It would have been too good to be true, for “Jersey Boys” to avoid litigation after a hasty closing last month at Orleans Showroom. The show’s majority equity partner, Red Mercury Entertainment, filed suit in Clark County District Court on July 24 that it is owed at least $350,000 in loans to producer Ivory Star Productions. Red Mercury was brought in as the show’s lender in February, just after the production opened for previews.
RME also managed the box office. The company split with the show on July 1; the production shut down July 7. Ivory Star Production founder John Bentham said Wednesday he was due to meet the RME exec Carlos Reynoso to discuss the suit.
The two sides are in the early stages to reaching a financial agreement. Red Mercury founder Darin Feinstein said Thursday he expected the sides to work a deal, over time. Bentham has operated several shows on and off the Strip for more than two decades.
“We both do business in this town, and it’s in everybody’s best interest to do what’s right,” Bentham said. His company still stages shows at The Venue, the smaller theater across the casino floor, with headliners Adam London, The Conjurors and the “Late Night Magic” show. Bentham said he’s still discussing “lots of options and opportunities” in Orleans Showroom.
“We want to continue to do big theater shows in that showroom, but I don’t think they want to do any long-term residencies.” The “Jersey Boys” relaunch was the first such .