Las Vegas: Strip's Longest-Running Headliner Frank Marino Joins Legends In Concert

Frank Marino (via Facebook)

This fall, the longest-running headliner in Las Vegas history, Frank Marino, will join the longest-running production on the Las Vegas Strip, Legends in Concert.

"I'm truly honored to be joining the cast of Legends in Concert for a limited engagement," said the former star of Divas Las Vegas. "I'm simply ecstatic to be going from Diva status to a Legend inside the world-famous iconic Tropicana Las Vegas."

Marino also shares that this will be his swan song appearance as the legendary first lady of comedy, Joan Rivers.

Marino joins the cast of Legends beginning September 11 and will be joined by a new cast of tribute artists singing some of the biggest hits of recorded music. 

Fans will be taken into a “Bohemian Rhapsody” with Fernando Castro’s mesmerizing tribute to the one and only Freddie Mercury and the iconic catalog of Queen; moved far from the “Shallow” with Tierney Allen’s breathtaking homage to Lady Gaga; and transported to the 80s with Jill Burke’s stunning recreation of Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield.” 

Elvis also returns to the Legends in Concert Theater with hunk of “Burnin’ Love” Matt Lewis and his beloved portrayal of The King, Elvis Presley.

The acclaimed production featuring stunning tribute artists also dazzles fans with historic showgirl costumes curated directly from iconic Vegas productions of the past, creating a special tribute to the showgirl glamour that is synonymous with the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Legends in Concert performs at Tropicana Las Vegas Monday through Saturday (dark Sunday) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Tropicana Box Office, or online at ticketmaster.com and ticketbat.com. 

For more information about Legends in Concert, visit LEGENDSINCONCERT.COM.

Funnyman Michael Henry Chats Up Meatball In Latest Episode Of 'Nailed'

Meatball

Funnyman Michael Henry shares his latest episode of Nailed, featuring Meatball.

From Henry: "I had the Pleasure of interviewing my dear friend Meatball. She over shared with me her issues with intimacy, her money problems, and trauma from her childhood then I said to her, you know were filming right? I can't use this.

"Then she switched gears and talked about fisting for 20 min."

Meatball has a terrific 'smile through the confusion/non-judgey' look about her for much of the segment.

Music Video: Five Drag Queens Compete In "Walk Me Home"

Members of Sink The Pink perform to "Walk Me Home" by P!nk

The indomitable P!nk chose the track “Walk Me Home” as the lead single for her new album, Hurts 2B Human, which dropped last week.

She initially released a music video for the single that featured her twirling through deserted nighttime streets with a chorus of dancing shadows.

But on Monday, the 39-year-old Grammy Award winner made it clear she wasn’t done exploring the song’s storytelling potential.

In a completely different take, P!nk collaborated with queer collective Sink The Pink from the UK on a lip-sync competition-themed video.

On their official website, Sink The Pink describes themselves as “ a collective of queens, club kids, pop superstars, creative juggernauts, flamboyant dancers and acclaimed designers.”

At the beginning of the new video, one drag queen walks out onstage to lip sync the song “Walk Me Home” for a pair of judges in a night club.

But before she can finish, she’s interrupted by another member of the collective.

As each of five queens takes to the stage - all wearing red dresses, blond wigs and red boots - they keep upping the stakes for the biggest and best performance they can deliver.

P!nk took to Twitter to share the video announcing, “This is the BEST lip sync battle I’ve ever seen - feast your eyes!”

This is the BEST lip sync battle I’ve ever seen 🙌🏼 feast your eyes! ‘Walk Me Home’ by @SinkThePinkLDN ❤️ Check it out! https://t.co/X623FttG5y

— P!nk (@Pink) April 29, 2019

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Hangs With Iowa Drag Queens

(image via Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand/Twitter)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand got a lesson in divadom at a Des Moines gay bar called Blazing Saddles, where she struck touched up her makeup to strike a pose with drag queens

"Vana and the amazing queens at the Blazing Saddle in Des Moines invited me for a visit tonight before their show. I felt underdressed, so I brought a dress I picked up yesterday—turns out it fit me, but it fit Vana even better! Thank you for having me, ladies!"

Vana and the amazing queens at the Blazing Saddle in Des Moines invited me for a visit tonight before their show. I felt underdressed, so I brought a dress I picked up yesterday—turns out it fit me, but it fit Vana even better! Thank you for having me, ladies! pic.twitter.com/l0ISbENSwg

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) April 20, 2019

Celine Hits The Road (With The Help Of Some Vegas Drag Queens)

Celine Dion (screen capture)

Living in Las Vegas, I've grown accustomed to pop superstar Celine Dion being Sin City’s longest-running resident diva.

