Comedienne Rita Rudner will be presented with a Casino Entertainment Legend Award at the fifth annual Casino Entertainment Awards (CEA) on October 4th later this year.
The ceremony will take place from 6 to 8:30pm, in the Vinyl showroom at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Veteran casino entertainment executive Mark Prows, Senior Vice President, Entertainment Operations, at MGM Resorts International, also will be honored with a Casino Entertainment Legend Award.
Sponsored by the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the Casino Entertainment Awards are the only awards exclusively honoring outstanding artists, executives and venues in the casino entertainment industry. The Casino Entertainment Legend Awards recognize lifetime achievement in the casino entertainment industry.
Actress, author, comedian, playwright, screenwriter and television host Rita Rudner holds the record for the longest running solo comedy show in Las Vegas history. Her 15-year run in Las Vegas sold almost two million tickets and grossed more than $100m. Next up for Ms. Rudner is the film Secret Sisters and the play Two’s A Crowd, both co-written with her husband of 29 years, Martin Bergman.
Mark Prows began his entertainment career in 1982 at University of Wyoming. After graduation he moved to different markets with every venue types and sizes while progressing from frontline positions to senior management. He moved back to Las Vegas when MGM opened in 1993 and has held graduating roles ever since. During his 35-year career, Mr. Prows has been instrumental in some of the highest grossing events in the casino entertainment industry’s history.
Actor, comedian, director, producer and writer Paul Rodriguez will be the master of ceremonies for the 2017 Casino Entertainment Awards. Rodriguez is currently touring casinos with Cheech Marin in the Loudmouth Comedy Roadshow.
Casino Entertainment Awards also will be presented to artists, executives and venues in eight categories of casino entertainment. Finalist nominees, selected from more than 1,000 online nominations, include:
Independent Casino Talent Buyer of the Year
Andrew Blank, C3 Presents
Brad Coombs, Meridian Entertainment
Scott Thomas, Buzz Entertainment
Casino Booking Agent of the Year
Brad Bissell, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Matt Korn, Paradigm
Seth Shomes, United Talent Agency (UTA)
Casino Showroom/Theater of the Year
The Event Center at Seneca Niagara Resort Casino
Montbleu Resort Casino Theater
The Vine at del Lago Resort & Casino
Casino Arena/Amphitheater of the Year
The Axis at Planet Hollywood
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Special Events Center
Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre
Casino Entertainment Executive of the Year
Dan Pferschy, Agua Caliente Casino
Christian Printup, Seneca Niagara Resort Casino
Monica Reeves, Station Casinos
Casino Comedian of the Year
Rodney Carrington
Jo Koy
Ralphie May
Casino Musical Artist of the Year
The Isley Brothers
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Rascal Flatts
Casino Entertainer of the Year
Clint Holmes
Little Anthony and The Imperials
The Tenderloins
