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Full Moon Friday night The Truth will come out!

AstroLady — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:40:15 +0000

Happy Memorial Day. Please remember those that keep us safe!

Full Moon in Sagittarius. Usually on a Full Moon things come to light. Each sign is different. With Sagittarius, it's the Truth. Big T. Don't tell any fabricated stories because they will catch up with you very quickly. To add even more energy to this Full Moon, it is a Lunar Eclipse. Those of you born very near the beginning of Gemini or Sagittarius will be affected most.

Sunday can be a laid back day with some going to the water or mountains and some just sitting by the pool or imbibing. Try some meditation or creative projects if you feel the need.

Monday Truth stares you in the face. Make sure you are prepared.

Tuesday you may want to overindulge. Try to stay within your limits and boundaries. If you're making a large purchase, check prices first.

The rest of the week is more quiet. Enjoy.

Aries: Are you getting along with your siblings, Aries? This is a good time to keep in touch, learn something from them if you can, and be as pleasant as possible. There is a lot going on in your life in this area. This can also include people that live near you. Talk with them, find out their point of view, and think before you respond.

Taurus: Your finances and in the spotlight, Taurus. If you have been "fudging" a little, moving money from here to there, it's going to be catching up with you very soon. Try your best to get your accounting straight before someone calls you on it. You may be able to ask someone if they can help. Do so by putting your best foot forward and speaking nicely.

Gemini: You are still the center of attention, Gemini, but now your partner may have their say. Make sure you keep your story straight and don't embellish. It's time to lay out all the facts and let the other person make their own decision. Those of you with a birthday around mid June will be feeling the need to go overboard. Try not to.

Cancer: Things may be a bit more quiet for you, Cancer, but you may still need to know what is going on with your everyday work. If you need to do some investigating, now is the time. Look for the truth and build on that. It's the safest way to get where you're going. You may feel like sleeping a little more this week. If you need the rest, take it.

Leo: Friends are there to help, Leo, but you may have to tap into your own creative energy in order to get the ball rolling. Make sure everyone knows exactly what the situation is and how you anticipate things moving along. If you are involved in any groups or organizations, you may be asked to step up and take charge. Be ready.

Virgo: There are two areas that you need to pay close attention to, Virgo. One is your home and the other is your career area. The most important is the career area. If you want to make a move up the ladder, be prepared to tell exactly what you see as the truth before people even ask their questions. Try not to give too much information too soon, but be open to areas they may ask about.

Libra: It's a great time to plan ahead, Libra, especially if you are wanting to take a class or trip in the near future. Learning is what it's about for you right now. If you have been trying to find answers to questions that have been on your mind for a while, now may be the time to ask those questions. Learn all you can over the next few weeks and you will come out on top.

Scorpio: Looking into investments can be a good idea right now, Scorpio. It is to your advantage for the next few weeks. If you need to look at your own finances first, do it as soon as possible. If you have a big investment planned, make sure it isn't so big you won't be able to handle it once you sign on the line.

Sagittarius: Oh my. The light is shining on you, Sagittarius. If you haven't fact checked some project, make sure to do so as soon as you can. There may be some details or something that isn't quite right. Now is the time to find this out, before everyone else sees it as plain as day. Your partner or someone you consider an equal may be trying to go overboard right now, don't jump over with them.

Capricorn: The emphasis is on splitting your time between your everyday work and resting enough to keep up with that work, Capricorn. Make sure you are planning ahead, prioritizing, doing things that need to be done first and allowing the other things to go their own way. A change of diet or habits may be just the thing mid week.

Aquarius: Feel like taking a flier this weekend, Aquarius? Look to friends to be there to catch you. They are invaluable right now. Don't forget to thank them and tell them you will be there for them as well. They may have the information you need if you read between the lines. Use your creative energy and have some fun!

Pisces: There has been a lot going on at home, Pisces, but get ready for things out in the world to catch up with you. If you have been skating around the Truth, it's time to come clean. Make sure you know what you want to say before speaking, people are listening more carefully right now. If you want to do some home projects, this is a great week for it if you can fit it in.

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski 5/24/13

FrankS — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:07:01 +0000

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski

May 24, 2013

Smart play plus cash-back makes for a positive expectation game

Dear Mark: I am a little confused when you say that with comps, you can make video poker and blackjack a "positive expectation" game. Could you please explain how comps make up for the "built-in" house edge on the two games that I play? Jason G.

Bless their hearts, casinos love to offer their patrons a wide variety of freebies ranging from small trinkets to first class, all expense paid trips. The hook here, Jason, is that all comps serve the same purpose: To fuel a player's gambling losses at the machines and table games. Fortunately, many gamblers of today are hard-core bargainers who insist on being catered to at no cost to them.

Now here's a dirty little casino secret. Gamblers did not invent complimentary drinks, food, rooms, or anything else educated gamblers can get their grubby little hands on. The casinos did!

Casinos make gazillions persuading players to hand over their hard-earned money. So, in the spirit of competition, casinos started offering comps to attract and keep loyal customers. Today these incentives are taken for granted, and knowledgeable player uses them to bargain for the best deals, along with lowering the house edge.

The main objective in using a Player's Club card is to be rewarded for your patronage by getting your fair share of comps and cash-backs. When you add smart play and decent paytables, you can turn a game like video poker or blackjack into a positive expectation game.

For example, with proficient play, a 9/6 machine (nine for the full house, six for a flush), the house edge is under 1%. Coupling your skills with incentives like cash back and other comps, mathematically, you now have an overall return greater than 100%. Hence, a "positive expectation."

Note, Jason, that it doesn't necessarily have to be "comps included" to make a certain video poker machine a positive expectation game. Take an 8/5 (eight for the full house, five for a flush) video poker machine that has a progressive meter. If the linked progressive meter reads at least $2,200 on a quarter and $8,800 on a dollar game, you have now crossed the threshold to a positive expectation game.

As for blackjack, you not only earn more in comps and cash-backs than you would at most other table games, it too can be made into a positive expectation game, with of course, some use of your noggin. Here's how.

Casinos by-and-large use a customary two-percent advantage over blackjack players in calculating how much they are willing to give a blackjack player in cash-backs or comps. However, the basic strategy player can reduce that house edge to under one percent, which, with cash rebates along with your skillful play, makes blackjack a winning proposition with an overall return greater than 100%.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: A number of moralists condemn lotteries and refuse to see anything noble in the passion of the ordinary gambler. They judge gambling as some atheists' judge religion, by its excesses. - Charles Lamb, Essays of Elia, 1832

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You can email Mark your questions at pilarski -at- markpilarski.com

Claire Voyant's Las Vegas Gossip Column 5/17/13

ClaireVoyant — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:09:21 +0000

Displaying keen perception and great insight.
She’s a little bit naughty. She’s a little bit nice.
She calls ‘em like she sees (and hears) ‘em.
She’s...
Claire Voyant

Las Vegas - May 17, 2013

Nelson Sardelli & Steve Rossi at F.I.O.R.E.

Last Thursday's F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) luncheon was a smashing success, with almost 120 people in attendance. The featured guest speaker was entertainer Steve Rossi, best known for his onstage partnership with comic Marty Allen. Among those we spotted in the crowd (many first-timers, or as they are called at the luncheons, "virgins") were Marvin Lashever, Barbara Kaye, Peggy King, Spike Measer, Tom and Pat Beiner, Dori "Boom Boom" Kotzan, Dave Williams, Bill Acosta, George Ritter, Nik Mastrangelo, Lou Toomin, Sharon Graziano, Jim Marsh, Felix Silla, Tom and Alice Saitta, Don Hill (wife Gloria was mending at home following surgery), Artie Schroeck and Linda November, Buddy Greco Jr., Peter Anthony, Dr. Will Krom, Chick Hughes, Judy Coco, Allen Tramont, Sam Wagmeister and, of course, hard-working presidents (all the F.I.O.R.E. men are presidents) Gary Anderson, Jimmy Racey, Conrad Villella and Nelson Sardelli. If you were there, and your name isn't mentioned here, don't take it personally (except for a few of you). In addition to a Neil Diamond look-a-like (tribute artist, Rob Garrett), there was a Dondino look-a-like as well. Dondino, who was a favorite entertainer around these parts in the ‘70s and ‘80s, relocated to Branson a number of years ago. The look-a-like at the F.I.O.R.E. gathering was so convincing, he even had a lady with him that amazingly resembled Dondino's manager/ partner/wife, Donna Gummelt. Oh my goodness! It really WAS Dondino and Donna! The two are back in Las Vegas, hoping to find a room where Dondino can sing for his longtime fans, and make new ones. In addition to performing, Dondino and Donna have been hard at work, putting together a series of popular children's books. We will have more about these two in future columns. The crowd enjoyed Rossi's talk. We were quite impressed, that after his program, Mr. Rossi, who is 81, took the time to go all around the room, individually greet the guests and thank them for coming.

F.I.O.R.E. Gang

F.I.O.R.E. group photo caption (left to right): Linda November, Steve Rossi, Nelson Sardelli, Bill Acosta, Dondino, Rob Garrett, Nik Mastrangelo and The Duke of Fremont Street

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On Sunday afternoon, we were at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre to see the last of seven performances of the Broadway musical, Urinetown, winding up the Nevada Conservatory Theatre's 10^th season. There have been musicals written covering just about every subject, with locales set in imaginable and unimaginable places, but we think it would be fair to say that this is the first story built around peeing and toilets! The premise is that, due to severe water shortages, private toilets have been banned, and people must wait in line to use sources such as Public Amenity No. 9 to relieve themselves. The Tony-winning musical features satirical songs such as "It's a Privilege to Pee," and the name of the corporation controlling the public toilets is Urine Good Company (do we hear groaning?) It was a fun afternoon, with lots of talent not only in front of the curtain, but also behind the scenes. Director/choreographer Tim Bennett did an outstanding job of moving the cast around the stage. We found the choreography to be exceptional. Music director/conductor/keyboard player, Christopher Lash, did a fine job, as did Mike Smith on percussion/drums, Raymond Reyes on bass, Paul Olesuk on trombone, and John Summers on reeds. We were pleased to see a good turnout for the last of the two weekend performances.

We will be back at the Judy Bayley Theatre this weekend to see Putting On a Show, an original musical revue to benefit the Nevada Conservatory Theatre's Guest Artist program.
Putting On a Show is a fun and eclectic collection of original theatrical songs with music and lyrics written by local composer, the above mentioned Christopher Lash. The concert will feature a 17-piece on-stage orchestra along with 30 performers from the Las Vegas Broadway and production show community, including members of the casts of Jersey Boys, Million Dollar Quartet, Vegas! The Show, Menopause the Musical and Peepshow. The show will also feature MAC Award-winners, Broadway stars and UNLV alumni, along with some aspiring young performers from Las Vegas Academy and UNLV's Theatre program. In keeping with the spirit of NCT's Guest Artist Program, the concert will give the young aspiring student performers the opportunity to work alongside working professional entertainers and performance artists, including actors, singers, musicians, directors, and designers. "'Putting On a Show is the product of my last six years as an artist," says composer Lash. "It reveals our passion for what we do, what we want to do, the things we love and the things we lose. Portions of Putting On a Show have been work-shopped and developed as a part of the Composer's Showcase series at The Smith Center. In this musical revue-style show, the songs transform into scenes and reveal what it is like to be an artist." The 90-minute performances are Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 ($10 senior and student discounts available), and all proceeds will benefit Nevada Conservatory Theatre, whose mission is to elevate Theatrical Arts in Las Vegas. Did we happen to mention that Mr. Lash is only 24? We have been watching him since he was in his teens, and had to have a chaperone with him when he performed at downtown Las Vegas' Don't Tell Mama piano bar.

Christopher Lash
Phillip Officer by Don Cadette

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As usual, the May edition of the Composers Showcase, held in the Cabaret Jazz club at The Smith Center on Wednesday night, was inspiring. There is so much hidden talent in the community. A venue like the showcase gives professional actors and musical directors the opportunity to step out of their routine and show more of their creative skills. Unfortunately, Vita Corimbi had to cancel her appearance because of hand surgery, and Rebecca Spencer, scheduled to be here from Southern California, decided an audition in LA was more important than performing in Las Vegas. We can expect her to make up for her excused absence. We were very pleased to see Phillip Officer performing a, surprise, Christopher Lash original called "That's What I Do." We hope to hear this clever piece of business again in Putting On a Show this weekend. As for Mr. Officer, although he has lived in Las Vegas for a few years, the New York transplant, with some impressive credits including a key role in Broadway's Side Show, and a number of CDs, rarely gets on stage. Now that he‘s gotten his feet wet again, perhaps that will change.

Note: There will be no Composers Showcase in June, with the next one taking place on Wednesday, July 17^th. We will provide details and a list of talented contributors in early July.

Our sympathies go out to musician John Wedemeyer, an occasional contributor at the showcase, as well as a part of the Donny and Marie team. John's mother, Ardis, passed away shortly before Mother's Day. We had the pleasure of meeting her last year, and found her to be a lovely person, and very proud of her talented son.

John Wedemeyer and Mom Ardis
Mac King Lucky 13 Goldfish Cake

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Comedy magician Mac King celebrated 13 years of performing The Mac King Comedy Magic Show at Harrah's Las Vegas last Saturday. After a special show, Christian Stuart, Harrah's regional vice president and assistant general manager, presented King with a cake (looking suspiciously like a big goldfish) and a proclamation from Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman naming May 11^th, 2013, Mac King 13th Anniversary Day in Las Vegas. King also received certificates of commendation from Governor Brian Sandoval and United States Senator, Dean Heller. "I am very honored and grateful to be celebrating my 13th anniversary and I feel lucky to have landed here at Harrah's Las Vegas. I have made several mighty great pals in this city and it's because of you I am able to continue doing what I love to do – perform magic," said King. "A big thank you to all my pals and fans who have come out to support comedy and magic in the afternoon. I look forward to making more memories here at Harrah's Las Vegas and I really am the luckiest boy on earth." A number of King's celebrity pals - including the cast of Million Dollar Quartet, Defending the Caveman's Kevin Burke, the cast of Chippendales, Maren Wade from iCandy Burlesque, Mark Shunock from Rock of Ages and his wife Cheryl Daro, Eric and Jayne Post from Marriage Can Be Murder - helped him celebrate the momentous occasion on the red carpet. King then performed a special show for his pals and guests of the hotel where he presented the newest member of the cast – Colonel Sanders. King began his full-time one-man show "The Mac King Comedy Magic Show" at Harrah's Las Vegas in 2000. Since then, King has performed an unprecedented 6,760 shows to more than one million audience members at the main showroom at Harrah's Las Vegas. This translates to:
· 3,380 days of plaid suits worn
· 20,280 feet of rope used for King's famous rope trick
· 351,520 playing cards
· 20,280 magically appearing Fig Newton pastries
· And 33,800 audience volunteers!

"Harrah's Las Vegas is proud to have served as home to Mac King for the past 13 years. He is not only an exceptional entertainer who has entertained more than a million audience members since opening here at Harrah's, but he is also an accomplished writer and an outstanding citizen who is an avid supporter of literacy programs. Harrah's Las Vegas hopes to serve as his home several more years," said Stuart. Mac King has been consistently lauded throughout his impressive run, including recently being named "Best Strip headliner" in the Las Vegas Weekly's2011 annual Vegas' best awards. Las Vegas Review-Journal's "Best of Las Vegas" readers' poll named his show the "Best Bargain Show" for nine straight years (2003-2012) and deemed him "Favorite Male Las Vegan" in 2008. King has also been honored as Magic Magazine's "Funniest Act in Magic," the World Magic Awards' "Best Comedy Magician" and the Magic Castle's "Magician of the Year." Sought after worldwide, King has made television appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman," and all five of NBC's "The World's Greatest Magic" TV specials. King has also made several appearances at the "Just For Laughs" comedy festival in Montreal, and was a featured performer in the "Masters of Magic" series at the Luminato Festival in Toronto, Canada. King, one of today's brightest and most talented magicians, takes the stage twice daily, Tuesday through Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Showroom Theatre. Tickets are $29.95 plus tax. Additional information on The Mac King Comedy Magic Show can be found by visiting www.mackingshow.com.
Mac King and cake photo courtesy of Gabe Ginsberg

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Gary Olds Promotes Tropicana MOB Attraction
Gary Olds & Lifesaving Dr. Allan S. Stewart

In an earlier column, we reported on the health problems of local musician/actor, Gary Olds. Gary has had a pretty rough couple of months. While in New York for music and theater business, following a photo shoot at the 5^th Precinct to promote the Tropicana Hotel's MOB Attraction where Gary portrays a policeman, he suffered the results of an aneurysm putting pressure on the esophageal airway. He experienced severe heart problems and trouble breathing. He was transported to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he was admitted at around 3 p.m. He spent most of Wednesday night, March 20^th, in emergency. At 9 a.m. on Thursday he was in surgery. Lucky for Gary, a top doctor in the field of heart and valve surgery, Allan S. Stewart, was on hand. The surgery lasted six-and-a-half hours. The doctor told Julie, Gary's wife and caregiver, that the aneurysm was "huge, thin, and getting ready to burst,' and followed that statement up with, "He is a real Lucky Guy." Gary was in the hospital for six days, and was in New York City for 12. On what Gary terms as "a long blessed flight to Portland via Denver, with gentle winds," he began his second phase of recovery, walking 2 to 3 miles every day. Only 44 days after aneurysm surgery, Olds was playing the drums for The Chiffons in a Las Vegas showroom. The next day, after the second night backing The Chiffons, in true Gary Olds style, he and Julie raced across Las Vegas to the Aria to play the Ford Corp Event with a jazz quartet. He was "doubling" 45 days from the knife. Gary emphatically adds, "I could not have accomplished this without my wife, who also doubled as a drum tech, along with my sister and, of course, Dr. Allan Stewart." Also, the countless prayers from everyone have to be mentioned. The very next day, with only four-and-a-half hours of sleep, Gary walked back on the set at the Tropicana's MOB Attraction where he did a double shift as the Irish Cop. As he is mending, Gary continues to act his role on the MOB and field drumming jobs. He will be behind the drums with The Crystals for the Summer of Fun Kickoff concert at the Cannery Casino Hotel on May 25^th, and he will also be drumming for Clark County Schools. Gary has also been called to perform for Jazz on the Lake in Henderson. On Father's Day, Gary and his band will be holding court for the eighth year, celebrating and honoring our nations veterans. The show, hosted and organized by Nelson Sardelli, features a number of generous and talented people who will entertain the residents at the Veterans Hospital in Boulder City for much of the day. Gary's artistic venues are the ongoing MOB Attraction, "the cast and crew are my extended family. I love them." Musically, the criteria has to be creative, inspiring, and out of the box. "Opportunities? God saved me. I will follow God. I will honor his decisions." That seems like a wise idea.
A note: The Cannery concert on Saturday the 25^th, starts at 4 p.m., and it's FREE. If you go, say a special hello to the smiling guy behind the drums.

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SOS at Cannery

This weekend, the Cannery in North Las Vegas welcomes you to celebrate Hawaii and the Pacific Islands and their famous history, culture, and traditions at the Islands of the Pacific Cultural Festival . There will be lots of good fun and "ono" food at this year's festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 18^th and 19^th, at the Club, an indoor/outdoor venue located at the Cannery Casino & Hotel. This festival kicks off on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the night ending with a concert by Hawaii's own Society of Seven, starting at 8 p.m. Society of Seven - made up of Tony Ruivivar, Bert Sagum, Hoku Low, Wayne Wakai, Roy Venturina, Randy Abellar, Michael Laygo and Lhey Bella - is famous for its unique mix of music, singing and lots of humor. They have delighted Las Vegans for years on and off the Strip. On Sunday, the fun continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities include: cultural performances and Hawaiian and Pacific Island vendors featuring a variety of island arts and crafts. Food booths will offer everything from local plate lunches to delicious snacks and desserts. Admission prices for the festival is $7 for adults, and $5 for children, seniors and military. Tickets for the concert are $15. Enjoy both the festival and the show for $20. Call (702) 856-5300. Mahalo nui loa na ho'olaule'a me la kauaets: Thank you for celebrating with us!

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Reminder...
Friends and fans of the late Kenny Kerr will gather at Palms Mortuary East, 7600 S. Eastern, on Sunday, May 19^th, at 5 p.m. to share memories of the iconic female impersonator/comic.
Kenny, the star of the long running Boy-Lesque revue, passed away on April 28^th at the age of 60. The public is invited to attend the service.

And reader Tommie Laing sent the following message...
I conducted Peter Reveen's Memorial Service at 11 a.m., Friday, May 17^th. I hope no one missed it because of your error in reporting that it was to be at 3 p.m. There is an additional, so called "Official," service tomorrow, Saturday, May 18^th, from 3 to 6 p.m. as you reported correctly.
We apologize for any mistake we may have made. We wish Mr. Laing had mentioned WHERE tomorrow's official service was taking place. We would have been happy to pass the information along. Just shows, we all make a mistake every now and then.

Kenny Kerr 1952-2013
Bethany Owen On Tour

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Lisa Gioia-Acres, spokesperson for the Las Vegas Media Group, reminds readers that on Monday, May 20^th, the group WILL NOT, repeat, WILL NOT, meet at their regularly scheduled venue. So, if you show up at the Wedding Room, and no one is there, then you didn't read her e-mail or you forgot. Those that RSVPd in time will be going on the field trip. For those who could not attend, Lisa will have a recap of that great experience so you can "Read All About It!" This coming Monday, the Las Vegas Media Group's monthly lunch meeting will take place at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, located at 888 W. Bonneville Ave., near The Smith Center in downtown Las Vegas. The LVMG will meet at 11 a.m. SHARP. The attendees will have lunch provided and be given a tour of the clinic. Lunch, as always, is $17. If you didn't contact Lisa by Monday, the 13^th, to let her know you would be joining the folks at the Lou Ruvo Center, the bad news is that you won't be going (no matter what your "the dog ate my e-invite" excuse might be). The good, and very exciting, news is that about 60 of your LVMG friends WILL be attending! Lisa is delighted with the good response for this "field trip."

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Carmine Mandia and Friends are making music at Piero's, 355 Convention Center Drive, tonight and tomorrow night from 7 to 10:30 p.m. For reservations, call (702) 369-2305.

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Comic impressionist, Bethany Owen, who has performed at the Sands, Dunes, Rio and Palms in Las Vegas over the years, is now on the Road to Nowhere. That's really not true. Bethany is always on the road to somewhere, but the Road to Nowhere is the name of her current tour. If you follow her for the next few weeks, it will be through Washington state, where she will perform her one-woman show at the Jubilee Community Showroom in Lacey on May 18^th, at the Red Wind Casino in Yelm on the 21^st, and at the Fox Theatre in Centralia on the 24^th. We have a feeling the Woman of 1,001 Voices and Faces will be back here as part of her Road to Nowhere Tour. We will keep you posted.