A New Day, her first residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which ran from March 2003 to December 2007, is the most successful residency of all time grossing over $385 million. The 717 performances were attended by nearly 3 million people.

She took a break, but came back to Caesars Palace for a second residency, titled Celine, in March 2011.

That production will end on June 8, 2019, as she departs for her first North American tour in over a decade to support her upcoming new album, Courage.

To announce the news of the Courage World Tour, the 51-year-old singer enlisted some help from other Las Vegas ‘divas’ for a video.

In the clip, Celine is heading out of Sin City in a sixteen-wheeler with an Elvis impersonator marrying a couple, along with a senior still clicking away at a slot machine.

But when the big-rig truck breaks down, thankfully “Tina,” “Diana,” “Barbara” and a Celine queen look-a-like show up right in the nick of time.

Celine and her band climb into the queens’ vehicle, and the international recording artist is soon serenaded all the way to Los Angeles with a medley of her hits.

The video is cute, it’s kitschy, and a fitting ‘so long’ to Vegas.

The new album, Courage, is expected to drop sometime in November.

The Courage World Tour will launch on September 18 in Quebec City, and will play in over 50 cities through April 2020.

Click here for tour info, and you check out Celine and the queens below.

News Round-Up: March 1, 2019

Pietro Boselli (image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• If anyone was ever born to wear a white Speedo, it's Pietro Boselli (above).

• Drag series Canada's a Drag will return for a second season.

• Mike Pence says he couldn't be more proud of his wife teaching at an anti-LGBTQ school.

• The mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska, vetoed legislation that would have protected LGBTQ people from discrimination.

• If you wanted to see this year's 'Hottest Chorus Boys on Broadway,' you could click here for a peek.

• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry plan to raise their child in a gender-neutral nursery and environment.

• The Jonas Brothers dropped their first new music in six years at midnight last night - "Sucker."

The first round of Jonas fame was a bit too young/teeny bopper for me, but now that the guys have grown up (and so well, may I add?) I'm happy to give them a peek.

The good news is the new track is a catchy pop bop that's easy to listen to, and the video is fun with the guys and their wives/significant others playing house in a huge Edwardian mansion.

They've taken some plot points from the recently Oscar-nominated The Favourite, but I'm not getting bogged down in that while Nick, Joe and Kevin offer such 'easy on the eyes' candy.

Take a look below.

1980s Pop Queen Slays At Sin City Drag Brunch

Debbie Gibson drops by "Diva-Licious Drag Brunch" in Las Vegas
(all photos: Dayna Roselli)

It was a case of “Is she or isn’t she?” at a recent performance of “A Diva-Licious Brunch” in Las Vegas when diners paused for a moment not sure if they were enjoying iconic 80s songster Debbie Gibson popping a bop or a really good drag queen.

Frank Marino, who has been drag royalty for over three decades headlining on the Las Vegas Strip, hosted the event at the popular-with-the-gays DW Bistro at The Gramercy.

Marino brought along several of his drag cohorts to entertain the patrons with tributes to Diana Ross, Katy Perry, Cher, Lady Gaga, and Whitney Houston.

The Gibson look-alike was introduced to the strains of 1987’s “Shake Your Love,” and within moments the audience realized the voice was real and so was the singer.

View this post on Instagram

When the audience thinks you’re introducing a Debbie Gibson impersonator and it’s the REAL Debbie Gibson! This could only happen at Frank Marino’s Diva-Licious Brunch at @dwbistro #LasVegas thank you @debbiegibson for the incredible surprise and supporting our fabulous new show! Top entertainers, top food and top location! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #debbiegibson #dragqueen #popstar #debbiegibson #diva #queen #brunch #food #eat #lgbt #lgbtq #vegas #whathappenshere #divaslasvegas #frankmarino

A post shared by Frank Marino (@thequeenofvegas) on Feb 3, 2019 at 6:07pm PST

Gibson, who owns a home in Las Vegas, was attending the event and an associate from Marino’s team asked the 48-year-old if she’d like to say ‘hey’ to the crowd or perhaps sing a bit.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal’s John Katsilometes, Gibson was down to play.

