2026-04-23-Las-Vegas-Weekly

ENTERTAINMENT

INTERIM PUBLISHER MARIA BLONDEAUX maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com)

Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)

Staff Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA, HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

Office Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Las Vegas Weekly Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Contributing Graphic Designers WESLEY GATBONTON, CHRISTINA TRIMIDAL

Photo Coordinator LAUREN VINTON

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

Associate Editor of Social Media EM JURBALA

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN

Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON, MELINA TAYLOR

Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ

Event Sales Coordinator YAZMINE VALMONTE

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Traffic Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Traffic Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP

CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN

Director of Human Resources SHANNA CHAVEZ GRAY

Chief Financial Officer STEVE GRAY

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY

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Las Vegas, NV 89193

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Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts’ production of Chicago

ON THE COVER

20 FOSTERING CREATIVITY

Through hard work and honing their craft, young artists in Las Vegas inspire and make an impact in their community.

16 ENTERTAINING

Refresh your home gathering spaces at World Market Center’s upcoming Sample Sale.

26 SPORTS

The Golden Knights need Mitch Marner to transcend playoff criticism to compete for the Stanley Cup.

28 FOOD & DRINK

Now at Fontainebleau, Cantina Contramar delivers a fresh take on its Mexico City flagship.

32 MUSIC

Sick New World returns to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds with more bands and wider appeal.

34 STAGE

Nevada Shakespeare Festival lightens up The Taming of the Shrew with lots of laughs.

38 NEWS

Nationwide, access to the abortion pill hangs in the balance of legal battles and a review by the FDA.

COVER ART Las Vegas Weekly partnered with the Clark County School District to hold a contest challenging 96,000 high school students to design the cover of our magazine. “Why the arts are important in Las Vegas” by Kara Bernhard, grade 11 from Liberty High School, is the winner shown on the cover. Page 42 features the contest runner-up Miranda Gates, grade 11 from Liberty High School.

Matteo Lane brings his comedic talents to Wynn, Journey makes a special tour stop at Red Rock Resort and more this weekend.

As one of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities, many have already discovered Cadence is a unique and special place. With its combination of value, lifestyle and community; it’s the perfect place to address your future. If you haven’t visited…come and see.

Follow a walkway. Explore Central Park. Marvel at the views. Tour model homes. Meet potential neighbors. Because once you’re here, we’re confident you’ll want to address your future too.

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY APRIL 23

PHISH

Thru 4/25, 8 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com.

PINK TALKING PHISH

11 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. SALT LAKE BEES

Thru 4/25, 7:05 p.m. (& 4/26, 12:05 p.m.), Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com.

LAS VEGAS BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

Thru 4/26, times vary, Suncoast, lasvegasblack filmfestival.com..

ROMEO & JULIET

Thru 4/25, 7 p.m. (& 4/26, 5 p.m.), Majestic Repertory Theatre, majestic repertory.com.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Thru 4/25, 7:30 p.m. (& 4/25-4/26, 3 p.m.), Cornerstone Park, nevada shakespeare.com.

STEVE AOKI

10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com.

CYNDI LAUPER

8 p.m., & 4/25, 4/29, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

DANCING WITH THE STARS LIVE

8 p.m., BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.

DEMETRI MARTIN

8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

SPOTLIGHT EVENT

FRIDAY APRIL 24

JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS Thru 4/26, 9 p.m., Voltaire, voltairelv.com.

MASTODON With Melvins, Flatwounds, 7 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

AZÚCAR BANDA & LATIN NIGHTS

Las Vegas finally has its Latin party— and it’s happening every Friday and Saturday on the Strip at Sugar Factory. Azúcar brings together a live banda performance, Latin DJ, and an open bar with breathtaking rooftop views of Las Vegas Boulevard. From reggaeton to cumbia, bachata to salsa, Azúcar is the most electric Latin night in the city. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, bachelorette or just an unforgettable weekend, this is the party you’ve been waiting for (ages 21+). eventbrite.com.

BRETT YOUNG

8 p.m., Sunset Station Outdoor Amphitheater, ticketmaster.com.

EXCISION

With Zingara, Eptic, more, 6 p.m., & 4/25, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, eventim.us.

THE B-52S 8 p.m., & 4/25, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

DISCO BISCUITS 11 p.m., & 4/25, Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

POISON THE WELL With Terror, Pain Of Truth, End It, 6:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

ROBBY KRIEGER & THE SOUL SAVAGES 7:30 p.m., Copa Room, eventbrite.com.

P.O.D. With Alien Ant Farm, Snot, 6 p.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

ANA SAIA 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv.com.

FLYING MOJITO BROS 11:55 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.

CHRIS LAKE 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.

DOM DOLLA 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

SATURDAY APRIL 25

MATTEO LANE

Chicago-born comic Matteo Lane could have just as easily channeled his talents into a career as a professional opera singer or painter, but stand-up was undoubtedly the right call. From riffing on the inherent humor behind his identity as a gay man brought up in a deeply Italian household and the innate queerness of Disney characters, to poking fun at his own hair transplant treatments and bemoaning how four-year-olds ruined the debauchery of Vegas, Lane’s stage presence bleeds authenticity. He’s a Vegas regular and returns to Wynn this weekend as part of the We Gotta Catch Up! tour. 8 p.m., $78-$265, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. –Tyler Schneider

SICK NEW WORLD With System of a Down, Korn, Danny Elfman, more, 11 a.m., Las Vegas Festival Grounds, sick newworldfest.com.

SMOKEY ROBINSON & GLADYS KNIGHT

8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.

FOGHAT

7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

TYRANTS BY NIGHT

7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, dice.fm.

VENERA & YVES TUMOR

11:30 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.

LAS VEGAS

PHILHARMONIC: LATIN SIZZLE

7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

HENDERSON READS BOOK FESTIVAL 10 a.m., Water Street Plaza, cityofhenderson.com.

CARIBBEAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

11 a.m., Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, lasvegasnevada.gov.

CELEBRITY PRETZEL EATING CONTEST

6:30 p.m., Hofbräuhaus, hofbrauhaus lasvegas.com.

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. ATHLETIC CLUB BOISE

7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com.

BOXING: JARRELL MILLER VS. LENIER PERO 3:35 p.m., BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.