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Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), Las Vegas' famed Fremont Street Experience and the celebrated tribute artist production "Legends in Concert," celebrating its 30th birthday, presented the 4th Annual Las Vegas Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Downtown Las Vegas this weekend. On Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11, the only Las Vegas EPE-sanctioned preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest had 19 Elvi from around the world competing for a chance to advance to the finals held during Elvis Week 2013 in Memphis, Tennessee. Guest judges Linda Thompson, Elvis' long-time girlfriend, and personal bodyguard, Sam Thompson, determined the ‘best representation of the Elvis legacy' based on vocals, style, stage wear, and stage presence. On Saturday, the top 10 competed and Las Vegas resident, Chad Collins, was crowned Las Vegas' ‘King of Rock ‘n' Roll' winning $2,500 cash, a Graceland Getaway prize package and most importantly, qualifies to compete in the 2013 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest presented by EPE in Memphis, during Elvis Week 2013 held August 10-17. The winner of the contest will be offered the opportunity to sign a performance contract with Legends in Concert, $20,000 cash, recognition by EPE as the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist of 2013 and a selection of other valuable prizes. The eclectic singer/songwriter duo and Billboard's "Top New Artist Albums" charting artist, Brandon and Leah, treated audiences to a performance on Fremont Street Experience's 3rd Street Stage, kicking off this year's event. Other ‘Kingly' festivities at Fremont Street Experience during the weekend included special presentations on the Viva Vision canopy and a parade of Elvi at the beginning of each night's competition. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com. EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (www.ckx.com), a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market® under the ticker symbol CKXE.

Chad Collins
Theory of a Deadman

And continuing on the subject of downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street Experience's Rock of Vegas concert series will kick-off the summer early with the first show set for Sunday, May 19^th, featuring Theory of a Deadman. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the free concert series has become one of the most popular summertime events in Las Vegas, and this year's lineup will turn the legendary downtown Las Vegas entertainment venue into summer's alternative destination. Fremont Street Experience will provide the ultimate nirvana for rock music fans with an exciting lineup of performances. In addition to Theory of a Deadman, rockers can see Fuel and Lit on May 25^th; Hinder on June 8^th; Summerland Tour 2013 Alternative Guitars, starring Everclear, Live, Filter and Sponge on June 29^th; Three Days Grace on Thursday, July 4^th; Sister Hazel and Tonic on July 20^th; Eve 6 on July 27^th; The Presidents of the United States of America on Aug. 3^rd; Third Eye Blind on Aug. 17^th and Puddle of Mudd on August 31^st. All concerts start at 9 p.m. Nevermind is an alternative rock themed cover band produced by Face Productions that will create the haunting and memorable sounds that we all know and love including "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, "Stupid Girl" by Garbage, "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, "Man in a Box" by Alice in Chains, "Come to My Window" by Melissa Etheridge, "Fly Away" Lenny Kravitz and many more. Nevermind is a custom Las Vegas band which will perform six nights a week, Fridays through Wednesdays beginning May 24^th, throughout the summer on Fremont Street Experience.

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TV or not TV. On last night's American Idol finale (the new Idol is Candice Glover, in case you missed it), the real live Frankie Valli (who turned 79 on May 3^rd) joined the show's male finalists in a Four Seasons medley. On occasion, you can see Frankie Valli performing in Southern Nevada. When Frankie isn't in the neighborhood, or he is and you can't afford the ticket price, don't forget Jersey Boys at Paris Las Vegas. It may not be the real thing, but it's a darn good thing.

And twice during this past week, the movie Calypso Heat Wave (1957) aired on Antenna-TV in the wee small hours of the morning. The black and while film probably didn't win any awards, but the music and cast made for some interesting viewing. Among the stars were singer Johnny Desmond (who played Nicky Arnstein to Las Vegan Mimi Hines, Fanny Brice, in Broadway‘s Funny Girl), a 25-year-young Joel Grey, the Hi Lo's singing group, Maya Angelou (the respected poet was singing and dancing!), and Las Vegas treasures, the Treniers! In Las Vegas, if you have cable, Antenna airs on channel 127. If you don't have cable, check out 3.3 (two clicks past our local NBC station). You should find it there. Lots of nostalgia there, with old movies and vintage TV series running 24/7. Try it. You might like it.

Treniers 1957
Camila Alves-McConaughey

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A longtime friend reports that the Rolling Stones concert, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last Saturday night, was worth every hard-earned dollar she paid for her tickets to be in the audience (we didn't ask exactly how many dollars that was). In addition to seeing her lifetime favorites (second only to The Beatles) in their 50 & Counting anniversary tour, MG also got to see pop star, Katy Perry perform with the boys. A number of surprise guests, including Keith Urban and Gwen Stefani, have shown up to join the Stones during their current (and possibly final) tour.

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Tomorrow, Saturday, May 18^th, Brazilian supermodel and Macy's INC Brand Ambassador, Camila Alves-McConaughey , together with Ramshackle Glam Editor, Jordan Reid, host an afternoon of fashion and fun at Macy's Fashion Show in Las Vegas. The afternoon kicks off at 2, with a fashion show at the mall's Great Hall Stage featuring the latest Spring ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes and jewelry from Macy's INC. Directly following the fashion show, guests are invited to the mall's Macy's store for a shopping party, where they can enjoy refreshments, discounts on INC purchases, and a meet-and-greet with Camila. One lucky guest will win an on-the-spot Macy's INC shopping spree with Camila (who is the wife of actor Matthew McConaughey) and Jordan, and an INC specialist ($500 value).

* * * * * * * *

The City of Las Vegas sponsored Alex Krasky Art Exhibition, which had been advertised to run until June 8^th at the West Las Vegas Arts Center Community Gallery, closed on May 10^th, due to a change in Alex Krasky's schedule. Apologies for any inconvenience.

* * * * * * * *

The National Asian Artists Project presented a Rediscover Series production of the Tony Award-winning musical Hello, Dolly! for two performances on April 29^th and May 6^th at The Pershing Square Signature Center in Manhattan. The fully staged and choreographed production starred Christine Toy Johnson (The Music Man, Grease) and was directed by Lee Roy Reams, director and choreographer of Carol Channing's last Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! The popular musical features a score by Jerry Herman with a book by Michael Stewart.

On April 3^rd, Lee Roy Reams, who starred as Roger DeBris in the Las Vegas production of Mel Brooks' The Producers, polished up his tap shoes for a night of song and dance at 54 Below, Broadway's hottest new nightclub. Accompanied by Alex Rybeck on piano, Jered Egan on bass, and Dan Gross on drums, Lee Roy earned himself multiple standing ovations for his first time at 54 Below. The enthralled audience members included celebrities (listed alphabetically) Etan Aronson (Merrick), Len Cariou, Penny Fuller, Anita Gillette, Dana Ivey, Baayork Lee, Marilyn Maye, Tony Sheldon and Leslie Uggams. We think it's time to bring Mr. Reams back to Las Vegas for a performance or two.
Shown in accompanying photo (from left to right): Marilyn Maye, Leslie Uggams, Anita Gillette, Lee Roy, Penny Fuller and Dana Ivey.

Lee Roy Reams Plays 54 Below
Paul X. Campanella

* * * * * * * *

Paul X. Campanella is excited to announce that a film he was part of won two awards in the Las Vegas 48 Hr. Film Contest with their submission titled HARD OUT. They won in the categories of Best Ensemble Cast and Audience Favorite Award. The award ceremony was held at The Vegas Indie Film Fest at The Orleans theater on May 2^nd. The challenge of the 48 Hr. Film Contest is that you have to write, shoot, edit and submit the project in 48 Hours. You are given a genre, prop, character name and occupation, and line of dialogue that must be used in the film. While the director, Ryan R. Williams, provided the story line and much guidance, a great deal of the dialogue you hear was improvised by the cast. The short can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTcPG19UHX0.

* * * * * * * *

Magician Kevin James
Jackie Jackson

Birthday greetings to TAURUS (April 20-May 20) celebrants, Carmen Electra, Patti LuPone, Tony Danza, Glen Campbell, John Waters, Peter Frampton, George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer, Shirley MacLaine, Barbra Streisand, Kelly Clarkson, Denny Scott Miller, Ace Frehley, Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA), Emily Bergl, Bobby Rydell, Kevin James (comic), Duane Eddy, Sheena Easton, Casey Kasem, Kevin James (magician), Ann-Margret, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Duane Allen (Oak Ridge Boys), Carnie Wilson, Andre Agassi, Merrill Osmond, Cloris Leachman, Willie Nelson, Bobby Vee, Akon, Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Engelbert Humperdinck, Theodore Bikel, Lesley Gore, Larry Gatlin, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Pete Seeger, Frankie Valli, Christopher Cross, Pia Zadora, Nick Ashford, Jackie Jackson, Oleta Adams, Randy Travis, Katherine Jackson, Adele, Chris Brown, Bob Seger, Thelma Houston, Don Rickles, Toni Tennille, Enrique Iglesias, Billy Joel, Clint Holmes, Donovan, Bono (U2), Mort Sahl, Eric Burdon (Animals), Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, Jason Graae, Trini Lopez, Lenny Welch, Lainie Kazan, K.T. Oslin, Chazz Palminteri, Janet Jackson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Bob Saget, Craig Ferguson, Pete Townshend, Grace Jones, Cher, Joe Cocker, David de Alba, Brian Keith Griffiths, Jerry Fink, Jim Pegg, Brenda Leonard Cowart, Lucy Shropshire, Howard Jochsberger, Dori "Bambi Jones" Kotzan, Aurora Miller, Gloria Hill, Rebecca Spencer, Nancy Archer, Wes Davis, Darcus Speed, Grant Philipo, Paul Stone, Emerson Lila McNeeley, Stephen Thorburn and Peter Gordon.
Also, anniversary greetings to Phil Mandel and Sharon Holmes Mandel, Stephen and Judy Thorburn, and Whitney and Marianne Phoenix.

Jason Graae
Darcus Speed

* * * * * * * *

Tom Stevens and Tony Lewis perform as Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in A Martin and Lewis Tribute at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin on Wednesday, May 22^nd at 7 p.m. These two incredible talents recreate the music, laughter and the love of two of the world's most beloved entertainers. You'll feel as though you are watching and hearing Dean and Jerry together again. Tickets are $15 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $20 for non-residents. All shows at the Starbright Theatre are first come, first served with no limit on the number of tickets purchased. Saving seats is prohibited. Be sure to get your tickets early so you don't miss out! Show tickets may be purchased at Desert Vista, Mountain Shadows and Pinnacle Community Centers. All ticket prices include Live Entertainment Tax. Tickets are non-refundable. All ticket sales are check or cash (exact change required). No credit cards accepted. For up-to-date information on Starbright Theatre shows, call (702) 240-1301. The Starbright is located at Starbright Theatre. Starbright Theatre located in Sun City Summerlin at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., in the hills west of North Rampart, and just south of Lake Mead Blvd.

Martin & Lewis: A Tribute Show

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The Las Vegas Chapter of the National Charity League, Inc. has announced its Class of 2013, and will honor a group of high school senior girls from four Summerlin-area high schools for community service and leadership to the Las Vegas community. National Charity League, Inc. (NCL) is the largest nationally established mother-daughter organization in the country. The Mission of the National Charity League is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. Currently, the Las Vegas Chapter is one of 160 chapters nationally, providing middle and high school students and their mothers' opportunities to serve local charities. The Class of 2013 and the Las Vegas Chapter of NCL has provided more than 5,150 hours of community service to local organizations such as The Animal Foundation, Assistance League of Las Vegas – Operation School Bell, Baby's Bounty, Blind Center of Nevada, Catholic Charities, Communities in Schools, Get Outdoors Nevada, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Make-A-Wish, Soldiers' Angels, Opportunity Village, Public Education Foundation, Salvation Army, Springs Preserve, Susan G. Komen, Three Square, Weekend Assistance Program and Shade Tree Women's Shelter. The Class of 2013 completed a class project for The Miracle League, which serves severely physically challenged children, and will be honored for their service and leadership by the Las Vegas Chapter on May 19^th. The girls represent outstanding high school seniors from Bishop Gorman High School, Northwest CTA, The Meadows School and Faith Lutheran High School. Students to be honored include Abigail Bramble, Kallyse Duddlesten, Shelby Dunn, Addison Gardner, Sarah Haller, Taylor Malkin, Mary Beth Morton, Lynsey Ng, Victoria Onufrieff, Juliana Remark, Lindsay Remark, Taylor Richards, Carly Saxe, Isabella Sorrentino and Haley Whalen.

National Charity League Class of 2013

Accompanying photo by Breathe Photography.
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Beginning on Friday, May 24^th, and continuing on the 25^th, 31^st, and June 1^st, SRO Productions presents Michael Vukadinovich's Billboard at The Onyx Theatre, 935 E. Sahara 16-B in the Commercial Center's Rack clothing store. Andy, a recent college graduate, weighed down by student loans, gets paid a great deal to tattoo a corporate logo on his forehead. His artist girlfriend Katelyn is not impressed; his liberal best friend thinks he's crazy; and now he has to live with it. The decision has both tragic and comic consequences as he comes to learn that the logo is more than just ink on his skin. But Katelyn sees a very unique artistic opportunity. She sees his body as an example of the extent to which consumerism has permeated our daily lives. When Andy decides to rip up the check and get the tattoo removed, he finds he is faced with an unexpected decision. Billboard is a comedy about the battle between commercialism, fame, art, and love. Produced by special arrangements with Samuel French Inc. of New York City, this production of Billboard is directed by Matt Martello. All four Billboard performances are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the website at www.onyxtheatre.com, or call The Onyx at (702) 732-7225.

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Meet participating Southern Nevada artists on Friday, May 24^th, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Celebrating Life! reception and awards ceremony as the new exhibition opens at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Residents, minimum age 50, were invited to submit one artwork to this juried competition, sponsored annually by the Las Vegas Arts Commission and the City of Las Vegas to recognize the talents of Southern Nevada artists. This year's jurors are K.D. Matheson, Linda Alterwitz and Lynda Whitehair. Admission is free to the reception and exhibition. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Friday, 12:30 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 24-July 13. Call (702) 229-1012 or 229-6383 for more information, or go online to www.artslasvegas.org.

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Jay Jones, of the Los Angeles Times, writes in the travel section...
The supernatural side of Sin City will be on display as the Las Vegas Paranormal Conference casts its spell, May 19^th through 21^st at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino. Local ghost hunters Robert George Allen and Janice Oberding are hoping for plenty of paranormal activity over the course of three days. A planned séance will try to put participants in touch with Liberace. The legendary entertainer, who died in 1987, was known as Mr. Showmanship, and the séance is to be held in his old dressing room. The weekend is also to include a visit to the former mining town of Goodsprings, Nev., in search of two ghosts. They reportedly reside at the 100-year-old Pioneer Saloon. A variety of workshops featuring guest speakers from the world of ghost hunting are also planned. Registration costs $225 and is available online. The cost includes a pass to Allen's Haunted Vegas Tour. Follow us on Twitter @latimestravel and like us on Facebook.

Have a question about Las Vegas? Want to make a comment (be nice, now)?
If so, drop an e-mail and ask. Click Here
Cousin Claire will do her best to find the answer for you.

Claire Voyant's portrait by Charlie Frye

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski 5/17/13

FrankS — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:18:20 +0000

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski

May 17, 2013

Did I really say that?

Dear Mark: I recently heard you on a radio show where you stated that your #1 gambling tip was "Don't Gamble." I took it as lighthearted advice, but really, is that your number #1 tip when it comes to gambling? Doug D.

From time-to-time, talk radio stationswill call and ask if can I spare a few minutes and yap about gambling. Being a bit of a loose cannon, I can't predict what malarkey will flow from my mouth, but in this case, you heard me correctly. Well, sort of.

Yes, Doug, I was being a tad flippant. But the reasoning behind my "lighthearted" statement was that after almost 35 years in the casino business, I know that over 95% of casino patrons who frequent the Green Felt Jungle do not cope successfully against an industry whose sole professional purpose is to send them home empty-handed. Moreover, the common denominator among that same 95% of players is that they are all making bets they shouldn't be making; which dooms any chance of their success against the house. Therefore, what are my three favorite tips that will instantly move a player from the 95% up into the top 5%?

* Only make bets that have less than a two percent house edge.

* Only bet what you can afford to lose.

* ... and a simple principle I offer to all those who gamble; The smarter you play the luckier you'll be.

Of course, Doug, there are a whole lot more tips where those came from. So, if you are interested, I just released in audioformat,Casino Tips That Will Save You Some Serious Ka-ching.

Casino Tips That Will Save You Some Serious Ka-ching is jam-packed with tips on money management; the three most popular casino games (slots, video poker and blackjack); the best and worst bets in the casino; getting your fair share of comps, and much more. The soundtrack has over 100 minutes of my favorite casino tips, all for less than one yank of a slot handle - $0.99.

I suggest you, and other savvy readers, scrounge up four quarters easily found in the cushion of your Lazy Boy chair, and digitally download Casino Tips That Will Save You Some Serious Ka-ching at cdbaby.com. Just search "Mark Pilarski" or by the title for the MP3 download. For those of you without an MP3 musicdevice or internet access, solicit the 13-year-old kid across the street who overcharges you $30 to cut your lawn, hand him a dollar so he can download a copy, and he'll be able to burn you a CD. Show him this column, and he will know exactly what I'm talking about.

If you feel you are a know-it-all gamester who doesn't need oodles of essential tips to avoid being wrung dry by the gambling industry, then at least revert to my original tip; "Don't Gamble."

Dear Mark: What is the biggest advantage that the casino has over the player in the game of blackjack? Ed C.

The ONLY advantage the casino has over the player in blackjack is that the casino plays last. If you bust, and so does the dealer, the house already has your hard-earned money in the tray, with the casino all smiles.

To wipe that grin off their face, player skills are actually what determines your success at blackjack. The dealer isn't going to beat you; he or she merely gives you the opportunity to beat yourself.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: Casinos don't like to use the word "gambling" anymore. The euphemism of choice is "gaming." But you're not there to play games. You're there to gamble, with all the inherent risks. Don't be fooled by the casinos little word games. - John Gollehon, A Gamblers Little Instruction Book (1994)

========================================
You can email Mark your questions at pilarski -at- markpilarski.com

Sun will move into Gemini Monday evening.

AstroLady — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:01:46 +0000

Gemini is the juggler. He likes to do more than one thing at a time and multitasking is his specialty. If you know someone with the Sun in Gemini, allow them to talk and be a good listener. They can be very active and difficult for some to keep up with.

When the Sun is in the sign of Gemini we usually try to do more than we can accomplish. The secret is to prioritize, organize and then jump to the tasks. Make sure to write things down! It's easy to get distracted.

Don't fall in love too quickly this weekend. It won't last. That isn't just people I'm writing about. If you see a real bargain and can't pass it up, make sure there is a good return policy and keep your receipt!

Aries: This is a good weekend to take stock of what you have in your closet and your pantry, Aries. Make sure to get rid of old things that aren't useful any longer and make space for new things. Take a good look at what you have been eating and see if you can improve your choices. Those of you born the last few days of March and the first few days of April, please be very careful. You may feel everything is going well and then have to stop on a dime or change directions much too quickly.

Taurus: This is a great weekend for romance, Taurus, but be careful if you are attracted to someone new. They may not be the person you think they are. It may end up costing you in some way. Be a little cautious and things may work out just fine. If you are finding it difficult to sleep this weekend, take a walk or read a good book before you hit the bed.

Gemini: Friends may want you to spend some time with them this weekend, Gemini. Enjoy yourself! You are looking good and probably feeling good as well. The Sun will move into your sign on Monday evening and you will probably feel even better. This is a time to communicate, learn something new and have a little fun.

Cancer: This is a great weekend to communicate with others, Cancer. Take the time to answer emails and snail mail. Pick up the phone and call the people you have been meaning to keep in touch with. Take the time to support a friend or two this weekend as things behind the scenes will be heating up after the beginning of the week. You may be playing a supporting role for a while, but it is worth it.

Leo: This is a good time to sit down and balance your checkbook, Leo. It's also a good time to have a spending or savings plan. Take the time to look at your finances, where you are and where you would like to be. It really is worth the time and effort and can save you some worry and surprises later on. Friends can be an attraction right now. They may be able to help you learn something you need to know.

Virgo: This is a great weekend for a good movie, some great music, or just reminiscing, Virgo. Take the time to get into a feeling mode and you may see a whole different picture. You may be able to get a little boost in your career if you can read the signs correctly and jump on the opportunity this weekend. Keep a positive attitude and go for it!

Libra: Plan to spend a little extra time relaxing this weekend, Libra. The coming week may bring some learning opportunities. You may be in just the right place at just the right time to meet someone that can help you. Keep your eyes, ears and mind open. After the beginning of the week if you are thinking of taking a trip, get up and go. It's a great time to do just that.

Scorpio: Friends or someone in a group you belong to may want you to participate in a social event this weekend, Scorpio. If you are able, it's a good idea to get out and go. After the beginning of the week is a good time to evaluate your needs, wants and the needs and wants of a partner or someone close to you. Make sure to communicate and listen after you ask questions.

Sagittarius: If you are thrust into the limelight this weekend, Sagittarius, enjoy it! You may be the center of attention. Don't hide in the shadows. Enjoy. It's a good time to evaluate what you are doing out in the world. After the beginning of the week there may be a need to listen to the input of others. Make a decision only after you have listened carefully, asked questions and feel you know exactly what the situation is.

Capricorn: Planning a trip, Capricorn? It's a great weekend for an outing. Take the time to learn something about your location before you go and the trip will be even better. After the beginning of the week you may feel the need to change your diet or schedule. Be flexible and listen to your intuition and you will come out on the positive side. Take care of things at home at the beginning of the week.

Aquarius: Make sure to get input from others about finances or investments, Aquarius. You may get the opportunity to purchase something you normally wouldn't purchase. Make sure it fits your needs and isn't too expensive. Be careful of upkeep as well as the initial price. After the beginning of the week you may find someone of a different background than your own has some good input.

Pisces: Listening to your partner or someone you consider an equal is important this weekend, Pisces. They may have information you need. Make sure to consider how your home can benefit from information you receive. After the beginning of the week is a good time to work on any and all home projects. If you need to clean up before making things more beautiful, do so!