“I was like, ‘Oh, you want me to do 30 or 45 seconds?’ ” said Gibson. “I said, ‘We’ve come this far. I’m wearing sequins. Give me a full song and a live mic.’ ”

Stepping out onstage in bedazzled high heels (girl comes prepared), the platinum-selling popster worked the room as she belted out her song, at times stepping up to dance on tabletops.

As she neared the dance break, she returned to the stage calling the queens to come out and shake their ‘love.’

As the former teen pop star took a bow to a standing ovation, Marino bragged, “Now you know, DW’s has the budget to get the real Debbie Gibson!”

View this post on Instagram

When the audience thinks you’re introducing a Debbie Gibson impersonator and it’s the REAL Debbie Gibson! This could only happen at Frank Marino’s Diva-Licious Brunch at @dwbistro #LasVegas thank you @debbiegibson for the incredible surprise and supporting our fabulous new show! Top entertainers, top food and top location! #debbiegibson #dragqueen #popstar #debbiegibson #diva #queen #brunch #food #eat #lgbt #lgbtq #vegas #whathappenshere #divaslasvegas #frankmarino

A post shared by Frank Marino (@thequeenofvegas) on Feb 3, 2019 at 6:17pm PST

Gibson is scheduled to tour soon with fellow 80s hitmakers New Kids on the Block, Salt-N-Pepa, Tiffany and more on the upcoming 53-city “Mix Tape Tour.”

Here in Las Vegas, though, Marino is teasing there are talks of a new incarnation Divas Las Vegas, his legendary line-up of drag impersonators, on the near horizon.

Plus, word is “A Diva-Licious Drag Brunch” could very well become a regular event at DW Bistro.

To paraphrase the old saying, “What happens in Vegas, SLAYS in Vegas.”

Music Video: Courtney Act "Fight For Love"

Courtney Act in "Fight For Love"

RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Courtney Act drops her brand new music video, “Fight For Love,” today as she preps to become Australia’s entry at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.

Act will participate in ‘Eurovision - Australia Decides’ on SBS on Saturday, February 9, where the winner will be determined via the combination of a public vote (50%) and the votes of a professional jury panel (50%).

She calls the dance-pop single “a dancefloor banger about coming together and fighting for the things we believe in.”

Echoing a message of social justice, she adds, “I think it’s so important to think about the basic human rights of others and to use our collective voices, minds and bodies to lift those people up and bring about change.”

Courtney Act (image via Facebook)

The 36-year-old first made her way into the public spotlight during the debut season of Australian Idol in 2003. Making it to the Wild Card round, she was the first competitor to bring the art of drag to a reality show.

Since that time, she’s placed 3rd on Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, won the 2018 season of Celebrity Big Brother UK, celebrated her own 2018 holiday TV special, Courtney Act’s Christmas Extravaganza, and is now the host of the UK bisexual dating show, The Bi Life, on E!

And along the way, she’s help to educate her fans on LGBTQ issues like HIV stigma and gender fluidity.

“A sweet 16 years after Australian Idol, I have the chance to show the world how I have grown as an artist and performer and I am so excited,” says the drag superstar.

“Fight For Love” harkens back to the heyday of music videos with several glam looks for Act, dancing drones, and an undeniable dance beat perfect for the Pride dance floor.

This is certainly material Eurovision embraces.

Check out “Fight For Love” below.

Haters Lose In Court Trying To Shutdown 'Drag Queen Storytime'

Rockell Blu reads 'Everyone Is Special' at Drag Queen Storytime in Florida

A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Christian activists who attempted to stop Houston libraries from hosting “Drag Queen Storytime” lack standing to bring their suit, and so, the case was dismissed.

The program, which brings drag queens to children's story-telling hours in libraries, bookstores and schools, was begun over a year ago by the nonprofit RADAR Productions.

Drag Queen Storytime encourages children to suspend belief and explore their imagination while learning to embrace diversity and tolerance.

The American Library Association has fully endorsed these types of programs, in any iteration, as a right to intellectual freedom. They have even curated a collection of resources for individuals seeking to bring Drag Queen Storytime to their libraries or community spaces.

Three men, including a pastor, filed suit against Houston Public Library Executive Director Rhea Lawson and Mayor Sylvester Turner in October 2018.

In the lawsuit, plaintiff Tex Christopher declared that “‘gay marriage’ is ‘fake marriage’” and as a Houston taxpayer and library cardholder he has standing because the library spent money on books for the story hours and paid for flyers to promote them.

More from CourtHouseNews:

U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal dismissed their lawsuit Thursday for lack of standing and failure to state a viable First Amendment Establishment Clause claim.