DANIEL TOSH 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

NAOMI WATANABE 10 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

DAVID GUETTA 11 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com.

KYGO 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.

TIËSTO 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com.

DEADMAU5 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

MEDUZA 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

4B 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.

WHAT THE DUCK 9 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com.

JACKIE HOLLANDER 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

SUPERGUIDE

LA DISPUTE

American post-hardcore legends La Dispute are extending their No One Is Driving The Car headlining tour to the states to round out their U.K. and European Union run. The Grand Rapids five-piece has spent over two decades shaping experimental hardcore with a catalog that continues to cut deep and influence. Beloved songs like “Such Small Hands” and “King Park” hit with emotional precision that lingers generations later. Vocalist Jordan Dreyer remains one of emo’s sharpest spoken-word storytellers, delivering every line like a confession. Live, it is intense and unfiltered, a cathartic rush that pulls its audience in and refuses to let go. 6:30 p.m., 24 Oxford, virginhotelslv.com. –Gabriela Rodriguez

LAS VEGAS SINFONIETTA: MADE IN USA

3 p.m., Clark County Library Theater, lasvegassinfonietta. com.

VEGAS UNSTRIPPED

6 p.m., Palms Pool, vegasunstripped. com.

JEFF DUNHAM

7 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com.

BLESSD 7 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

GINGER MILLER & OVERTURE 4 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

GRAVE SECRETS & PRIVATE SCHOOL 6:30 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.

RYAN CARAVEO 7 p.m., B-Side at House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

JONAS BLUE

With menü, 11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.

WIZ KHALIFA 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com.

ALEX WANN 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

MATRODA 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.

AFAN AIDS WALK 10 a.m., Craig Ranch Park, afanlv.org.

CORY WONG With Devon Gilfillian, Stephen Day, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

TOM MCTIGUE With Andrew Kennedy, Carlos Rodriguez, thru 5/3, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com.

BIG IRISH JAY HOLLINGSWORTH Thru 5/3, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegas comedy.com.

CORE-OKE 8 p.m., the Space, the spacelv.com.

DJ FIVE 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

SUPERGUIDE

TUESDAY APRIL 28 WEDNESDAY APRIL 29

LOCAL NOISE BATTLE OF THE BANDS FINAL

5 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster. com.

GARY PUCKETT AND THE UNION GAP

Thru 4/30, 7 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster. com.

CROCODILES

8 p.m., the Griffin, eventim.us.

HAMES 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, the sanddollarlv. com.

JOHN CAPARULO

9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster. com.

STEVE AOKI

10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup. com.

DO IT ALL

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. UTAH MAMMOTH Time TBD (if necessary), T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

THE CRANE WIVES With Lilith Max, 7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com.

CJ SCALA 9 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

LEBANON HANOVER

With Traitrs, Soft Vein, 8 p.m., Bizarre Bar, bizarrebarlv.com.

MIKE E. WINFIELD

Thru 5/2, 8:30 p.m., Bar Zazu, barzazulv.com.

Courtesy/Brian Ach

JOURNEY

Plenty of “classic rock” acts have found a comfortable home in Las Vegas in the last decade, but Journey has really done it all here. Our landmark moment: A rollicking residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in the fall of 2019. Ah, pre-pandemic Vegas ... oops, sorry, let’s refocus. The Hall of Famers’ Final Frontier Tour is making its way to dozens of arenas across the country, but this stop will be special, poolside at Red Rock Resort’s 4,500-capacity Sandbar spot. And it’s also a celebration of the Summerlin resort’s 20th anniversary, so expect a truly memorable night. 8 p.m., $204-$406, Sandbar at Red Rock, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke

World Market Center’s Spring Sample Sale can kick off a refresh of your home gathering spaces

SHAKE THINGS UP

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

ersonal evolution is constant, shaping how we live and what we value. Our homes, designers argue, should evolve alongside us, reflecting both growth and aspiration. For local interior design firm Fredric Alexander, that process begins with intention.

“People start shopping because they love individual pieces. But as they collect, without guidance, it becomes difficult to bring those pieces together,” says Freddy Godinez. “The key is having a plan. How do you want your space to feel when you’re hosting? Who do you want to share that experience with?”

The World Market Center’s annual Spring Sample Sale, open to the public May 19-21, is an opportunity to piece together that plan.

For professionals like Godinez and partner Alexander Stabler, the event offers a chance to source high-quality furnishings at steep discounts. For newcomers, it presents an opportunity to rethink and reimagine their gathering spaces.

The designers encourage shoppers to see the sale not as a spree, but as a starting point. They advise first taking stock of what you already have, and focusing on four key elements to create a refreshed, cohesive design.

4 KEY ELEMENTS

1. Anchor pieces, which define the structure and function of a room. Think sofas, dining tables, and furniture sets.

2. Statement pieces, which draw attention and express personality.

3. Lighting, which shapes the mood of any given room.

4. Grounding pieces, which tie the overall look together.

MUST-SHOP VENDORS

CLASSIC HOME

“Your space should always be a reflection of you,” says Stabler. “We want to host and gather. As human beings, we tend to want to socialize. So does your space encourage that or discourage that, based on the furniture, the layout, the vibe and the feeling?”

At Classic Home, the focus is on pieces that ground a room with subtle confidence. With more than 30 years in the furnishings trade, the brand pairs craftsmanship with a refined, enduring style. Its expansive showroom spans statement furniture, lighting, textiles and outdoor pieces designed to elevate a home’s overall feel.

(classichome.com)

In Building A, where much of the Sample Sale unfolds, Vanguard is a natural first stop. The showroom is priced to move, offering rare access to American-made, designer-exclusive pieces. Each design is an antithesis to mass-produced furniture, with tailored fabrics and refined finishes that bring depth and individuality to any space.