Claire Voyant's Las Vegas Gossip Column 5/10/13

ClaireVoyant — Sun, 12 May 2013 05:25:29 +0000

Displaying keen perception and great insight.
She’s a little bit naughty. She’s a little bit nice.
She calls ‘em like she sees (and hears) ‘em.
She’s...
Claire Voyant

Las Vegas - May 10, 2013

Moonlight Tran
Christopher Lash

If you have never heard of the Composers Showcase, it is obvious that you don't read Claire Voyant (and we are mature enough to deal with that). This event is one of Cousin Claire's most favorite things to do in the city. In more than six years, we have not missed one of these monthly events. We followed the performer/entertainers from the Liberace Museum, where they spent many years, to Creative Studios in southeast Las Vegas, Garfield's Restaurant at Desert Shores, and, for the past year, to the 247-seat Cabaret Jazz club at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. In order to become a Showcase regular, there are three important requirements - you have to love all kinds of music (well, not necessarily punk and heavy metal), you have to have an interest in getting in on the ground floor when it comes to creative people, and you have to be a night owl, as the performances are scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. and continue until around midnight. The Composers Showcase is an entertainment forum that allows local composers, lyricists and songwriters the opportunity to present original material to a supportive audience in an informal cabaret-style setting. The Showcase is hosted by Keith Thompson (conductor of Jersey Boys) and Michael Brennan (conductor of Le Reve). The focus is on uniting the theater community of Las Vegas and revealing the creative spirit that abounds in those who are struggling in the desert to find their way to artistic expression. Lest you think it is all very serious, there are also plenty of laughs during these late night performances. You never know what you are going to see and hear, but the Composers Showcase always provides an inspiring and memorable couple of hours.

Note: This is not an open mic night. Composers and their material are screened after submission and the show is presented at the host's discretion.

The next Composers Showcase, presented by PK Music and The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, takes place in the Cabaret Jazz club on Wednesday, May 15^th. The May edition features the songs of local composers and songwriters: Michael Brennan, Angela Chan, Elisa Dease, JA Dioguardi, Bill Fayne, Elisa Fiorillo, Steve Flora, Joel Ferguson, Nyle Girgis, Adam Knaff, Christopher Lash, Justin Mortilitti, Richard Oberacker, Aaron Ramsey, Keith Thompson and more. The performers include Jolana Adamson, Travis Cloer, Pascale Elia, Ben Hale, Kady Heard, Christine Hudman, Shannon Hunt, Sarah Lowe, Savannah Smith, and Paul Stubblefield. The players include Max Acree, George Bryant, Gary Cordell, Arles Estes, Philip Fortenberry, Jakubu Griffin, Cris Hanna, Mundo Juillerat, Nate Kimball, Ashley Lampman, Don Meoli, Shane Ouellette, Marty Radunz, Rebecca Ramsey, Joey Singer, Lindsey Springer, Alex Stoppa, Kevin Stout, Julian Tanaka, Matt Taylor, Eric Tewalt, Moonlight Tran, John Wedemeyer, Tyler Williams, Andrew Zakher and more. Sound by Kevin Harvey and lights by Jeremy W. Hodges. Tickets are $20 for assigned seating. Advanced reservations are strongly suggested. Call (702) 749-2000 or go online to the website at www.thesmithcenter.com. If seats are still available, tickets can be purchased at the box office the night of the performance. Show starts at 10:30 p.m. (after theater), with doors opening at 9:30. A cash bar and late night menu are available for sippers and nibblers. The Cabaret Jazz club is located inside the Boman Pavilion at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Avenue in downtown Las Vegas.

And speaking of Christopher Lash...
Lash's artistic creation, Putting On A Show, an original musical revue, will be presented as a theatrical concert in the Judy Bayley Theatre at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 18^th, and Sunday, May 19^th. The concert benefits the guest artist program of Nevada Conservatory Theatre, the professional arm of UNLV's theater department, dedicated to elevating the arts in Las Vegas. Putting On A Show is a fun, eclectic collection of original theatrical songs with music and lyrics written by local composer, Lash. The concert features a 17-piece on-stage orchestra, along with 30 performers from the Las Vegas, Broadway and production show community, including members of the casts of Jersey Boys, Million Dollar Quartet, Vegas! The Show, and Menopause, the Musical. Putting On A Show also features aspiring young performers from the award-winning Las Vegas Academy and UNLV's department of theater. In keeping with the spirit of NCT's guest artist program, the concert gives the young aspiring student performers the opportunity to work alongside professional entertainers and performance artists, including actors, singers, musicians, directors, and designers. Tickets are $20 ($10 senior and student discounts available), and available at the box office or by calling (702) 895-2787. All proceeds benefit the Nevada Conservatory Theatre.

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Tomorrow, Saturday, May 11^th, the much anticipated annual SHARE (Self Help and Recovery Exchange) benefit show, will take place from 6 to 10 p.m., in the International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton Hotel in the famous 90210 zip code. The ladies of SHARE (with the help from some gents, including comic/impressionist John Byner, and the singing Temptations), present Denim & Diamonds, 60 years of Boomtown. It might be described as the party of the year. (We apologize if it is too late to purchase tickets and attend this year's event. You can start planning for the 61^st annual party of the year.) SHARE is a non-profit philanthropic organization, composed of a group of caring women, including our friends Annie Gaybis and Nancy Gregory, who are passionately dedicated and committed to raising funds for the developmentally disabled, abused and neglected children, as well as medical research for all forms of developmental disabilities. For 60 years, the ladies of SHARE, INC. (many of them married to entertainers, or who are entertainers in their own right) have continuously strived to "SHARE Happily and Reap Endlessly!" We hope to have photos and the names of some of the performers, after the ball is over. For more information about SHARE, INC., call this outstanding organization at (310) 274-5361, or go to share4children.org.
Note: Nancy Gregory is associated with Nunsense the musical at the LVH, and Annie Gaybis is the wife of veteran entertainer, John Byner.

Nancy Gregory & Annie Baybis
John Byner

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As those of you who read this column on a regular basis know, Las Vegas legend (he was inducted into the Las Vegas Legends Hall of Fame in 1999), Kenny Kerr, passed away at Sunrise Hospital here on April 28^th. Following our story last Friday, we received this note from Roger Caldwell, Kenny's partner of 16 years. Roger was in the showcase of what would become the first resident female impersonator revue, Boy- Lesque, when it was seen for the first time in Las Vegas at the Sahara Hotel in 1977.

Kenny Kerr poster
Kenny Kerr & Roger Caldwell

To Claire Voyant,
Would you do me a big favor and thank Denny Weddle from the bottom of my heart for picking up those items at Kenny's house. As you know Kenny was my best friend and business partner for many years. All together, I think I have known him for 45 years, from the first day I saw him at the Green Apple (a night club where he was working and we met). I have many of Kenny's treasures all over my house and some I have passed on to my daughter who adored Kenny. It's too bad some people consider items of Kenny's life TRASH. I cherish them and will remember Kenny for as long as I live. Once again thank you and I know you will find a good home for what I consider Kenny's Treasures.
Roger Caldwell

We did pass the message on to Denny Weddle.

As far as services for Kenny, we just learned that there will be a Kenny Kerr tribute show at the Piranha Club, 4633 Paradise Road, starting at 11 p.m. tonight. This is being put together by the staff and management of the club with the full blessing of Kenny's sister and son. It should be a fabulous show with top performers, most of who actually worked for Kenny over the years. We have been told that any monies collected from tonight's performance is going to Kenny's family to help cover expenses. The actual Memorial Service for Kenny Kerr will be held at Palm Mortuary East, 7600 S Eastern Ave., on Sunday, May 19^th at 5 p.m. Plans are to inter his cremains alongside the graves of his mother and sister in New Jersey.

Another master/mistress of the art of female impersonation is tribute artist, David de Alba. David, who now makes his home in Las Vegas, must be seen and heard to be believed. One of the last survivors of the golden era of entertainment, he's a rare and exceptional artist who offers true vocal ability and enormous talent in his performances. Unlike most female impersonators, who lip-sync to recordings by famous entertainers, Mr. de Alba, who has been featured in six different books, uses his own femme voice on stage. Known for his outstanding live impersonations of Judy Garland at the world famous Finocchio Club and in countless TV appearances, he is also a Celebrity Interviewer and a Recording Artist. Mr. de Alba (who is sometimes known as "Boy-Chic") is also the proud owner of a unique collection of Judy Garland/Wizard of Oz memorabilia. James R. Smith, Author/Speaker/Researcher, had this to say about Mr. de Alba.

I'm the author of San Francisco's Lost Landmarks, a book that includes the history of Finocchio's Club in San Francisco, 1934-1999. David de Alba appeared at Finocchio's as one of their top performers. When researching that club, my search for performers included Mr. de Alba. When I found him, he offered to provide the information and contacts I needed as well as providing me with the anecdotes and stories published in the book. I was fortunate enough to see David de Alba reprise his outstanding impersonation of Judy Garland to a packed house at the Winchester Theater in 2007. When he belts out a song, you see Judy– David knows how to get into character. I have all of David's DVDs and also does and great Liza Minnelli on stage. His Boy-Chic persona, David's own International bi-lingual act is a kick. He has also reprised Finocchio's on stage in Las Vegas with his Finocchio Club Backstage Memoirs that included others from that club. He's the ultimate professional and continues to put his heart and energy into great performances. In recognition of his work to keep Finocchio's alive and to help other Finocchio's performers, David de Alba earned the 2010 HistorySmith Achievement Award for Preserving San Francisco's Memories.
Here is a sample of David de Alba at work in Las Vegas' Onyx Theater, last November, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MoOxrcRyzQ.

David de Alba by Douglas Fretz
Roseanne Barr & Katie Couric

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Before she closed out her Tropicana Laugh Factory engagement last Sunday, Roseanne Barr, hosted by Katie Couric, and accompanied by a bus-full of visitors, took a ride down the Las Vegas Strip on a lovely, but slightly breezy, day, in an open-top tour bus. The mini travelogue was seen on the daytime talk show, Katie, during their visit to the city last week.

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Former Las Vegans, Buddy Greco and his bride Lezlie Anders, will perform at the Matcham Room at the Hippodrome Casino in London on Saturday, May 18^th. Buddy Greco is a singer- pianist. Greco, who was a close friend to Frank Sinatra since he was only four, celebrates his 50th year in show business, debuting at London's Hippodrome. Renowned for essentially being a 'Jazzy guy,' his performances are always warm, expressive and full of life. If you are across the pond, be sure to catch An Evening with Buddy Greco & Lezlie Anders for an intimate experience like no other.

Buddy Greco & Lezlie Anders Greco
Peter Reveen 1935-2013

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From Nelson Sardelli comes this information. There will be a Memorial Service for Peter Reveen at the Zelzah Shrine Temple, located at 2222 W. Mesquite in Las Vegas, on Friday, May 17^th at 3 p.m. Peter Reveen was a great person, a fellow Mason and a powerful performer (a magician's magician). The service will be open to the public. I am sending you this e-mail in hopes that you will share it with our Masonic, entertainment, friends in our city and especially those in the magic community who would like to honor the man we lost. It would be wonderful to see our community turn out for this memorial. Brother Harvey Lapp, S.W. of Daylite Lodge #44, has also informed me that Peter's family will celebrate his life on Saturday, May 18^th, between 3 and 6 p.m., at the Sun City Community Center, 2020 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson, NV. Hope to see you there.
Sincerely & Fraternally,
Nelson Sardelli M.M. 320

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We recently received this message from actress Karole Foreman. We are sharing it with her Las Vegas friends.
Married life has been blissful. I am a very fortunate woman. Grad school has been a challenging but an exciting and welcome change and I am encouraged by the many new opportunities it is affording me; and interestingly enough, re- inspiring my creative spirit.
As you may, or may not know, my husband Peter (artist Peter Zokosky) and I will be leaving shortly to teach a summer program at the Asian University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh. (See website: http://asian- university.org/index.htm) Our friend, Margaret Krusweska, is an instructor there and she invited and championed for us to teach an inaugural arts program at the University! I will be teaching beginning acting and directing a show and Peter will be teaching painting and drawing. We are very excited about this opportunity and are preparing for our trip. This is the first time the University in Chittagong has offered classes in the arts and we are honored to represent Cal State University, Long Beach. The AUW is a non-profit organization and all the students attending are supported by scholarships. We've received an outpouring of support from the community in the form of donations of art supplies and books and that has been extraordinary. We are also hoping to shoot a video of our experiences there. We would like to interview members of our artistic community on campus as well as the people we meet in Bangladesh. We want to talk to students, faculty and staff about their experiences in the arts and arts education. We hope to have the video completed within a year and to have a screening of it on the Cal State University, Long Beach campus. We will let you know when that is happening if you are interested in attending. If you would like to keep up with our travels abroad, I will also be doing a blog, or vlog, of our experiences if any of you would like to log on and be a part of that. More info to follow as soon as I figure out how to do that. Of course, if anyone would like to offer any advice, support, food for thought ... that would be simply AWESOME!
My thanks and gratitude to you all!
Love,
Karole Foreman & Peter Zokosky
www.karoleforeman.com

Peter & Karole Foreman Zokosky
Naomi Mauro

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After his last successful appearance at The Mad Greek Café, Nik Mastrangelo returns for a special show on Tuesday, May 14^th, from 7 to 10 p.m. This time, Nik will be joined by the lovely and profoundly talented Naomi Mauro on vocals. Naomi and Nik, backed by a great trio, will present An Evening of Gershwin. Enjoy live music by talented performers, along with gourmet food at fast food prices. We hear there may also be some special guests. The Mad Greek Café is located at 8565 W. Sahara at Durango. Mark your calendars for May 14^th. Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Please call (702) 242-7669.

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Okay, movie-lovers. The District at Green Valley Ranch is bringing back its free outdoor film series, on Fridays and Saturdays, until late October. Showings will take place on The Green, located adjacent to Whole Foods, at 8 p.m., through August, and then start at 7 p.m. during September and October. Among the 50 family movies being shown over the next six months are Peter Pan, The Lion King, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial, Madagascar 3, The Never Ending Story, Annie, Charlotte's Web, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, Kung Fu Panda, Alice in Wonderland, The Goonies, Free Willy, The Incredibles, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, and Gremlins. Guests are welcome to bring blankets and picnic baskets. Popcorn will be provided. Pack up the kiddies and head for the hills!

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Dre Whitt at Don't Tell Mama

Here's a once a month social group, hosted by women for women, without a club atmosphere and no cover, offering a nice, casual atmosphere, where the local lesbian community can get together. The ladies will be gathering at Don't Tell Mama (although, Mama would want to be told about this), located at 517 Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, on Tuesday, May 14^th, from 7 to 9 p.m. Don't Tell Mama offers wonderful entertainment at this friendly piano bar, where both enjoyable songs and reasonably priced drinks are presented via the multi-talented staffers. It‘s "loud and proud, just the way Vegas should be!" The Ladies Q Social Hostesses are Tatiana Lewis (tklewis33@gmail.com), Sandy Margolin and Shauna Leahy. Call (702) 207-0788. TheLadiesofQSocials.com.

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All you East Coast readers (and we know you're out there), 2013 MAC-nominee, Frank Dain, with Kathleen Landis at the piano, will perform at Manhattan's intimate Sidewalk Café, 94 Avenue A (on the corner of 6^th Street), for One Night Only, Wednesday, May 15^th. Shows start at 8 p.m. Join Frank and Kathleen for two sets, featuring selections from their critically acclaimed collaboration, The Magic of Mathis, in the 60-seat performance space. There is a $15 cover/one item food/beverage minimum (with sodas starting at just $2.50). Reservations are strongly suggested. Please call the Sidewalk Café at (212) 473-7373, or go to their site at www.sidewalkny.com.

Frank Dain
Christopher Logan's dr.a.g

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Claire Voyant readers, Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-Winning Celebrity Travel Columnists, sent along this note from Graphic Designer, Christopher Logan, who compiled the coffee table book, dr.a.g. Drag has become a diverse form of expression that challenges, entertains, and educates by pushing boundaries, while embracing beauty, comedy and glamour. The performers featured in this book are evidence of that diversity, captured by some of the top photographers working in today's world.
Hello guys: I wanted to thank you for your coverage of the dr.a.g. book. I'm very proud of the book and very appreciative of your support. Unfortunately, our publisher has gone into bankruptcy and the book is no longer available. After the dust settles, I will be re-releasing the book under my own imprint Bookthefilm, and this Summer will have an Indiegogo fundraising campaign to help us achieve this. I will keep you informed of what happens.
We will do the same.

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Gina Eckstine's Singing Stars

From Gina Eckstine, a legitimate child of the legendary Billy Eckstine, comes this news.
Can you believe it? School is almost out! Summer is quickly approaching, and if you are like me, you are looking for ways to have a fun time, yet stay creative and involved in music!!! Well, I have the perfect solution...Singing Stars! For the first time, our very successful after school enrichment program, Singing Stars, will be offered in the summer! As a professional singer, performer, vocal coach and instructor, I've developed the necessary vocal skills in hundreds of students and adults with my classes. Allowing them to realize the fun, and enjoyment that singing and music brings. If you have never taken a Singing Stars class before, come find out what hundreds of kids, in dozens of schools from all over Southern California have been raving about for more than six years. Learn the essentials of singing, which include skills like pitch, breath control, rhythm, range, and performance techniques, all while building confidence, and making new friends. Learn how to sing your favorite song!!! Choose from Pop, Classic Rock, Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop, Country, R&B, and Musical Theater, or learn to sing and perform great songs from your favorite artists like: Adele, Taylor Swift, Demi Levato, One Direction, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and more. There will be a "Starlight Performance” at the end of each session for friends and family to hear your new and improved voice. Have fun! Learn to sing! Learn to perform! Make new friends! Now all summer long! Classes will be directed the same as our very successful Singing Stars after school enrichment sessions. Additionally, we will have visits from musical guests, artists, and industry professionals. Each class is two (2) hours long, twice a week for eight (8) weeks, or every Saturday for 8 weeks, with a "Starlight Performance” for friends and family at the end of session. This final show will be in the evening, under the stars and a canopied stage, totally decorated with twinkling Singing Stars bling! Take advantage of this new addition to my Singing Stars Program. There will be five sessions to choose from. Note: These classes are taking place in Southern California.
For program dates, class costs, enrollment forms, and any other additional information, please contact Gina Eckstine, Singing Stars Director, by phone at (818) 429-2837, or e-mail her at geckstine @ gmail.com.

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Jeanne Cooper 1928-2013

Jeanne Cooper, the actress who played grande dame Katherine Chancellor on the CBS daytime soap, The Young and the Restless, for almost 40 years, passed away on Wednesday morning. She was 84. CBS has announced that on May 28^th, The Young and the Restless will broadcast a tribute to the veteran star. The network says that cast members, friends and family of the actress will gather next week to tape a celebration of her life. Interviews with Cooper from the show's recent 40th anniversary and clips of her years on the show will also be included. Cooper joined the soap six months after its March 1973 debut, making her the show's longest-tenured cast member. The role of Katherine Chancellor earned Jeanne Cooper 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and a trophy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2008. We don't know if Cooper spent much time in Las Vegas, but we do know that she was here at least once. We have photos taken of her at the old Aladdin to prove it. Among her survivors is her son, actor Corbin Bernsen.

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Dr. Lee Richey Conducting

At 3 p.m. on Mother's Day Sunday (May 12^th), the main sanctuary at Community Lutheran Church, 3720 E. Tropicana, will be the site of Benefit Concert 2 for the Musicians Union of Las Vegas Local 369's Emergency Relief Fund. The Emergency Relief Fund was established in 1989 to provide temporary financial assistance to any local musicians union member who finds themselves in dire straights economically. The concert will feature a Chamber Orchestra made up of professional instrumentalists, conducted by cellist Lee Richey, with special guest soloists, Kimberly Glennie on harp, and counter-tenor, Voltaire Verzosa. Among the selections, Suk, Serenade for Strings; Handel (from The Messiah), "Thou art gone up on high;” Gluck (from Orfeo ed Euridice) "Che faro senza Euridice;” and Debussy, Danses Sacrée et Profane. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Dr. Richey, is primarily a native of North Carolina. He began his musical studies at the age of eight on the violin with his mother, Elaine Lee Richey. At age fourteen, he switched to the cello. Richey graduated with a B.M. from N.C. School of the Arts, an M.M. from Southern Methodist University, and a D.M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (the latter with a minor in instrumental conducting). He has been the principal cellist of the Knoxville Symphony, the Spoleto Festival, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Green Bay Symphony, and the Fairbanks Symphony. He has also been a member of the Dallas Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet orchestras. He has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville and Washington and Lee University, and was on the full-time faculty for two years as a visiting professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Lee Richey lived in Las Vegas from December of 2004 to September of 2012, where he was Assistant- Principal Cellist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, taught at the Nevada School of the Arts and the College of Southern Nevada, and was the cellist in the orchestra of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. Following the closure of Phantom on September 2, 2012, Dr. Richey relocated to his home state of North Carolina. He now lives in Winston-Salem where he freelances with the Winston- Salem, Greensboro, Roanoke, and N.C. Symphonies. In lieu of an admission charge for the concert, donations of any amount to the "Emergency Relief Fund" will be gratefully accepted.

Also on Mother's Day, here's a real treat for mom. Kristen Hertzenberg will appear in a special Mother‘s Day Phat Pack show on Sunday! Kristen, a member of the original cast of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, and the mother of a four-year-old, will join The Phat Pack performers, Bruce Ewing, Ted Keegan and Randal Keith who also were in Phantom (thus the Phat Pack name) cast members, for a musical reunion. This will happen on the stage of the showroom at The Plaza Hotel & Casino on Mother‘s Day, May 12^th, at 5 p.m. Originally from the Houston area, Kristen earned her Bachelor's degree in Voice from the University of Texas at Austin with the intentions of becoming an opera singer. While at UT, she also studied at the Austrian-American Mozart Academy in Salzburg. From Austin, she moved to Boston where she earned her Master's in Opera Performance at the Longy School of Music (and where she became engaged to wonderful Dana Satterwhite). Kristen and Dana were married in Houston, and then moved to New York where she began auditioning for musical theatre productions. She was cast as the Sheila understudy on a European tour of Hair, and ultimately moved up into the role itself. The show opened in Paris and over the course of about two years, went on to play across Italy, Germany, Austria, and The Netherlands. Upon returning from her adventures in Europe, she and Dana moved to Las Vegas when she was cast in the original ensemble of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. A year later, Kristen began playing "Christine Daae.” She took nearly a year-long break from the show when daughter Shea was born in 2008, returning as principal "Christine" until the production's closing in September of 2012. In 2013, Kristen changed gears entirely and played Heidi in the ArtsFrontier Foundation production of [title of show]. The musical theater performers - Ewing (Jinx in Forever Plaid on the National Tour and in Las Vegas), Keegan (The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and on Tour), and Keith (Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway and on Tour) - sing the great songs of Broadway, American Standards, Las Vegas favorites, along with some hilarious new original songs -- and share some stories of their lives and careers. The Phat Pack has been playing at the Plaza Hotel & Casino since March 13th, receiving rave reviews, standing ovations, and named The Best Of Las Vegas 2013 - Best All Around Performers by the editors of the Las Vegas Review- Journal. The Phat Pack plays Wednesdays through Sundays, at 5 p.m., in the showroom at the Plaza, 1 Main Street in downtown Las Vegas. Tickets are available through the Plaza Box Office by calling (702) 386-2507, or by visiting www.PhatPackShow.com. This show is appropriate for people of all ages, who love music and having fun!

