A diversified slate of entertainment is heading Atlantic City’s way this spring and summer.
An entertainment classic never goes out of style — especially with casinos and the people they attract.
That seems to be the booking strategy at several Atlantic City casinos as they scramble to complete their spring and summer lineups. What had already been shaping up to be a strong season for shows is now on the verge of becoming the biggest and most diverse collection of attractions the city has seen since the dice began rolling down the Boardwalk 34 years ago.
Predictably, the new Revel and its biggest rival, Borgata, are in the forefront when it comes to landing the acts that fall under the contemporary and classic umbrellas.
Revel seems to be following the entertainment model employed by Borgata when it entered the market nine years ago, opting for a lineup of mostly contemporary artists. And while Borgata is always on the hunt for today’s chart-toppers, it began adding classic artists to its roster several years ago and appears to be ramping it up further this spring and summer.
“The [new artists] can only take you so far when it comes to drawing [gamblers],” says one high-ranking casino executive, who isn’t affiliated with Revel and Borgata. “From a visibility standpoint, booking trendy artists will definitely put you on the map and get your [property] name out there. But [younger] artists tend to appeal to younger audiences, who may not be [gamblers]. When you get into the classic acts, you appeal to an older demographic that may be in a better position [to gamble].”
In either case, though, Atlantic City is the biggest winner because a strong entertainment lineup sends a message that the resort has “something for everybody,” the casino official added.
On the classic side, examples of Borgata’s entertainment strategy include the Beach Boys 50th anniversary tour with Brian Wilson on May 19. The casino has also snagged The Jacksons Unity Tour, a reunion of the surviving members of the Jackson 5. Three years after the death of Michael Jackson, brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito Jackson will hit the road for their first tour together since their 1974 Victory Tour.
'The place was packed with people; some people who had gone to the concert, some people who had just been in the bar, and it was just one of those kinds of special, fun party, and music rock and roll nights.'
The casino and entertainment industries and the millions of visitors expected over the next 12 weeks are each gearing up for a summer entertainment program that seems to be picking up where the packed season-launching weekend left off.
'I hope we always wage war against evil with everything we got. '
“We’re just pleased that people have responded to what we do,” Carney says. “It’s a lot different than when we started out.”
A guide to events, festivals and more during the flowering season in the Jersey shore region.
Mitch Gorshin’s arrival in Atlantic City nearly two years ago could probably be summed up with the most quoted line from author Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Weiss’ work has been the subject of books and photo galleries, and, owing to his friendship with Boogie Nights owner Dave Pena, some of his work from the 1970s and ’80s will be on display when Boogie Nights opens.
Just as Atlantic City Weekly columnist David Spatz suggested back in February, Maroon 5 has been booked to perform at Revel’s Ovation Hall on Friday, May 18, 8pm.
If you were thinking about avoiding Bader Field in Atlantic City the weekend of June 23-24 because you’re just not a fan of heavy metal music, you may want to reconsider your decision.
Wiedmaier’s room won’t be the only place to grab a steak at Revel. Chef Marc Forgione, one of Revel’s two TV Food Network “Iron Chefs” (Philly-based Jose Garces is the other) will be opening American Cut, which he described as his spin on a “classic steakhouse.”
Impeccably dressed in a tailored suit and a fashionably wide and colorful tie, Howard Weiss straddles the top two steps leading onto the small stage at The Pool at Harrah’s. The all-weather tropical hangout has been transformed from its daytime persona as a haven for the hotel’s middle-aged hotel guests into its pulse-pounding nightclub configuration.
“The people in Atlantic City are very sharp, and for me, as a musician, it’s a very lively place for me, it’s very creative for me, When I perform in Atlantic City, it’s different from other places. It’s like all walks of life come to see me, and it’s very cool.”
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