Open Mic Cabaret offers dish off fresh, hot talent
The Bootlegger Italian Bistro has long been a favorite place for folks to enjoy the wonderful, authentic flavors of Chef Maria Perry’s homemade Italian recipes. But recently the eatery has added a new feature to the menu on Monday nights: up-and-coming talent.
That's courtesy of Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret, a showcase for singers, comedians, musicians and other talent — from established showroom entertainers to undiscovered artists. Performances begin at 9 p.m., and participants can sing to tracks or to the live piano stylings of Mike Clark. Clinton, an entertainer herself who's married to headliner Clint Holmes, hosted a similar, very successful Monday night showcase at the Bootlegger a couple of years ago.
“We’re all hambones,” Clinton joked, speaking of her peers. “And every time I’d walk into the Bootlegger or bump into people in town, everyone would ask when we’d be bringing the Monday nights back, because everyone had so much fun.”
“The door is open to anyone who wants an opportunity to perform a song, play an instrument or do comedy,” she said. “Someone can be a total newcomer or a veteran, but it should be taken seriously because you never know who’s in the audience. The Las Vegas Tenors, Shades of Sinatra and Mark Giovi of Bite at the Stratosphere were discovered after performing at our previous Monday night happening. And others are about to sign deals.”
Open to the public (you’ll want to make reservations), the Monday night cabaret's mission is to bring back the days of old Las Vegas when celebrities new and old would hang out after their shows at Vegas hot spots, most notably the Bootlegger.
Newcomers who evoke a strong audience reaction will get the opportunity to appear on Denis Bono’s “Celebrity Spotlight” Sunday night radio show, which is taped live at Sam’s Town in front of an audience and broadcast to 11 states and and over the Internet.
- by Bobbie Katz, Las Vegas Reporter for HelloMetro
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