Rosenthal said the men could not prove the threshold issue that they had been injured by the story hour because it’s unclear from their pleadings that any of them attended the events.

“The plaintiffs assert the very opposite: they purposefully avoided ‘Drag Queen Storytime’ because of its alleged immorality and potential to harm their children. Instead of witnessing the event, the plaintiffs ‘researched [it] online,’” Rosenthal wrote in a 19-page order.

To put these men in some context, it's notable that one of the plaintiffs, Chris Sevier, has previously filed lawsuits claiming if men can marry men, then he should be able to marry his laptop computer.

Christopher now says he plans on appealing to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by dragqueenstoryhour™️ (@dragqueenstoryhour) on Oct 17, 2018 at 5:11am PDT

News Round-Up: October 22, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Fitness model and InstaHunk Dan Tai (above) asked his fans if they vote legs or abs...? I'm gonna have to call this a tie, right?

• The Houston Public Library has been sued over a city-sponsored Drag Queen Story Hour by haters who say the event violates their 'religious freedoms.'  Several similar events have taken place across the nation in an effort to promote literacy.

• Donald Trump is reportedly distancing himself from Republicans possibly losing the House after the midterm elections telling friends privately, “These are their elections … and if they screw it up, it’s not my fault.”

• Scientists have invented a 'self-lubricating' condom. The surface contains polymers that capture moisture from water and bodily fluids, trapping liquids on the condom for a consistently slippery feel.

• Some states are reporting higher than usual early voting in the midterm elections with Democrats outpacing Republicans which could signal a "blue wave." Las Vegas reported the first day turnout was triple that of the last midterm elections.

• Upcoming pop recording artist, LIVVIA, recently released her first official single, “Damn,” and has already garnered almost half a million views on YouTube in only two weeks.

In addition to creating some hooky pop music, LIVVIA also put in the time and effort to graduate this past Spring from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Economics.

Smart and talented - there you go.

“Damn” debuted on the Top 20 of Spotify’s New Music Friday & Apple Music’s A-List Pop. Check it out below.

Legendary French Singer Charles Aznavour Dead At 94

Charles Aznavour (image via Facebook)

The Guardian shares the sad news that legendary French recording artist Charles Aznavoir has passed away at the age of 94.

The French singer Charles Aznavour – often hailed as his country’s Frank Sinatra – has died at the age of 94. Aznavour, who was born Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian in Paris to Armenian parents, sold more than 100 million records in 80 countries and had about 1,400 songs to his name, including 1,300 he wrote himself. He was sometimes described as the French Sinatra because of his stirring, melancholic style.

He is one of the most celebrated exponents of the French “chanson” form – easy-listening songs with vivid lyrics, rich in storytelling, emotion and humour. One early song, 1955’s Après l’Amour, was banned on French radio for its depiction of a couple basking in post-coital happiness. 1972’s What Makes a Man A Man, meanwhile, is sung in the persona of a gay man who faces down homophobia to declare: “Nobody has the right to be / The judge of what is right for me.”

For years, "What Makes A Man A Man" closed the show Divas Las Vegas with a dramatic rendition by one of the 'divas' reversing her illusion from drag queen to male.

"Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas" Sashays Away After 33 Years

Frank Marino and the cast of Divas Las Vegas

Long before RuPaul's Drag Race, long before RuPaul, long before drag queens had big TV ratings, if you wanted to experience amazing drag entertainment, you went to Las Vegas where Frank Marino has held court as the Strip's longest running headliner in his revue, Divas Las Vegas.

Last night, the Sin City entertainment community was stunned to hear the news that Divas has suddenly closed.

Originally opening at the Riviera in 1985 as An Evening at La Cage, the show moved to the then-Imperial Palace (now The Linq) in 2010 and changed the show's title to Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas.

Fronting the show as "Joan Rivers," Marino has continually kept a cavalcade of drag queens performing tributes to Tina Turner, Madonna, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Diana Ross, Cher and more.

In 2014, Marino celebrated his 25,000th performance with the production.

According the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the decision to close the long-running production was mutual between the show and Caesars Entertainment.

The cast was apparently told this past Tuesday the show would be dark for a few days and then have a cast meeting on Saturday. It was then that the cast and crew were informed the show would not continue.

In a text message, Marino reportedly told the paper, "Like Scarlett O’Hara said, I will think about this tomorrow, tomorrow is yet another day."

Netflix Set To Slay With Animated Series "Super Drags" - Wigs Will Be Snatched!