(vanguardfurniture.com)

ENTERTAINING INTERIOR DECOR

SAFAVIEH

Blending evocative antique reproductions with trend-forward transitional pieces, Safavieh offers a fun and accessible entry into elevated design. Shoppers can find lamps, accent chairs, rugs and tables at approachable prices. A single unexpected find from this brand can transform an entire room, Stabler says. (safavieh.com)

LEFTBANK ART

For art spanning landscapes to contemporary and Southwestern styles, Leftbank delivers in scale and variety. The showroom is vast, with both prints and one-of-a-kind originals. It’s a place to find the piece you did not know you were looking for, Godinez says. (leftbankart.com)

EUROPEAN BATH KITCHEN TILE & STONE

In Building A, European focuses on refined countertops, floors and walls. From luxe tile to striking stone, the brand offers a variety of renovation materials. Select pieces including sculptural bathtubs will be available during the Spring Sample Sale. Godinez and Stabler recommend working with a designer for larger projects.

(europeanlv.com)

SPRING SAMPLE SALE May 19-21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free. World Market Center, lasvegasmarket.com.

ZUO

For interiors that lean bold and expressive, Zuo delivers a welcome shift. As Godinez notes, the brand thrives on statement-making pieces that inject personality, from sculptural sofas to eye-catching accent tables. Beyond the furnishings, playful details like oversized emoji artwork spark inspiration and conversation. (zuomod.com)

Young artists in Las Vegas use their creativity to connect, inspire and give back

BY SHANNON MILLER AND TYLER SCHNEIDER

When the Weekly invited Clark County School District high school students to create our magazine’s cover, we provided the prompt, “Why are the arts important in Las Vegas?” After speaking with seven outstanding students and several more local youth arts programs, we learned multiple answers to that question.

The arts inspire a growth mindset, thinking outside the box and moving beyond comfort zones. They require practice, which instills hard work and focus, no matter the age of the artist. The popularity of music, performing and visual arts programs across the Valley (with more than 107,000 students enrolled in these programs in CCSD alone) is proof of their enrichment and inherent value.

The arts also connect people and can unite and inspire them to make a difference. Although youth are often written off as disengaged when it comes to enacting social change, young people in Las Vegas are using their artistic talents to build community and give back.

The acts of performing, making and consuming art underline our variety in a way that can unite us. Different ways of being and perceiving are valued and sought to be understood. And that is needed now more than ever.

That’s why the Weekly has decided to spotlight the youngest in our Valley who have committed themselves to their art, and the schools and organizations that foster their creativity.

LVA JAZZ

Las Vegas Academy of the Arts World Jazz Studies program director Patrick Bowen prefers “developing life skills through the arts,” over collecting accolades. And yet, the program succeeds spectacularly at both.

Since 1993, the magnet school music program has garnered 26 DownBeat Awards, 13 appearances as a finalist at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, and more recently captured the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Sweepstakes Competition in 2025.

Between daily 90-minute practices, the 87 students who comprise the program’s three levels of big bands thrive as a tight-knit community that trades album recommendations most adults haven’t even heard of.

Senior Mac Tarrant, a tenor sax specialist, has become “completely

immersed” in the genre, thanks to memorable experiences like performing in New Orleans and meeting prominent professional jazz musicians.

“It’s one of the most active and diverse genres. There’s never not something crazy happening,” he says.

Bowen’s goal isn’t necessarily to turn out professional musicians, but to cultivate “creative, artistic souls” who will carry those disciplines with them long after they graduate.

Others, like Tarrant, can’t imagine letting the sheet music collect dust. Lately, he’s been busy applying for conservatories on the East Coast.

“This department has shaped not only my playing, but also my progression as a person,” he says. “I can’t really see myself doing much else.”

DEL SOL ACADEMY THEATER

The 100 students in Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts’ magnet theater program can tackle specialties that range from acting and writing to stage tech, makeup and costume design.

“One of my favorite things about my school is that everything is student-made,” senior actor and theater board president Emily Peterson says. “All of our sets are made by students, and everything is tai-

lored by our costume department.”

Program director Haleigh Lyons says her curriculum emphasizes writing by hand, noting that “mind-body connection is really important for creating and learning.” Her teaching style has already had a measurable impact, including a group of freshmen who launched an ongoing YouTube series based on original characters they created in class.

Ahead of moving on to study theater education at UNR, Peterson played a lead role in the program’s production of Chicago. Already a seasoned performer, she says the experience helped expand her skills significantly.

“The biggest challenge—and my favorite part—is putting yourself in the mindset of a character,” she says. “It’s very vulnerable, and you learn a lot about people.”

STUDENT ART ON SPHERE

To display one’s artwork on the world’s largest LED screen—the exterior of the Sphere—is no small feat. The venue challenged more than 100,000 Clark County students to create artwork for the exosphere celebrating Pi Day, March 14.

Jacob Liang, a sixth-grader at Hyde Park Middle School, was one of eight students who won the competition. He said his love of math and of pie inspired his design.

MONACO MIDDLE SCHOOL MARIACHI

CCSD boasts the largest collective mariachi program in the country with around 4,000 participating students. More than 500 of them attend Monaco Middle School—representing roughly half its total enrollment.

Led by director Daniel Valdez, the Monaco ensemble typically performs twice a week during the school year. And in December, the top group, Los Gavilanes, finished second in the nation for middle school programs at the 31st annual Mariachi Extravaganza in San Antonio.

Eighth-grader Emily Krupka—the daughter of a Monaco orchestra teacher and experienced orchestral violinist—says joining mariachi marked a new chapter in her musical development.

“There’s more singing and showmanship in mariachi. I’ve gotten stronger in tone, I’ve used more bow and overall I’ve improved my playing a lot,” she says.

She also found something she didn’t expect.

“Although I’m not Mexican, it doesn’t really matter what race or culture you are. It’s so fun to see everyone come together to celebrate Hispanic culture,” Krupka says.

SPOTLIGHT STUDENT ART SHOWCASE

Spotlight Outdoor Ads has digital billboards up and down the Las Vegas Strip. In October, the company decided to devote four days of that prime advertising real estate to shining a light on local student artists. The artworks of 27 students from K.O. Knudson Academy of the Arts and Advanced Technologies Academy (A-Tech) were displayed on rotation.

“We hope this experience shows students that their ideas have power and that their work belongs in the brightest, boldest spaces in the world,” president and CEO Jeremie Watkins said in a statement.

CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL DANCE

The Centennial High School dance team state champions attribute their success to hard work: practicing in a 90-minute seventh period every other day, plus daily after-school rehearsals. Director Michelle Dunn, who has been with the program since 2008, says the time and effort invested makes the team have a special bond.

