Louis & Keely Holiday Engagement Begins Dec. 19 in North Hollywood

By Kenneth Jones
19 Dec 2009

Vanessa Claire Smith and Jake Broder
Vanessa Claire Smith and Jake Broder
Photo by Michael Lamont

The acclaimed biographical musical Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara, created by and starring Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire, is on hiatus, but in its place over the holidays is A Vegas Holiday! Songs From "Live at the Sahara," playing Dec. 19-31 at El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, CA.

The creators had an extended run of the show in recent months at the Geffen Playhouse. The project is being revised and refined for its next incarnation, which may be a tour or a New York City life, the creators previously said.

El Portal Theatre's Weddington Street Productions and Pixie Dust Storm Productions present this hybrid version of the earlier hit.

Luca Ellis will make a special guest appearance as Frank Sinatra in the show about married Vegas performers Louis Prima and Keely Smith. The 11-performance limited engagement includes two special New Year's Eve performances on Dec. 31 at 4 PM and 9 PM.

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According to production notes, "This award winning show in its many incarnations had humble but explosive beginnings at the Sacred Fools Theatre in Los Angeles in 2008, followed by a successful run at the Matrix Theatre in West Los Angeles followed by an eight-month engagement at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. The show has won praise and multiple awards in all of the venues."

Winner of the Ovation Award for Best Musical, the show sports a live jazz band on stage and overflows with the Prima-Smith standards "That Old Black Magic," "Hey Boy, Hey Girl," "Just a Gigolo" and I Wish You Love."

El Portal Theatre "became aware of the show from their loyal and sophisticated patrons." According to co-managers Pegge Forrest and Jay Irwin, "Every day, a new person would call us to say how much they loved Jake and Vanessa's show. After seeing the show for ourselves, we agreed! We are extremely happy to finally have this fantastic show with incredible live music, on our MainStage, to offer as a gift to our loyal audience members this holiday season."

El Portal Theatre Mainstage is at 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA.

For tickets, call (818) 508-4200 or (866) 811-4111 or visit www.elportaltheatre.com.