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Meet Your Neighbor: Dick Feeney
By Callie Thomas
If Frank, Dean or Sammy were alive today, they’d probably call resident Dick Feeney a swingin’ cat and entertainment genius. Currently the producer of The Rat Pack is Back, a tribute to three of the most iconic performers in Vegas, the twenty-six year Vegas resident knows a thing or two about developing and selling a show. He’s had the entertainment bug most of his life, and in the early 80s he produced his first critically acclaimed show, Lullaby of Swing, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He eventually moved to Vegas in 1985 and became the Associate Producer of An Evening at La Cage at the Riviera and continued to produce a string of shows, including Crazy Girls, Showgirls, Bottoms Up, The World’s Greatest Magic Show and Viva Las Vegas, among others. Feeney added television producer to his list of accomplishments with the shows The Entertainment Page, Las Vegas Tonight and Karaoke Krazy.
For his contributions to entertainment in the city, Feeney was awarded a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. Play tourist along the Strip and you’ll find the producer’s recognition on the sidewalk in front of the New York, New York Hotel and Casino. But bringing award-winning shows to Vegas is not Feeney’s only claim to fame; it’s his generosity to local charities that makes him a standout in the community. Through cast and entertainer appearances, along with thousands of dollars in ticket donations, his shows have given back to charitable organizations including Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Nevada Cancer Institute, Candelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, MDA, Ronald McDonald House and more. That’s why we decided to “take five” with Mr. Entertainment Feeney to find out just what makes him tick.
Have you ever performed in any of your productions?
“I grew up in the Boston area, Rockland Massachusetts, toured with the popular band Lewis & Clark Expedition and later formed my own group called Gemini. I performed from the age of 17 until I left the stage at 33. Although my main instrument is trumpet, I also played saxophone, trombone and performed as lead singer and dancer.”
Speaking of family, does everyone get into the entertainment act?
“Well, my oldest son Christopher, who’s now 29, is a CPA and actor with a new Miller Lite beer commercial in New York. My fabulous wife Melissa manages and runs the Flying Elvi Company, as well as being my partner and a terrific mother to our three small children: Katherine, age ten, Matthew, eight, and Samuel, who is five.”
You mean the famous Elvis jump in the 1992 movie Honeymoon in Vegas?
“Yes! They were first featured in the movie with Nicholas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker. Ten Elvis Presley clad jumpers skydived into the movie and have since made hundreds of appearances at events across the country from altitudes of 5,000 to 12,000 feet, freefalling at speeds up to 160 miles an hour.”
That’s quite a feat. Of all of your accomplishments, what are you most proud of?
“I would say–aside from my wonderful family–producing over 30,000 performances that have brought enjoyment to millions of show-goers.”
Do you have any inspiration for others or a favorite quote you live by?
“Life is not a rehearsal. You have to give it your all (100%) every time out. Don’t hold back for the next take; it may never come.”
That’s my dad!!! 😀
I can truthfully say that Dick Feeney is one of my best friends. I was in “Crazy Girls” because he got me the band leader job. Then Dick kept me working and taught me so much about production. It became my career and he did that. His life is a testament to his good will and his family is the most important thing in his life. I knew his wife Melissa before she was his Mrs. and you couldn’t have met a more lovely person! I remain his friend even though we were apart for years at a time because true friendship never dies, it just matures as we all do. A bright light in a sometimes dark place–Dick is all that and more!