“It’s special to dance on stage with other people on your team who kind of get it, who you know are going to have your back. If you’re running out of breath and struggling you know they’re struggling with you, and they’re in it together,” Dunn says.

Senior Brielle Evans transferred to Centennial from Las Vegas Academy in her junior year, calling the move the “best decision I made for myself and for my dance career.” She quickly bonded with the 15-member Centennial team. After spending a year learning from senior officers, she assumed a leadership role as secretary.

Evans’ proudest dance moments include choreographing her first dance that year, and placing 20th in a national competition with her team in Orlando in February. And she doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. Good grades got her into Southern Utah University, where she plans to study nursing and join the dance team next year.

To those who are interested in dance but unsure whether they should try it, “go outside your comfort zone,” she says.

“I grew up such a scared, shy person. But you have to just go for it. You have nothing to lose. It’s going to make you so much better in the long run.”

BROADWAY IN THE H.O.O.D.

Las Vegas-based theater and arts nonprofit Broadway in the H.O.O.D. has fittingly had seven program alumni go on to perform in Broadway productions. The latest is Austin Rankin, who was just 13 years old when he joined the cast of MJ the Musical in 2024.

Program director Torrey Russell recalls Rankin’s first audition as unremarkable. But what stood out was his work ethic.

“Austin is the prime example of having faith, putting in the work, and excelling beyond belief,” Russell says. “The difference is that this young man locks in.”

With H.O.O.D. standing for Helping Others Open Doors, the nonprofit has served underserved youth through summer camps and stage productions since 2010. “It gives everybody in Vegas an opportunity to shine,” Rankin says.

Since returning from his eight-month tour as Young MJ, Rankin, now 16, kept the momentum going by playing a role in Broadway in the H.O.O.D.’s recent Sister Act production while also composing and recording his own gospel music.

He is far from the program’s first success story, and Russell believes his big break will only inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

“His influence is not just on those people he performs with, but on me as well,” Russell says. “If he can do it, anybody can.”

(broadwayinthehood.org)

FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL BAND

Foothill High School marching band’s parade resume looks more like that of a professional symphony than of a high school band. “Nevada’s largest marching band”—currently at 200 students—has played in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade (2009), Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2014) and Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade (2023), not to mention in Washington, D.C., Normandy, France and Carnegie Hall. The group most recently marched in the Bruno Mars parade on the Strip, and is booked for the America 250 parade in Philadelphia this summer.

Director Travis Pardee says he owes the success of the program to an initiative that started about 10 years ago, aiming to introduce elementary school students to instruments before they even sign up for middle school band class. The “test drive” allows students to try out every instrument to find which one suits them best. Once students

get into Mannion Middle School—which feeds Foothill about 90% of its new students—they receive daily specialized instruction from Pardee and three Foothill assistant band directors.

“It became a whole thing with the community that, hey, these kids who go to Smalley, Walker [elementary schools] and Mannion, their path is to go to Foothill. The idea is for these kids to have a seven-year music program,” Pardee says.

That’s how junior Mason Peterson got interested in French horn. Having grown up taking piano lessons, he did a “test drive” as a fifth grader and found that he “wasn’t too bad” at the brass instrument.

As a horn player and pianist who often has solos, Peterson is prepared to be in the spotlight. What he most enjoys is being in the background.

“I think what carries me through the most is whenever I’m playing in the background. People always come up and say it sounds great, I love your talent. I like to know when I’m doing something that connects with them,” Peterson says.

HARRY REID AIRPORT BILLBOARD CONTEST WINNER

A multicolored throng of wild horses run through the mountains, shrubs and cacti under the desert sun. Fifth grader Aitiana Guerrero created the masterpiece for a contest for Gene Ward Elementary students grades 3-5. Her winning artwork, which was inspired by the theme “Nevada wildlife and Year of the Horse,” was unveiled April 16 at Harry Reid International Airport.

LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC YOUTH CONCERT SERIES

Education is a major tenet of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and one of the ways they do that is by giving young musicians a stage to perform with Southern Nevada’s only professional symphony orchestra.

The organization recently held its annual Young Artist Concerto Competition, open to all Nevada students age 10 through high school. After adjudicated auditions, winners Jinwoo Moon (piano) and Yejoon Jung (cello) had an opportunity to play with the 74-member ensemble at the Phil’s Youth Concert Series. The free educational concerts were held in March at the Smith Center. (lvphil.org)

YOUTH FOR YOUTH HOLIDAY CONCERT

“Youth for Youth is about using our creativity to give back and make a difference, while also motivating audience and community members to do so,” says event chairperson Skai Jones.

Now a junior at Clark High School, Skai has been involved with the youth-led, youth-staged holiday concert since her older sister Roxy founded it in 2021. Each year, the event has donated 100% of proceeds from ticket sales, silent auctions and raffles to organizations serving underserved and homeless youth.

When Roxy left in 2025 to attend college at Yale, Skai stepped up as chairperson. In that role, she helps select the performers and the music program. She also performs in the concert as a violinist.

Last year, the event far surpassed the fundraising goal of $30,000, ultimately raising $50,000 for the Just One Project. They’re planning to bring the event back this year on December 5. Leave it to the youths. (youthforyouth.vegas)

MARNER’S MOMENT

Golden Knights need Mitch Marner to transcend playoff criticism in order to compete for the cup

BY CASE KEEFER

One of Mitch Marner’s best games as a Golden Knight—and his only multi-goal outing at T-Mobile Arena—came on December 23 against the San Jose Sharks.

Asked what he wanted for Christmas by the in-arena announcer after being revealed as the first star of the 7-2 win, the forward gave a response that drew major attention from his former home Toronto Maple Leafs fan base.

“A long postseason,” Marner said.

Four months have passed, but the wish has stayed the same. An extended stay in the playoffs is exactly what’s eluded the 28-year-old superstar so far in his career, and a main reason why he was exiled from his hometown, childhood team after last season.

The Maple Leafs went 2-9 in playoff series with Marner on the team from 2016-2025, never advancing past the second round. Marner managed only 13 goals and 49 assists in 69 total games and, fairly or unfairly, took the brunt of the blame for the annual early exits.

