This just in from the Las Vegas Review Journal:
http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/vegasvoice/ENTERTAINMENT_Jersey_Boys_off_to_Paris.html?ref=323
ENTERTAINMENT: 'Jersey Boys’ off to Paris?
Posted by Mike Weatherford, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011 at 04:33 PM
The producers of “Jersey Boys” are expected to announce Thursday that
the show will move from the Palazzo to Paris Las Vegas in January,
sources say.
Barry Manilow will likely end his headlining ties to the Paris theater
in December. That’s a few calendar months shy of a two-year deal that
began in March 2010, but that contract was likely based on the number
of shows — about 78 per year — rather than the calendar.
Like the Blue Man Group — which also is jumping ship from sister
property The Venetian to the Monte Carlo — sources say Dodger
Theatricals, the producers of “Jersey Boys,” did not find it hard to
get a more welcoming offer elsewhere.
Las Vegas Sands Corps., which operates The Venetian and Palazzo, is
known for landlord-tenant relationships rather than partnerships with
show producers, and in the past has charged producers for signage and
indoor advertising within the property. Even if the Palazzo had tried
to keep the hit show by lowering or waiving rent, Caesars
Entertainment still offers an advantage of networked properties with
linked signage and advertising.
"Jersey Boys," the musical biography of Frankie Valli and the Four
Seasons, opened at the Palazzo in early 2008.
Didn't Garry tweet something about being in negotiations with the
Venetian? We know Barry isn't Garry's only client but the way he
posted led some to believe there very well could be a change coming.
Garry didn't mention a hotel. Just tweeted that he had to go to
Rosetta Stone to learn Italian to help with negotiations.
Blue Man Group is leaving the Venetian for Monte Carlo. Garry also
tweeted about a tour of Monte Carlo.
Jane
Here's Garry's tweet from Aug. 22nd :
Spent the day on the phone with England , Ireland, Germany, Singapore,
Australia, & the Venetian. Then sushi for dinner. So confused.
I just realized Garry said he was on the phone with Australia too!
Could this mean they are still negotiating about Barry going there?
Anyone care to speculate?
Also, Garry mentioning Rosetta Stone to learn Italian - since the
venetian is Italian, could all these little things from Garry be
hints?
Unless the ink is dry on a contract, a negotiation is just that.
Nothing more.
Might be trying to find someone to release "15 Minutes" as it hasn't
been released in Australia nor have they given a release date.
A few months ago the Monte Carlo signed Jabbawockeez to a contract.
At the Venetian right now there is Blue Man Group and the Phantom The
Vegas Spectacular. It's seem to me the trend is leaning towards
multipul
headliners at some LV hotel theatres. Over at the Colissum there are
three
headliners Elton John, Celine Dion and Rod Stewart. Next year Shania
Twain will become headliner number four at Caesers Palace, Rod Stewart
started his two years at Caesers last week. That is so that these
artists
have more time for other stuff outside LV. In Rod Stewarts USA Today
cover story he mentioned in a video clip about his grandchild that his
daugher Kimberly had recently. Plus Rod is into model railroading.
He makes stuff out of wood for his model railroad set. In Barry's
case he can do some show outside LV here, there and everywhere.
Plus have more time to create original material and etc. Jabbawockeez
is something like Blue Man Group a bunch of guys or people doing
something.
Linda
Blue Man group is moving from Venetian to Monte Carlo. Jersey Boys is
moving from Palazzo to Paris. Blue Man group theater at Venetian is
very nice. Didn't care too much for the theater at the Palazzo.
Jane
Blue Man Group is supposed to be moving over to Paris in January
according to the article from the LVRJ. There have been multiple
entertainers at many hotel/casinos in Vegas for a long time. They have
to keep bringing in the $$$ and they don't make money when the theatre
is dark. For all we know at this point in time, Barry may be staying
at Paris and Garry could be talking about one of his other clients.
There were others appearing at The Hilton on Barry's off nights and
that could very well be what will happen in the future. I remember
Barry saying something about doing less and less shows to phase out
Vegas as time goes on but he won't quit abruptly. One thing is for
sure - he'll either stay at Paris or go somewhere else if he likes
what's offered to him.
I'd like to know where this reporter from the LVRJ got his
information. They will tell us what's going on when they are ready so
they can have time to sell the tickets.
This reporter is very good with his information as he has covered
the Las Vegas entertainment scene for over a decade, so over the
years, people in the industry open up with him. Probably someone in
the Jersey Boys or the Paris organization told him about their
speculations and because they told him they could not be quoted, he
kept the sources anonymous. In the past, he has been good with his
facts and so I would believe the story. Marvin
This is what was said in the Jersey Boys article about Blue Man
Group.
"Like the Blue Man Group--- which also is jumping ship from sister
property
The Venetian to the Monte Carlo."
This is what was said about Barry Manilow in the Jersey Boys article.
"Barry Manilow will likely end his headling ties to the Paris Theatre
in
December." So Mike Weatherford sp? is just guessing that Barry will
be leaving the Paris in December. While Garry Kief throws a monkey
wrench into the mix to get fans scratching their heads and going HUH!
Or saying what the HE double hockey sticks LL! is going on. When
Barry has dotted his I's and crossed his T's then we'll know what's
the latest news. Whether Barry's staying at the Paris or moving to
another hotel on the strip.
Linda
I highly doubt that Mr. Weatherford is "just guessing." He isn't paid
to guess.
Sounds like he got a scoop of some kind. Guess we'll just have to
wait for Barry's organization to announce where he's going.
Wherever it is ...
I'm sure the show will still be great ...
And I still won't be able to afford a room there. :-)
Brenda
Currently Jersey Boys does 7 shows a week (2 on Saturday, and they're
dark Mondays) If they keep the current schedule when they move to the
Paris, I hardly think there would be any open time for Barry. JB is
one of the hottest shows on the strip, and they don't take extended
time off, so I don't know how Barry could continue to perform at the
Paris around their schedule.
CA Sharon
Great show! I'd see it again. Another show I'd recommend is Human
Nature at the Imperial Palace. 4 guys from Australia. Did a song with
Barry on their new CD. Would be nice if they got closer to the other
hotels.
Jane
Come and joing my club, Brenda. lol
I'm not doubting him at all but I'd still like to know who couldn't
keep quiet and spilled the beans. For all we know, it could have been
Garry or someone else in Barry's group. Garry loves to tease everyone
as much as he can. But you're right, it could have come from anyone.
It actually sounds like it came from someone with Dodger Theatricals,
the producers of JB. The JB website shows no dates after Jan 1, 2012.
As I said previously, if JB moves to the Paris, there simply wouldn't
be space and time for Barry. It might not have been Barry, Garry,
etal's idea. Perhaps the Paris chose to go with a proven winner, a
show that doesn't cancel on a moments notice just because one of the
cast is sick. An ensemble cast with understudies is always a safer bet
than a solo act, (which essentially is what Barry is, despite the band
and backup singers), and maybe they are looking at the lost revenue
from missed/cancelled/postponed shows.
When Barry cancelled his show in May, my sister and I used our refund
to go see JB a second time in three days, and I'd go see it again in a
minute, if I had the time and money.
CA Sharon