The
popular show ‘Last Comic Standing’ does not actually
have a voice competition with another version of
their show, but it would be fun to watch Las Vegas’
top impressionists battle it out in a ‘voice-off.’
The stakes would be extremely high with $100 million
vs. ‘zero guarantees, pay to play’ Las Vegas
showroom contracts at stake. Either way, recently
named “Impressionist of the Year” Larry G. Jones who
is renowned for his song parodies and the accuracy
of his voices will be the ‘last impressionist
standing,’ and in fact, the only impressionist still
performing weekly in Las Vegas from November 22nd
till February 2009.
That’s when Danny Gans ends his $150 million dollar
contract at the Mirage to take a few months off
before moving across the street to the Wynn.
America’s Got Talent’s Terry Fator will replace him
at The Mirage in February. Meanwhile, impressionist
Gordie Brown will return to the Golden Nugget for
the third time on Feb. 5. It is only then that all
three singing comedy impressionists (and
ventriloquist Fator) will be performing in Las Vegas
while Larry G. Jones’ ‘Superstar Voices in Concert’
show will have continued in December and January.
During
his 1600 plus shows since 2001, Jones performed in
Las Vegas downtown’s Plaza and Fitzgeralds Casinos
showrooms. Now on the strip in his new venue, The
Royal Resort is almost right behind Steve Wynn’s new
Encore and only 50 yards from Las Vegas Blvd at 99
Convention Center Drive. With a smile, Jones said,
“Even though it’s an intimate venue, when you move
to a showroom that’s within two blocks of similar
acts (Terry Fator and Danny Gans) that are getting
100 million dollar plus contracts, you’ve got to
just hope that you’re at least a quarter as talented
as they are, cause that’s still worth at least 25
million!” A glance over at his “Impressionist of the
Year” trophy and a quick read of his many rave Las
Vegas reviews reveal that he’s already well ahead of
his hopes in the talent department.
While there’s a focus on singing impressions and
over 70 voices in every show, Jones’ ‘Trip Down the
Strip’ section of the show covers the voices of over
fifteen major Las Vegas headliner’s including Cher,
Bette Midler, Neil Diamond and many more. In his
rapid fire yet relaxed style, his song parodies
reveal the deepest secrets of Cirque and The Rat
Pack. Making the most of his four octave range,
Jones’ signature dead-on voices will answer
questions like, ‘What happened when the girls(boys)
from La Cage go to see the Jersey Boys?’ , ‘What
happened when Tom Jones got too drunk?’, and ‘Does
the Phantom wear Depends?!’
While
Jones’ reputation is being a ‘great talent’ and a
‘real hustler,’ it’s likely he’ll still be
entertaining in Las Vegas for years due Jones’
miraculous ‘three escapes from death’ (including
drowning, kidney failure, and stage IV ‘terminal’
cancer) reveal a higher’ staying power. Larry is now
in perfect health doing what he has always done, and
telling the world, “just thank God, be grateful, and
remember, it’s a great day to be alive.” Somehow it
seems appropriate, that even for a time, Jones is,
‘The Last Impressionist Standing” in Las Vegas.
To get to the Royal Resort, which is located one
block from the Wynn and Riviera across from the old
Stardust (now Echelon Construction), turn on
Convention Center Drive (Walgreen’s Drug Store is on
the northeastern corner at Las Vegas Blvd. and the
empty lot where the Beach used to be is on the
southwestern corner at Paradise Road) and the Royal
Resort will be on the south side of the street.
Video highlights of Larry’s show as well as show
times, tickets and location information are
available at
www.larrygjones.com
