The "Sammy’s" Spark

The journey of Lady Luck Showtime Chorus began with a simple dinner at Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza on Sahara Ave. The founding group—Linda Kelly, Ami Nicholson, Sharon Roberson, Sandy McClendon, Renee Rios, Stacey Riss, and Bobbie Jewell—shared a singular vision: they were ready to charter a new chorus.

To maintain the initial momentum, Linda Kelly organized a "Meet and Greet" at Sandy McClendon’s home. The evening was a success, filled with finger foods, wine, chorus videos, and performances by quartets that set the stage for what was to come.

Resourceful Beginnings

In the early days, the chorus embodied the spirit of "the show must go on" through creative rehearsal solutions:

  • The Living Room "Risers": Renee Rios opened her home for rehearsals. Lacking professional equipment, the group utilized Renee's step-down living room to create natural tiers for the singers.

  • Community Spaces: The group eventually moved to free space at an assisted living facility on Tropicana.

  • Growth at Summerlin: Chrissy Millard later secured space at Summerlin Hospital. In a significant act of support, Chrissy and her husband fronted the funds for the chorus’s very first set of professional risers.

Coaching and Charters

The Sweet Adelines Region 11 provided vital support during the prospective phase. Mary Ashford, a distinguished judge and director from California, provided an all-day coaching session that skyrocketed the group's excitement and technical skill.

For their official chartering show for regional leadership, the group proved that talent outshines a budget. With no funds for costumes, the members wore black pants and tops accented by colorful fabric wrapped around them like togas.

Competitive Success

Lady Luck Showtime Chorus made an immediate impact on the competition stage:

  • First Regional Contest: Earned a 2nd place medals.

  • Second Regional Contest: Captured 1st place, bringing home the Region 11 trophy and shiny 1st place medals.

The Quartets

The chorus's strength was bolstered by two award-winning quartets:

  1. Ringin’ Again Quartet: Region 11 Champions (Ami Nicholson, Stacey Riss, Suzanne Lunak, and Bobbie Jewell).

  2. Amici Quartet: Novice Winners (Renee Rios, Andrea Tritt, Kristen Kujat, and Sandy McClendon).

Legendary Afterglows

The social heart of the chorus was always the "Afterglow." Lady Luck became famous for hosting a suite filled with food, wine, and celebration. A standout memory remains the time Christy Millard announced a special performance: the baritones of the chorus stood up and sang the entire contest ballad, "If I Give My Heart to You," entirely in the baritone part. The performance left the entire room "in stitches" and remains a quintessential memory of the good times shared by the chorus.

Founder’s Circle: Linda Kelly, Ami Nicholson, Sharon Roberson, Sandy McClendon, Renee Rios, Stacey Riss, Bobbie Jewell