Jennifer Romas is bringing “Sexxy” back to the Westgate Cabaret, at long last, starting next week on August 6, but the star dancer, choreographer and producer of the popular female revue isn’t discontinuing the late-night version of the show she started at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club in December. She’s keeping all the “Sexxy” going, with plans for expansion.
Romas and the Westgate announced the return of the show this week, running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 p.m. at the intimate theater that also currently hosts “The Magic of Jen Kramer” and “Soul of Motown” and will soon make room for the Bronx Wanderers and George Wallace as well. It will be quite different from the pre-pandemic “Sexxy,” including the addition of sensational singer Anne Martinez, a few new dancers, and a lot of new music, choreography and costumes.
“It’s kind of like going back to the start when I had three weeks to put this show together,” jokes Romas, who infamously pitched and launched “Sexxy” at Westgate as a limited engagement that turned into a six-year run. “But at the end of the day I’m so grateful and I feel very blessed. Am I stressing right now? Of course. But we’re going to do what we do and come out strong, and if the girls have a great show and people walk out feeling happy and hopefully aroused a little bit, then we did our job.”
Romas actually grew her business significantly during the pandemic, initially keeping her cast and crew busy with a series of drive-in shows last summer to meet COVID restrictions and requirements, and then later in the year launching the “Sexxy After Dark” dinner show at the Hustler Club just south of the Strip. That show continues Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. (the actual show starts at 9:30) and Romas may rotate her most experienced dancers through both productions.
Once the Westgate show is running smoothly, she has plans to expand the “After Dark” edition to two other cities with gentlemen’s clubs operated by the same company.
“I’m thrilled be working with both teams at Westgate at the Hustler Club and now I’m employing three times as many people as before,” Romas says. “Entertainment is making a comeback and I’m so happy to be able to do what we’re doing right now. The partnership with the Hustler team has been a very big move and it pushed me to work differently and figure some things out.”
Shows that had plans at shuttered Caesars Entertainment venues continue to announce openings at other places and the latest is the highly anticipated “iLuminate” production created by dancer and software engineer Miral Kotb. Originally slated for a spring 2020 opening at the Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood, this hi-tech, dance-centric innovation is now set to debut in Las Vegas on August 26 at the Strat Theater, where the property’s partnership with SPI Entertainment continues to yield exciting results. With a 10 p.m. start time running Wednesday through Monday, “iLuminate” promises to be the party show in a stacked rotation that also includes “Banachek’s Mind Games Live,” “Xavier Mortimer: The Dream Maker,” “MJ Live,” and later this year, “Sammy Hagar & Friends.” The lighting effects and stunning choreography behind “iLuminate” earned it the title of “Best New Act in America” on “America’s Got Talent” and the Strip entertainment industry can’t wait to see how this unique performances translates in a Vegas space.
New Las Vegas concert announcements this week include: Pop boy band 98 Degrees returns to the stage on September 16 at Mandalay Bay Beach; Influential Latin rock act Camila will touch down at the Tropicana on September 18 during its Luz Tour; and R&B favorite Erykah Badu will perform at Craig Ranch Amphitheater in North Las Vegas on October 24.
Is there nothing the Space won’t do? Starting this weekend and continuing every Sunday in August, a family-friendly production of “Alice in Wonderland” is taking over the off-Strip community entertainment venue, running at 2 p.m. with $25 tickets. DLUX Puppets anchors the production, with all the characters who encounter Alice being engineered and brought to life by Derek Lux while his wife Lauren plays the protagonist.
The live music lineup for next month at the Underground Speakeasy at the Mob Museum downtown is impressive to say the least. Amanda King sings on August 6 and 21, Colte Julian performs August 7 and 28, Nieve Malandra will be there August 13, Shaun DeGraff performs August 14 and 20 and Kai Brent takes over on August 27. If this throwback spot isn’t on your rotation, add it.
Two intriguing burlesque events are coming up. "Legendary: Las Vegas Icons from Burlesque’s Golden Age," a benefit for the Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum, is set for August 7 at Majestic Repertory Theatre. Bambi Jones will be presented with the Living Legend of the Year award while performers include Shannon Doah, Tiffany Carter, Gypsy Louise, Lovey Goldmine, Georgette Dante and more. Tickets are $35 and are available at Eventbrite. And Centerfolds Cabaret on Paradise Road will debut “A Touch of Burlesque” on August 12, with each show Wednesday through Sunday at 11 p.m. featuring six guest performers from different Las Vegas shows. Tickets are $50 and include limo transportation and more info is available at atouchofburlesquelv.com.
Another date to save is September 25 when Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s 35th annual Black & White Party will take over Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. This year’s theme is “Welcome to the Jungle.” Stay in touch at afanlv.org.