Today in Las Vegas Magazine

Absolutely Legendary

There is a reason why they’re called “legends.” And there is also a reason why the show, Legends in Concert, is celebrating 25 years on the Strip. What began as a six-week limited engagement at the Imperial Palace on May 5, 1983, is now the longest-running, independently-owned, show on the Strip.

Part of its secret to success may be formulaic – select a handful of artists to impersonate “legends” – but to sustain this for 25 years takes more than that – it takes talent, dedication and an innate sense of what people want. The producers of the show, On Stage Entertainment, have a stable of over 100 artists that they rotate in their four theaters located in Branson, Missouri; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and of course, the jewel-of-the-crown, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The line-up on our night was spectacular. From the onset, when “Jay Leno” (aka Marcel Forestieri) walked on stage for his stand-up, the crowd was immediately on attention. It was laugh after laugh, with the only break coming from when he stepped off the stage to make way for “Barry White” (aka Jourdan Carroll). Who, by the way, was also superb. He kept the momentum going by delivering Barry’s classic hits like “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything,” “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Baby,” and “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe.” Definitely a high-energy performance, his impression of Barry’s bass voice was dead-on, and if you closed your eyes, you would think you were listening to the real thing.

Jourdan was followed by Sandy Anderson, playing Dolly Parton. I’m no fan of Dolly, but Sandy was so likable and talented and oozed so much of that Southern charm and twang, that you cannot help but like her, and like her a lot. I also realized that I so happen to know some Dolly Parton songs – like “9 to 5” and was pleasantly surprised to learn that “I Will Always Love You” is not originally a Whitney Houston song, but Dolly’s, and from the soundtrack of “The Best Little “chicken ranch” in Texas,” as Sandy puts it. We heard repeated shouts of “I Love You, Dolly!” throughout her segment. Yep, she was that good. Madonna, expertly imitated by Coty Alexander, followed, amping-up the energy once more. Of course, she sang, “Like a Virgin,” “Vogue” and “Like a Prayer,” but she was at her best and most Madonna-like, when doing a medley of the material girl’s more recent hits like “Hung Up,” “Music” and “Ray of Light.”

By far, The Temptations got the most applause throughout the evening, which was surprising as it’s usually reserved for Elvis. It was just hit after hit, with “Get Ready,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone,” “Just My Imagination,” “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” and of course, “My Girl.” These are the names you should remember - Nate Evans, Reggie Reed, Gregory Lee, Ritchie Stanley, Talmadge Pearsall – for, as they play collectively as the group, each one is extremely talented, especially both main singers. It may just be because I’m a Motown fan, but I, and the hundreds others in the showroom (which was packed) can’t possibly be that wrong.

Last, but not the least, was Matt Lewis doing “Elvis.” A dead-ringer for Elvis in his heyday, he was, as always, on-form and at his best impersonating ‘the king.’ “A Little Less Conversation,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Burning Love” brought the house down, no fail, every time.

The artists get rotated every so often, excepting Elvis, so the show is never the same. Come May 19, look out for “The Blues Brothers,” “Prince” and “Dusty Springfield.”

The only downside to this show? It was way too entertaining, that after a full hour and a half, you end-up wanting more. But then again, maybe that’s the show’s secret to its lasting power – that audiences come back again and again. Here’s to 25 more years.

-Rachel M. Sugay