Perhaps no player in the NHL could be in for more of a reputation boost with a strong Stanley Cup Playoffs showing than Marner, who signed an eight-year, $96 million contract in Vegas after a trade this offseason.

His quest continues on April 24 and April 27 when the Golden Knights play Games 3 and 4,

respectively, of their first-round, best-of-seven series at the Utah Mammoth.

“Take it day by day and go from there,” Marner said when asked about his mindset for this year’s playoffs. “One step is done, and that’s exciting. Obviously, there’s a lot more work to be done.”

Marner is a polarizing figure in the NHL, with a counterparty just as strong as his Toronto detractors arguing the playoff underperformance is exaggerated and bound to regress.

Somehow, both factions could strengthen their own arguments after Vegas’ 4-2 victory over Utah in Game 1 of the series.

Marner passed the eye test and looked like one of the best players on the ice, leading the Golden Knights on several rushes by making strong defensive plays. He was arguably the most aggressive player on Vegas’ top power-play unit, getting four pucks towards the net with a man advantage in the third period before Mark Stone turned the final one into a game-tying goal.

But he also often deferred at even strength and sailed a few open shots well wide of the net. Marner finished with one assist, one shot on net and two hits in the victory.

His 18:49 of ice time ranked third on the team among forwards, behind only Stone and Jack Eichel. But Marner started the game on the top line alongside that pair before coach John Tortorella dismantled the group in the second period.

He left Eichel and Stone together but bumped up Ivan Barbashev while dropping Marner down to play mostly alongside Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden. The former group got the call on the most crucial shifts.

A constant personnel tinkerer, Tortorella surely wouldn’t regard the move as a demotion to Marner. In fact, during the stretch of eight regular-season games he coached since taking over for the fired Bruce Cassidy, Tortorella alluded to the fact that he liked playing the unselfish Marner with different linemates to unlock their offensive potential.

“Mitchy’s too good of a player to be locked into one line,” Tortorella said.

During a broadcast of the Golden Knights’ 3-2 win over Colorado on April 11, ESPN reported that Tortorella pulled Marner aside upon arriving in Vegas and encouraged him not to, “listen to any of the crap that people are saying.” That message could serve Marner well, especially throughout the playoffs where his performance will be under so much scrutiny.

Getting the best out of Marner when the games matter most is one of the most important challenges Tortorella is facing. For the Golden Knights to go as far as possible, Marner needs to have a playoff breakthrough.

“I think he’s come as advertised, a great twoway player,” Stone said of Marner. “The skill is the skill, and you see it on a daily basis.”

Simple sophistication

BY AMBER SAMPSON

At Cantina Contramar , chef Gabriela Cámara delivers a fresh take on her Mexico City flagship

Stories of chef Gabriela Cámara’s iconic Contramar travel by land, sea and air. Its reputation lingers as one of the most sought-after seafood restaurants in Mexico City. It sits inland, among the tree-lined avenues and Porfirian architecture of Roma Norte, but you wouldn’t guess that by the food;. fresh coastal cuisine has defined the landlocked Contramar since 1998.

It was Cámara’s first restaurant and the foundation of her career. People from all around the world travel to experience it. Now, the chef has chosen to share it with us.

In March, Cámara unveiled Cantina Contramar at Fontainebleau Las Ve -

gas, an offshoot of her famed flagship. “Guests go to Vegas wanting to be impressed. There’s nothing like Contramar, even though many of Contramar’s dishes have become staples of Mexican food or contemporary Mexican cuisine,” says Cámara. “I look forward to the reactions of people in Vegas, because the food is very comfy and just good. It’s very straightforward and based on good ingredients and service.”

At Fontainebleau, Cámara reintroduces herself with a more meat-centric menu, offering a dry-aged tomahawk steak ($225) and short rib

glazed in black adobo ($46). But Contramar’s delicious medley of cured fish and shrimp ceviches still remain. The tuna tostadas ($21), a must-try for their refreshing taste and memorable crunch, also make excellent cantina-style shareables. Cámara’s love for locally sourced ingredients has also led her to add local Desert Moon Farm’s mushrooms to the tacos de hongos ($22).

Cantina Contramar features several new dishes exclusive to Las Vegas. Cámara leans into a bit of sophistication with her sope elegantes ($62), a Mexican street food topped here with caviar and velvety crème fraîche. And the tacos de gaoneras ($38) come filled with Wagyu tenderloin and smoky, housemade salsa. She’s even brought deep-cut dishes like the charred sweet potato with bone marrow ($38) from her San Francisco restaurant, Cala.

“We play around with things,” she says. “I don’t want to say it’s traditional Mexican food, but it really is coming from traditional ways and techniques in a sense that I think will be very much appreciated by foodies. And Vegas is full of foodies.”

Cámara bases her cooking on Mexican minimalism. Her approach is fresh but not flashy, simple but striking. Take her signature whole grilled fish, pescado a la talla ($155). It’s a marvel, beautifully butterflied with smoky red adobo and mild parsley sauces dividing the fish cleanly down the middle for one vivid presentation. The sauces offer a nice balance of heat, and the fish is ridiculously

tender with crisp skin still intact.

Vegas’ dining scene supplants all others when it comes to spectacle. And while Cantina Contramar does have a few showy tricks up its sleeve—like an extensive agave program with 50 selections of tequila and 15 mezcals—it’s staying true to what matters.

“The beauty will be in the ingredients and in the execution. And I think the real show will be the food and the service,” Cámara says. “The level of hospitality that we have in Mexico can only be performed well in Vegas. I really feel that there’s no other city in the United States where I could see that happening.”

Dining news

Maroon at Sahara, tea at Resorts World, Villa’s Tacos at Durango and more

Fire up your phone: The highly anticipated Afro-Caribbean steakhouse concept Maroon by Chef Kwame Onwuachi will open on Friday, April 24, at Sahara. Reservations can be made at maroonlasvegas.com

The winners of this year’s James Beard Awards will be announced June 15 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, and the Las Vegas finalists are: Tamba, for Best New Restaurant; Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf, for Best Chef Southwest; and Sarah Thompson of Casa Playa, also for Best Chef Southwest.

