The Skating Aratas in a Death-Defying Performance on The Ellen Show

The Skating Aratas, the wheeled darlings of “V — Ultimate Variety Show,” at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, are to be featured on Thursday's episode of “Ellen.” The show is broadcast locally at 3 p.m. weekdays on KLAS Channel 8.

Show producer David Saxe is on a mission to bring vintage Vegas back

When David Saxe was a little boy, he’d share in a bowl of cereal with his father every morning and watch his favorite TV show, the kitschy, simplistically imaginative Japanese sci-fi series Ultraman. Saxe was fascinated by the show’s simple production and its heroic central character, a futuristic space alien who battled all variety of otherworldly monsters and menacing figures. The only boy and youngest child in a family of three kids, David was also enamored of his father, something of a heroic figure who always made sure to spend this quality TV time with his son.

Update 1/19/2012: The Joy of Saxe - Reader's reaction to Las Vegas Weekly's Article. View it here.

Tiger Martina Featured in SEVEN 'Onward to 34th Street'

Tiger Martina, the director and choreographer of Vegas! The Show at Planet Hollywood’s Saxe Theater, takes his handiwork just-barely-off-Broadway on Nov. 24 at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (9 a.m., NBC), where his tap-dancing elves routine will be featured on the Office Max float—that’s the one featuring an Alpine rooftop. Now, that’s the big time. Here are Martina’s three steps to getting there:

Melinda Living in the Moment After Joining Show

Melinda can laugh about it now, sitting with her 4-year-old daughter asleep on her lap.

"The First Lady of Magic" recalls watching an old video from one of her fledgling efforts at the Marina hotel, circa 1990.

"We laughed so hard we cried," she says. "I came out of the spaceship dressed like Barbarella." A guy dressed as a robot was doing the robot -- you know, the dance. "With silver makeup on and the whole thing. He brought me my zombie ball."

BEST THEATER PRODUCER

His father was a Vegas bandleader, his mother a showgirl and his sister a Vegas magician. David Saxe is Old Vegas enter- tainment down to his toes. But his business is pure New Vegas, where shows must make money. He keeps the vaudeville/Vegas tradition alive with showgirls and jugglers and musicians by operating two theaters in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Holly- wood.

His marquee show collects a variety of variety acts, and the other show pays tribute to the city as Vegas: The Show. But in addition to his own shows, the Saxe venues keep the dream of the independent Vegas producer alive. And his stages are for rent if you have a show, a dream and can pass the Saxe audition for a show likely to please a Vegas audience.

Reappearing Act

Melinda The First Lady of Magic was an iconic magician in the era of big hair, neon colors and smoke machines. And in Las Vegas, that era lasted from the ’80s to the early 2000s.

The Rise of David Saxe

When David Saxe was a little boy, he’d share in a bowl of cereal with his father every morning and watch his favorite TV show, the kitschy, simplistically imaginative Japanese sci-fi series Ultraman. Saxe was fascinated by the show’s simple production and its heroic central character, a futuristic space alien who battled all variety of otherworldly monsters and menacing figures. The only boy and youngest child in a family of three kids, David was also enamored of his father, something of a heroic figure who always made sure to spend this quality TV time with his son.

VEGAS! The Show Wins Broadway World Awards

Best Band
VEGAS! The Show

Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical
Eric Jordan Young, VEGAS! The Show

Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical
Reva Rice, VEGAS! The Show

David Saxe giving away free tickets on Veterans Day!

Theater owner David Saxe is offering free show tickets to the men and women who serve our country this Veterans Day. Saxe is also issuing his annual challenge to other Las Vegas and Henderson business owners to support our Vets.

“We should always look for opportunities to give back to those who have served in the Armed Forces, to let them know their community appreciates the tremendous sacrifices they’ve made to protect our freedom,” said Saxe.

WHAT'S NEW IN LAS VEGAS

VEGAS! The Show celebrated its one year anniversary at the new Saxe Theater inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Thursday night August 4. I was at the opening night performance last year and gave it a rave review. Since then, I have returned several times to share it with friends who enjoyed it as much as I.

VEGAS! The Show is a highly entertaining production that has it all, a storyline that takes the audience on a journey down memory lane paying tribute to vintage Vegas, the entertainers and the glitz and glamour that made the city famous. The show features an incredibly talented cast of singers and dancers and a live big band orchestra that are the best in the business, plus gorgeous costumes, and fabulous, innovative choreography by Tiger Martina.

GHOST ADVENTURES' in Vegas

"Vegas! The Show" producer David Saxe, center, with "Ghost Adventures" producers Nick Groff and Zak Bagans at a shoot at Saxe Theater inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. "Ghost Adventures" is shooting an episode about ghosts at the old Sands location which is now Madame Tussauds. They interviewed Saxe about unexplained occurances ghosts that happened during the run of his sister's show "Melinda -- First Lady of Magic." The episode will air in March.