The latest entertainment strategy at the Rio is pretty easy to digest. Productions with a side of cuisine rule the roost at The Venue, under the direction of Ivory Star Productions founder and room operator John Bentham.
The return of the beloved stage show “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” leads the new order. The show has replaced the similarly enduring “Marriage Can Be Murder,” which ended its run this summer after 27 years but is teasing to a reopening.
Long a favorite party destination, “Tony N’ Tina’s” is a musical adaptation of a buoyant, tipsy Italian wedding. The production has returned after an eight-year hiatus, most recently staged at Buca di Beppo at Bally’s (now the Horseshoe). The show enjoyed its most successful run in its earliest days at the Rio some 25 years ago.
Multi-talented Vegas entertainment pro Val Witherspoon (from the “Friends” and “Bridesmaids” unauthorized parodies) is the new resident director. Joe Galiza and Jackie Lakoudis hold down the lead roles.
Bentham is a fan of affordable prices, and of blending experiences.
“People are looking for a great entertainment experience, but also at a value,” the veteran producer says. “We are trying to create a space that creates unique experiences for fans of all types of genres. Our programming is different enough to attract guests to each show.”
Adding cuisine to the platter is a challenge. If it were easy, more shows would do it.
“Having worked in the dinner show genre for more than two decades, I know the challenges faced by producers to find a space where both the show and the food can be stars on their own,” Bentham says. “I think we have created that here with The Venue.”
Across the property, the Rio offers intrigue, ingenuity and proven hits in its revamped entertainment roster. A gander at what’s available, starting with The Venue’s two showrooms:
— “Punk Rock Brunch”: We caught this aggressive, flavorful experience at The Composers Room at the Commercial Center. We’ve got pancakes, bacon, sausage, frittatas and mimosas along with musical numbers from the likes of Blink-182, Green Day, The Offspring and Weezer. Opening this weekend, showtimes are 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The show, and the one that follows, is a partnership with the ever-inventive Ryan and Devon Alarid.
— “Haunted Brunch”: Also launching Saturday. Famed horror movies come to life, buffeted by bottomless mimosas and the bloodiest of marys. It launches Saturday with showtimes at 1:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A special 1:30 p.m. Labor Day show is also on the books.
— “Faaabulous — The Ultimate Drag Brunch Show”: The terrifically skilled Edie (late of “Zumanity” at New York-New York) heads up this drag brunch with a cast in shimmering, sequined skirts. This show boldly goes with no lip-syncing, all voices, from the stage. It’s the only Las Vegas drag show to attempt that feat. Such drag faves as Wysteria, Sunshine, Kitty Del Mark, Aria De Vine and India B West are in this mix. Showtimes are noon Saturdays and Sundays.
— “Aussie Heat”: A cast that has made the rounds, from the since-demolished Mosaic on the Strip to the Oyo hotel-casino to Notoriety Live at Neonopolis and now The Venue. Being Australian is not a prerequisite for this male revue. But the “Heat” part is mandatory. The show returns to the stage at 9 p.m. Oct. 8.
— The Comedy Cellar: The 300-seat Las Vegas outpost of the revered, multi-venue New York club rotates comics at 7 and 9:30 p.m. daily. Mark Cohen (“Louie,” “The Sarah Silverman Show”) is the dedicated host. Comedy Cellar owner Noam Dworman opened the Vegas club in 2018. The entertainment veteran once told me, “I’m not optimistic, nor am I pessimistic. But I am hopeful.” That should be the credo for all comedy clubs.
— “Wow — The Las Vegas Spectacular”: The “Wow” title says it all. This is the response to “The variety show at the Rio is still running?” Producer Hanoch Rosenn, a former prime-time mime, has beaten the odds and defied trends with aggressive marketing, including booklets with little video screens that play “Wow” highlights. The show packs a punch with acrobats, jugglers, the great crossbow artist Sylvia Sylvia and a 1,000-square-foot aquatic centerpiece. Holograms, 3D projections, even a chef in a fat suit spinning plates. Showtimes are 7 p.m. daily, with occasional 5 p.m. performances Saturdays and Sundays.
— “The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody”: Producer David Foster’s adult-comedy gem is a personal favorite. I could see this show at least once a month. Jabba the Hut and Princess Leia perform a rap number. Han Solo and Chewbacca get down to “It’s Tricky” by Run DMC. Showtimes are 8 p.m. daily, with additional 9:30 p.m. performances Fridays and Saturdays.
— Penn & Teller: On the topic of “It’s Tricky” (this duo was featured playing three-card monte in the video) and personal favorites, P&T surpassed their 25th anniversary at the Rio in January. They are entering their 51st year as a performing duo. They are rare in so many ways, still at the top of their game and always advancing their show while shining a light on magicians around the world on “Fool Us” on The CW. The latest show-closing bit is titled “Entropy,” a terrific mind-bender performed in two segments. P&T’s showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. And there are plenty of chances to see them, as they’ve been extended through the end of this decade.
— Headliners at Penn & Teller Theatre: Country star Tracy Lawrence is performing a one-off Dec. 12, a highlight of Rodeo Round-Up, the hotel’s annual National Finals Rodeo week celebration. Lawrence’s show is part of an evolving strategy to book the P&T theater with headliners when the duo is away. The venue is booked by Mason/Romeo Entertainment, a family-founded partnership that books mid-scale shows across the country. The company serves more than 170 events across 35 states and 80 locations nationwide. More announcements for Rio headliners are forthcoming.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.