The Carpenters Are Back!
THE MAGNIFICENT DUO SHINE AT THEIR OPENING AT THE V THEATRE
By Joan S. Peck
The tribute show is cleverly complete with a video wall behind the performers, with videos of Karen and Richard Carpenter mixing with Sally and Ned to seamlessly bring the two sets of siblings into one. The ever-changing background mellows the heart, as does the music, to set the stage for the audience to relax into the more uplifting memories of the past when its songs allowed you to sing along.
How did the two meet? Before coming to Las Vegas in 2018, Sally had played Karen Carpenter in a cabaret show she created in Vermont. When she came here to audition for “Legends in Concert,” she was looking for her Richard Carpenter. Sally landed the gig and set up duo performances with pianists. She met Ned Mills on January 29th, 2018, the first and only performer she auditioned.
“I needed a Richard Carpenter for the show that I knew,” Sally said. “But what I wasn’t expecting was also finding a partner.”
They immediately “clicked” musically and soon after as a couple. Sally moved in with Ned, and they began creating their show. They began performing in Solera, Henderson, Casa Blanca in Mesquite, the Starbright Theatre, and touring the country. They sought residency in Vegas and played for six weeks at Stoney’s in Town Square in 2021 and a successful 13-month run at an off-strip venue starting in July 2022, which ended this past August.
Johnny Stuart, the creator of “Legends In Concert,” attended Sally and Ned’s show at the Starbright Theatre in August 2019 and has been a fan for quite some time, having seen their show several times since then.
Who is behind their show at The V Theatre? Johnny Stuart. He is Las Vegas’s premiere show producer from concept to creation, especially when creating a new entertainment genre. Mastermind/producer Stuart is known as the “Father” of what is now the impersonation empire throughout the world.
His unique creative vision has spawned the longest-running, self-produced, award-winning production on two coasts. “Legends In Concert” in Las Vegas, the history-making show, is now in its 40th year in Las Vegas and venues across the country. It has been running for 35+ years in Atlantic City and plays at Harrah’s. In addition, offspring of the show have been appearing all over the globe at any given moment.
Stuart says, “I’m very thankful and appreciative to work with Sally and Ned to re-establish the talent and the songs of the Carpenters. They are fantastic on stage and off stage. I’m looking forward to a great entertainment relationship with them.”
What can you expect with this new venue? Ned says, “The Carpenters were polished performers, and in this new venue, you will see more of their talents than just their known music with Karen as a drummer and Richard as a classical pianist.”
Sally adds, “I’ll be adding more videos of Karen and Richard that will show me singing with Karen simultaneously.”
They have a newly released vinyl album and CD (Carpenters Legacy: 1976) out that can be purchased at their show, from their website, Spotify,
