“Miss Behave’s Mavericks” to Close at Plaza, With an Asterisk

By Scott Roeben, on June 23 2025
3 min read 11 comments
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A quirky variety show at Plaza, “Miss Behave’s Mavericks,” will close after its July 6, 2025 performance.

The closure, however, is being characterized as a “hiatus.” In Las Vegas, shows don’t go on hiatus. They close. “Hiatus” is a way of softening the blow.

In the case of “Mavericks,” however, it sounds like the show may very well have another life after a break as some behind-the-scenes drama is sorted. “Sorted” is the British version of “sorted out.” This is just the tip of the mansplaining iceberg, so let’s dive into this monumental cock-up.

There’s no people like show people and there’s no show people like these show people.

“Mavericks” originally opened at Cheapshot in the Fremont East District in April 2022. That version of the show closed Nov. 26, 2022. Cheapshot isn’t a theater, so that version of the production was more like an extended rehearsal for its real debut in Plaza’s old-school showroom.

“Mavericks” was back on Oct. 2, 2024, debuting (again) at Plaza with all the requisite hoopla, including a high school marching band.

Over time, despite a marketing budget of approximately $26, “Mavericks” started to get some strong buzz and the last time we attended, the place was packed.

Despite a rabid following, such four-wall shows have some built-in financial challenges, and “Mavericks” has racked up a rumored $400,000 in spreadsheet redness during its run.

We were the first to share word the show is having a moment.

“Mavericks” has what’s called in the business a “four-wall” deal with Plaza, meaning the show is a tenant of the hotel. Because Plaza and its CEO, Jonathan Jossel, believed in the show, there was some financial support along the way.

Ultimately, though, drama ensued, as it must. It’s showbiz.

Things ensued quickly, too. Like in a week’s time. We were just on the Plaza podcast talking with Amy Saunders (Miss Behave) about how peachy everything was. Now, not so much.

There are a number of strong personalities involved  in this situationship, including Saunders and producers Matt Franzetti, Scott Prisand, Michael Speyer and Rob Kolson.

We won’t get into the specifics of what’s happening, as we have been sworn to secrecy, but ultimately it’s a classic case of a partnership that has gotten rocky and lawyers gonna lawyer.

What comes out the other side of this messiness depends upon a few things, but mostly whether Plaza is up for producing a show.

The stated intention from the hotel is they’d like to bring the show back in Sep. 2025.

The show is so much fun, we’d love to see that happen.

Oh, just Miss Behave swallowing a table.

“Mavericks” isn’t anything groundbreaking, it’s variety show. It’s a dozen or so acts covering a spectrum of performance art forms (jugglers, acrobats, singers, burlesque acts, aerialists, certified goofballs and more), delivering a range of satisfaction levels. See? That was very diplomatic! We are maturing.

“Mavericks” is “Absinthe” lite, but with dramatically cheaper ticket and drink prices. The nuts are 99 cents.

The heartbeat of the production, and what makes it feel unique, is Amy Saunders. Her passion for live entertainment is inexhaustible and she knows people. Circus people. Street performer people. Burlesque people.

She has an eye for the eccentric and jaw-dropping and she wrangles performers into a coherent show while making the experience feel like a subversive party in somebody’s basement. It’s a flurry of boobs and butts (literally) and balls (figuratively) and “WTF did I just see?”

Sometimes, it’s better to just not ask.

The real bottom line: This show deserves to exist.

Downtown is not production show-friendly, however. Many have tried and failed.

Ultimately, casinos aren’t charities, so gambling rarely subsidizes shows these days (or buffets, which is why so many have gone away). Plaza may intercede if the conditions are right, but its financial contributions won’t be boundless.

The odds are against “Mavericks” returning, but we’ll take the show and hotel at their word this time. Sometimes a “hiatus” is actually a hiatus. Even without all the showbiz drama, summer was going to be brutal for “Mavericks,” so this kerfuffle will actually help the show avoid additional losses.

“Mavericks” has had an impressive and unlikely run downtown, where so many shows have been put out to pasture, and it deserves another shot at bucking the trend.

Yes, a “maverick” is an unbranded calf, but we are assured by ChatGPT the term can also apply to wild or unbranded horses. Take that, Internet know-it-alls.