The Phat Pack Plus

Caption for The Phat Pack Plus photo (from left to right): Ted Keegan, Randal Keith, Dana Satterwhite, Bruce Ewing, Shea Satterwhite, Kristen Hertzenberg (Satterwhite), and musical director/pianist, Joey Singer.

Since one of these events is at 2 p.m., and the other at 5, if you plan it right, you can do BOTH!

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Eric Mina, Comedy Hypnotist

The Onyx Theatre is proud to host a fundraiser for The Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. For one night only, Thursday, May 16th at 8 p.m., Eric Mina, renowned hypnotist, will present Hypno- Debauchery and is graciously donating 100% of the profits to the Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program (SADAP). Eric Mina (www.EricMina.com) is a renowned hypnotist, magician, comedian, and proud owner of an A.D.D. brain. The Sunday Times quotes, "Eric's a natural entertainer," and it's easy to see why after experiencing one of his shows. Mina received a degree in Psychology from Penn State University, is a Certified Hypnotherapist, and was personally mentored by Las Vegas headliner Marc Savard of the Planet Hollywood Casino. Eric has performed in Australia, Las Vegas, and Times Square, where his Off-Broadway show, "Perspective," was featured for six months. Hypno- Debauchery is a fundraiser like you've never seen before. Come support and feel the excitement of a comedy-hypnotist-show the way it should be - debaucherous! For Mature Audiences. Front Row tickets are $35, which includes a meet and greet with Eric Mina and Xavier. General Admission tickets are $25. The Onyx Theatre is located inside Commercial Center at 953 East Sahara Avenue #16. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit our website - www.onyxtheatre.com. Join us for a night of laughter and fun - the Debauchery Way with the Sisters!

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU MOTHERS!

Happy Mother's Day

Have a question about Las Vegas? Want to make a comment (be nice, now)?
If so, drop an e-mail and ask. Click Here
Cousin Claire will do her best to find the answer for you.

Claire Voyant's portrait by Charlie Frye

Claire Voyant's Las Vegas Gossip Column 5/3/13

ClaireVoyant — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:23:58 +0000

Displaying keen perception and great insight.
She’s a little bit naughty. She’s a little bit nice.
She calls ‘em like she sees (and hears) ‘em.
She’s...
Claire Voyant

Las Vegas - May 3, 2013

Kenny Kerr - Pretty In Pink 1952-2013
Kenny Kerr - Election Year, October 1984

With the passing of comic/female impersonator, Kenny Kerr, last Sunday, April 28^th, lots of memories came flooding back. We knew Kenny for about 35 years, meeting him not long after his start as a Las Vegas icon. It was in 1977, that Kenny, plus a cast of six other merry men (impersonators and dancers that included Jan North, Emore Dubois and Roger Caldwell) from the Philadelphia/New Jersey part of the country, made their local debut at the Sahara Talent Showcase, a weekly venue where a number of talented entertainers were "discovered." Among those in the audience at the hotel on that Monday night, was successful Vegas businessman, Herb Kaufman (Wonderworld Stores and KVVU TV-5, where he partnered with Johnny Carson). Kaufman knew something special when he saw it, and Boy-Lesque was special. Within a short time, Kaufman was advising Kerr and his partner, Roger Caldwell, and got them a trial run at the old Silver Slipper. The "trial" lasted 12 years, and Kenny Kerr's Boy-Lesque became a must-see Strip (and strip) favorite. After the closing of the Silver Slipper, different versions of the female impersonator revue played at a number of hotels, including, ironically, the Sahara, Stardust, Union Plaza, New Frontier and Debbie Reynolds Hotel. It was Kenny's uncanny resemblance to Barbra Streisand that launched his career as an entertainer while he was still in high school. Cher, Dolly Parton, Carol Burnett and others, also became subjects for Kenny's ability to transform himself into a woman. But his really strong suit, and what made Kenny most unique, was his quick wit. Kenny didn't need a script or a dress - he was just a natural comic. The off-the-cuff Question and Answer portion of his shows were a highlight. There was not a question that an audience member could come up with that would leave Kerr stumped for an answer. The crowd loved it. He was equally funny off stage. During a phone conversation with him a number of years ago, at a point, he asked us to be a guinea pig for an experiment he wanted to try. Of course, we were willing to cooperate, and said so. He asked, "Tell me, does this sound like I'm hanging up?" We said, yes it did. It took a few seconds to realize that he really had hung up! Boy, did we feel foolish. During the late ‘70s and into the ‘80s, we spent quite a bit of time in the audience and backstage with the Boy-Lesque cast members. We also attended a number of fun parties at the Kerr/Caldwell house. When it came to a worthy cause, Kenny could always be counted on to step up to the plate (most often in a glamorous gown and wig) to host or perform at a benefit. In more recent years, Kenny added singing (in his own voice) to his performances, and even recorded a CD, Songs From the Heart. The city acknowledged Kerr's contributions when, in 1999, he was inducted into the Tropicana Casino Legends Hall of Fame, along with Robert Goulet, The Mary Kaye Trio, and gaming pioneer, Jackie Gaughan.

Then there was the not so bright side of Kenny's life. With all the years that he worked, by now, he should have been financially secure. If not wealthy, he should have at least owned a nicely furnished house (or two), a decent paid for car, and had money in the bank. He had none of those things. One of the reasons is because Kenny often trusted the wrong people (including the delusional, phony, Patrick Kavanaugh, from DeStefano‘s where, Kenny performed on weekends in 2009). Mr. Kerr had a love affair with video poker machines, playing much more than he should have. And, oddly, he never realized the benefits of publicity, and rarely sought it out, even when it was warranted. A good example was when he had a speaking role in the 1996 Whoopi Goldberg-starring film, The Associate. We begged him to get someone to take photos of he and Whoopi together, feeling that the National Enquirer or People magazine would happily use them. He never followed through on things like that. A good friend, yes. An outstanding performer, yes. A smart businessman, no. Kenny's most recent performances at The Onyx in Las Vegas were sad. The death of too many family members and friends, along with his failing health, had taken its toll. Today, there is some consolation in knowing that, now, Kenny, is in good health, looking glamorous, with his mother and friends who have gone before, and probably creating laughs for a sell-out crowd.

And as for that so-called feud between Kenny and Divas Las Vegas star, Frank Marino, that was something created and stirred by people with too much time on their hands and not enough to keep them busy. Not only did we see the two entertainers, with a few friends enjoying a show by The Mentalist Gerry McCambridge together, some years ago, we know for a fact that Frank helped Kenny financially on more than one occasion, and also made the effort to get him some work

With permission, we are printing a couple of (unedited) messages we received from friends and co-workers of Kenny Kerr's over the past few days.

It seems like it was just yesterday when I met Kenny Kerr sitting on a stoop outside of the Roundtable, a club in New York. It was 1975, and he was in makeup as Barbra and smoking a cigarette between shows. I jokingly said, "Hello Gorgeous," and we instantly became friends. That friendship endured almost 40 years. Yes, there were many ups and downs, successes and failures, but Kenny was always the consummate entertainer. From his uncanny ability to transform himself with makeup, to his acting skills, to his incredible unscripted comedic abilities, his audiences came first and foremost. He transformed the Las Vegas Strip and relished the title, The Queen of Las Vegas. He was the innovator and set the standard for others to follow. When we moved Boy-Lesque to the Stardust, we sat in meetings where we discussed the show being a drag show. We made it the best damn drag show in the universe, with a tap dancing Ann Miller, Marilyn, Whitney, Tina, Ann-Margret, Madonna, eight dancing hunks for eye candy, a full orchestra, two incredible specialty acts, and the grand dame of female impersonation with his Cher and beloved Barbra. Two shows a night. Six nights a week. Every show sold out, with the Queen of Las Vegas holding court and then meeting each audience member outside the showroom after each show. Then there was the private Kenny - a loving man who adored his family and friends. Christmas' were his favorite time of the year, especially the years bringing up his son. There was the Kenny who would do anything for charity, "all they need do is ask" was his motto. So now we all know Kenny is up in heaven with friends and family and entertaining them all. Rest in peace dear Queen of Las Vegas and my friend.
Howard Jochsberger, former Producer of Boy-Lesque

Kenny was a good friend and in about 1995 Kenny was being honored by, I think it was Diabetes and I was an attendee. He spoke about being at the Silver Slipper for so many years and how he loved the Slipper and Summa but they, at the end, just called him in and said "Goodbye".....no going away, no saluting him for selling out the house, nothing! I stood up, yelled to him at the podium and said "Kenny, Denny Weddle, may I come to the stage". He said yes and I took the Mike, first of all citing my position and tenure at Summa and said none of you here tonight will ever realize what an outstanding entertainer Kenny Kerr was, how he sold out every show and how major his value was to the Howard Hughes Estates Properties. I said, "I apologize on behalf of the Slipper and Howard Hughes and can only believe, at the brisk pace we sold all of the Hotel/Casinos, that someone did not do what was right. Kenny, we loved you, we love you, and YOU are an ICON, "The Queen of Las Vegas" (and he loved that title), THE trailblazer as THE female impersonator all others try to emulate, no one will ever match your talents, and, if I may say something no one here probably knows --there are entertainers and there are entertainers but so many are just AWFUL to work with-- With Kenny Kerr EVERYONE in management, backstage, in the audience and before and after to the public when demonstrating your sweet, pleasant and giving demeanor were so delighted that you always where a polite, decent and appreciative Star. Thank you and know THAT is what we meant to say....." He started crying, started hugging me and saying "Thank you, thank you so much" and I could barely get loose so he could finish his Gig...which eventually he did and got a standing ovation! Sometimes a person is in the right place and I thanked God I was there. Made his day and, boy, did it make mine! What a great human being and vibrant performer...60 is way too young to go!
Denny Weddle, former Summa Corp Executive

And, speaking of Mr. Weddle, on Wednesday, something very odd and/or ironic occurred. It was the day for Denny's housekeeper, Rhonda Presley, to be working at his home. When she arrived, she asked Denny, "Didn't you know Kenny Kerr, the entertainer that passed away a few days ago?" When Denny said that he did, Rhonda told him that when she had left her home shortly before, she noticed boxes and bags sitting outside a house next to hers, waiting to be picked up and taken away with the trash that morning. She noted that the boxes had Kenny Kerr's name on them. It turned out that Kenny had been living in that house prior to his death. Denny immediately got in his car and drove to Rhonda and Kenny's southeast neighborhood where he retrieved some of what was left at the curb. Among the "treasures," were photos and programs from Kenny's shows, his high school annual and other pieces of his life. We have it on good authority that those items will wind up where they belong, in a collection made up of Las Vegas entertainment history.

Kenny Kerr, who was 60 when he passed last weekend, was predeceased by his mother, Sunny, and a sister. He is survived by his older sister, Marlena Vidal; nieces, Lorrie Vidal and Nickie Serrato; nephew, Joe Vidal; son, Kris Vidal; grandson, Alexander Jamison Vidal; and too many friends and fans to count. Marlena, tells us that a service is being planned for around the 19^th of this month. When we have the details, we will certainly pass them on. Rest in peace, Kenny.

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At the next F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) meeting, taking place on Thursday, May 9^th, the legendary Steve Rossi will be the guest speaker. According to President Nelson Sardelli, "Rossi is a master entertainer. His talk will enlighten, enthrall, engage and amuse you." Sardelli guarantees, "It will be one of the most fun-filled meetings in the history of our non-club club. You won't want to miss this one." As always, there will be a great buffet, live music, 50/5O drawing, and all that other good stuff. It all happens at the Italian American Club, 2333 East Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas. Doors open at 11 a.m., with lunch served at noon. Cost is $25 per person. Widows of former presidents are always guests of the F.I.O.R.E. presidents (all the male members are presidents). Reservations are ABSOLUTELY required to attend this event! No exceptions (they really mean it)! Please RSVP as soon as possible to BABYEUE @ AOL.COM, or NSARDELLI @ AOL.COM. This is an exclusive, private club event and admission is subject to the discretion of the meeting hosts listed above. It's an exclusive club. A big turnout of fans, friends, and devotees is expected for this one. On Friday, there were already more than 80 positive RSVPs (that means they were positively planning on attending).

Note from Claire Voyant: We understand that there is a possibility that F.I.O.R.E. President, comic Marty Allen, who was Steve Rossi's stage partner from 1957 until 1968, will not be in attendance at the May 9^th meeting. Why? Because Marty has an appointment with his nearsighted barber.

Steve Rossi
Don and Gloria Hill

And, speaking of F.I.O.R.E. members (and their families)...The angel-protected (she has an enormous collection of all things angels), Gloria Hill, wife of The Treniers' veteran saxophone player, Don Hill, is on the mend following open heart surgery on April 1^st (no fooling). It's a long process. According to Gloria, her 91-year-young husband, who just happens to be an esteemed F.I.O.R.E. president, is doing an incredible job of caring for her at home. She can't say enough wonderful things about Don. Incidentally, if you would like to learn more about Don Hill, and his life in and out of the spotlight, you may want to read his book, House Party Tonight, written with Dennis N. Griffin.

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Leigh Zimmerman - One Singular Sensation
Leigh Zimmerman Wins Olivier Award

And the winner is (drum roll please), Leigh Zimmerman! Last Saturday night, Leigh, who starred as Ulla in the Las Vegas production of Mel Brooks' The Producers (as well as in numerous roles in major shows on Broadway), won the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical, for her role as Sheila, in the London revival of A Chorus Line, currently playing at the famed London Palladium. Leigh is married to popular musician/actor Domenick Allen, and is the mother of future star, Cayleigh Capaldi. Although they don't spend a lot of time here, the family‘s home-base is in Las Vegas. Congratulations to Leigh on a well-deserved honor.

And a little closer to home, the 2013 Tony Award nominees were announced on Tuesday. Among those in the running is Jerry Mitchell, for both his Direction and Choreography of Kinky Boots, the musical story of a struggling shoemaker and his drag queen business partner, with book by multiple Tony Award-winner, Harvey Fierstein, and music by Cyndi Lauper. Director and choreographer Mitchell is the creator of PEEPSHOW, now starting its fifth year at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Jerry Mitchell Tony Nominee
The Phat Pack with Mayor Carolyn Goodman

Some Broadway trivia: Harvey Fierstein has won four Tony Awards - two in 1983, as Best Actor (Play) and Author of Best Play for Torch Song Trilogy, a performance he recreated in the 1988 film version of the same title; a third in 1984, the Book (Musical) Tony for writing the libretto of La Cage aux Folles; and the fourth in 2003, as Best Actor (Musical) in the role of Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (a role he played in the short-lived version of the musical that played at the Luxor in Vegas in 2006). His four wins tie Fierstein with Tommy Tune (who starred in EFX at the MGM Grand in 1999), for the most Tony Awards in different categories.

Also on the subject of the upcoming Tony Awards, Carolee Carmello is nominated in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical category, for her role in the short-lived Scandalous (the show closed less than a month after opening). Our interest in Scandalous, based on the life of 1920's celebrity evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson‘s rise to fame, and dramatic downfall, is because of two Davids - David Pomeranz and David Friedman. The book and lyrics are by Kathie Me Gifford. The music is by Pomeranz ("Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again" and "The Old Songs," both recorded by Barry Manilow, "It's In Every One Of Us"), and Friedman ( "Listen to My Heart," "We Live On Borrowed Time," "Help is on the Way," "My Simple Christmas Wish"). The Tony's will be handed out on Sunday, June 9^th, and will air LIVE on CBS. No one will be answering the phone in this house on that night.

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Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman and her husband, former Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, attended The Phat Pack show in the theater at the newly renovated Plaza Hotel & Casino at 1 Main Street in downtown Las Vegas. The Phat Pack is made up of three Broadway performers, formerly with Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. In The Phat Pack show, Bruce Ewing (Jinx in Forever Plaid on the National Tour and in Las Vegas), Ted Keegan (The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and on tour), and Randal Keith (Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway and on tour), sing the great songs of Broadway, along with American Standards, Las Vegas favorites, and some hilarious new original songs, as they share some stories of their lives and careers. The Goodmans greeted The Phat Pack with thumbs up, raves of "Terrific!," and wishes that this new downtown show would have a long life. The Phat Pack re-opened at the Plaza on March 13^th, earning rave reviews and standing ovations. The Phat Pack was named The Best Of Las Vegas 2013 - Best All Around Performers by the editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The Phat Pack plays Wednesdays through Sundays at 5 p.m. in the showroom at the Plaza. Tickets are available through the Plaza Box Office, by calling (702) 386-2507, or by visiting www.PhatPackShow.com.

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Renewal, featuring paintings by Paris Buchanan, officially opens at TastySpace gallery today, Friday, May 3^rd. The artist will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Buchanan is a Napa Valley-based painter who seeks to create an open dialogue through her work. She draws inspiration from travel and connecting with people she may meet and cultures she may experience along her journey. It may be said that each time we go away and come back or somehow remove ourselves from our daily lives, our souls are renewed. The Paris Buchanan exhibit will show through the end of the month. TastySpace is located on the first floor of the Emergency Arts building at 520 Fremont Street and 6^th. Call Dana Satterwhite at (617) 513-7336 for gallery hours and additional information.

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Lake Las Vegas

Lake Las Vegas is the place to be on Saturday evenings for 7 to 10 p.m. jazz concerts. Scheduled for the upcoming four weeks of Saturday Night Jazz on the Lake Concert Series are: May 4^th, Tommy Thompson (Wine Walk); May 11^th, Everett B. Walters; May 18^th, Lady J Huston & the Fire Balls; and May 25^th, Anthony James Baker. Please, no pets and no coolers. For more information, contact the Village events team at (702) 289-7007.

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UNLV alumnus, Douglas Carpenter (Voice '07), baritone, of New York, won the $15,000 First Prize in the finals of the 15th annual Lotte Lenya Competition, held on April 13^th at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Founded in 1998 to celebrate the centenary of Lenya's birth, the Lotte Lenya Competition is an international theater singing contest that recognizes talented young singer/actors, ages 19-32, who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of repertoire. Carpenter impressed the judges with a dynamic program that included "Pierrot's Tanzlied" from Korngold's Die tote Stadt and "Molasses to Rum" from the Sherman Edwards musical 1776. The other prize winners also presented exceptionally compelling performances of repertoire ranging from Donizetti and Gilbert & Sullivan to Kurt Weill, Frank Loesser, Leonard Bernstein, Michael John LaChiusa, and Jeff Blumenkrantz. The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, which sponsors the competition, distributed a record $61,500 in prizes this year. In addition to the top prizes, judges presented two Lys Symonette Awards of $3,000 each, named in honor of Kurt Weill's musical assistant on Broadway. For Outstanding Performance of an Individual Number, the awards went to soprano Rachel Kara Cordeiro-Pérez of Brooklyn, New York, for her performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Breathe" from In the Heights, and to mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson of Sandy, Utah, for her performance of "Alto's Lament" by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich. The remaining six finalists each received an award of $1,000: Daniel Berryman, tenor, of New York; Christian Ketter, tenor, of Chicago; Mingjie Lei, tenor, of Hengyang, China; Erin Mackey, soprano, of Astoria, New York; Heather Phillips, soprano, of Philadelphia; and Christy Sullivan, mezzo-soprano, of Sydney, Australia. Each contestant presented a diverse program that included an aria from the opera or operetta repertoire; two songs from the American musical theater repertoire (one from the pre-1968 "Golden Age" and one from 1968 or later); and a theatrical selection by Kurt Weill. After a preliminary round of auditions, twenty-four semi-finalists from five continents auditioned in New York for adjudicator/ coaches, Jeanine Tesori and Rebecca Luker, who then selected the twelve finalists. Doug has performed the role of the Prince in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, starred in Lerner and Loewe's Camelot at the Pasadena Playhouse, and had leading roles in West Side Story, Oklahoma!, The Last Five Years, and Life Could Be A Dream. We suggest keeping your eye on Douglas Carpenter. Do we see a Tony Award in his future?

Douglas Carpenter
Jon Peterson

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The very talented Jon Peterson reminds us that his show, Song Man, Dance Man, plays at Manhattan‘s Triad Theatre (Stage 72 at the Triad), at 158 W. 72^nd and Broadway, on May 7^th, beginning at 7 p.m. Take a rollercoaster-ride through the lives of seven of the 20th Century's greatest male entertainers - Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, George M Cohan, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Anthony Newley - as Peterson tells the story of how their lives entwined and the impact they had on show business. "You can just drop in," says Jon, "but to guarantee seats, it's just as easy to go to brownpapertickets.com and enter the show into the search, and bingo!" A year ago, Equity actor Jon came from New York to play the henpecked Roman senator Senex, in the Nevada Conservatory Theatre production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at UNLV. If you are in New York, and have the opportunity, we recommend Mr. Peterson's Song Man Dance Man. It's going to be electric! Tickets are $20/2-drink minimum. Call (212) 362-2590.

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Longtime Las Vegas DJ, Larry Taylor, who now makes his home by the Colorado River in Laughlin, wants the world to know about his son, Landon Taylor, so we will do our part to make that happen. Larry tells us that on Thursday, May 9^th, a new show on the NGC (National Geographic Channel), called Mountain Movers, will feature SPT (Snow Park Technowledgy), a company Landon works for. Landon is cast as the Rookie, since he is the newest on the team.

Just go to (search) National Geographic Channel and click on the new program. They are running teasers right now. Young Mr. Taylor just got back from three weeks in Brazil, where he was setting up for the Summer X Games. In the last couple of months, he spent four weeks in France and two weeks in Breckenridge, Colorado, for the Winter X Games. Next week, he is off to Spain. Landon makes his home in the Lake Tahoe area. He will be 29 in October. He has no show biz experience or desire to be in show business, adds his father, and then WHAM! These reality shows gave him the chance to do something I couldn't do in 40 years... get a shot on national TV! "Not that I'd give up that time I spent in Las Vegas, having the time of my life and meeting so many wonderful people both on and off stage," says Larry. "Let's just say I couldn't be prouder, and wanted to share this with friends." We certainly understand.

