Las Vegas-based actor/singer/tap dancer extraordinaire Elijah Rock refuses to allow the harsh circumstances of COVID-19 to slow his roll. The one-time “Vegas! The Show” lead entertainer at Planet Hollywood has been busier than ever recording an unreleased 9-song album (“Matters of the Heart”) with several numbers featuring live strings, a 4-song companion CD (“Matters of the Heart En Español”), and writing a book (“The Fine Art of Romance: A Bachelor’s Handbook”). Perhaps most gratifying has been an inspired run of 48 interviews Rock has conducted in his new role as host of “The Elijah Rock Podcast Show” that are the basis for a unique program which weds thoughtful topical interviews with celebrities, cultural icons and forward-thinking business people to performances by top talent across the entertainment spectrum.
Rock is launching this thrilling new concept with “The Elijah Rock Variety Show Christmas Special” event streaming live from Las Vegas on Sunday December 20th at 6pm PST @ elijahrock.com/christmasspecial. Reminiscent of the classic variety shows of yesteryear, Rock reimagines the entertainment experience for a digital only audience with a show which offers family Entertainment, Song, Dance, Jazz, Comedy and Broadway Christmas cheer streaming directly into your home! A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to charities supporting our youth at A New Day Foundation and St. Jude’s Ranch For Children. Additional partnerships with regional Theatres such as North Coast Repertory Theatre (Solana Beach, CA), Ensemble Theatre (Santa Barbara, CA) and Louisa Arts Center (Louisa, VA) and others enhance the support of the performing arts.
“The Elijah Rock Variety Show Christmas Special” broadcasting from the Renkus-Heinz Theatre at Notoriety will feature exciting acts such as songstress Tymara Walker, jazz singer Jonathan Karrant, Broadway/Vegas stars Ruby Lewis and Frank Lawson, Travis Cloer (the longest running lead as Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys), tap dancing twins Sean & John Scott, a cappella group The Doo Wop Kings, contortionist Jazmin LeFae, plus #1 impersonator John Di Domenico. Host Rock will also sing and dance. His soulful all-star band includes musical director Angelo Stokes (drums), David Siegel (piano), David Ostrem (bass) and Michael Spicer (saxophone).
“We’re in a challenging time here in Las Vegas with the Governor’s mandate of 25% capacity for live events,” Rock laments. “Performers need to perform and now, more than ever, people need family entertainment. My goal is to do my part to celebrate talent and spread joy.”
The forthcoming “The Elijah Rock Podcast Show” (co-produced by Rock and producing partner Mylene Barretto) is a virtual program currently in post-production. While not an exclusively Black show, the program does favor African American cultural leaders. Shot in glorious 1080P, each installment is slated to be at least an hour in length and can be consumed in both video vodcast as well as audio podcast.
Guests thus far interviewed for “The Elijah Rock Podcast Show” include the legendary Marla Gibbs, Freda Payne, Hollywood screenwriter Antwone Fisher, Las Vegas headliner Clint Holmes, actors Irma P. Hall, Karen Kendrick, Ernest Thomas, Dawnn Lewis, Richard Speight Jr. and Jocko Sims, TV/Film costume designer Anne Crabtree, Ray Charles Jr. (son of the music icon), Jay Sarno Jr. (son of the casino magnate), Broadway producer Rashad Chambers (The Temptations musical “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”), entrepreneurs Walter Hill, Kofu Anku and Sita Lewis, Olympian Jaime Nieto, physicians and health specialists Dr. Marcus Noel and Dr. Shri Myricks Noel, and singer Tasha Taylor (daughter of Soul legend Johnnie Taylor) to name a few.
“My careers as a singer, dance and actor have been highly fulfilling, but hosting ‘The Elijah Rock Podcast Show’ is an exciting new journey,” Rock enthuses. “My life is becoming more enriched than I could ever have anticipated by elevating other people’s stories. It is my firm belief that we as Americans should be vehemently celebrating each other to counter this time of abject divisiveness in our country.”
by Scott Galloway
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