David Cassidy in the News
At the Copa
November 28, 2000
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Big changes will be in store for the Rio's "At the Copa," including the fact that it might leave entirely or cease to exist with that title. The only thing that's certain at this point is that Sheena Easton will leave the show when her year's contract expires in mid-January.
The rest is up in the air. If the show remains, star David Cassidy could hire another star to replace Easton as the love interest, Ruby Bombay. Or he could drop the entire expensive Broadway musical structure and retro-swing story line to perform as a concert act -- as he did with successful results at Harrah's properties in Laughlin and Atlantic City this year.
Although Cassidy hasn't always had the smoothest relationship with the Rio brass, the show has averaged crowds of more than 500 each night without the hotel having to "paper" the room with comps.
Cassidy is also producer of "The Rat Pack Is Back" at the Sahara, which was scheduled to have former Rio headliner Steve Lippia join the show today as "Frank" -- no last names please, thanks to the litigious Sinatra estate.
Lippia's strong vocals -- if not a dead ringer for Sinatra, certainly good enough to be Steve Lawrence -- should give a lift to a show that has a winning format, but challenged to find performers who can approximate the Las Vegas legends.
