Variety Acts

Brad Cummings and Rex

Mon, 16 May 2011 13:44:00 -0700

Nov 1, 2011 - May 20, 2012

Back by popular demand is ventriloquist extraordinaire Brad Cummings and his prehistoric sidekick "Rex," the dinosaur. You demanded an encore engagement and we happily obliged!

Rejean St. Jules

Mon, 17 May 2010 10:30:33 -0700

Oct 27, 2010 - May 15, 2011

FIRST FOLLIES APPEARANCE FOR CELEBRATED JUGGLER

Rejean St. Jules Reinvents Time-Honored Art

Rejean St. Jules was born in Montreal, Canada as a second-generation circus performer. He's performed professionally since age 12 and now, at 51, has perfected his finely honed and precise juggling sequence that is both high tech and impeccably choreographed to a dynamic musical score.

For the past 27 years, he's lived and worked in Las Vegas performing in most of that city's major production shows including the Lido de Paris, City Lights, Splash, Bare Essence, and Follies Bergere. His most recent appearance was in Jubilee at Bally's Las Vegas.

His international appearances include France's Lido de Paris; Follies Russe at Lowes Monte Carlo; the Millennium Show with the Lido at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club; the Apollo theatre in Dusseldorf, Germany; and many other celebrated variety shows throughout Europe.

Rejean is married to world-renowned flying trapeze star Terry Cavaretta and they have a son, Sebastian.

According to Follies Man Riff Markowitz, "Mr. St. Jules may very well be the best juggler in the world today . . . as Follies' audiences will soon happily discover for themselves."

Brad Cummings and Rex

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:47:08 -0700

Oct 28, 2009 - May 16, 2010

"Everyone had an invisible playmate when they were young; mine just happened to talk back . . . AND everyone could hear him!" admits Brad Cummings (57), making his Follies debut this season.

While possibly the rantings of a mad child, these "conversations" were actually Cummings' early fascination with ventriloquism . . . a fascination that would lead him to become one of today's most successful and innovative ventriloquists.

Years of practice paid big dividends as he grew older because, by the late '70s, Cummings packed his bags (and dummies!) and left the humble security of Wellesley, Massachusetts, to pursue a career in show business. Soon after his arrival in Hollywood, he became a popular performer at some of L.A.'s most-respected comedy clubs, including The Ice House and The Improv.

The early '80s gave this now-seasoned performer the opportunity to "hit the road" as the opening act for such superstars as John Denver, the Captain & Tennille and Frankie Valli. In addition to these tours, he also starred in main showroom revues in Lake Tahoe, Reno, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

After a nearly 40-year career, Cummings has not only conquered ventriloquism, but has taken it to a new level. In recognition of his innovative approach, unusual characters and unique presentation skills, he's been booked on television's top comedy and variety shows.

It's no wonder Smithsonian Magazine has called him "one of today's top ventriloquists," a claim with which we're certain Follies audiences will soon agree!

Sammy King

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Oct 28, 2008 - May 17, 2009

"KING" OF VENTRILOQUISTS RETURNS TO FOLLIES STAGE

You asked for a return engagement by ventriloquist extraordinaire Sammy King and his wiseacre partner "Francisco," and the Follies obliged!

Born in Brownsville, Texas in 1940, his career began after seeing mentor, Paul Winchell, on television. "I sat my kid brother on my knee and squeezed the back of his neck to cue the 'dummy'," says King.

Since 1958, he has given over 25,000 performances including the very last Ed Sullivan Show. He played the Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris for ten years, appeared in ten major Las Vegas production shows, and has opened for Rich Little, Bill Cosby, Cher, Ray Charles and Tony Bennett.

King's long-lived success is due, in no small part, to Francisco, his ever-present and ageless companion, who apparently hails from Mexico. For 50 years, the colorful "bird" has relentlessly abused and tormented King. Francisco, in a word, is "a smart-ass," who "because of King's exceptional talent and skill" has become real to countless audiences.

Together, they are truly one of the last remaining and most beloved of the great performers who once stood upon America's vaudeville stages.

The Follies joyfully welcomes them back for their final appearance anywhere (Francisco has decided to retire to his hacienda in Tijuana following this engagement.)

Irina Markova

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Oct 28, 2008 - May 17, 2009

Irina Markova & Her Russian Poodles

Irina Markova was born in 1958 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Spellbound by the residents of her hometown zoo, she developed an early affection for animals and, at age 9, became a professional dog trainer. She quickly acquired the accolades of her peers and, at only 14, earned the designation of Master of Professional Dog Training.

Before long, she had taught her own dog a small circus act, which soon expanded to include a lion, a bear, a boar and an African goat. In 1985, she created her first all-dog act, which was an immediate sensation, as hers were able to perform in the ring without the close presence of a trainer.