As for Larry himself, he tells us that he is enjoying his retirement and plans to find himself a houseboat and travel from Laughlin (Davis Dam) through beautiful Topock Gorge, with a short stop in Needles at The Pirate Cove Resort, onto Lake Havasu and under the London Bridge, with my final destination all the way to Parker Dam. The trip should take about two weeks with stops at the AVI Hotel and the Casino on the California side, fishing, swimming and of coarse a lot of bright moon cocktail nights. "That will be about 100 miles down river. It may not be the African Queen, and I may not be Bogie to others, but in my mind it's all good." Bon voyage, Larry!

Landon Taylor
Mark Nadler

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Jam on with The Lon Bronson All-Star Band this weekend - tonight, Friday, May 3^rd starting at 9 p.m. in the Railhead at Boulder Station, and Saturday night, May 4^th, beginning at 9:30 p.m. in the Access Showroom at Aliante Casino & Hotel!

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If you are in New York, or plan to be there during any of the dates below, take the opportunity to go to The York Theater and see what entertainer Mark Nadler's brilliant director, David Schweizer, and the supremely gifted technical team at the theater have created with Mark's show, I'm a Stranger Here Myself. It has really turned into something that they are all very proud of. Use the following codes to get discount tickets: For the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances from May 7^th through 16^th, use code NADLERMAIL52. For the Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances, May 3^rd through 19^th, use code NADLERMAIL60. And if you come see the show, remember not to give away the ending to those who haven't seen it yet. What happens in the Weimar Republic STAYS in the Weimar Republic! For tickets, go to WWW.YORKTHEATRE.ORG, or call (212) 935-5820. The York Theatre is at 619 Lexington Avenue at the corner of 54th Street in the East Midtown section of Manhattan. Enter on 54^th Street, just east of Lexington. Wish we could be there.

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The Danny Roque ShowManiaPalooza! plays at The MBar, 1253 Vine St. (across the street from El Pollo Loco, in Hollywood, Thursday, May 9^th, at 8 p.m. Danny presents another night of musical fun and foolishness. Featuring a recipe of his original songs, he is joined on stage by an amazingly talented group of friends and family, including Nora, Chris and Angelica Roque, and Jill Marie Burke on vocals. The band is made up of Duane Benjamin, Jimmy Ford, Rich Cohen, Dan Spector, and Dwain Roque. The performers are terrific and the tunes are great - fresh and creative. You'll be crying one moment and laughing the next. New songs and special guest artists are featured in every show. See why people have called it "The most fun we've had in years!" There is a $15 cash cover at the door, and a $10 food minimum. Doors open at 7 p.m. To get a sample of what you're in for, see "Lunch at Costco" on YouTube, or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwbGxzWyfaE. Check our "Facebook Friend" song, featuring Angelica Roque, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcPOKBpUYwI.
For reservations, call (323) 856-0036.

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Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald and Her Trio will perform in the Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on May 10^th and 11^th. Except...Sometimes, the debut CD from actress and author Molly Ringwald, was released by Concord Records on April 9^th. An homage to the Great American Songbook, Ringwald has crafted a carefully chosen selection of nine standards which she caps off with her take on The Breakfast Club classic, "Don't You (Forget About Me)." Molly herself says, "I believe that the Great American Songbook is one of our national treasures. The songs penned by these brilliant composers and lyricists have thrilled and inspired me since I was a child. I have found equal inspiration in many of the great singers who have sung these songs. Bessie, Ella, Anita, Blossom, and Susannah have all taught—and continue to teach— me how to sing. I am both humbled and emboldened by their musical virtuosity and tremendous gifts of interpretation and look forward to performing them at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts." Show times are at 7 p.m. on Thursday the 10^th, and Friday the 11^th. Tickets prices are $35-$45. For reservations, call (702) 749-2000.

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On Thursday, May 9^th at 7:30 p.m., the Las Vegas Civic Orchestra, under the direction of Steven Trinkle, performs the final program of the season. The concert will feature three soloists, Erin VanderWyst, clarinet, in the Weber Concertino in E-flat major, by Carl Maria von Weber; Richard Paugh, performing the Joseph Hayden Trumpet Concerto; and Johann Thomsen, in the Concerto for the Timpani by Jaromir Weinberger. Thomsen is an 8^th grade student at Garrett Junior High School in Boulder City. He has completed two years of band under the direction of Alison Bradley, and two years of Percussion Ensemble study with Adam Hallam. Johann, 13, is the son of principal oboist with the Civic Orchestra, Sharol Thomsen. The Weinberg Concerto for the Timpani, composed in 1939, is one of a small handful of concerto works for the timpani. This season was Johann's debut with the orchestra and his first experience as a soloist. VanderWyst, a native of Wisconsin, is a doctoral student at UNLV completing her first year of study in Las Vegas in the studio of Marina Sturm. Paugh, a junior from Oklahoma, is a student in the studio of Steven Trinkle. The Las Vegas Civic Orchestra, sponsored by the UNLV Department of Music and the Division of Educational Outreach, is a community ensemble open to any UNLV students and Las Vegas area residents who wish to perform in an orchestra. The ensemble performs a wide variety of standard symphonic repertoire. Participation provides the opportunity to practice performing skills in an enjoyable community setting. The concert is in Room 160 of the Beam Music Center on the UNLV campus, and is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Maryland Parkway Department of Music lot, and the UNLV Foundation lot, accessible by Cottage Grove Avenue. Seating is limited.

Reminder...
Also taking place at UNLV, as they wind down their 10th Anniversary Season, the Nevada Conservatory Theatre is presenting the triple Tony-winning Urinetown, through May 12^th in the Judy Bayley Theatre. Show times are at 8 p.m., May 3^rd, 4^th, 9^th, 10^th and 11^th, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on May 5^th and 12^th. Tickets are $20-30 for adults, with 10 percent off for those under 18. For tickets or additional information, visit the website or call (702) 895-ARTS (2787).

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Our longtime friend, actor Bart Williams, who knows more about vintage films and the stars of the Golden Era than anyone else we know, passes along the news that Deanna Durbin has passed away. We took the following information from the Internet. Canadian singer and actress Deanna Durbin, who enjoyed a short but successful career as a Universal contract star from 1936 to 1948, has died. She was 91. Durbin passed away "a few days ago," her son told the New York Times. Cause of death was not disclosed. Durbin was discovered at age 13 by MGM but moved to Universal the next year. There her debut film Three Smart Girls earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination and launched her career as one of the most popular teen idols of her generation. In 1939, she shared a Juvenile Academy Award with Mickey Rooney for their "significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth, and as juvenile players setting a high standard of ability and achievement." Career highlights include One Hundred Men And A Girl (1937), First Love (1939), and The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943). Attempts at a more mature image led the ex-child star to roles in the 1944 noir Christmas Holiday opposite Gene Kelly, and 1945's Lady On A Train. She retired in 1949 and, in 1960, earned a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Deanna Durbin 1921-2013
Michael Jackson by Alex Krasky

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Meet Ukrainian artist Alex Krasky Friday, May 3^rd, at a 5 p.m. reception at the West Las Vegas Arts Center Community Gallery, located at 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Krasky, now a Las Vegas resident, left Ukraine in 1997, journeying for three years through seven countries to make his way to the United States. At the urging of his wife, Krasky took oil painting classes after he was laid off from his job in 2009. It was the first time he held brushes in his hand. After four classes, his instructor urged him to just go home and paint; she had nothing else to teach him. He has not stopped painting since. Krasky and his art have been featured on television news shows, in magazine and newspaper articles, and acknowledged by the President of the United States and other elected officials. His works will be on exhibit at the center through June 8^th, and also may be seen on his website, www.kraskyart.com. The gallery is open to the public Wednesdays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (702) 229-4800.

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Jerry Halliday with Sista Girl & Granny Goodtimes
Jimmy Emerson

Puppeteer/comedian, Jerry Halliday, wants it known that he and some of his favorite puppet characters will be performing at the 6^th Annual Prime Timers Western Regional Gathering at the Tuscany Suites Hotel Casino, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 8^th. Jerry creates all the puppets and does their voices live, with no lip-syncing. For the Prime Timers event, among the characters Jerry will be doing are Bette Davis, Mae West and Carol Channing. Also providing entertainment for the Prime Timers gathering will be Jimmy Emerson's Un-BOY-lievable, with Brent Allen, Kenneth Rex, Ryan Zink, Toni James, and special guests, "eye candy," Chippendales dancer Bryan Cheatham, and dancer/internet star, Paul Pratt. Un-BOY-lievable will play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7^th, in the Tuscany's upstairs ballroom. The Prime Timers is a national organization, made up of middle-aged, mostly professional, gay men. For more information about the group and/or the upcoming Western Regional get-together, please call, Secretary Pete Pedersen at (702) 553-5713 (leave a message). Here's a teaser, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLw4kGvK7Wc&feature=em-share_video_user.

Bryan Cheatham
Bernie Allen

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Tommy Moore, from Wrightsville Beach N.C., who came across Claire Voyant while researching Bernie Allen, who he did a newspaper column on in the '80s in Philadelphia, is trying to locate a copy of the late comic's autobiography, Have A Clown on Me. Maybe one of our readers can help. Hey. Maybe Steve Rossi can help! After all, Bernie Allen and Mr. Rossi were stage partners for a spell. Readers? Rossi?

Have a question about Las Vegas? Want to make a comment (be nice, now)?
If so, drop an e-mail and ask. Click Here
Cousin Claire will do her best to find the answer for you.

Claire Voyant's portrait by Charlie Frye

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski 5/10/13

FrankS — Sat, 11 May 2013 05:30:29 +0000

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski

May 10, 2013

Luck goes south for this slot player

Dear Mark: My luck with slots has gone kaput. I am to a point where I feel slots don't pay at all. What is an old-time slot player to do? Ted Y.

I can tell you, Ted, with 100 percent certainty that all slot machines dependably pay. They pay the casino's mortgage, those neon light bills, and all the employees' salaries. They also pay millions in profits to the casino owners and stockholders. Unfortunately, being an "old-time" slot player, you just happen to be on the bottom end of that food chain.

I feel your pain, Ted. Nowadays, you insert a coin, pull the handle, and then reach into your wallet for more money. You should come to expect that result when the house has such an enormous built-in edge on slots compared to the other games the casino offers.

The only slots you should be playing are at casinos that advertise machines that have a 98 plus percent payback. True, it's a treasure hunt finding these high payback machines with no real trail of clues. If you look closely at the advertisement, it will probably say, "on select machines." What's more, the payback percentage probably won't be posted on the machine itself, and can be limited to a single bank of machines within the casino. To find them, you need to ask a slot employee, and if he or she doesn't know, have one of them ask a direct supervisor.

I don't play slots, Ted. It goes against my creed; "only make bets that have less than a two percent house edge." I do know that in gaming jurisdictions locals typically don't play dog machines, and usually play machines with the most cluck-for-the-buck. So when searching for high payback machines, ask a few employees where the locals find the best slot value.

My other recommendation, Ted, is that since you're playing these electronic gizmos anyway, how about playing video poker instead? Even poor play on a video poker machine will have a better payback than most "reel" slot machines.

Dear Mark: Where I play, on the weekends they bump up the minimum table limits at blackjack to $10, and sometimes even as high as $25. The table maximum on some of these same games is $500. I know that I am not getting the better of it with these high table minimums, but is restricting my play to a $500 maximum wager to my advantage, or the casino? Chuck D.

All the advantage of high table minimums and a low table maximum goes to the casino, Chuck, and here's why. Casinos win for two reasons. First, they have statistical edge on every game, and second, they have a bigger bankroll than you do.

As for the latter, Chuck, it's a simple concept called "gambler's ruin." Essentially, it's how long will it take you--with your limited finances--to lose everything to a casino, which has a relatively infinite wad of cash. Even a short-term winning streak against the house is no match against a casino with an infinite stake. The casino can, and will, outlast you.

Another problem with playing the high minimums/low maximums limits, is that this scenario eliminates low-stakes betting with those high minimums. In addition, the ability to parlay your winnings by increasing your bets is removed with the low maximums.

My concern here, Chuck, is that when you play under these conditions, and you happen to be a low roller, with the slightest swing going the wrong way, you're tapped out in mere minutes.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: Gaming is an enchanting witchery, gotten betwixt idleness and avarice; An itching disease, that makes some scratch the head, whilst others, as if they, were bitten by a Tarantula, are laughing themselves to death: --Charles Cotton The Compleat Gamester 1674

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You can email Mark your questions at pilarski -at- markpilarski.com

A good weekend for communication.

AstroLady — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:40:12 +0000

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.

This should be a good weekend for communication. Thinking may be a little slow so choose your words carefully, but express whatever you need to.

Mercury, planet of communication, transportation, short trips and commerce, moves into his own sign of Gemini mid week. People will want to chat a bit more and move a little more quickly. Think before you speak and watch out for other people that may not be watching out for you.

Monday is a great day for creative pursuits. If you are an artist, or even a would-be artist or writer, go for it! It's a great day for all types of spiritual activities as well. The only caution is, don't buy into a story that seems too good to be true. It probably isn't real.

Aries: Someone may be talking to you about an investment of time, energy or money this weekend, Aries. Listen carefully. You need to weed through the pretty words and see what is at the bottom of this. If you feel the offer is genuine, good. If you can see cracks in the walls before you even start, a firm no thank you may be in order.

Taurus: You are still in the spotlight, Taurus. Your ability to express yourself is important and your ability to listen to others is even more important. When in conversation, ask questions. When asked to speak do so only after you have thought things through and are ready with an opinion. There may be an opportunity for you to make some extra cash if you have some creative ideas this week.

Gemini: Have a great weekend, Gemini. You are the center of attention if you wish to be. Do you have a great book you want to read? Is there an artistic project you are working on? Is it time to just take a breather and enjoy the scenery? All of these are good outlets for you this weekend. The beginning of the week you may find yourself needing more explanations at work or with someone in authority. Be patient. Ask questions.

Cancer: Taking a break and sitting somewhere that is peaceful and quite can be very, very refreshing this weekend, Cancer. Sleep in if possible. If you just can't stand to be out of the loop for even a little while, make sure to return phone calls and emails before you initiate new conversations. There may be something you are missing and it may be the piece of the puzzle that will pull things together.

Leo: Friends and networking buddies are there for you, Leo. Make sure to ask for help when you feel the need and offer help when you see that others could benefit from your experience. There is an emphasis in the area of your community standing or profession now. Make sure you know where you are, where you want to be and how to get there.

Virgo: You have the ability to communicate with authority figures now, Virgo. If you feel the need to "tell them like it is" make sure to think through your argument before you initiate a conversation. Know the facts and make sure to lay them out in order. The beginning of the week may not be the best time to do concrete thinking. Think outside the box for a change. Communications improve after mid week.

Libra: You are great at meeting people and getting them to talk, Libra, and this is a great weekend to do just that. Open up to new contacts and you can learn quite a bit. If you are thinking of planning a get-away, ask people instead of just reading about the spots you might want to visit. Take the time to return phone calls and emails. There may be some surprises waiting for you in that overloaded in box.

Scorpio: This is a good time to sit down with your partner or someone you consider an equal, Scorpio, and find out what they are thinking and what their goals are. If there is a way you can help, or if they seem willing to help you, ask. Don't wait for an offer, just do it. It can be to everyone's benefit. Those of you born near the end of the first week of the sign may feel very creative this week. Follow your inclination.

Sagittarius: Taking care to observe the feelings and thoughts of others is very important this weekend, Sagittarius. Make sure you keep an open mind. Not everyone can jump from one subject to the next within the blink of an eye. Slow down just a bit and pay attention. If you aren't quite sure what has been said, ask questions. Offer your opinion only after you have listened, thought things through and come to a decision.

Capricorn: You can have lots of fun this weekend, Capricorn, if you get outdoors with your pet or a friend's pet. The exercise can be good for both of you. If there aren't any pets around, just take a nice long walk in a quiet place. This is a good time for thinking and then communicating your thoughts to others. If you would like to just hide out this weekend, make sure to keep a flexible schedule this week as there may be an opportunity to do a project you have been waiting to initiate.

Aquarius: This is a great weekend to have some fun and take a chance or two, Aquarius. If you are in the market for romance, go for it. If you just want to gamble a little, know your limit and stick to it. This can be a great weekend to spend doing a creative project or taking care of someone else's kids. Enjoy yourself and see things through fresh eyes.

Pisces: If you have been waiting for just the right time to speak with a family member, Pisces, this may be the perfect weekend to do so. Communications are emphasized and people should be a bit more willing to listen. The beginning of the week can be a time of insight and intuition. Pay attention to those fleeting thoughts and move forward with them if it seems the thing to do. Pick up conversations after mid week if they are interrupted before you can finish.

Eclipse on Thursday can be seen in Australia.

AstroLady — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:41:26 +0000

Whenever we have a Solar eclipse it puts an emphasis on a different area of our life. Think back to what you were experiencing about 18 years ago and see what is going on in your life today. Are there similarities in the issues you were facing then and currently? Have you learned anything in the meantime to help you today? These are questions we all face. This eclipse is in the sign of Taurus. Whenever that is in your natal chart, you will feel a push in that direction and need to deal with that area of life for about six months.

This can be a week of changing minds and changing values, so have an open mind whenever anyone gives you new information. Longstanding ideas and thoughts may change in an instant.

We have a lot of Taurus energy going on this week. Don't just plant your feet and wait, listen to what is being said, evaluate and make a move if it is appropriate.

Aries: Get some rest this weekend, Aries, or work behind the scenes if you have a project going. Take a break and rest when necessary. Don't push through. You can get a better result if you look with fresh eyes. You can be ready to take on the world at the beginning of the week. Finances can change, plan ahead.

Taurus: You are definitely going to be busy this week, Taurus. Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars are all in your sign providing their energy to you. On Thursday the Moon gives you even more of a push in whatever direction you personally wish to take. If you feel things are moving too quickly for you, take a breath and relax, then continue. There is a lot of communicating to do, especially with others that may share your views or values. If you feel you are working as hard as you can, but not seeing the results you want, stop, evaluate and then make some changes.

Gemini: This is a good weekend to get out in the world and let them know who you are, Gemini. There may be a lot of unfinished projects that you wish were done. If that is the case, make a plan, schedule the time and get to them. At the end of the week Venus moves into your sign. Get ready for some fun and romance.

Cancer: Your friends can be some of the most important people in your life right now, Cancer. Make sure you return phone calls and be open to their conversations. Your partner or someone you consider an equal can be going through some changes in thinking. Be open to listening and giving your opinion when you have had time to think things through.

Leo: Dealing with joint finances or other people's values can take up some of your time this weekend, Leo, but the week ahead is all about your career and standing in the community. Make sure you are putting your best face on and being the best you can be when you need to deal with authority figures and people in charge. There is a spotlight on this area of your life for about the next six months.

Virgo: Dealing with the needs and wants of others this weekend may seem the thing to do, Virgo. Make sure to take care of yourself as well. Learn something new this week. Have conversations with people of different backgrounds than your own. Take a trip if you can. Make sure to take a look at your investments or things you value early in the week.

Libra: Do you have a pet, Libra? If you do this is a great weekend to pay some attention to that pet. If you need to plan a new schedule for yourself, start some new eating habits or just do something to enhance your mind, spirit or body, this is a good time to so do. There may be a number of things you want to spend money on. The best investment is in yourself.

Scorpio: You may not mind being in the background, Scorpio, but you may be called on to be in a supporting position for someone close to you. Do whatever you can to help. The positions may change later this year and you may be the one that needs a little bolstering. Stay open to new ideas you receive when communicating with people that are your equals. Indulge a little.

Sagittarius: Taking care of things at home can be fun and even profitable this weekend, Sagittarius. Make sure you keep your eyes and ears open as there can be some conversations that get you thinking in new directions. Be open to different opinions and viewpoints. The eclipse puts an emphasis in the area of habits and work. The end of the week can bring new projects into your life.

Capricorn: This is a great weekend to catch up with people you haven't heard from in a while, Capricorn. Conversations with siblings or even neighbors can give you new ideas or new ways of looking at projects. Read some articles or a good book that will give you insight and it can open new doors for you.

Aquarius: If you are thinking of purchasing a big ticket item this weekend, Aquarius, make sure you have all the information you will need for a decision before you speak with the salesperson. When you think you have all the information, then ask questions and be open to even more input. There is still more to learn. The eclipse on Thursday puts an emphasis in the area of your home. Make sure projects are easy for you to handle, or seek help.

Pisces: Take some time for yourself this weekend, Pisces. A nice day at the spa or even a home spa treatment can be just the thing you need to help you relax and enjoy yourself. Communication with others can provide new insight on something you have had on your mind for a while. Be open, listen, think and then make your decision. The eclipse puts an emphasis on communication for several months. Be willing to speak and listen.

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski 5/03/13

FrankS — Sat, 04 May 2013 00:57:19 +0000

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski

May 3, 2013

Mega this and Mega that

Dear Mark: My question concerns the big progressive slots, like the Wheel of Fortune and Megabucks. They are in casinos - large and small - in many states. Is each machine programmed to the same payout amount, or "looseness," or would a machine in a small, locals' casino, be more likely to pay off? Also, are ALL the machines, all over the country, tied in together, or is it state by state? Victoria W.

Both Megabucks and the Wheel of Fortune are a statewide network of progressive slot carousels that are linked together to produce those humongous jackpots. A small computer chip in each machine monitors every coin played and communicates that information electronically to a mainframe computer at IGT's headquarters. The central computer keeps track of every Megabucks or Wheel of Fortune slot machine and maintains a constant tally of the jackpot. Then the computer projects the ever-changing jackpot total to all units where it is displayed on the digital tote board on each bank of machines. When the main jackpot is hit, a signal is sent to the other machines on the system to reset their progressive meters.

As with any slot machines hooked together to create those progressive jackpots, each electronic machine within that network plays independently. Simply put, Victoria, you are playing an individual machine, linked to a statewide network of progressive slot carousels that produces those prodigious payouts. Each machine's payback percentage, albeit extremely low because of its ginormous progressive, is the same as the payback percentage on all the other machines linked to it.

To grow any progressive, a portion of each bet made funds the winning jackpot. The rate at which the meters progress upwards is based on a pre-set percentage of all the money cycled through the machine. It is a percentage of your loses cycled through the machine that provides a life-changing jumbo jackpot for someone else.

These monster progressive jackpots on machines like Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune are paid by the manufacturer of the slot, in your example, IGT. If ever someone's stars do truly align, IGT (the gamesvendor) would send a representative to authenticate the win, and then pay off the winner.

The odds of hitting a life-altering Megabucks machine are approximately one in 50,000,000. To be exact, for those interested in such things, with each reel on a Megabucks machine having 368 virtual stops, and only one virtual stop assigned to the jackpot symbol, by multiplying 368 X 368 X 368, your calculator should spit out the chances of hitting the Megabucks at exactly 1 in 49,836,032. Either way, your chances of hitting pay dirt are slightly better than zero. Still, as they say, you can only win if you play, right? Plus, putting the top prize number aside, a Megabucks slot machine does offer an 80 percent long-term payback of the money wagered by its players.

