I got the chance to see “A Really Big Shew” at the Tulalip Casino this past Sunday. I thought it was fantastic. The show is hosted by Jerry Hoban who portrays Ed Sullivan. He is FANTASTIC! If you remember the Pulp Fiction scene where they are at the restaurant and Ed Sullivan MC’s the show, that was Jerry Hoban. Visit the Really Big Shew website.
I’m a little bummed because I had the chance to hang out with Jerry Hoban on Saturday but didn’t, after seeing his show I just wanted to talk with him for hours. The show ran for several years in Laughlin, Nevada and switches out it’s acts depending on the venue.
My good friend Gailyn Addis was doing Liza Minelli the night I saw the show, and will be doing Olivia Newton-John later in the week. She was AWESOME as Liza Minelli, really incredible. Gailyn and I did a tour of Japan about 10 years ago when I was musical director for Ron Stein’s Hollywood Superstars. We had a troupe of background singers, musicians, dancers and tribute performers for Elvis, Buddy Holly, Tina Turner, John Lennon and Marilyn Monroe. When I worked with Gailyn Addis she was dong the Marilyn Monroe tribute. She also does Judy Garland and Madonna.
So you’ll notice some posts lately on my site with information about Liberace impersonators, and details of JS Bach’s face. After hanging out with Gailyn while she was up here, I kind of got the bug to do an impersonation bit. It just sounds like fun. Gailyn is THE MASTER at studying characters, and I don’t have any dreams of being as good as she is, but I think I could do a fun Liberace, Elton John and JS Bach. JS BACH? WHO DOES JS BACH IMPERSONATIONS? No one, it’s just crazy enough for me to do. I would like a JS Bach impersonator, so maybe someone else will too. So far I’ve ordered the wigs for Liberace and JS Bach, have a costume designer looking into creating a Liberace outfit, and I’ve ordered an Elton John costume and glasses. So we’ll see what happens.
THE REALLY BIG SHEW – was very fun. Murray the magician performed a unique act using palming techniques with compact discs, a very interesting and captivating cabaret act. I got to speak with him for a bit at dinner after the show. He’s currently working at the MGM in Vegas with his own show, and is getting ready to go to Greece and other far away places with his act. He said what I saw was his scaled-down cabaret act, in Vegas he does the full show. He reminded me very much of Johnny Depp, an ultra cool personality and ultra hip. Best wishes to you Murray as your career continues to build.
The show also had a spinning plate act. On tv this act might have seemed corny, but performed live it was great. You just don’t see acts like that anymore. It was a classic performance, and rumor has it the act ACTUALLY PERFORMED ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. That made it very cool.
There was also tribute performances to Little Richard, James Brown, Neil Diamond – a puppet act and many inuendo jokes by Ed Sullivan, which were very funny (he writes the jokes himself).
So congrat to a Really Big Shew, may your run last longer than M*A*S*H – Jerry Hoban, you are awesome, nice job!
Conrad
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Music Tribute Acts Available for Really Big Shew:
Ann-Margret
The Beatles
James Brown
Johnny Cash
Ray Charles
Chubby Checker
Cher
Petula Clark
Patsy Cline
Bobby Darin
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Neil Diamond
The Doors
Bob Dylan
The Everly Bros
The Four Tops
Aretha Franklin
Judy Garland
Buddy Holly
Janis Joplin
Tom Jones
Jerry Lee Lewis
Liberace
Little Richard
Dean Martin
Johnny Mathis
Bette Midler
Liza Minnelli
Marilyn Monroe
Rick Nelson
Roy Orbison
Elvis Presley
The Rolling Stones
Frank Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Barbra Streisand
The Supremes
The Temptations
Tina Turner
Ritchie Valens
Frankie Vallie
Hank Williams
Jackie Wilson
Stevie Wonder
The Young Americans
Specialty and Novelty Acts:
Akrobatic
Adagio
Komedi Kontortions
Ed Alonzo Magic & Comedy
Yogi Baird Fiddle Playing Contortionist
Jim Barber & Seville Comedy Ventriloquist
Jack Benny Comedy Tribute
Dan Birch Illusionist
The Bizzarros Body Balancing Team
Bouncin’ Dan The Paddleball Man
Circus Boy Bobby Hunt
Rider of the World’s Smallest Stunt Cycle
Brad Cummings Ventriloquist
The Dancing Gouchos Specialty Dance and Drums
Jeff DeHart Emmy Award Winning Impressionist
El Gleno Grande A Man and His Zebra Sasha
Fedorchev Aerialist Extraordinaire
Janice Hart Comedianne Impressionist
The Hamners Grande Illusionists
The Hartzells Death Defying Crossbow Team
Hillel – Mr. Balloon Man
TM Jesse and James Country Comedy
Bob Moore’s Amazing Mutts Comedy Canine Troup
Murray The Guy with the CD’s
Magically Musical Illusions
Pete Michaels Ventriloquist
John Parks
The Funny Plate Spinning
Waiter Johnny Peer’s Muttsville Comix Going to the Dogs
Price & McCoy Acrobatic Team
Mark Nizer The Bad Boy of Juggling
Rice & Renee Comedy Rope Trick Team
Kip Reynolds Juggling Comedian
Almost Joan Rivers Comedy Tribute
Red Skelton Comedy Tribute
Cameron South Magical Comedy
James and Kathy Taylor Comedy & Adagio Dance
Leslie Tipton Contortionist
The Great Tomsoni & Company
The Wizard of Warsaw Jimmy Travis
Comedian Dario Vaquez Speed
Juggling Sensation Waldo & Woodhead
The Masters of Mayhem … and more!
