Showbiz Roast for Frank Marino

Details: Category: Insider Favorites; Published on Thursday, 27 February 2014 23:19; Written by Judy Thorburn

Showbiz Roast for Frank Marino

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By Judy Thorburn

The Showbiz Roast for Las Vegas's longest running headliner, female impersonator and star of Divas Las Vegas, Frank Marino, took place in the Showroom of the Stratosphere Hotel late Friday night, October 4. Producer Andy Walmsley had promised that the show was going to be “by far the craziest and most outrageous”, and I must say, he kept his word.

Frank Marino
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

From VIP guests and celebrities that showed up dressed as the opposite sex (aka in drag) in honor of Marino, The Queen of Las Vegas, to the lineup of no holds barred celebrity roasters and raunchy, over the top entertainment, the third in a series of Walmsley's Showbiz Roasts was, by far, the best, most hilarious, and “fabulous”, yet.

Andy Walmsley and Frank Marino
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

The event was free for VIP guests. However, boxes were placed on every table in the showroom in an effort to collect donations to benefit Marino’s chosen charity, the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Prior to the Roast kicking off, Walmsley presented a bouquet of flowers and a prize valued at $1000 to Burt Davis, as the winning guest who was decked out in the most flamboyant drag costume of the night. Needless to say, Burt was, to put it mildly, a sight to behold and the most deserving. Burt's wife, our very own LVRTC columnist, Dianne, was a close second, dressed as his anatomically correct, male pimp. Need I say more! Use your imagination.

Burt Davis, awarded the prize for the Most Flamboyant Costume of the evening.
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Acting as Roastmaster for the show was comedy hypnotist Marc Savard whose quick wit, funny one liners, comic timing and delivery was impeccable. Savard did an outstanding job leading the lineup of roasters that included journalist Robin Leach, comedienne Shayma Tash (Chelsea Lately show ), comedian and Plaza Headliner Louie Anderson, Mark Shunock (star of Rock of Ages at the Venetian), Frankie Scinta of the Scintas, Tropicana headliner comedy magician Murray Sawchuck, singer/actress Pia Zadora, and Marcus Deegan, host of Thunder From Down Under. After taking their seat on either side of the stage, the roasters were immediately targeted by Savard who got the ball rolling when he said,“Is this the best you can get? Punch me in the face, so that I can actually see stars.”

Marc Savard and Frank Marino
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Frankie Scinta
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Pia Zadora
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

John Katsilometes
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Shayma Tash and Frank Marino
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Marcus Deegan
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Louie Anderson
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Murray Sawchuck and Chloe Louise Crawford
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Mark Shunock and Frank Marino
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Robin Leach
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

That marked the beginning of an unforgettable evening of uncensored barbs, pokes and jabs from the roasters that took aim at each other and Marino as he sat in the hot seat laughing right along. Everything was considered fair game including shots at Marino' sexual preference, plastic surgery, and more, which were all, of course, delivered in jest.

Although the evening was an adults only affair, and definitely not for prudes or those easily offended by off color remarks and sexually explicit references, one of the show's highlights was when Louie took his turn at the podium and kept it all clean. The self proclaimed food fanatic had everyone in stitches after saying, “I don't have anything prepared because I thought it was really a roast. I have a pig in the car”.

Besides the roasters, there were unforgettable musical performances. Backed by the fantastic Lon Bronson 11 piece band, taking the stage to perform were singer Skye Dee Miles (Tropicana), Jersey Boys stars Jeff Leibow, Travis Cloer, Deven May, Rob Marnell, Graham Fenton, Britney Spears tribute performer Derrick Barry (Divas Las Vegas ), Melody Sweets (Absinthe), the cast and dancers of Divas choreographed by Nick Foote (Quad) and a wild and extremely sexually suggestive performance by a scantily clad Mark Shunock and several male dancers.

Brian Thomas as Monticore and a Siegfried lookalike
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Derrick Barry
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Jersey Boys
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Mark Shunock
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Melody Sweets
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

Skye Dee Miles
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn

In addition, making special appearances were “height challenged” actor, Brian Thomas; Mateo Amieva, from Criss Angel's show “Believe” at Luxor; Las Vegas Sun journalist John Katsilometes; and a Siegfried lookalike that had everyone in the audience doing a double-take before realizing he wasn't the real deal.

Prior to the 11 p.m. roast, there was a red carpet for celebrity arrivals, and a pre-show in the lobby billed as "The Show Before The Show", hosted by Liberace tribute performer Daryl Wagner, featuring entertainment by Bella Strings; James C. Mulligan, Adam Flowers, Will Roberts, Jasmine Valencia, and Scott Land.

 The roast was yet another way to honor beloved longtime Las Vegas entertainer, Frank Marino, who currently produces and stars in "Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas" at the Quad Resort & Casino on The Strip. In 2005, Mayor Oscar Goodman proclaimed February 1st as Frank Marino Day in Las Vegas. The performer was also honored with two stars on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars and has a street named after him.

Adam Flowers and Frank Marino
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn