"Divas Las Vegas" brings back the boys who are one of the girls
He’s back….and out in front once again.
After a seven-month hiatus, Las Vegas’ favorite female impersonator headliner, Frank Marino, once again has a lot on his chest, including some new Bob Mackie gowns and loads of jewelry. He’s unloading the fun in his own inimitable Joan Rivers style in his new show at the Imperial Palace and is bringing the “Divas Las Vegas” with him, including his own Femme Fatale character and 14 cast members. Marino’s intent is to “produce” the goods in a big way.
Marino, who was the longest running headliner on the Strip as the star of an ”An Evening at La Cage” at the Riviera until it closed earlier this year after 25 years, created “Divas Las Vegas” and is co-producing it with SPI entertainment.
“The show is the same format as ‘La Cage’ but I’ve given it a more modern twist,” says Marino, who signed a one-year contract with the Imperial Palace "I'm still hosting the show as Joan Rivers as well as doing my own Femme Fatale character. But instead of cabaret, it is more of an MTV/VH1 type of production. There are younger characters as well as the staples like Cher, Diana Ross, and Madonna.”
Audiences will have a chance to see the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, Donna Summer and others. In all, 17 of the most famous divas to have ever graced the stages of Las Vegas and the world are portrayed, some by former cast members of ‘La Cage’ and some by new performers who have never been seen before.
The “Divas Las Vegas” cast members that were once part of “La Cage” include Kenneth Blake, who portrays Madonna and Dolly Parton; Steven Wayne, who does Cher and Celine Dion; Larry Edwards, who depicts Tina Turner and Beyonce; Chris Woods, who does Diana Ross, and Derek Barry, who portrays Britney Spears (and competed on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” as Britney).
As for the new performers, Las Vegas designer Coco Vega, who has designed some of the costumes for the show is portraying Bette Midler and Shirley Bassey and Sammy Gonzales is performing as Liza Minnelli. There are also what Marino describes as six “hunky” male dancers. As for Marino, he will be hosting the show as Joan Rivers, as he did in “La Cage,” and will be portraying his own Femme Fatale character, as he did in the previous show, too.
“Nothing has changed for me insofar as my doing Joan except for a brand new monologue and new costumes,” Marino says. “All the costumes in the show are new and most are designed by Bob Mackie. I have 17 new Bob Mackie gowns. In helping to design them, I kept with my motto, “Too much is just enough.”
- by Bobbie Katz, Las Vegas Reporter for HelloMetro
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