting favorite at MGM Mirage’s sports books going into Saturday’s fight with Roy Jones Jr., 41, who is going in at plus-350 odds at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. 

It’s a glorious boxing rematch 17 years in the making.  For Jones, 54-6, losing five of his past 10 fights dating to 2004, it’s more about proving to people he’s not washed up in the fight game.  

Jones beat Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KOs) by unanimous decision in a 1993 middleweight bout. 

But for Hopkins, apparently, it’s just another day at work.  After the fight he plans to be sitting in the Mandalay Bay audience with his 10-year-old daughter to watch the “Lion King.” 

Today’s weigh-in is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Mandalay Bay and is open to the public. 

Tickets for the fight are priced from $100 to $750.

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July 25, 2009 · 10:31 AM

Michael Jackson’s Music to be Celebrated in Las Vegas ‘Birthday’ Performance

For one performance only, Las Vegas ’ top entertainers will come together for a special performance Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at 3 p.m. from The Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. 

6W Entertainment in partnership with VegasHappensHere.com will present this multi-artist production celebrating the many hits of The King of Pop, entertainers including cast members of Jersey Boys, Lion King, Peepshow and Phantom:  The Las Vegas Spectacular will perform the hits of the Jackson songbook, all in celebration of what would have been the entertainer’s 51st birthday. This unique show will also include video montages throughout from those who knew Michael or were inspired by his work. The multi-faceted acts will be backed by a 10-piece band comprised of musicians led by Las Vegas ’ own Joey Melotti. Additional performers and event details will be announced in coming weeks. 

This special event will commemorate and celebrate Jackson ’s life while raising funds to help kids across the U.S. and right here in Nevada keep music alive in the schools.  All proceeds from ticket sales of this event will benefit Music Education programming in Clark County Public Schools. 

“I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to the person who inspired me and a whole generation of performers. This event helps keep the music of Michael Jackson alive, while raising money to make sure music education stays alive in schools in our community,” said show host and co-producer Erich Bergen.  

Tickets for Las Vegas Celebrates Michael Jackson go on-sale Saturday, July 25, 2009, at noon. Ticket prices are $29, $54, $79, $104 & $129, plus applicable box office fees.  A VIP package is available for $504 and includes VIP seating, admission to the exclusive after party with the cast, gift bag and limited edition autographed poster. Please visit any Ticketmaster location, call 1-800-745-3000, visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com to purchase tickets. The Pearl Box Office is open from noon – 7 p.m. daily. Doors will open at 2 p.m. and show time is 3 p.m. 

For more information about this event, please visit www.vegaslovesmj.com.

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March 14, 2009 · 3:10 PM

The Lion King Cast Announced

Casting has been announced for the new Las Vegas production of the Tony-winning The Lion King, which will begin previews at the Mandalay Bay Theatre on May 5 with an official opening May 15. lionking

The cast features performers who have triumphed in productions of Lion King around the world, including stagings in New York, Taipei, South Africa, London, Los Angeles, Australia, Toronto, Shanghai, Paris and Holland.  

Thom Sesma (The Times They Are A-Changin’) will play the evil Scar with Alton F. White (Ragtime) as Mufasa and Los Angeles native Marvette Williams as Sarabi. South African native Buyi Zama will play Rafiki.  The cast will also feature Kissy Simmons (Nala), Clifton Oliver (Simba), Damian Baldet (Timon), Patrick Kerr (Zazu) and Adam Kozlowski (Pumbaa). The three hyenas will be played by Keith Bennett (Banzai), Jacquie Hodges (Shenzi) and Robbie Swift (Ed). Duane Ervin and Elijah Johnson will alternate in the role of Young Simba, and Ruby Crawford and Jade Nelson will alternate in the role of Young Nala. 

Since its Broadway opening on Nov. 13, 1997, The Lion King has been seen by 45 million people worldwide. Directed by Julie Taymor – who became the first woman to ever receive a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical – The Lion King has become an international hit with productions playing all around the globe. The Elton John-Tim Rice musical has won over 30 major awards. Those include six Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical; eight Drama Desk Awards; six Outer Critics Circle Awards; two Sir Laurence Oliviers; the Evening Standard Award for Best Theatrical Event; and three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. 

Tickets will go on sale to the public March 14 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center at (702) 632-7580 or (800) 745-3000 or by visiting www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

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January 5, 2009 · 1:08 PM

Las Vegas Says Good-Bye Simultaneously to Three Shows; More Musical Chairs

For those of us living in or visiting Las Vegas to enjoy the theatrical shows, our hearts sunk in a collective sigh of sadness as the 30 cast members from Mandalay Bay’s six-year-old “Mamma Mia” show on mammamiaSunday night took their final curtain calls to a standing and cheering ovation crowd that called it a night to their legacy of 2,200-plus shows and 2 million ticket buyers. 

stompoutloudAnd, if that’s not enough melancholy for one weekend, down the Strip at Planet Hollywood fans were stomping their feet and clapping their hands, appreciative that they were able to see the final act of the 22-month-run of “Stomp Out Loud.”

Then, for this weekend’s final coup de grace, over at the Sahara, the dance revue “Raw Talent Live” packed in the fans in to see their final performance.  By any standards, “Mamma Mia” and “Stomp Out Loud” were long-running and very well received shows, but especially so in Las Vegas, a city that continually evolves and change is the order of the day. 

But these final acts in Las Vegas may not necessarily over.  Word is that “Stomp Out Loud” may still have some life remaining, working on a potential move to the Sahara.  And “Raw Talent Live” may also be involved in the musical chair move, adopting individual cabaret acts from “Raw Talent Live” this spring at a new laser-light nightclub opening at the Palazzo.  

It appears for “Mamma Mia” the end is final.  But before the actors’ footprints were even removed from the stage floor, today the “Mamma Mia” space is starting to be transformed into hosting the Broadway hit “The Lion King,” which is planning for their preview performances on April 20.   

Also, “Peepshow,” billed as a “modern burlesque” and that plans to feature Spice Girl Mel B. and “Dancing With the Stars” champion Kelly Monaco, is making ready for its gala opening at Planet Hollywood on March 30.

Impressionist Danny Gans from Mirage fame, is getting into the musical chair act, moving into Wynn’s Encore on February 10 in the space that formerly played host to “Spamalot.”  And, in case you’re wondering, ventriloquist Terry Fator will take over Gans’ former Mirage haunts.

And last, but not, er…,well, maybe still last is Criss Angel’s “Believe,” which starting on January 7 will mysteriously going dark at the Luxor through January 22 for a much needed Cirque du Soleil “magical” revamping. 

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