Tacos Del Rio Cocina & Bar has opened at the Rio, offering a modern take on Mexican cuisine. It’s open Thursday through Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m.

Ferraro’s Ristorante will host a wine dinner with Marchesi Antinori, one of Italy’s most historic wine families, on May 5 at 6 p.m., featuring a curated selection of wines including Tignanello, widely recognized as one of the world’s greatest Super Tuscans. Tickets are $295 and can be purchased by calling 702-364-5300.

Resorts World has launched The Royal Pour, an afternoon tea experience at Crockfords Las Vegas every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. priced at $65 per person. Curated tea selections alongside Champagne, fine wine and cocktails, and savory and sweet dishes round out the experience, along with live music. Reservations are available at rwlasvegas.com

Seventy Six by Station Casinos is set to open its fourth neighborhood tavern location on West Tropicana and Grand Canyon on April 23.

Durango Casino & Resort recently announced it will open the first location of famed taqueria Villa’s Tacos outside of Los Angeles at the Eat Your Heart Out food hall this summer. Villa’s was the taco shop featured in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show. –Brock Radke

Matty Matheson’s

BY

GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

1 Which Sick New World artist was previously a mortician in training?

a) Kat Moss (Scowl)

b) Jonathan Davis (Korn)

c) Dax Riggs (Acid Bath)

d) Amy Lee (Evanescence)

2 Which of these bands has not been featured on a video game soundtrack?

a) Health

b) Lords of Acid

c) Carpenter Brut

d) Vowws

It doesn’t take long to get through Pig Pen’s debut EP Mental Madness; 24 minutes, to be exact. It takes even less time to come to the conclusion that this isn’t some thrown together hardcore group with a celebrity name. It’s a real, down-and-dirty, two-step worthy, breakdown heavy, punishing project that earns its place in the playlist.

The Toronto-based hardcore outfit, slated to make an appearance at the Las Vegas edition of Sick New World on April 25, is made up of longtime friends who united in the Niagara music scene.

Matty Matheson, a boisterous online star known for his acclaimed chef-tivities, delectable restaurants and role as Neil Fak on FX’s hit dramedy The Bear, handles vocal duties. Wade MacNeil, a longtime guitarist for post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, reprises his role in this band, while brothers Daniel and Ian Romano (Attack in Black, The Outfit) play guitar and drums, and Tommy Major (The Outfit, Young Guv) handles bass.

The proof is in the pudding for these dudes, who’ve relentlessly conquered and grown within their respective scenes over the years—including Matheson, who fronted the hardcore band Hanging Hearts back in the ’90s.

“We’re all over the place with

3 Which band’s name was inspired by a line from the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl?

a) Bloodywood

b) Violent Vira

c) Bring Me the Horizon

d) She Wants Revenge

what we’re into, but the sort of common place would be midto-late ’80s hardcore, getting into early ’90s hardcore,” says Ian Romano.

That influence is clear on tracks like “Rabid Beach” and “Venom Moon Rising.”

The former, one of the band’s first singles, leans into fast, thrash-driven punk with a distinctly old-school backbone.

Part of what makes Mental Madness stand out is how quickly it came together. After months of throwing around riffs and playlists, the band wrote all 10 tracks in a day and recorded them the next. And with Matheson and the Romano brothers living so close by, with a studio ready to go, the process felt natural.

For a group of seasoned musicians, and a vocalist who naturally spits out the kind of raspy, sludgy barks a band like this requires, that speed is less surprising than it sounds.

Beyond its making, Pig Pen is as much about connection as it is about sound.

“This band exists as a really good excuse for us to all hang out and hang out with our friends all over the world,” says Romano.

“And the fact that people are showing up and are excited about the songs, you can’t really pull that off unless people actually want to hear the music.”

Danny Elfman (Courtesy/Jonathan Williamson)

Sick

New

World 2026 fills a void with its most diverse lineup yet

Las Vegas’ festival calendar has seen better days. This year alone, we saw the postponement of three annual live music events, and while When We Were Young, Punk Rock Bowling and Best Friends Forever all catered to different tribes, it still stings to see live music fans go through a festival drought.

That’s what makes Sick New World’s return to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on April 25 all the more significant. It may not be the festival everyone wanted, but right now, it might be the festival that matters most.

Nostalgic nu-metal is what Sick New World promised when it debuted in 2023. And though Korn and System of a Down are still the bedrock, this festival’s shown a propensity for crossovers.

Three acts that once anchored the now-defunct Psycho Las Vegas—darkwave duo Twin Tribes, the stoner rock pioneers of Clutch and darksynth producer Carpenter Brut—have found a new home here. Even legendary hip-hop crew Cypress Hill couldn’t resist SNW’s gravitational pull. And then there’s the returning Danny Elfman, who ripped through his iconic film scores and Oingo Boingo tracks in a festival-defining performance in 2024. What hard rock fest flaunts its own film composer?

Sick New World is bridging genres. It’s absorbing overflow. It’s rekindling the spark of sweaty, intricately performed live music. It’s nu-metal. It’s West Coast rap. It’s goth. It’s shoegaze. It’s hardcore punk. It’s … well, sick. –Amber Sampson

4 The supergroup Better Lovers features members from which highly influential metalcore band?

a) Atreyu

b) Killswitch Engage

c) Every Time I Die

d) As I Lay Dying

5 Which of these ’90s rap artists has Korn not collaborated with?

a) Limp Bizkit

b) DMX

c) Nas

d) Ice Cube

6 This Sick New World artist starred in the 1999 comedy crime film Jawbreaker. Who is it?

a) Marilyn Manson

b) Matty Matheson (Pig Pen)

c) Troy Sanders (Mastodon)

d) Danny Elfman

BY GEOFF CARTER

Nevada Shakespeare Company is down to clown. The local theater company, co-founded by the husband-and-wife team of Matthew Morgan and Heidi Brucker Morgan with a few creative collaborators, has leaned into Shakespeare’s tragedies in past years, delivered with modern flourishes: Hamlet set in a trailer park, a Grindhouse-inspired Titus Andronicus . But for this year’s main stage production, the versatile company that also brings you the raunchy Bard-with-booze farce Shotspeare tackles a Shakespeare comedy, The Taming of the Shrew

Perhaps best known to modern audiences in one of its most recent movie adaptations, 1999’s 10 Things I Hate About You, Taming of the Shrew is either misogynistic or a critique of patriarchal ignorance, depending on the Shakespeare scholar you speak with and what kind of day they’re having. But Brucker Morgan—who plays the show’s namesake, um, contrarian spouse—has no intention of allowing Kate to shrink into the proscenium. Deep in rehearsals, she shares 10 spoiler-free previews of what NSF is doing to tame this problematic comedy … and she even encourages Kate to hop on the phone. Best beware her sting.

