LAS VEGAS WALK OF STARS HONORS “LEGENDS IN CONCERT” FOUNDER JOHN STUART

As the creator/founder of “Legends In Concert” and the acclaimed “Father” of the worldwide impersonation empire, John Stuart has become a legend in his own time. Now the noted producer, who has recreated many of the world’s brightest stars on the stage, will be receiving his own star on the Walk of Stars, in front of New York-New York on May 31st .

The actual Walk of Stars ceremony will take place during the Celebrity Impersonators Convention (May 29-31) at the Imperial Palace, where “Legends In Concert,” Las Vegas’ longest running independently produced show, is celebrating the entering of its 24th year (and the nearing of its 5 millionth showgoer) this month. On May 30, following a noon luncheon and showcase of celebrity impersonators for talent buyers and the public, Stuart will receive the star, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the convention itself, in the Legends Showroom. The latter will be presented by impersonator Kenny Kerr, who will be hosting the convention, while the star will be presented by the Walk of Stars executives. Interment of the star will take place the next day at the New York-New York site.

Stuart first brought “Legends In Concert” to the Imperial Palace stage on May 5, 1983. Its immediate success opened the door for him to be the first to produce like shows all over the world, from Europeto Russia to South Africa. Many of these shows are still playing today. The Atlantic City production of “Legends In Concert,” which closed at Bally’s in October 2005, was that city’s longest running show. Although he sold his rights to the “Legends” show in 2002, Stuart remains its creator/founder and retains a non-competitive right to continue producing impersonation shows globally.

In fact, Stuart, in association with Dan Akyroyd, Judy Belushi.and her husband, Victor Pisano, having formed Night Owl Productions, is currently producing the “Blues Brothers Revival,” which will play in several House of Blues venues across the country simultaneously. First appearing in Chicago, the show will open in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in September, followed by debuts in House of Blues in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Orlando, Florida.In association with his son, Shane, Stuart is also producing “Heart of the King,” a full-length documentary about how Elvis’ music and charismatic persona continues to impact the lives of some special individuals, such as those who thrive on impersonating “The King.” A two-and-half-year project in the making, it is expected to be released in the early part of 2007.

Stuart is also involved in a myriad of other ventures. He has recently purchased Las Vegas’ first-ever ShowFloat, a 62-foot float with a stage that will provide daily daytime and nighttime moving entertainment up and down the Las Vegas Strip and which will also be available for rental by groups for weddings, parties and meetings. In other arenas, he is the executive producer of the World Extreme Fighting matches being staged at the Orleans Arena on a bi-monthly basis (next match is June 10)and is building an entire equine community, comprised of 30 estates and all sorts of horse amenities, around his Legends Ranch.

In addition, Stuart owns First Choice Ticketing and has five ticket booths on the Las Vegas Strip, selling retail and discount tickets for Las Vegas shows.

Another aspect of his career that he is most excited about is the fact that he has recently purchased, in association with Riptide Entertainment LLC, the worldwide live stage musical rights to Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.” Stuart is in the midst of creating two productions, one a live stage show for casino audiences involving multimedia, real stars, impersonators, music, memorabilia, special effects and audience participation. The other is more of a book show for Broadway, a musical based on “American Bandstand.” Stuart hopes to open the live stage casino version in Las Vegas within the next six months and is currently in negotiations with various properties. He is also planning productions of the show throughout the U.S.

For living legend John Stuart, there is no time like the present.

The Las Vegas Walk of Stars was developed in cooperation with Clark County, which sanctioned four miles of sidewalk to the East and West of Las Vegas Boulevard South between Sahara and Russell. Similar to the “Palm Springs Walk of Stars,” located along the sidewalks of Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, California, the Las Vegas project honors people of prominence in a variety of fields including entertainment, sports, literary, humanitarian, civic, military and pioneers. Each star is a three feet square slab of polished granite weighing 180 lbs. and inlaid with the recipient’s name and specialty. For more information, visit www.lasvegaswalkofstars.com

Media Contact: Bruce Merrin, Merrin Public Relations
(702) 367-0331
merrinpr@lvcoxmail.com