Minnie Madden

Producer/Director/Choreographer

Everyone who knows or meets Minnie Madden is immediately taken with her vibrant charisma, offbeat attitude towards life, and unique sense of style.

A scholarship with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in NYC marked the beginning of a professional dance career that included the ballet company at Radio City Music Hall under the direction of Peter Gennaro, CBS Emmy awards-(choreographed by Michael Peters), NBC AGVA awards, Ballet Players, plus principal dancer for varied touring and Las Vegas shows.

Minnie began her choreography and directing career soon after, and has choreographed stage, TV, video and film. Her credits include choreographing the opening acts for the Sahara Girls and working with such notable stars as Johnny Carson, George Carlin, Buddy Hackett, Frank Sinatra jr. A few of her other credits include the Iris Awards starring Lou Rawls, “Curtain Call” feature film, and the musical “Applause” starring Phyllis McGuire.

A short time later, Minnie began using her artistic talents on another stage … ice. Quickly becoming known for her innovative style, she was offered the opportunity to choreograph and direct the NBC special “Nutcracker on Ice” starring Brian Boitano, Oksana Baiul, and Vicktor Petrenko, Ice Capades/ MGM Studios “The Magic of MGM,” and “Christmas in Toyland,” and Ice Capades/ Warner Bros. “Looney Tunes on Thin Ice” and “Batman and Robin In the Big Freeze.” She went on to serve as President of Productions for Ice Capades 1996-97.

Minnie produced, directed and choreographed the ice shows: “Le Chateau Dracula” and “Ice Cold Terror” at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA. She has also produced circus/dance shows, including “Riptide,” and “Starlight, Starbright.” Her dance-shows, which she created, directed and choreographed, “Livin’ In America,” “Vroom,” and “The Big Easy” are currently being seen on Carnival Cruise Lines.

Seeing a dire need for audition information in Las Vegas, Minnie also founded Dirt Alert (eventually renamed CallBacknews.com) an innovative and one-of-a-kind audition and news magazine that focuses on helping show business people of all disciplines get entertainment jobs.

Since 2012 Minnie has been Creative Director for Mendelson Entertainment Group in Dallas, Texas and is the creative director for the Dallas Children’s Christmas Parade which is the largest one-day event in Dallas boasting an attendance of 500,000 people. It is televised and seen in 280 TV markets in 160 countries. She was appointed Vice-President of Mendelson Entertainment Group in 2016. Minnie is also Creative Director of E11even in Miami, Florida.

Minnie was honored by the Mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar B. Goodman who proclaimed March 13th as Minnie Madden Day.

Chuck Rounds

Producer/Director/Writer/Photographer

Considered to be one of the foremost experts in Las Vegas entertainment, Chuck Rounds’ name is synonymous with quality productions. Whether it be as a practitioner, commentator, or critic; the entertainment community in Las Vegas turns to Chuck’s opinions and advice to validate their own productions.

His show review site (igoshows.com) has been the top rated show review site for Las Vegas for more than a decade. His opinions change shows, and his reviews have led him to directly consult on dozens of productions in the city. With a background in Theatre and Academics, no one can analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a show better than Chuck.

As a commentator, Chuck’s newsletters and multiple radio shows about Las Vegas entertainment are accessed globally by tens of thousands of people. He is recognized as an expert by Madison’s Who’s Who in America.

As a director and a producer, Chuck has mounted shows in Las Vegas, including Steve Wyrick’s “Real Magic”, “Ultra-Magician” and “Ignite” at the Clarion. He has also created a huge variety of shows across the country. Whether it be a straight drama, musicals, variety shows, circus shows, or extravaganzas; Chuck’s theatrical sensibilities are highly respected by the academic and entertainment community.

Chuck Rounds holds a B.A. in Directing and Theater for Young Audiences and a M.F.A in Directing.

On the regional theater circuit, Chuck directed “Oliver,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Chorus Line,” “Richard the Second,” “Steel Magnolias,” and “Medea,” just to name a few. He has directed everything from farce to Shakespeare; musicals to the classics.

Chuck won the “Columbia Award” for outstanding playwriting for “Folk Tales from Around the World.” His play, “Social Disease,” was featured on PBS.

Chuck was a professor of theater arts at University of Montevallo, and the College of Southern Nevada for nine years.

Chuck is also a well-renowned and award winning art photographer. Since 2012, he has been the production manager of the Dallas Children's Parade, which is the largest one day event in North Texas with four thousand participants, and 500,000 in attendance.