Legendary Las Vegas headliner Frank Marino has wrapped a two-year run as host of another long-running, beloved Strip production, Legends In Concert at the Tropicana Las Vegas. After starring in An Evening at La Cage and Divas Las Vegas for decades with his iconic performance as Joan Rivers, Marino stepped into the new role in the musical tribute show with grace and grit, but now he’s eyeing a different role—or several of them—for the next stage of his career.
You were excited about joining forces with Legends in Concert two years ago, but didn’t it turn out to be a better fit than you imagined?
That’s 100% right. I joined Legends in September 2019 and we were all stepping into unchartered territory. I owned my own show for so many years and then I became, for lack of a better term, an employee instead of a producer, so I was not sure if it would work. Would I be able to do things my own way? It ended up working out perfectly. It was like Cadillac buying Volvo and merging the two together. It was the best decision I ever made because I live in the moment, I look forward to going to work every night, and I can concentrate on what I have to do and depend on myself.
If it was so perfect, why leave?
I’m working with a few different companies on some big projects and some TV stuff. I have so many irons in the fire. I’ve been doing a lot of TV documentaries and Vegas documentaries, and I’ve got people who want to do a reality show. So, I’m asking myself, do I want to do TV? Try acting? Go back onstage? Or do I want to retire? Honestly, I’d be OK to retire right now; I just want to make sure I close every door properly.
It sounds like the pandemic changed your perspective on your career.
When I talked to you last summer, I remember saying I was going crazy, because I’d gone 38 years of driving to the Strip every night and I always had this pick-me-up, this high (from performing) every day. COVID killed it. I was climbing the walls. My house was so clean, I only had the ceiling left to vacuum. I hated it. But four or five months in, I started to like being at home and not being stressed. I didn’t realize how stressed I was until I realized what it was to not be stressed. If we spoke like this three years ago, I’d say I’ll never retire, I’ll work until I’m dead. But the best position to be in is working because you like to work, not because you have to work, and that’s what’s happening now.
You have a few more shows before Christmas, Divas at the Italian American Club on Dec. 3 and your holiday drag brunch show at DW Bistro on Dec. 5. What comes after that?
In January, I go on tour with Divas in Florida, and I have a few solo dates around the country, but in February, I gave myself the gift of making the calendar all white. Not a phone call, not a doctor’s appointment. For one month, I’m waking up and doing whatever I want to do. And whatever happens with all those projects will happen in March.
Your book Drags to Riches came out last year. Could you see yourself doing more of that type of work in the future if you’re not onstage?
I could. I’m working hard on becoming a great public speaker, and I love to go speak to gay and lesbian youth. I think it could be great to inspire others and talk about taking a vaudeville-style performance and making a multimillion-dollar business out of it, and to show younger people that they have the tools to be what they want to be.
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