All state gaming regulations require networked progressives like Megabucks that are linked together to have the same payback percentages, but, what Megabucks machines do NOT do is cross state lines. Each state has a separate progressive total, with Joe in Michigan chasing one life-altering jackpot, and Josephine in Nevada chasing another.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: After getting bounced from Harrah's, I'm so concerned about getting kicked out that my game has become more conservative than Rush Limbaugh. --Barry Meadow, Blackjack Autumn

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You can email Mark your questions at pilarski -at- markpilarski.com

Claire Voyant's Las Vegas Gossip Column 4/26/13

ClaireVoyant — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 05:37:51 +0000

Displaying keen perception and great insight.
She’s a little bit naughty. She’s a little bit nice.
She calls ‘em like she sees (and hears) ‘em.
She’s...
Claire Voyant

Las Vegas - April 26, 2013

Roseanne Barr
Adam James

On Tuesday night, a group of us comedy fans went to see Roseanne Barr at the Laugh Factory in the NEW Tropicana. Since her 7 p.m. show times attracts a lot of old, er, Baby Boomers, the comedian only drops the "F bomb" twice during her hour show. There is plenty to laugh at, even without that word, and in our (not so) humble opinion, the 60-year-old comedian has never looked better. Roseanne, who is guest starring in the final episodes of NBC’s The Office (the show is in its ninth season), winds up her Laugh Factory stint on May 5^th. Shows are Saturdays through Thursdays at, as we already mentioned, 7 (dark on Fridays). Tickets are $49.95 to $69.95, plus taxes and fees. Call (702) 739-2411 for reservations.

After our recent visit to the Tropicana, in our (not necessarily) humble opinion, the only real reason we can see for locals to patronize the "New" Strip property would be for the entertainment - whether it be in the newly designed Tropicana Lounge, hosting Skye 5 and Adam James, and his clever one-man (arm) band, whatever is going on at the Laugh Factory - Roseanne Barr and/or alternating comics and Celebrity Magician Murray SawChuck from America’s Got Talent and Pawn Stars, and his cohorts, Chloe and Lefty), plus the Mob Museum attraction, featuring live actors, including friends Gary Olds and Paul Campanella. The hotel has been remodeled and looks attractive, but pretty is as pretty does. We think visitors would much more appreciate reasonably priced beverages and slot machines with better (not necessarily more often) payouts, in lieu of new flooring and paint. The odds on the video machines at the NEW Trop are lower than those in the neighborhood supermarkets, let alone other casinos. For example, in video poker, the usual payout for a full house on a Double Double machine is 9 to 1. Not at the NEW (or old) Trop. Most of their Double Double Game King machines only pay 6 to 1, while a few (try and find one) pay 8 to 1. Tourists may not realize they are getting less bang for their bucks, but locals will. What it means is, Las Vegans will spend their time (and money) gambling elsewhere...and who can blame them. And can we talk about the outrageous prices for beverages? Our friends ordered a Vodka and 7up, along with a Miller Lite at one of the hotel bars. The price for the two drinks? With a straight face, the bartender told them $24. The customer said, "Wow. That’s a lot!" She then asked if they had a players club card, and told them that if they had one, the price would be half. Needless to say, they ran and got a card. Even with the card, at the Comedy Club bar, the same two drinks were $17. We were charged $9 for a bottle of water, and 12 oz. bottle of Pepsi (with a plastic cup of ice), at the Laugh Factory bar (we weren’t laughing). Shame on them! For that price, it should have been a two litre bottle of Pepsi and a very long straw! Also, because we had someone in our party using mobility equipment, we found access to the coffee shop a bit challenging.

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A bit about the April Composers Showcase, which we didn’t have the time or space to write about last Friday. As it is every month, there were some amazing musical selections and performances. We can’t mention everything and everyone, but among the highlights, we have to give kudos to three of Keith Thompson's numbers, "Positive" (yes, about being HIV positive) that he performed, "Let the Change Begin In Me," sung by Kristen Hertzenberg with Philip Fortenberry on piano, and "There Is a Way," sung by Jimmy Lockett; Chris Lash's "I'd Rather Die Than Move to Texas, sung by Savannah Smith, Niki Scalera and Lisa Orchard; and Richard Oberacker's "Bandstand," with Travis Cloer, backed by six musicians, singing and telling the tale of Donnie Levinski. With approximately 46 contributors, hopefully you can understand why we can't give them all the individual credit that they deserve. We wish we could.

It's hard to believe, but in May, the popular monthly Composers Showcase begins its 7^th year (how time flies when you‘re having fun)! We are sure that when musicians Keith Thompson and Michael Brennan started the series at Suede, a small bar on Paradise Road, they could never have imagined where the journey would take them. After outgrowing the space in the Las Vegas Fruit Loop, year number two began in the Cabaret Lounge at the Liberace Museum. Five years later, when the museum closed (don't get us started on that subject), the showcase jumped around from Creative Studios in southwest Las Vegas, to Garfield's Restaurant at Desert Shores. Last April, the showcase home became the Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center. Who knows what may come next.

And speaking of the Composers Showcase, we have news items involving two of its regular creative participants, Vita Corimbi and Clint Holmes.
Musician (she sings, she plays piano and writes)/actress (Menopause the Musical), Vita‘s mother, Bertine Corimby, died unexpectedly on April 6^th. "My mom was healthy as a horse and sharp as a tack," says her grieving daughter. "She took a fall, got up, went right back to work in her garden on a project and passed out, whether from a concussion, or bleeding on the brain - not sure. But working on a project, exactly how she would have chosen to go! If she would have been hooked up to machines or less than independent in any way... THAT would have killed her!" Vita describes her musical mom as "a true trailblazer for musicians and especially women musicians in this town. She played with everyone from Elvis to Doug Henning!" Here are some facts about this unique woman, as conveyed by Vita. She was born in Chicago (age unknown - we have found two passports and two old licenses and NONE of the years are the same)! "Her age was a tighter secret than vaults at the Pentagon!," states Vita. Bertine was raised on the island of Corsica. Her first languages were French and Italian. She came to this country when officers invaded her family villa, and at the New York City dock, her uncle told her father they were broke - destitute. "He died within four months and my mom and my grandmother were on relief, waiting in line for shoes and on rations during the war. They literally went from wealthy to poor in half a year." Bertine never forgot that, and became a self-made woman, saving every dime and investing in real estate. She earned a Master of Music from Northwestern, and was a Fulbright Scholar, studying for two years at the Paris Conservatory. She was one of the first female musicians in a major symphony orchestra (in Indianapolis), was a member of the Baltimore Symphony; Grant Park Symphony (Chicago); Lyric Opera of Chicago; Orchestra Sinfonia de Chile; Florence Symphony (Italy); New York Festival Orchestra, Santa Barbara Symphony, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic (one of the original members). Bertine toured the world with the famous James Melton, a society bandleader in the ‘50s. She performed for three sitting presidents, and was in Havana performing at the famed Tropicana Club the night that Castro took power as everyone was whisked out of the country. Bertine came to Las Vegas in the ‘60s, where she played in an all-girl violin group called the Stringettes at the Sands, Frontier, Caesars, and Stardust. She also played in the showroom orchestras of the Sahara, Riviera, Caesars, Flamingo (where she was concertmistress), the Golden Nugget, Hacienda, Dunes, opened the International (later the LV Hilton in Barbra Streisand's orchestra), and was at the Hilton in the orchestra for 25 years (part of those years as concertmistress). She toured with Elvis, and was a part of the Aloha from Hawaii - Live Via Satellite Concert that was seen by 1.5 billion people. The violin solo on Elvis' "My Way" from that concert was played by Bertine. She was also featured in Elvis' concert documentary, That's the Way it Is, and toured with Frank Sinatra, Wayne Newton, Andrea Bocelli, and Lawrence Welk, just to name a few, traveling to more than 75 countries. "She played for Wayne when he was young, chubby and BLOND, and I have the picture to prove it!!!," says Vita, as well as for George Burns, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Raquel Welch, Petula Clark, Ann-Margret, Louis Armstrong, Paul Anka, and basically EVERY star who ever came through Vegas, and has autographed pictures of almost every single one of them. Wayne took her to Branson, where she then became part of the Lawrence Welk Show there. She stayed for 5 years before retiring in 2005. Bertine learned Russian, the upright bass and sign language in her 70s! "She made me into who I am as a person and a musician," says Vita. "I grew up seeing people like Don Ho and Juliet Prowse in my living room and at parties. In addition to her daughter, Vita, Bertine Corimby is survived by her sons Tino of Santiago, Chile, and Richard of San Francisco, along with four grandchildren. "We are establishing a scholarship for a young, in-need female violinist at the Nevada School of the Arts, in my mom's name! A Life Celebration/ Memorial Concert, with half the philharmonic and Celine Dion's orchestra, are playing in tribute to my mom, at 3 p.m., on Friday, May 17^th, at the Desert Shores Clubhouse. There will also be some funny Bertine stories. It will be quite the event! We will be doing a yearly memorial concert to help the school, and assure the scholarship can sustain as well!," Vita tells us. She also tells us, "Mom's name ends with a "y" and mine ends with an "I." When we speak, I'll tell you the story!" When we learn the story, we will pass it on.

Bertine Corimby 1957
Frank Wildhorn

Tomorrow night and Sunday, in the Cabaret Jazz club at The Smith Center, it's Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn, with Jane Monheit and Clint Holmes. Show times are tomorrow, Saturday, the 27^th at 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 6. Tickets start at $39. Monheit and Holmes join the multi-Grammy® and Tony®-nominated composer as his famed "Frank and Friends" concert returns to Cabaret Jazz. Through dazzling performances, they will chronicle Frank's legendary career, including his hits from Broadway's Jekyll and Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel, as well as Whitney Houston's "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." For reservations, call The Smith Center Box Office at (702) 749-2000.

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The Enoch Augustus Scott Experience, a one night only departure for Las Vegas' Singular Gay, Actor, Author and Performance Artist, will play at The Onyx Theatre tomorrow night (Saturday, April 27^th) with a show at 11 p.m. It's Enoch Augustus Scott, with No Script and No Agenda, just some songs he wants to sing and whatever he wants to talk about. Joined by his partner, Spencer Baker, on piano, and acoustic guitar gangster, Garret Harbison, along with some surprise guest stars, following his Confessions of a Roid Fag or How He-Man Made Me Gay show at the Onyx, Enoch takes a swing at a more traditional cabaret in his most untraditional and iconoclastic way. It's sure to be a night to remember. Tickets are $15. Call (702) 732-7225.

Enoch Augustus Scott
Stephen McClelland

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On Sunday, May 5^th, The Performing Arts Society of Nevada will present Fly Me To the Moon - Music That's Simply Out of This World. The program will feature Stephen McClelland, Allison Rajcevic, Artie Anderson, Kirbi Jo Long, dancer Julie Taber, and special guest, Jersey Boy Travis Cloer. The program will feature extraordinary vocalists performing celestially themed songs from superstars of yesteryear like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Bing Crosby, as well as smash hits from stellar artists/musicals of today. Travis will include his rendition of the Crosby favorite, "The Moon Got In My Eyes," and his Frankie Valli-like soprano voice in the classic, "In The Still Of The Night." The Performing Arts Society of Nevada is a non-profit organization dedicated to affordably bringing the Performing Arts to the public and creating a venue for artists to explore new work and hone their craft. The society has been conducting programs and educational trips for more than twenty years. Winchester Theater is located inside of the Winchester Cultural Center at 3130 McLeod, just north of Desert Inn and east of Eastern. PASNV Sunday afternoon programs begin at 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door with unreserved seating. For more information on how purchase tickets, please call PASNV at (702) 658-6741, or email PASNV@aol.com.

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A Claire Voyant column without a Sardelli mentioned, is like a day without sunshine, so, with that thought in mind...
With the glowing reviews it has received, it isn't too surprising that FINKS, a play by Joe Gilford, directed by Giovanna Sardelli (daughter of Las Vegan Nelson Sardelli), and choreographed by Greg Graham, has been extended through May 5^th. FINKS opened at New York's Ensemble Studio Theatre on March 28^th. Based on the true experiences of Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford and the Blacklist of the 1950s, FINKS is a play of show biz and subversion. It is Joe Gilford's fictionalized account of his parents. It is a tale of a scoundrel time, a time of paranoia, loyalty and betrayal, show business and show trials, told from the life of two young entertainers who, at the birth of their careers, had to confront the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). This play is about names, the naming of names, career-determining choices and finks. Jack is most famous for bringing his inimitable pantomime to the 1960s TV ads for Cracker Jacks. Born in Brooklyn, he began as a club comic and went on to the stage. He was a starring actor in dozens of TV shows, films and Broadway, earning two Tony nominations (for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Cabaret), and an Oscar nomination (for Save the Tiger). Madeline was born in the Bronx. She was a child actress, a teenage activist and a radio and stage performer. She later became a theater producer and continued acting throughout her life. Jack and Madeline remained activists for their whole lives. Mr. Gilford hopes that "my play will recreate the hardships that actors experienced having to make choices that artists should never be asked to make." Playwright Joe Gilford remembers the paranoia of the blacklist years as a small child. "We were always told not to discuss something called 'communism'. We didn't really know what that meant, but understood to keep our mouths shut." Finks has been developing for many years, he adds. "I always thought that my parents' refusal to name names was heroic. But they always explained that they had no choice. They could never hurt their friends." When the moment came to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), some artists chose to name names, others chose to risk their careers rather than betray their friends. FINKS is the real life story of young entertainers on the brink of success, who found themselves playing roles they never dreamed they'd have to play. FINKS features actors Michael Cullen, Ned Eisenberg, Leo Ash Evans, Kenney M. Green, Jason Liebman, Thomas Lyons, Aaron Serotsky and Miriam Silverman. Here is what some of the critics had to say about the production...
"Forget blue jokes; the humor in FINKS, Joe Gilford's farsighted yet tender tribute to his blacklisted parents, is distinctly red. But it's part of what makes this play, directed with vitality by Giovanna Sardelli, a nifty bit of theater. The eight-person ensemble is uniformly strong and as Gilford tries to understand why some of the accused betrayed friends to keep their livelihoods, he demonstrates a pluck similar to that of his parents." - Time Out New York

"Joe Gilford's impassioned, autobiographical FINKS... directed with concomitant fervor by Giovanna Sardelli and dressed with period accuracy by Sydney Maresca, is a testament to the parents who managed to maintain their indomitable spirit throughout the ordeal." - Huffington Post

"FINKS is rife with family pride, and while names have been changed to protect the innocent, the passions are real. The deliciously wry Miriam Silverman seems to have stepped straight out of the '50s and under Giovanna Sardelli's skillful direction, Thomas Lyons & Jason Liebman nimbly handle a wide range of supporting characters. Sydney Maresca's costumes beautifully evoke a period young theatergoers may not know existed. For them, FINKS will be more than a son's loving tribute to his courageous parents; it's also a valuable history lesson." - New York Post

"The scenes bristle with tension. The performances are top rate... the play holds together beautifully under the taut direction of Giovanna Sardelli. FINKS makes for an exciting and informative evening in the theater." - The Epoch Times

Performances are weekdays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $40. To order click www.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/134, or call (866) 811-4111. The Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) was founded in the belief that extraordinary support yields extraordinary work. We are a dynamic and expanding company of artists committed to the discovery and nurturing of new voices and the continued support and growth of artists throughout their creative lives. Through our unique collaborative process we develop and produce original, provocative, and authentic new plays that engage and challenge our audience and audiences across the country. It is located at 549 West 52nd Street.

Following the Sunday, April 14^th 5 p.m. performance, FINKS hosted Children of the Blacklist: a conversation with children of blacklisted entertainers. Panelists include: Kate Lardner, daughter of screenwriter Ring Lardner Jr.; Julie Garfield, daughter of actor John Garfield; Lee Grant, blacklisted actress; Joshua Mostel, son of actor Zero Mostel (who co-starred with Jack Gilford in Forum); Deborah Offner, daughter of writer Mortimer Offner; and FINKS author, Joe Gilford, son of actors Jack and Madeline Gilford. The discussion was moderated by Tony Kahn, NPR radio host and son of blacklisted screenwriter, Gordan Kahn.

Jack Gilford
Richie Havens 1941-2013

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Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Richie Havens, passed away on April 22^nd at the age of 72.
Richard Pierce Havens was born in Brooklyn, January 21, 1941. His music encompassed elements of folk, soul, and rhythm and blues. He is best known for his intense and rhythmic guitar style, soulful covers of pop and folk songs, such as "Here Comes the Sun" and "Freedom," and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Country music legend, George Jones, died earlier today (April 26^th) at the age of 81. Jones had more than 150 hits during his career, both as a solo artist and in duets with other artists, among them, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" with Barbara Mandrell. Throughout his long career, Jones made headlines, often as much for tales of his drinking, stormy relationships with women (including his third marriage to singer Tammy Wynette), and violent rages as for his prolific career of making records and touring. His wild lifestyle led to Jones missing many performances, earning him the nickname "No Show Jones." With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvado, he was sober for more than the last 10 years. In the later part of his life, Jones was frequently referred to as the greatest living country singer. He received many honors during his long career, from Most Promising New Country Vocalist in 1956, being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992, and being named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2008. In 2012 he was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. George Jones is survived by his wife of 30 years, Nancy, and four grown children.

George Jones 1931-2013
Neil Diamond On The Diamond

And speaking of music legends...
A tip of the baseball cap to Neil Diamond. There's a longtime musical tradition when the eighth inning arrives at Fenway Park - the playing of a recording of Diamond's 1969 hit, "Sweet Caroline." Since 2002, Red Sox fans have grown accustomed to hearing Diamond's voice singing, "Hands, touching hands. Reaching out, touching me, touching you." Following the horrendous Boston Marathon bombings on April 15^th, on Saturday, the 20^th, the 72-year-old composer and singer decided to deliver the message in person. Diamond flew to Boston, calling officials at Fenway Park about 40 minutes before the first pitch to say he was in the city. When the eighth inning arrived, Diamond walked out onto the field. "I bring love from the whole country," Diamond, wearing a Red Sox hat, told the crowd. He waved encouragingly as "Sweet Caroline" began to play on the loudspeakers. He sang along, his voice soaring on the familiar chorus - "Sweet Caroline. Good times never seemed so good." His presence, along with special pre-game ceremonies and a Red Sox victory over the Kansas City Royals, was a boost for a city in need of one. Neil Diamond will be donating royalties from sales of "Sweet Caroline," since the Boston Marathon bombings, to a charity that is helping victims of the terrorist incident. "Sweet Caroline" saw a sales boost of almost 600 percent following the attacks. Neil Diamond is a real gem. We are sure that Rob Garrett would agree with us.

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Singer/actress, Olivia Newton-John, who was scheduled to begin a residency at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, during regular headliners, Donny and Marie Osmond's, time away. Olivia postponed the shows after confirming that her older sister, Rona Newton-John, has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Olivia, herself, was diagnosed with breast cancer close to 20 years ago. Now 64, she has been free of the disease since undergoing treatment and a mastectomy.

Olivia Newton-John
Kevin Burke

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After 10 years playing the lead role in Defending the Caveman, comic actor Kevin Burke will step down from the role following his May 13^th performance. Since 2003, Burke has starred in the critically acclaimed Broadway tour of Defending the Caveman – a role he was hand-selected for by the show's creator and original caveman, Rob Becker. In 2007 Burke planted roots as star of the permanent Las Vegas run of the show. He has performed more than 3,000 shows during the Las Vegas run, and more shows than any other actor in Defending the Caveman. Defending the Caveman, currently playing inside The Improv Showroom at Harrah's Las Vegas, invites locals to see Burke one last time with a special ticket offer. Simply show your Nevada ID at the Harrah's Las Vegas Box office to receive two tickets for $50, now through May 13^th. Second City alum, Chris Allen, has been named as Burke's replacement.

Defending the Caveman is performed nightly at 7 p.m., with additional matinee shows on Sundays and Mondays at 4 p.m. Tickets for Defending the Caveman start at $39.95 for Regular Reserved, $49.95 for VIP including a t-shirt, and $59.95 for Premium VIP, which includes a t-shirt and premium seating. There is a $5 discount on all ticket levels for matinee shows. All prices are plus tax and fees.

Although you only have a short time to catch Kevin Burke in the Las Vegas production of Defending the Caveman, you have plenty of time to see the glamour girls of the hot and sexy X Burlesque at the Flamingo. The topless show, that just celebrated its 11th anniversary, has been extended for three more years at the Flamingo, taking them, at least, into 2016.

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Cockroach Theatre presents the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. This is the finale to the Cockroach Theatre's 2012-2013 Season of Plays, and opens tonight, Friday, April 26^th, at Art Square Theatre in the heart of the 18b Arts District. The show and season will end on May 19^th. Critically acclaimed Ernie Curcio stars as Willy Loman, leading a cast of 13 that features some of Las Vegas' best talent. Award-winning director, Troy Heard, takes the helm, presenting a vision for the play that marries traditional stagecraft with the latest in technological performance art. "I think people will be surprised upon rediscovering this play. Like a lot of people in this town, I grew up knowing the play as some dusty old text I was forced to read in high school," said Erik Amblad, Cockroach Theatre's Artistic Director. "From the beauty of Miller's writing, to the electricity of Ernie's performance, to the innovation of Troy's audio/visual dreamscape—this will be a breathtaking production unlike anything anyone has ever seen." Actor Ernie Curcio returns to the Las Vegas stage to tackle the role of Willy Loman. Willy is a man coming to the end of his career, who cannot understand how he failed to win success and happiness. Over the course of two days, as Willy drifts in and out of his daydreams, we see how his pursuit of the "American Dream" has gotten in the way of appreciating the love his family has for him. Casting Ernie as the patriarch continues a tradition of young powerhouse actors playing the itinerant salesman. Lee J. Cobb was 37 when he originated the role in the 1949 Tony Award-winning production. Dustin Hoffman famously played the role at 47, and, most recently, Phillip Seymour Hoffman led the 2012 Tony Award-winning revival at age 44. To accomplish Troy Heard's vision of bringing the storytelling into the 21st Century, Cockroach Theatre has partnered with Space Cadets AV, a brand new company born in the 18b Arts District and founded by Brett Bolton and Benton Corder. "Fourteen months ago, when Erik first showed me the new space, I thought it was perfect. I told him we won't need a set, we can just do video projection," said Heard, describing the first time Amblad gave him a tour of the new Art Square Theatre. "That's when Erik said I had to meet Brett Bolton." When producing the 18b music festival three years ago, Amblad first met Bolton as a member of Kid Meets Cougar, the celebrated music/ performance art duo. Bolton's work on video projection already caught Amblad's attention, but then Bolton pushed forward into numerous innovations such as motion-capture, video isolation, and interactive projections with live performers. "When Troy described what he wanted—after all, this is a Dream Play—I knew that we could only do this right if we worked with Brett Bolton," said Amblad. Cockroach Theatre approached Brett Bolton with the idea just as Bolton was partnering with Benton Corder to form Space Cadets AV, pushing the boundaries of sound and AV design. Cockroach Theatre is extraordinarily excited to work with Space Cadets AV as they launch their new company. The technology that they bring to the design of this production will debut an entirely new way of performing live theatre. The rest of the cast and crew is made up of Valerie Carpenter Bernstein, Joe Basso, Aaron Oetting, Ross Horvitz, David Sankuer, Kerry Carnohan, Kyle Boatwright, Sophia Martin, Kady Kay, Nick Batton, Anita Bean and Erik Ambled (who also serves as artistic director). Performance dates and times are Friday, April 26^th; Saturday, the 27^th; Thursday, May 2^nd; Friday, the 3^rd; Saturday, the 4^th; Thursday, the 9^th; Friday, the 10^th; Saturday, the 11^th; Thursday, the 16^th; Friday, the 17^th; and Saturday, the 18^th, all at 8 p.m. There are 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays, April 28^th, May 5^th, 12^th and 19^th. Tickets for Death of a Salesman ($18 for general admission and $15 for Seniors/Students/Military) are available online at www.cockroachtheatre.com, or at the door at Art Square Theatre, located at 1025 S. First Street #110 in downtown Las Vegas. Contact info@cockroachtheatre.com, or visit www.cockroachtheatre.com. for more information.