Get ready for "Super Drags" from Netflix

I'm not usually one for animated series, nor am I the biggest drag fan, but I find I like most of what Netflix offers so I'm gonna give this a try.

The streaming service shared a teaser video today to announce it’s new animated series, Super Drags.

The five episode-series, scheduled for the second half of 2018, will chronicle the adventures of superhero drag queens.

From the YouTube description: “During the day, they work in a department store and deal with their uptight bitchy boss. By night, they tighten up their corsets and transform into the baddest SUPER DRAGS in town, ready to combat shade and rescue the world’s glitter from the evil villains. Get ready, because the SUPER DRAGS are going deeper than you think.”

Brazilian website CosmoNerd has more details (via Google translation):

“Super Drags is another powerful and proud addition to the diversity of Brazilian originals from Netflix and brings us the adventures of three young people with a super normal life ... during the day, Patrick, Donny and Ramon work in a department store. With annoying customers and a picky boss. At night, they release their inner divas to become Lemon Chiffon, Cran's Sapphire and Crimson Scarlet: three incredibly fabulous Super Drags who have been recruited to gather the LGBT community and spread glitter in the world.”

I wonder if a certain "Super Model of the world" might make an appearance...?

Watch the tease below:

Chatting With Drag Star Berlin Stiller From The CBC Series "Canada's A Drag"

Berlin Miller

While there's no Canadian version of RuPaul's Drag Race, CBC Arts has produced Canada's a Drag, a new series of short documentaries that sent out filmmakers from communities across Canada to profile a group of drag performers — both kings and queens.

The series began a few weeks ago with Toronto's Allysin Chaynes followed by Edmonton's Lourdes the Merry Virgin, Winnipeg with Prairie Sky, Montreal with both Tranie Tronic and Guizo La Nuit, Vancouver with Berlin Stiller, Halifax with Elle Noir and then back to Toronto with Gay Jesus and Sofonda Cox.

I recently got a chance to chat with Vancouver's Berlin Stiller (who's episode airs tonight) about the exposure, the power of drag and how its impacted the acclaimed drag queen's life.

The Randy Report: In that RuPaul’s Drag Race has brought so much attention (and acclaim) to the drag community, do you feel the show has helped the drag community in Canada as well?

Berlin Stiller: RuPaul has definitely had its influence in helping the drag scene at least here in Vancouver.

When I first left home and joined our fabulous gay village, we had really just a handful of queens I can remember.

As the show carried on and its popularity grew, we’ve seen a drag baby boom. Every year you can count on a new crop of barely legal gurls stomping into the clubs, serving it bigger and better than before. We have so much talent in our city and I feel as though Drag Race has played a big part in allowing others to feel confident and comfortable expressing themselves through the art of drag.

TRR: Why do you think there hasn’t been a Canadian version of Drag Race yet?

BS: That’s honestly hard to say. I don’t think there has been much of a platform (on an international level) for drag queens in Canada. I know there are many queens eagerly waiting in hopes of a Canadian spin off. However, I think Canada has a mark to make in Drag culture and when it does, maybe Ru will notice us over here.

TRR: You represent Vancouver in the new CBC series Canada’s A Drag. How was the experience shooting your episode? Have you seen your episode yet?

BS: The experience was honestly nerve wracking. The interview for me was the hardest. I speak about my personal struggles with my family not accepting me as well as my own personal acceptance. My journey into the drag community and my personal struggles with Alcohol and drugs.

I haven’t seen the episode yet but I’m looking forward to seeing it on Friday when it’s released. I’m nervous for my story to be out there in the open for the world. I was pretty open with what I had to say in my interview and fingers crossed, it’s received well.

TRR: Drag brings together so many facets of performing: acting, movement, comedy, fashion and makeup design. What would you like audiences to know about the art of drag?

BS: Drag has so much power, it’s art. It can give you a powerful platform to express what you are feeling, light up people lives, share artistry and to explore your own self.

I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had the opportunity discover myself and grow into the person I am today. Drag has done that for me and can do so or does for so many other people.

It’s not just about looks and beauty - Drag is an overall expression. For me acting, movement, comedy etc, are all smaller facets that help and compliment the deeper meaning of drag and complete the final art piece.

Berlin's final piece of advice? "Just get through high school and everything will be so much easier. And don't shave your eye brows off."

Canada's a Drag runs every Friday on CBC Arts.

Watch Berlin's episode of Canada's A Drag below. You can follow Berlin on Facebook here.