Gino Venezia, Producer of the Ed Sullivan Tribute Show, gives some direction to Paul Terry (Ed Sullivan) and Tino Ferreira (Performer) during rehearsals for the show which was held at the CasaBlanca Showroom on Saturday, March 5. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Gino Venezia, Producer of the Ed Sullivan Tribute Show, gives some direction to Paul Terry (Ed Sullivan) and Tino Ferreira (Performer) during rehearsals for the show which was held at the CasaBlanca Showroom on Saturday, March 5. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Gino Venezia is known worldwide for being an entertainer and a producer. Being in the business since he was a teenager has given him the opportunity to meet and work with entertainers from around the world. Venezia, a citizen of Mesquite and very attached to his community, continues to bring that same talent to this small town.

The stage of the Mesquite Community Theatre has seen world renowned entertainers in shows such as ‘Roadhouse’, ‘Jump, Jive and Wail’, ‘The Attic’ and the ‘Ed Sullivan Tribute Show’. Venezia has consistently sold out shows in the cozy 200 seat theatre and the crowds are left wanting more of his Vegas Style entertainment so he moved his venue to the CasaBlanca Casino.

On Saturday, March 5 Venezia brought a great mixture of comedy, specialty acts, musicians and in true Venezia-style, some entertaining video to the stage of the CasaBlanca Showroom. The show was undoubtedly a success with show goers considering the thunderous applause and loud laughter consistently coming from the audience.

Charlie Charles was a special guest in the audience the night of the Ed Sullivan Tribute Show at the Casablanca. Charles holds the Guinness Book of World Records Record for riding the world’s smallest bicycle and for remaining motionless on a bike for 7 hours and 25 min. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Charlie Charles was a special guest in the audience the night of the Ed Sullivan Tribute Show at the Casablanca. Charles holds the Guinness Book of World Records Record for riding the world’s smallest bicycle and for remaining motionless on a bike for 7 hours and 25 min. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

This show, like all other Vegas Style shows Venezia brings to Mesquite, continues to be a hit with audience members who are able relive the days of old shows that brought entertainment right into your living rooms. The patrons may have had to travel a bit farther than their T.V. sets this time but the entertainment value was well worth the trip.

Ticket prices were a mere $15 for world class acts such as Arian Black, Female Magician of the Decade, Roilan and Stephan, a world renowned hand balancing act and Leonardo, a plate spinner who had the audience on the edge of their seats as he spun 10 plates on 10 thin poles simultaneously.

Many of the entertainers have been to Mesquite with other Venezia Entertainment Productions and love performing in Mesquite. “The audiences are so great and they really seem to appreciate us being here, said Paul Terry”, who was ‘Ed Sullivan.’ Tino Ferreirra has four generations of family who were circus performers and Ferreira has performed his ‘Rolla Bolla’ balancing act around the world for over 40 years. He’s been to Mesquite on several occasions and is always thrilled with the audiences in town.

The Break Dancing Team ‘Battleborn’ gave a bit of modern flavor to the old time show and the seven-year-old break-dancer enamored the audience with his cuteness and his masterful skills.

Charlie Charles, in his younger days, on the bicycle that broke the Guiness Book of World Records with. "Riding the World's Smallest Bicycle"

Charlie Charles, in his younger days, on the bicycle that broke the Guiness Book of World Records for the man “Riding the World’s Smallest Bicycle”

Special audience guest, Charlie Charles, was there to see many of his friends perform. Charles holds the Guinness Book of World Records for riding the world’s smallest bike which is only 6 inches long and approximately half as tall. He also holds the world record for sitting stationary and balancing the bike for seven hours and 25 min. When the MLN asked Charles how he discovered his particular talent he replied, “I got a bike when I was a very small boy….I grew but the bike stayed the same size.”

Venezia continues to bring shows to the Mesquite audience because he loves Mesquite and because he believes that his friends, neighbors and fellow citizens should be able to see Vegas-style entertainment without having to drive to Las Vegas and pay Vegas prices. He believes that community members supply much of the wonderful entertainment here in Mesquite but Venezia wants to give them something special, something they can’t get with the local entertainers, shows like the Ed Sullivan Tribute Show and the other full production shows he brings into Mesquite.

For more information on Gino Venezia and Venezia Entertainment check out his website at: http://veneziaentertainment.com/productions