Hollywood and Las Vegas have had a long-lasting pop-culture relationship. Those glamorous connections are sure to be fortified with the opening of Marilyn! The New Musical, an original production exploring the mystique of a true American icon.
Written, directed and produced by Tegan Summer in partnership with Authentic Brands Group, owner of the estate of Marilyn Monroe, the 90-minute musical features 20 original songs as well as classics like “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” The story follows Monroe’s rise from troubled teen Norma Jeane Mortenson to a blonde bombshell ’50s movie star.
“I’ve always wondered how she became the biggest star in the world from an orphan,” said Summer, CEO of Prospect House Entertainment. “When she was Norma Jeane she was reading the magazines and wanting to be that superstar, then when she got to be that star, she was the most depressed person. That dichotomy has always fascinated me, looking at that one woman with two different psyches. We split them, with both Norma Jeane and Marilyn in the show.”
Leading the cast as Marilyn is Ruby Lewis, whose natural charisma and powerful singing voice have wowed Broadway audiences in Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour and thrilled Vegas crowds in Baz: A Musical Mash-Up. Lewis calls Marilyn! the role of a lifetime and will be performing songs by Summer and Gregory Nabours and choreography by Ferly Prado.
Rounding out the cast are Brittney Bertier as Norma Jeane, Frank Lawson as Marilyn’s driver Charlie, Travis Cloer as celebrity photographer Milton Greene and Christopher Showerman as Joe DiMaggio.
“The Paris Theater has a great legacy of hosting some of the most successful musicals in Las Vegas history,” said Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment. “We are proud to be a co-producer of a highly anticipated musical with top talent and celebrity status.”
Paris, 7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, $49-$179 plus tax and fees, 5+. 702.777.2782