1

The star is pre-salted. “I’m stepping over from being Boozy Skunkton in Atomic Saloon Show into this role,” Brucker Morgan says, adding with a chuckle, “I was just telling my parents yesterday that I think I’m in my shrew era.”

2

It’s gonna be a rumble. “It’s such a cringey play,” she says. “[Matthew and I] settled on the idea of [Petruchio and Kate] being a husband and wife because in some ways, it elevates the drama, and in other ways, it lets people off the hook a little bit. They go, ‘Well, they’re married, so they can be a little more violent with each other and we’ll accept it.’”

3

The manosphere may get satire-maxxed. “If we were doing this play in 2010 I would have a very different perspective on it, but in 2026 it’s sadly and frighteningly relevant. … I’ve been wondering what was meant to be funny and what was meant to just be a portrayal of how people really thought,” she says of Shrew’s gaslighting and tradwife elements. “I would love to give Shakespeare the benefit of the doubt, but I don’t really know. So, we choose to put that satirical lens on it.”

4

Relax; it’ll be funny. Brucker Morgan says they took inspiration from the slapstick comedy classic The Play That Goes Wrong. “Unexpected things will happen to drive home that this is a farce. … We have a literal slapstick attached to all the entrances, that actors can use for comedic purposes.”

5

Verisimilitude, for all in tents. “Yes, we’re in a circus tent,” she says of the NSF’s short-run home in Henderson’s Cornerstone Park. “But this time last year, you walked in and you’re in a trailer park. This year, you’re inside a theater. … There’s a fountain that will have an actual water feature, and a typical flats background: ‘This is the house, and this is the painted floor.’ Something you would see in a very traditional production.”

6

But not too much verisimilitude. “I remember walking in [to Hamlet] and being like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a trailer park, and the floor is dirt.’ I’m glad we’re not playing in dirt this time. That was gross.”

7

New Shakespeareans incoming. Shrew features Michael Duffy, an acrobatic performer who’s worked with Cirque du Soleil and Spiegelworld, but never the Bard. “I love introducing people to Shakespeare who are like, ‘I wouldn’t have thought of auditioning if I didn’t know you guys.’ And he’s killing it so far.”

8

Clowns in full effect. Matt and Heidi are brilliant clowns—you’ve seen them in lots of Strip productions, including Absinthe—and they’ll bring some of that chaos to Shrew. “Matt says, “I want to use a slide table for this scene. … Matt and I both have both experience using that kind of apparatus. And some of the actors who have more of a traditional theater background are like, ‘A what now?’ … Incorporating more of that classic clowning has been really fun.”

9 Kate, just between us girls, what do you really think of Petruchio? “I hate to love him. You know how they say, ‘You love to hate him’? It’s the other way around,” says Kate, grabbing the phone from Brucker Morgan. “I’m never allowed to make my own choices at the end of the day. I really do like him, but when he tells me that he’s agreed with my father that we’re going to get married, he loses me there.”

10 Shrew will work hard to go down easy. “Matt always tells the Shotspeare cast, ‘For this to work and to have the layers it needs to be as entertaining and funny and at times moving as it needs to be, it has to happen to you. … You can’t push the game onto the audience. The audience must force the game onto you, as a player. When it’s approached that way, it’s more successful as a piece of art.”

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THEY’RE BACK IN AN ALL NEW SHOW!

JUNE 27 | 2PM & 7PM

Republican-led efforts mount to limit access to mifepristone, used for two-thirds of U.S. abortions

BY TYLER SCHNEIDER

The abortion pill is now used in 65% of all terminated pregnancies nationwide, according to the reproductive health research firm Guttmacher Institute. The method’s popularity has only grown since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, with one in four patients turning to telehealth providers to access abortion medication, according to the Society of Family Planning.

Since then, anti-abortion advocates and politicians have set their sights on legally limiting or eliminating access to the abortion pill, which is actually mifepristone paired with misoprostol in a regimen currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to terminate pregnancies at 10 weeks or less and to manage miscarriages.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a review of the safety of mifepristone in 2025, citing a highly criticized, non-peer reviewed report from a conservative think tank that questions the safety and efficacy of mifepristone—a medication that was approved by the FDA in 2000, has been reviewed repeatedly and has been shown to be safe and effective by numerous scientific studies.

At the state level, Republican Louisiana Attorney General Liz

Murrill has sued the FDA over a 2023 rule implemented under former president Joe Biden that allowed the abortion pill to be prescribed via telemedicine appointment and dispensed via mail or pick-up at certified retail pharmacies. (The rule was implemented after a 2023 FDA review of the medication that again found it to be safe and effective.)

A federal judge on April 7 granted the FDA’s request to put a hold on the case until the agency could complete its review of mifepristone, and gave the agency until October 7—one month before midterm elections—to provide an update on the status of that review.

With the FDA signaling a harder line on the medication, the fate of access nationwide hangs in the balance. If the 2023 rule is reversed, more patients will have to travel to a doctor’s office to obtain the abortion pill—a journey that many patients cannot afford.

“We know that people in surrounding states with more stringent abortion laws—Utah, Arizona and Idaho—utilize telehealth under the provision of shield laws,” says Macy Haverda, executive director of Wild West Access Fund.

In 2025, the Nevada-based nonprofit assisted more than 1,800 patients with accessing

abortion care in the state. Haverda adds that Nevada women, particularly rural women, stand to lose if telehealth were no longer a legal option for them to obtain an abortion.

“Outside of the Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas, access to abortion in Nevada is almost entirely based on the ability to receive telehealth or for people to travel a great distance,” she says.