And still more theater news. The Nevada Conservatory Theatre at UNLV concludes its 10^th Anniversary Season, May 3^rd through 12^th, with Urinetown - music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis - in the Judy Bayley Theatre. Tim Bennett is director and choreographer. This hilarious musical exposes a world of greed, corruption, love and revolution during a time when water is worth its weight in gold and private bathrooms are outlawed. Residents of this Gotham-like city are required to use public restrooms that are regulated by a single malevolent company, which profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. During this time of bathroom repression, one hero decides he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead his fellow citizens to toilet freedom! Bennett has enjoyed a career in the professional theatre for more than 30 years, both in the U.S. and around the world. He has worked with such diverse groups as the Boston Pops and the Radio City Rockettes, and in such celebrated performance venues as The Frankfurt Opera House, Tanglewood and on the Las Vegas Strip. Starting his career as an actor, dancer, and singer, Bennett quickly found roles in everything from national and international tours (Steel Pier, Phantom opposite Kristin Chenoweth, South Pacific with Robert Goulet, My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain) and Emmy Award-winning primetime television (Growing Pains) to feature films, commercials, Off-Broadway and daytime drama. Today, he works primarily as a director and choreographer. He enjoys helming a wide variety of theatrical productions. Bennett also was the resident director of Disney's production of The Lion King in Las Vegas. The cast includes Equity Actor Adam Kozlowski as Office Lockstock; Paris McCarthy as Little Sally; Jordan Bondurant as Bobby Strong; Equity Actor Joan Sobel as Penelope Pennywise; Equity Actor Nate Bynum as Caldwell B. Caldwell; Alan Dronek as Officer Barrel; Brian Miller as Mr. McQueen; Donald Leonard as Senator Fipp; Scott Hale as Old Man Strong/Josephine Strong; Jordan Fenn as Tiny Tom/Dr. Billeaux; Billy Reed as Robby the Stockfish/Caldwell Minion/Cop; Justin Quintos as Billy Boy Bill/Caldwell Minion/Cop; Gerrad Taylor as Hot Blades Harry/Caldwell Minion/Cop; Melissa Ritzas Soupy Sue/Showgirl/Cop; Casey Lee Earl as Little Becky Two Shoes/Caldwell Minion/Cop; and Christine de Chavez as Unnamed Rebel Poor/Mrs. Millennium/Cop. The production and design team include associate director and choreographer Andrea Avruskin, scenic designer Shannon Moore, lighting designer Kurt Jung, sound designer Alan Holton, technical director Scott Hansen, costume designer Alexandra Lambert, and production stage manager Erin Guernsey. Show times are at 8 p.m. on May 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. Matinees are at 2 p.m. on May 5 and 12. Tickets are $20-30 for adults, and 10 percent off for those under 18. For tickets or additional information, visit pac.unlv.edu, or call (702) 895-ARTS (2787).

Joan Sobel
Alton Fitzgerald White

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New York cabaret star Michael Feinstein has signed on to open a San Francisco branch of his popular, upscale New York club in the former Rrazz Room space on the second floor of the City By the Bay's Hotel Nikko. Feinstein's at Loews Regency had long been (it closed in January) a place where up and coming Broadways stars, as well as established masters like Betty Buckley, Tyne Daly, Bebe Neuwirth, Chita Rivera, David Hyde Pierce and Linda Eder, would go to perform intimate shows. The new Feinstein's is scheduled to open in San Francisco in early May.

And speaking of cabaret, and we often do, in the April 17^th Times Square Chronicles, Susan Hasho wrote...Alton Fitzgerald White is an elegant, experienced performer of Broadway music having spent many years of his career happily on Broadway in such musicals as Miss Saigon, The Who's Tommy, Smoky Joe's Café, Ragtime: The Musical, The Color Purple and The Lion King. His show at The Metropolitan Room Broadway My Way on April 8th, was a collection of songs he has performed in shows, and songs that he loves from other musicals. His overriding message was clearly about gratitude. It was several days before his 49th birthday, his family was in the audience and the audience was full of fans—a good opportunity to talk about coming from the Chicago (stet) projects and how fortunate he is to be experiencing such a good career. He has the kind of voice you instinctively lean into because it's beautiful and more importantly because it touches you. He sang "Bui Doi" from Miss Saigon, the gorgeous "When I First Saw You" from Dreamgirls and "Pretty Women" from Sweeney Todd—all lyrical, emotional showstoppers. I particularly liked his performance of "Santa Fe" from the musical Newsies for its bittersweet message about the need for possibility: "I ain't got nothin' if I ain't got Santa Fe." He introduced "Promises, Promises" as the perfect song about knowing when to leave and sang one of the best versions of it I've ever heard—he made a perfect vocal and emotional connection through a very complicated and rhythmically challenging song. He closed with Javert's song from Les Miserables, "Stars" and, most movingly, Coalhouse Walker's song "Wheels of a Dream" from Dreamgirls (stet). Alton Fitzgerald White can play and sing like a man with a passionate dream because that's who he is. And as he made quite clear at The Metropolitan Room—he is also a man with the heart and talent to attain his dreams. He'll be back. He appears at The Metropolitan Room often. Go!

We must correct a couple of errors in Ms. Hasho's article...No. 1, Alton Fitzgerald White did not come from the Chicago projects, he came from Cincinnati. And No. 2, the song "Wheels of a Dream" is not from Dreamgirls, it is from Ragtime. If the dramatic "Wheels of a Dream" isn't officially considered the show's "11 O'clock number," it should be.
And belated birthday greetings to Aries Alton, who, unbeknownst to us, celebrated on April 10^th. Now that we DO know, next year, he will be on our Aries list, along with the other honorees.

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The Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus will present Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical extravaganza, The Wizard of Oz, Wednesday, May 1^st and Thursday, the 2^nd, at 6:30 p.m. Theater veterans who have worked on Les Miserables and Disney's Beauty and the Beast, local musicals, and award winning short films, will assist with the production. Jeff Knaggs, who is co-directing the production, is an experienced producer and make-up artist. He has worked on more than 15 Broadway shows, including Les Miserables, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Adelson Educational Campus theater teacher, Thom Culcasi, is co-director as well as musical director for the show. Culcasi recently conducted members of the Houston Symphony in a production of Man of La Mancha. Actress Joan Sobel will provide vocal coaching for the production. For seven years, Sobel played Carlotta in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, and will play the lead role of Pennywise in Nevada Conservatory Theater's Urinetown at the University of Nevada Las Vegas' Judy Bayley Theater, from May 3^rd through 12^th. This production of The Wizard of Oz will feature lighting designs by Michael Tushaus. He has worked on many award-winning short films, including Whatever It Takes, that won the 2010 Silver Ace Award for Excellence in Filmmaking from the Las Vegas International Film Festival. The Wizard of Oz is a musical based on the 1939 Judy Garland-starring film, and Frank L. Baum's novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sans' adaptation includes new songs from Andrew Lloyd Weber and lyrics by Tim Rice, as well as original songs from the film. The Wizard of Oz invites the audience into the imagination of Dorothy Gale, a misunderstood teen who finds herself in the magical land of Oz after a violent tornado blows through her town. This time-honored classic is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Featuring musical numbers, such as "Over the Rainbow," "We're Off To See the Wizard" and "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," this musical promises a good time for the whole family. Adelson Educational Campus' The Wizard of Oz stars Sarah Littman as Dorothy Gale, Nicole Derei as the Lion, Sydney Sponer as the Scarecrow, Adam Adelson as the Tinman, Bailey Braner as Glinda, Makenna Jansen as the Wicked Witch of the West and Mendy Berrebi as The Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel. The mission of The Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus is to instruct and inspire new generations of students who will draw strength from a rich Jewish heritage, use their knowledge, values and vision to fulfill their own potential, and build a better world. Adelson Educational Campus was originally founded in 1980, and now educates children from 18 months through 12th grade. Adelson Educational Campus accepts students of all faiths and affiliations, and offers a drug-free commitment to its students and faculty. Adelson Educational Campus is located at 9700 West Hillpointe Road in Summerlin. The show is free and open to the public. Seats can be reserved. For more information, or to reserve seats prior to the show, please call (702) 255-4500, or visit www.adelsoncampus.org, or Facebook/Adelson Campus.

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California Hotel Polynesian Festival

The historic California Hotel and Casino will celebrate May Day with the 16^th Annual Lei Day Polynesian Festival, Saturday, May 4^th, and Sunday, May 5^th, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
The annual Polynesian festival brings together musicians, dancers, artists, craftsmen and food and beverage vendors, to showcase the very best of Hawaii. Entry to the two- day event is FREE. Throughout the festivities, a continual flow of Hawaiian and Polynesian musicians and dancers will entertain attendees. Special demonstrations and activities will highlight Hawaiian culture, and a number of vendors will be on hand to display and sell arts and crafts. Traditional Hawaiian dishes and delicacies will be available for purchase, including kalua pig, lau lau, poi, beef teriyaki sticks and hot malasadas. The 11^th Annual Tahiti Taurua Nui I Las Vegas Dance Competition will be held on May 4^th, from 7 to 11 p.m. To watch the competition, tickets are $20. A special concert, featuring Hawaiian recording artists Gary and Sheldeen Haleamau, Na Hoa and Mark Yamanaka, will be held on Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Ohana/Maile Room at the Cal. This concert is a paid event, and tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the door. Parking venue at Stewart and Main Street, adjacent to the California Hotel and Casino.
Further event information is available at www.thecal.com, or by calling (702) 385-1222 or (800) 634-6505.

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Las Vegas Shakespeare Company brings to the stage of the Henderson Pavilion outdoor theater, a live musical theatrical performance of Charlotte's Web, the classic story of loyalty, trust, and sacrifice. The remaining performances are tomorrow, Saturday, April 27^th at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday the 28^th at 4 p.m. All seats are $10. Henderson Pavilion Box Office is located at 200 South Green Valley Parkway, at the intersection of Green Valley Parkway and Paseo Verde, across from The District at Green Valley Ranch. Contact the Box Office by phone at (702) 267-4TIX(4849). Tickets may be purchased online, by phone at (702) 267-4TIX, or in person at the Box Office. The Henderson Pavilion accepts the following forms of payment: cash, American Express, MasterCard, Discover and Visa. When purchasing tickets with a credit card, you must show a valid photo identification to complete the transaction. Personal checks are not accepted.

Have a question about Las Vegas? Want to make a comment (be nice, now)?
If so, drop an e-mail and ask. Click Here
Cousin Claire will do her best to find the answer for you.

Claire Voyant's portrait by Charlie Frye

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski 4/26/13

FrankS — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 05:33:13 +0000

Deal Me In by Mark Pilarski

April 26, 2013

A push is a push, except for...

Dear Mark: Please settle a dispute between my wife and me. She believes a pair of Jacks is a win at video poker. I believe it to be a push. Who is right? Kent H.

The unpopularity of ties, in both gambling (blackjack) and sports, is echoed in the adage, "A tie is like kissing your sister." The earliest known use of that phrase is linked to Navy footballcoach Eddie Erdelatz after a scoreless tie against Duke in 1953.

The expression is also used to describe something that is dull, boring, or anything along those lines that someone would not want to repeat doing. Obviously, your wife, Kent, finds consolation with the antonym of boring, exciting, and she may have a point.

The creators of video poker have accomplished something that no other gamedeveloper has ever been able to duplicate: By returning your original wager, they make you spontaneously feel like a winner. My take, Kent, is that the return of your primary wager is a push, nothing more, with but one exception.

If you belong to a casino Player's Club, a push has some value in video poker. By being a card-carrying member, you get credit for play on your card for that pair of Jacks. Since a tie returns your original wager, when you hit the deal button again, you then get more credit on your Player's Card.

Dear Mark: How do you go about getting those free coupons I see occasionally played on table games? Lucinda S.

What those coupons are, Lucinda, is FREE money.

Many casinos offer FREE fun books that contain coupons for gambling, dining, discounts, and other gift offers. What you are describing are Match Play coupons, or lucky bucks that are often found in those fun books. They give you additional money to play with when you win a bet at the table games. For example, if you have a $10 dollar match play coupon, you can bet ten dollars with the coupon, and if you win, you will be paid $20.

Fun books can be had by going up to the Player's Club welcome booth, casino cage, or by just asking for one from a casino host. When a player uses a match play coupon with a real "even money" bet, the match play will be converted to a like amount in cash if the player wins.

For example, if the player has a $10 match play coupon and pairs it with a $10 Line bet in craps, if the player wins, his Line bet wins $10, and his match play coupon will be converted to ten real dollars. Win or lose, the match play coupon is then taken out of play.

My recommendation, Lucinda, is to use a match play coupon on wagers that have less than a two percent house edge. A hand of blackjack or a Bank or Player hand in baccarat, or in craps, a pass line bet or placing the six or eight would be the smart move here.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: You know what luck is? Luck is believing you're lucky...to hold front position in this rat-race you've got to believe you're lucky. ---Stanley Kowalski, A Streetcar Named Desire

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You can email Mark your questions at pilarski -at- markpilarski.com

A good weekend to get organized.

AstroLady — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:55:28 +0000

If you have been putting off some jobs at home or at work, this is a great weekend to organize, downsize, do things in a logical manner and act with authority when you decide in which direction you want to go.

Mid week is going to be somewhat intense. There is a workaholic aspect, changes that need to be made and many things to think about. Answers will be coming more slowly and people may have to ponder before making decisions. Try not to rush them. Wednesday, May Day, May 1st, will probably be the most intense day. Make sure to get some rest!

Aries: This is going to be a great weekend to learn something new, meet new people, or just think about that next great trip, Aries. There can be some financial or investment matters you may need to pay attention to. Don't overlook the small stuff or the obvious. Be willing to invest if the item is really worth it.

Taurus: Those of you with a birthday this week will probably be feeling as if the world has placed a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, Taurus. It you take it one thing and one job at a time, you can come out on top. Pace yourself and be willing to make the personal changes that may be asked of you. A little change here and a little change there can make a big, positive difference.

Gemini: Your partner may want to have a little more input than usual this weekend, Gemini. Listen carefully and think before you make your opinion known. Things can be a lot more calm if you think first. This week is a good week to make some changes to your personal schedule. Mid week is a good time to get enough rest, eat right and take care of your pets.

Cancer: This is a good weekend to organize you personal schedule, Cancer. If you have been burning the candle at both ends, it's time to take a rest. A little personal organization and letting go of something that is holding you back in some way will prove a good thing. Mid week a friend may need a little help or guidance. Be there for them and they will be there for you.

Leo: This is a great weekend for some fun, Leo. You may have to plan ahead, organize your schedule and make sure important things are done first, but when the dust settles you can be the life of the party. Mid week is a good time to act the part of the authority, as long as you really know what you're talking about. Be open to making some changes.

Virgo: You may need to do some things around the house this weekend, Virgo, or you may have to deal with family issues or matters. Whatever the issue, be calm, think things through and then make your decisions. It's a good bet that you will be the one everyone looks to when everything seems to be coming apart. Be your conscientious self and pay attention to the details.

Libra: This is a great weekend for communications, Libra. If you have been putting off phone calls or answering mail, this is the time to roll up your sleeves and get it done. Organize and prioritize in order to get the most out of your time spent. Mid week may find you thinking about money issues, investments or income. Look closely at all expenditures.

Scorpio: This is a great weekend to get things done, Scorpio, but you may have to take the lead and be the authority figure. If you have a good idea, make sure to let others know and explain it as well as you can. Mid week can be quite busy, especially if you need to take a partner into consideration. They may want to do something and you may need to do something different. Let them know gently.

Sagittarius: What a great time for play and fun, Sagittarius. Enjoy the weekend with someone you love if at all possible. It's a good time to learn something new, deal with people of difference backgrounds than your own and to think about all the great places you would like to visit in the near future. It's going to be a little more hectic mid week. Take your time and plan ahead. Be flexible and willing to make changes where necessary.

Capricorn: Get some extra rest if at all possible this weekend, Capricorn. Helping behind the scenes can open new possibilities for you in the longer term. This is going to be a busy week, plan ahead, have a schedule and make sure to leave behind things that have been holding you back from your goals. Friends may need help or they may be there to help you. Be open to both.

Aquarius: Friends and networking buddies can be very important this weekend, Aquarius. Be open to their input. It's a good time to look to friends that are in a position of authority. They may help you reach a goal very soon. If you are thinking of making a career or job change, this week could prove to be a busy one for you. Get enough rest.

Pisces: If you are looking to make your mark in the world, Pisces, this weekend may be an easy time to become visible out there. Learn something new if possible and look to authority figures for input on any ideas you may have. Mid week is a time of change and this can be handled more easily if you keep doors of communication open and are willing to listen as well as speak. Make sure to think before letting others know your opinions.

Claire Voyant's Las Vegas Gossip Column 4/19/13

ClaireVoyant — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:15:14 +0000

Displaying keen perception and great insight.
She’s a little bit naughty. She’s a little bit nice.
She calls ‘em like she sees (and hears) ‘em.
She’s...
Claire Voyant

Las Vegas - April 19, 2013

Norm Johnson & Nancy Barr
Nelson Sardelli, Norm Johnson & Jim Marsh at F.I.O.R.E.

At the April F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) luncheon, special guest, President Norm Johnson (all the male members are presidents), shared his background with car racing with the approximately 80 luncheon attendees. Norm Johnson was the founder of the famous Mint 400 Off-Road Race, initiated about 45 years ago while he worked in public relations for Del Webb's Mint Hotel in downtown Las Vegas. We missed it, but President Nelson Sardelli reports it was a great meeting.

And speaking of F.I.O.R.E. and its devoted members...
Suzanne Vitale, the daughter of F.I.O.R.E. president, Gene Vitale, and First Lady, Angela Vitale, was featured on a recent segment of CBS News. Five months ago, Suzanne, a Mineola, New York, physical education teacher, lost her left hand as a result of Superstorm Sandy. As CBS's Jessica Schneider reported, "Vitale was fleeing her storm-damaged home back in October when she got to an intersection where the lights were out. A car smashed into the back of her Jeep, and it flipped. Vitale's left hand went through an open window, and was crushed by the weight of her car. 'People came and lifted the truck,' she said. 'I don't know who they are, I don't know, and they saved my life. They lifted my Jeep and saved me.' But the rescuers could not save Vitale's hand." Thanks to some very modern technology, Suzanne Vitale is making an amazing recovery. She is finally putting her left hand back to work - in prosthetic form, and is striving to master the cutting-edge technology of the prosthetic, by retraining her muscles and brain, firing off electrical signals to open and close the hand. Vitale works twice a week with Daniel Bastian of Progressive Orthotics and Prosthetics. She plans to get back to teaching gym class by the fall. "That's the goal — to get back to work, to get back to life," she said. The electric hand technology was developed in 2011. Only 200 hands are in use across the country.

Angela & Gene Vitale
The Hands of Suzanne Vitale

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Got a hankerin' for the blues and some great food? Tonight, Friday the 19^th, and tomorrow night, you can get both at Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que in The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, when Larry "Wild" Wrice and The Chicago Blues Busters perform there. The trio plays from 7 to 11 p.m. Lucille's serves a great Garden Burger - A vegetable patty of mushrooms, onions, carrots, water chestnuts, red and yellow bell peppers, brown rice, oats and wheat, charbroiled with grilled onions, melted jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and roasted garlic mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun...and, for the next two nights, with "Wild" Wrice as one of the sides.

Larry "Wild" Wrice
Penn & Teller

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The Las Vegas Sun's William D'Urso reports that last Sunday's AIDS Walk set records for attendance and money raised. More than 12,000 supporters raised $471,000, with Mayor Carolyn Goodman and U.S. Rep. Dina Titus among those in attendance. Last year, approximately 9,000 people participated and raised about $450,000. This year's 23rd annual AIDS Walk was orchestrated by Aid for AIDS of Nevada, and had the help of entertainment icons Penn and Teller, and was hosted by Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis, stars of Chippendales and participants from the CBS show, Amazing Race, " and Chris Saldaña. The money raised will help treat and educate more than 4,000 men, women and children infected with HIV and AIDS in Southern Nevada, officials said.

And speaking of the community-minded, charitable Penn Jillette, Opportunity Village, Las Vegas' favorite charity, hosted a viewing party at its Engelstad Campus for an episode of Donald Trump's All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. The episode featured longtime Opportunity Village supporter and board member, magician Jillette, acting as Project Manager. Jillette and his team won the week's task, and Jillette was awarded two $20,000 checks for Opportunity Village. "We are extremely grateful to Penn and The Apprentice," stated Linda Smith, Associate Executive Director of Opportunity Village. "The money raised for Opportunity Village in this episode will help to assist the nearly 3,000 OVIPs (Opportunity Village VIP clients) we serve each year." Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people in the community with significant intellectual disabilities, to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Opportunity Village was founded in 1954 by seven families who were determined to give their disabled children the best lives possible. Almost 60 years later, Opportunity Village is one of the most recognized and respected Community Rehabilitation Programs in the United States. Nevada's largest employer of people with disabilities, Opportunity Village serves more than 3,000 individuals annually, providing vocational training, employment, habilitation and social recreation programs and services that make their lives more productive and interesting. Opportunity Village citizens - individuals who were previously considered unemployable - work at Opportunity Village's Employment Resource Centers and in jobs throughout the community, collectively earning wages amounting to more than $7.6 million in 2012. They are hard-working and diligent, proudly paying taxes and happily leading more fulfilling lives. Primarily a self-funded organization, Opportunity Village generates the majority of its operational funding through its employment contracts and fundraising efforts such as the Magical Forest and Great Santa Run, saving Nevada taxpayers $33.7 million annually.