Her award-winning canines have now been seen with various units of the Moscow Circus throughout Europe, South America and South Africa; with Garden Bros. Circus in Canada; the Royal Hanneford Circus in the U.S.; Circus Tihany Spectacular in Mexico; and the Big Apple Circus in New York. She also made a much-talked-about appearance last year on television's Late Night With Conan O'Brien.

"'Bring back the doggies' is what our audiences always tell me," says Follies Man Riff Markowitz. "So, this year, I did: From Russia with love."

Babe Pier

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0700

Oct 30, 2007 - May 17, 2008

REVERED IMITATOR IS LAS VEGAS ORIGINATOR

Babe Pier, 78, is that rare breed of comedian who inspires as much praise from peers as from fans. No less an "expert" than Rich Little has called him the "Father of Impressions" and no wonder: Pier was the first impressionist to play Las Vegas and helped make celebrity impersonation a staple form of entertainment on the Strip.

Beginning his career as a semi-pro baseball player, Pier's infield clowning soon led to a spot on TV's The Arthur Godfrey Show. He went on to countless appearances with Ed Sullivan, Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin, among others, and was a three-time guest on HBO's Rich Little and the Pretenders. He has toured live venues throughout the country and overseas, opening for stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Tony Bennett.

"Mr. Pier has been called the 'Man of a Thousand Faces,'" notes Follies impresario, Riff Markowitz, "but that may be an understatement. He was a big hit on our stage in Follies 11, and we've been planning an encore visit ever since."

Joanne Wilson

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0700

Oct 30, 2007 - May 17, 2008

RESCUED BOW WOWS TAKE BOWS WITH FOLLIES

Joanne Wilson, 64, is a third-generation entertainer who first performed with a circus at the age of 8, working with dogs, riding a pony and doubling as the "little person" in her father's clown act. There followed a number of variety entertainments over several decades with canines, elephants, horses, a bear, a unicycle and even the flying trapeze!

By 1999, Wilson was semi-retired and found herself collecting unwanted and abandoned dogs in Florida. Strays responded to the same reward system she used with circus animals and, when the cost of caring for so many dogs became prohibitive, she created a new act and returned to show business to defray expenses.

Since then, Joanne Wilson's Wonder Dogs have played circuses throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. They spent a year with the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies and have been filmed for several movies and Animal Planet programs. Dog acts are perennial favorites at the Palm Springs Follies and the Wonder Dogs, with assistant trainer Dennie Pinson Sr., 74, promise to be no exception in their debut season at the historic Plaza Theatre!

Dancing Gauchos

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:00:00 -0800

Jan 10, 2007 - May 20, 2007

In keeping with the Follies’ vow to present the best, internationally renowned, variety acts, The Dancing Gauchos (Martha and Sergio Martinez, age 53 and 50, respectively) make their Follies debut this season. Combining flamenco-style dance with manipulation of the boleadora (a spinning weapon from their native Argentina), this dance duo has played the finest nightclubs, opera houses, concert halls and circuses around the world. They also enjoyed a long run at Disney’s Epcot Center.

The Dancing Gauchos have appeared on most major American television networks, including The Oakridge Boys Live from Las Vegas for TNN, The Statler Brothers Show for the Nashville Network, and Sábado Gigante for Univision. In addition, they have danced on numerous TV broadcasts in Europe and Asia.

“Since the decline of vaudeville,” reports Follies Impresario Riff Markowitz, “few great variety acts originate in the United States. But the art of specialty entertainment remains strong in Europe and South America, so we search the world over to find the best. I think anyone who witnesses The Gauchos’ explosive combination of skill and showmanship will agree we have succeeded.”

Tatiana and Victor Manjos

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:00:00 -0800

Magic Changes Amaze Audiences

There are only a few teams in the world today who excel at the traditional art of magic transformation (or "quick-change"). Among these are the husband-and-wife team of Tatiana and Victor Manjos , both 52 and making their debut this year at the Follies.

The Manjos were born in the former Soviet Union and met while performing with the Moscow Circus. They have since toured throughout Europe and the Americas, and were prize winners at the Seventh International Festival in Massy, France.

Their television appearances include Germany's long-running Stars in der manege ("Stars in the Arena"), and Sabado Gigante on Miami's Spanish-language Univision. In 2003, they were featured on the Fox network talent show, 30 Seconds to Fame .

"Quick-change acts--sometimes called 'Protean Acts'--were staples of vaudeville," explains Follies impresario Riff Markowitz. "In fact, 'quick-change artist' remains a common term for someone who can instantly alter his image. And as the recent television hit, America's Got Talent , demonstrated, magic transformation can still delight and amaze modern audiences."