Nevada law allows abortion at up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, and the state has seen an influx in the number of abortions performed since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The Democratic state Legislature passed a shield law, signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2023, that protects health care providers and abortion patients from prosecution in Nevada—including those providing and receiving care via telehealth.

Despite that, the Louisiana lawsuit and the FDA’s review of mifepristone could take away telehealth as a method to obtain an abortion, even in states where abortion is legal.

Las Vegas-based pharmaceutical company GenBioPro is one of two U.S. manufacturers of generic mifepristone. The company’s legal counsel, Democracy Forward, has challenged multiple states’ abortion bans

and intervened in cases like the one in Louisiana that would impact access to the medication.

In a news release, the company emphasized that the lawyers representing Louisiana in its lawsuit against the FDA are from the Alliance Defending Freedom. The conservative legal group went before the Supreme Court in 2024 in an unsuccessful bid to limit access to mifepristone. It also had a hand in the Dobbs decision that resulted in the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“Far-right, ideologically-charged attacks on mifepristone have led to the TrumpVance administration calling into question its own FDA’s decision making as it pursues its review of mifepristone’s safety,” Democracy Forward president and CEO Skye Perryman said in a statement. “Although this case should not have been allowed to proceed in the first place, Democracy Forward will hold the FDA accountable to ensure its review is grounded in the extensive, decades-long scientific evidence demonstrating mifepristone’s safety and efficacy.”

One 2026 study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health drew from more than 5,000 pages of FDA documents to conclude that the agency’s regulation of mifepristone from

2011 to 2023 was consistently “shaped by scientific evidence and a cautious regulatory approach,” noting that the period saw a “limited impact of political interference—to date—on the agency’s oversight.”

Telehealth abortions in Nevada nearly doubled from 2022 to 2025, according to a 2026 report from UNLV’s Brookings Mountain West and Lincy Institute. In that same period, Nevada’s in-person abortions count fell by more than 18%.

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah also recorded sharp increases in the number of residents who received abortions via telehealth in that span. Haverda says many did so through Nevada providers. She worries that a reversal of the 2023 FDA rule could have immediate consequences for Nevadans and residents of neighboring states who depend on its shield laws.

“This would have a ripple effect across the Valley, as many, many more people would be required to schedule in-person appointments. It’s also all but guaranteed to cause a wave of doubt and confusion about the legality of abortion in the state,” she says.

“Outside of the Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas, access to abortion in Nevada is almost entirely based on the ability to receive telehealth or for people to travel a great distance.”

–Macy Haverda, executive director, Wild West Access Fund

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IN THE NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

Two Broadway hits come to Venetian Theatre

The Venetian welcomes two hit Broadway musical comedies—Mrs. Doubtfire, based on the 1993 film starring Robin Williams, and the nine Tony Award-winning The Book of Mormon, from the unlikely pairing of South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone and one of the songwriters of Frozen—to its 1,800-capacity Venetian Theatre for limited engagements. Mrs. Doubtfire runs from July 22 to August 2; The Book of Mormon

runs November 4 to November 15.

This is the first time Broadway has made a notable showing on the Strip since the Smith Center opened its doors in March 2012; shows like Avenue Q, Chicago, The Lion King and Spamalot enjoyed runs at Strip properties during the 2000s, and the Venetian’s own Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular closed in September 2012, only a few months after the Smith Center’s opening.

“Bringing Broadway to the Las Vegas Strip is incredibly exciting for us, and these productions represent the caliber of entertainment our guests expect from the Venetian Resort,” said Patrick Nichols, president and chief executive officer of the Venetian, in a statement. Tickets for the shows go on sale April 24 and may be purchased at venetianlasvegas. com or by calling 702-414-9000.

–Geoff Carter

RED ROCK CASINO CELEBRATES 20 YEARS WITH CULINARY SOIREE

Red Rock Casino celebrated its 20th anniversary on April 18 with a one-nightonly culinary experience featuring poolside tastings from dozens of Station Casinos restaurants. The sold-out event featured standout venues across Station’s seven hotel-casino properties including T-Bones Chophouse, Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca and Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar. Guests enjoyed bites and beverage pairings as well as entertainment from dancers, acrobats and a drone show. The company donated $10,000 from ticket proceeds to Three Square, “reinforcing Station Casinos’ ongoing commitment to giving back to the Southern Nevada community,” they said in a news release. –Shannon Miller

“Mark Davis built Allegiant Stadium with a vision to deliver world-class experiences at every touchpoint, from seamless entry and innovative technology to unforgettable moments on and off the field. We’re proud to continue raising the bar and showcasing what Las Vegas can and has been delivering on a global stage.”

–Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the Las Vegas Raiders, after Allegiant Stadium was named Pollstar’s Stadium of the Year

ON THE GREEN

Fifty kids teed off alongside Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and local golf pros in Bank of America’s Golf With Us Clinic at Las Vegas Golf Club on April 16. The event promoted Bank of America’s Youth on Course program (youthoncourse. org), which invites youth ages 6-18 to access tee times for $5 or less at thousands of courses with a free one-year membership.

(Courtesy)

ARTS

NEVADA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS RETURN

The Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards will return to Reynolds Hall on May 3, in celebration of outstanding students blazing a trail onstage. The regional awards program will present more than 20 awards to high schools throughout Nevada in categories such as Outstanding Student Orchestra, Outstanding Choreography Execution and more. Last year, Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress Chris Hayes (Las Vegas Academy) and Marie Muñoz (Bishop Gorman High School) received a 10-day trip to New York City, where they performed in the Jimmy Awards on behalf of Nevada. Hayes ultimately won Best Performance by an Actor, making him Nevada’s first male victor. –Amber Sampson

BACKSTORY

YOUTH ARTS COVER CONTEST RUNNER-UP | SPRING 2026

The toughest part of assisting with the assembly of the youth arts feature in this issue of Las Vegas Weekly was narrowing down who would be highlighted, while being well aware that there are so many impressive art students across the Valley, marching with tubas, busting moves and taking names. The art above, by Liberty High School junior Miranda Gates, displays a brilliant level of detail and evokes a Vegas rendition of “The Starry Night.” As a product of CCSD, it has been both an honor and delight to show off the next wave of greatness being nurtured in this overstimulating, beautiful city. –Corlene Byrd, Las Vegas Weekly art director