Penn Jillette at Opportunity Village

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We were in the afternoon audience for Rainbow Sunday at the Tuscany Suites and Casino last weekend (not surprisingly, on Sunday). The funny impersonator, Jimmy Emerson (who sings pretty damn well, in or out of drag), serves as host of the monthly gathering in the T-Spot Lounge, with Pier Marini at the piano. Sponsored by Prime Timers, a national organization made up of primarily middle-aged gay men, the idea is a fun social gathering with an open mic for those who like to sing. No cover. No smoking. Two plus factors. Many of the vocalists are very good, among them Pier Marini's wife, Cherol; Dino Dante (check him out on YouTube, singing with Kathryn Grayson); Frankie "Sinatra," and Mr. Emerson. The music selection (at least for last Sunday) ranged from standards such as "My Funny Valentine," "One For My Baby," "I've Got a Crush On You," and "I'll Be Seeing You," to "Welcome to Burlesque," from Burlesque, the film starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, and the much recorded (by Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Jack Jones, among many), "A Day In the Life of a Fool," to some comedic "special" versions of familiar songs like "New York, New York." The Connie Francis hit, "Where the Boys Are," seemed like a very appropriate selection for the good time afternoon. You don't have to be male, gay or older to attend a Rainbow Sunday afternoon. We will list the date of the next event, and, if you happen to be around the Tuscany, at 255 E. Flamingo, stop in.

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Normally, if you see the name Holmes in this column, it comes at the end of the first name Clint (as in Clint Holmes), or Kelly Clinton (as in Kelly Clinton Holmes), or Audrey (as in the late Audrey Holmes, Clint's opera-singer mother), or perhaps, Sherlock (as in...well, you know), but this Holmes' first name is Brent, as in Brent Holmes, one of Clint's two sons. Brent, a local artist and amateur chef, got some ink by Sonya Padgett in the Las Vegas Review-Journal yesterday, Thursday the 18^th. The proud papa wants our readers to know they can read the story online.

Clint Holmes & Marilyn Maye by Jeanne Bavaro

And, once again, speaking of Clint, he was at the Composers Showcase on Wednesday night, not as a performer, but in the audience. With him were music producer, Ken Laub, and music maker, the fabulous Marilyn Maye! For those who are not familiar with the name (or the voice), shame on you! Ms. Maye, who turned 85 on April 10^th, is a cabaret artist and has appeared in musical theater, who had her own radio show at the age of 15. She hasn't stopped singing since, which is a very good thing. Known as "The Crown Jewel of Kansas City" (or so we have been told by a couple of our regular readers), was a popular recurring guest on all the major TV variety and talk shows in the '60s and '70s, from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, to the Hollywood Palace and Kraft Music Hall, to those hosted by Mike Douglas, Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason, Joey Bishop, and Steve Allen. In the past couple of years, Marilyn has performed at New York's Carnegie Hall, Feinstein's, Metropolitan Room, and 54 Below, and the Colony in Palm Beach, Florida. Ella Fitzgerald referred to Marilyn Maye as "the greatest white female singer in the world." Go to Marilyn's site and listen to her version of Erroll Garner's classic, "Misty." WOW! If that's not singing, we don't know what is!
We might mention that the visiting New Yorkers were most impressed by the local talent contributing to the monthly music fest. Naming all the showcase participants would run too long this week. We will mention some of the highlights in next Friday's column.

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Wes Winters

Thanks to Carole Fishman for this update on all things Wes Winters. The piano player/ entertainer will celebrate his second anniversary of weekend performances in the South Point Grandview Lounge tomorrow, April 20^th. Join the party, with complementary cake and champagne, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wes performs on Fridays and Saturdays at the South Point from 6 to 9 p.m. (although, he will not be performing at the Grandview Lounge on May 3^rd and 4^th, resuming his normal 6 to 9 schedule, May 10^th and 11^th. Winters resumes his Tuesday schedule at the Rampart Casino Addison's Lounge on May 7^th. Shows are from 6 to 9 p.m. Also, Wes' new 88 Key Club on-line Entertainment Program debuts on YouTube. You can see and hear Wes entertain - performing piano pieces, singing and an doing an interview with renowned magician, Joseph Gabriel. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFZrcGdJymY.

And speaking of the South Point...
The twin sons of the late Rick Nelson, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, will perform Ricky Nelson Remembered at the South Point, May 3^rd through 5^th, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30, plus taxes and fees. Call (866) 796-7111 for reservations.

The Nelson Twins
Lezlie Anders & Buddy Greco

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Happy 18^th anniversary to former Las Vegans, Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders Greco, who celebrated the occasion on April 14^th. The Grecos, who currently make their home in England, are keeping relatively busy. Buddy, who had a health scare recently, is getting better every day. Lezlie reports that he is walking along the river Thames, now that the sun has started shining there. Buddy is also working on his book. He will be appearing at The Hippodrome in May. The Hippodrome used to be the old Talk of the Town, right in the center of London. Now it's a fabulous casino. If they can keep working, the Grecos can keep their visa status. If they can't, they will come back to the USA. If Buddy needed longterm care, they would have to use Medicare in the states. Lezlie says the health care in England is good, but only for emergencies on their visas. Anything longterm or age-related would have to be paid for privately. If that were the case, Buddy and Lezlie would possibly move to San Francisco with our friends who are also older musicians, have a big house and already have doctors. For now, anyway, the plan is to just keeps singing and playing.

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The Plaza Hotel and Casino, and Levinson & Lewis Entertainment, announce the opening of Centerfolds of Magic on May 1st in the Plaza's Showroom. The ensemble of sexy topless female magicians will run six nights a week (dark Thursdays) at 11p.m. Ticket prices range from $49-$69. Customers must be 18 years of age and older to attend. Taya Parker, 2009 Penthouse "Pet of the Year" and eight time Penthouse magazine cover girl (the most published Penthouse Pet in history), is hosting and performing in Centerfolds of Magic, along with four tantalizing female entertainers/illusionists. Taya has also graced the covers of Playboy, and performed in Las Vegas at: the Sahara. The Centerfolds of Magic will perform such magical feats as the legendary illusionist Doug Henning's "Bumps In the Night," sawing a lady in two in a clear box, a wild and crazy performance with Jekyll and Hyde in Bondage, sexy Zombies disappearing and reappearing on stage, and famed magician Harry Houdini's frightening water substitution, etc. In addition, the show will open with the award-winning antics of comedian Joe Trammel, aka The "TV Guy." Trammel has performed as a headliner in Vegas and on multiple television specials. Show production numbers will incorporate original music, drawing on the rhythms of bands including Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons, OneRepublic, Neon Trees and Me. Tickets can be purchased online at www.plazahotelcasino.com, or at The Plaza's box office.

Centerfolds of Magic
Rich Natole

And speaking of the Plaza, that was Joey Singer accompanying Jackie Evancho on piano for the just-turned-teenager's engagement at The Smith Center last Saturday. The talented, and busy, Mr. Singer has been Debbie Reynolds' longtime piano player, and is also the fourth member of The Phat Pack when he is available. The Phat Pack - made up of musical theater performers Bruce Ewing (Forever Plaid), Ted Keegan (Phantom of the Opera), and Randal Keith (Les Miserables, Spamalot), who were all cast members of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular - can currently be seen and heard at the downtown Plaza, with 5 p.m. shows, Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets start at $34.95 plus taxes and fees. And still speaking of The Phat Pack...
Here is some of what a Broadway World review by Ellen Sterling had to say about The Phat Pack after their opening at the Plaza a few months ago: 'The Phat Pack' Brings Las Vegas First-Rate Broadway Entertainment. The debut of "The Phat Pack" to Las Vegas this month signified a wonderful gift to the city. Drawing the show's name from the fact (or, is that "ph"act?) that the trio of singers all met in the production of "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular." The show is so very much worth seeing. Accompanied by musical conductor Joey Singer, the trio sings - individually and as a group - the best of the Broadway songbook. Ted Keegan, Randal Keith and Bruce Ewing sing numbers from the shows they've been in, songs they love and material specially written for their show. It's a kind of informal, cabaret-like evening. They share their stories, their backgrounds and memories with the audience. They begin with an explanatory number called "The Phat Pack," explaining the naming of the show, their love of theater music and then sing of their musical theater roots. Next, they explain to the audience their preference for being "nine people's favorite thing than 100 people's ninth favorite." Keegan understudied the lead in "Phantom" in Las Vegas and played the part on the road. Randal Keith was Jean Valjean on the road and on Broadway. He took over the lead - giving a terrific performance - when John O'Hurley left the now-lamented Las Vegas production of "Spamalot." Ewing was in the long-lived Las Vegas production of "Forever Plaid." "The Phat Pack" is filled with the music of Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Comden and Green, Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim. Some of the numbers are well known - " In the Still of the Night," "S'Wonderful," "I'll Be Seeing You," "One For My Baby" - and some are obscure, known only to a few diehard theater lovers. Chief among these is "Is Anybody There?" from 1776, sung by Randal Keith. (Broadway geek that I am, I am positive that I was the only one in the audience who not only knows the score from 1776, but has it on my iPod. I am, however, absolutely not the only one who enjoyed it.) Another highlight was the expert and gifted Joey Singer playing "Rhapsody In Blue." Just beautiful. The show was received with a prolonged standing ovation, whistles and cheers. Why, even when they did songs now familiar to everyone - songs like "The Music of the Night" and "Bring Him Home" - they made them their own and the music sounded fresh and new. Playing in the lovely showroom of the Plaza Hotel in downtown Las Vegas, the evening was a revelation. It graphically illustrates the fact that Las Vegas is a talent magnet and that such talent deserves to be cherished by the city. (If you don't live in or near Las Vegas, be sure to look at your local arts center schedule for them to appear. They are scheduling performances around the nation and it's worth watching for them and/or requesting them.) "The Phat Pack" is a wonderful show, one of the best in Las Vegas. Be sure to see it."
If you DO live in Las Vegas, or plan to be visiting, call (702) 386-2507 for reservations to see The Phat Pack.

And also on the Plaza's entertainment lineup is comic impressionist Rich Natole, who performs at 7 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, as part of the Bonkerz Comedy Club lineup. The Guidos of Comedy follow Natole at 9 p.m., and on Sundays and Mondays at 7 p.m., it's Vintage Vegas Comedy and Magic Revue. Looks like the place is coming back to life again, which is a good thing.

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In our April 5^th column, we suggested that if you were a Rolling Stones fan and wanted to see them at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas next month, you starts saving your dollars. That was BEFORE we knew what the tickets to see Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, and special guest, Mick Taylor, who was a member of The Stones from 1969 to 1974 - were actually going to cost. Now that we DO know, perhaps a home equity loan is in order. The tickets, which go on sale today, range in price from $85 (through limited sources) to more than $2,000, through Ticketmaster. Of course, if you willingly spend the $2,000+, in addition to seeing the 50 and Counting concert, you will get a beverage, buffet and souvenir. NOW we understand the high prices.

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Joanie Spina, who is dealing with her own serious health issues, doesn't slow down much when it comes to animal rights. Joanie, who has been active in the world of magic for many years (including working with David Copperfield), is still out there fighting for the dependent furry creatures, and helping the ones that she can.

Joanie Spina & Roxie
LJ Harness

And speaking of animals, and community members who care about them...
LJ Harness is serving as a spokesperson for the upcoming Nevada SPCA's Animals in Wonderland benefit at Spanish Trail Country Club, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., on Thursday, April 25^th. The event is sponsored by Cadillac of Las Vegas. A number of entertainers will perform at the afternoon event. Tickets are $125 per person. LJ, who can frequently be found sitting behind a drum set, is also one of the organizers/players at the popular Vegas Underground Monday Night Jam at the Tap House, as well as at various shows around town that support live entertainment, and for a variety of community events including Toys For Tots.

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Entertainer Annie Gaybis reminds us that the annual SHARE Show will take place at the Beverly Hilton on May 11^th. Everyone wears cowboy/cowgirl attire for this event, with many of the costumes designed by Joanna Carson, the onetime Mrs. Johnny Carson. Annie's husband, the talented comic impressionist John Byner, is hosting the entire evening, and will be working throughout the show which is produced by Emmy Award-winner, Gary Smith. SHARE raises money for a number of charities. The volunteer organization recently presented checks to some of the groups they support at an event held at the Hollywood Museum. Annie raves about stage actress Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland in End Of the Rainbow. The show closes at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles after Sunday's performance. Annie, who has seen the show twice, describes Bennett's as one of the greatest stage performances, rating it "right up there with Elaine Paige in Piaf, and James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope, says Annie. "Just incredible." Coming from another stage actress, you can't get a better endorsement.

Annie Gaybis & Hubby John Byner
The Apple Sisters

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The Apple Sisters are back at The Onyx by popular demand, with one show on Thursday, April 25^th at 10 p.m. From their hit podcast on Earwolf ,the Award Winning LA based 1940s musical comedy trio, The Apple Sisters, starring Vegas' own Sarah Lowe (Jersey Boys), Kimmy Gatewood (Conan, Community), and Rebekka Johnson (This is 40!) are pleased as apple pie to announce their one-night-only performance at the Onyx Theatre! There will be songs, dances, a big MESS and special guests from Las Vegas' biggest shows on the Strip. Here is what some of the critics have to say about the girls. "It's Sarah Silverman meets the Shaggs." (Pick of the Week) - LA Times. "These gals are subversively funny, sexy and just plain weird." -The Economist. "Think The Andrews Sisters crossed with The 3 Stooges but with the subversive wit of an Amy Sedaris." - The Portland Mercury. "There's something gut-funny and satisfying about watching gorgeous, leggy ladies inexplicably make themselves unattractive, as tenet Amy Sedaris proves again and again." - Time Out NY. For more information on the Apple Sisters, visit www.theapplesisters.com. General admission tickets are $20. The Onyx Theatre is located inside Commercial Center at 953 East Sahara Avenue #16, inside The Rack. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please call (702) 732-7225, or visit the website at www.onyxtheatre.com.

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Rita McKenzie, Helen Reddy & Scott Stander

It's been a while since we have heard Helen Reddy's name, or her voice. That's because after many years of recording and performing, Ms. Reddy decided to step out of the spotlight. Ten years was a long enough break, and the lady is back. She played Wolf Trap on March 7^th and 8^th, the promoter at the venue said that with someone coming out of retirement, it can go either way . For her, he said, she is better then ever . Her voice sounds the same, but she seems so much more at home and at ease on the stage. She has come back on her own terms - singing what she wants to and not what the record labels make you sing. Doing it for her and her fans this time. Last week, Reddy performed at the Catalina Jazz Club. "Helen was a smash," says her agent, Scott Stander. "I'm so proud of her." Greg Hernandez wrote about Helen, "The great Helen Reddy (is) as good as she ever was in LA comeback concert at Catalina Jazz Club. Helen Reddy played to what looked to be a sold out crowd thrilled to see her return to the stage after more than a decade away. Miss Reddy, 71, has lost none of her vocal abilities as she hit every note she ever did and sang with great passion, conviction and at times a real sense of fun. She was so relaxed and didn't worry one bit if she forgot what song was coming up next or even when she forgot the lyrics to her signature song I Am Woman at one point (She clearly knows them since before singing the legendary anthem she actually wrote the lyrics for, Miss Reddy recites it as a poem in one of the evening's most powerful moments. You could hear a pin drop). Once one of the most popular recording artists in the world with a string of such hits as I Am Woman, Angie Baby, Delta Dawn, Ruby Red Dress, You and Me Against the World, I Don't know How to Love Him, Peaceful, Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady, You're My World, Somewhere in the Night and, of course, Candle on the Water from Pete's Dragon.

Stander, who also represented Hal Linden and Loni Anderson in their recent Las Vegas performance of Love Letters, tells us the show went wonderful. "Standing ovations at each show. Loni and Hal were in tears after each performance and so was the audience. Really good match."

Loni Anderson & Hal Linden in Vegas
Michael Feinstein & Andre Previn

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Reminders...
It's Mistinguett;s Cirque Berserk on Sunday, April 21st, at 3 p.m., in Sun City Anthem's Independence Center, Freedom Hall at 2450 Hampton Road in Henderson. The wacky and whimsical variety show will feature seven talented veteran performers, presenting outrageously entertaining acts - magician/illusionist Michael Turco; Robert Scott, "one half" of the quarter-finalists on America's Got Talent show, The Scott Brothers; Maria Wolf, performing her world champion diabolo juggling act and her amazing Quick Change Act; Bob Markworth and his archery display; contortionists, Hilario Cabral and Hayley Kent; and "The Rope Master," James Brewster Thompson. Tickets for Mistinguett's Cirque Berserk are $15. Good news! You can now charge tickets on your credit card and purchase and pay for them over the phone, as well as at the Freedom Hall box office. You can call the Box Office at (702) 614- 5864. For additional information, go to www.mistinguettproductions.com.

Tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m., Lifetime TV's America's Supernanny: Family Lockdown host, Deborah Tillman is the keynote speaker at Las Vegas National Nanny Training Day. Dr. Lindsay Heller (The Nanny Doctor), Cari Marshall (Life Coach), Vanessa Houssels (Healthy Living Expert and host of event), Sue Shifrien-Cassidy (Entrepreneur), and Carole Devon (Founder of Peoples Autism), will also participate. CEO of Nannies & Housekeepers U.S.A., Lexy Lionel, is hosting the conference. This event will take place in the Tuscany Hotel & Suites Florentine Ballroom, 255 E. Flamingo. National Nanny Training Day is taking place in 38 cities nationwide tomorrow. More than 2100 nannies (national and international) are being honored, and the conference highlights raising standards in the industry and serving families in the U.S. Proceeds from the event will support local nonprofits including: Baby's Bounty and Communities in Schools of Nevada. Nannies & Housekeepers U.S.A. hosts the annual event sponsored by Parents Guide of Las Vegas.

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The Cannery in North Las Vegas presents Men of Soul, featuring Jeffrey Osborne ("On The Wings of Love," "Love Ballad," "Stay With Me"), Peabo Bryson ("A Whole New World," "If Ever You're In My Arms"), Freddie Jackson ("You Are My Lady," "Rock Me Tonight"), and Howard Hewett ("I'm For Real," "Stay"), in The Club, tomorrow, Saturday, April 20^th, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.95. Call (702) 507-5700 or (866) 999-4899.

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Don't know if it was a coincidence, or planned, but Michael Feinstein's latest recording, Change of Heart: The Songs of Andre Previn, is out at around the same time as the legendary composer-conductor-pianist's 84^th birthday (April 6^th). The album celebrates Andre Previn's repertoire from his lesser-known catalog of pop songs, including many that were written for film.

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April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and the Neon Museum invites members of the public to consider joining its dynamic roster of volunteers at an informational open house on Saturday, April 27^th, from 1 to 3 p.m. Interested individuals visiting the museum's world-renowned Neon Boneyard can talk to current staff and volunteers and learn about the different volunteer positions available, including: Docent - gives guided tours of the museum's iconic Neon Boneyard; Special events host - helps staff parties, reception and other events in the Neon Museum's indoor and outdoor events spaces; Greeter - welcomes visitors arriving at the Neon Museum's La Concha visitors' center. "We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers for the knowledge and passion they bring to the museum each day," said Neon Museum director, Danielle Kelly. "We welcome everyone interested in sharing their enthusiasm for our museum with visitors from around the world to consider joining our volunteer team." Founded in 1996, the Neon Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic and cultural enrichment. In addition to an approximately two-acre Neon Museum campus, which includes the outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard, the museum also encompasses a visitors' center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby, as well as 15 restored signs installed as public art throughout downtown Las Vegas. Public education, outreach, research, archival preservation and a grant-funded neon sign survey represent a selection of the museum's ongoing projects. Both the Neon Boneyard and the La Concha Visitors' Center are located at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North in Las Vegas. Visit www.NeonMuseum.org for additional information.

Neon Museum
Janis Ian

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Happy birthday to Aries (March 21-April 20) (or March 21-April 19) celebrants, including
Eddie Money, Rosie O'Donnell, Stephen Sondheim, George Benson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marty Allen, Chaka Khan, John Pinette, Perez Hilton, Bob Mackie, Louie Anderson, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Danica Patrick, James Caan, Diana Ross, Steven Tyler, Vicki Lawrence, Martin Short, Kenny Chesney, Mariah Carey, Fergie (Black Eyed Peas), Dave Koz, Reba McEntire, Lady Gaga, Eric Idle, Peter Marshall, Warren Beatty, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, Norah Jones, Gabe Kaplan, Herb Alpert, Debbie Reynolds, Emmylou Harris, Leon Russell, Lee Dewyze, Ervin Drake, Wayne Newton, Tony Orlando, Merle Haggard, Sebastian Bach, David Hyde Pierce, Eddie Murphy, Clive Davis, Janis Ian, John Oates, Shecky Greene, Peggy Lennon, Hugh Hefner, Jackie Evancho, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Brian Setzer, Joel Grey, Herbie Hancock, David Letterman, David Cassidy, Vince Gill, JD Nicholas (Commodores), Al Green, Peabo Bryson, Loretta Lynn, Brad Garrett, Roy Clark, Bobby Vinton, Jimmy Osmond, Luis Miguel, Carmen Electra, Patti LuPone, Tony Danza, Steve Schiffman, Danny Colica, Benny Hollman, Susan Soble, John Encinio, Jessica Gerstein, Leigh Zimmerman, Mary Flanigan, Carole Fishman, Mary Marcella Schwartz, Vita Corimbi, Corky D'Fini, Jackie Brett, Rich Rizzo, Grace (Bambi Jr.) Coronel, Barbara Ciarlantini, Lisa Dawn Miller Hackett, Jimmy Emerson, Michael Cohen, Larry Atello, Arthur Shafman, Brian Keith Griffiths, and Jerry Fink.

And happy anniversary to Sandy Hackett and Lisa Dawn Miller Hackett, Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders Greco, and Tom and Joni Illi.

Tom & Joni Illi
Oliver Richman

And speaking of the Miller-Hacketts, we hear that Lisa's son, 12-year-old Oliver Liam Richman, just shot a pilot for NBC starring Craig Robinson and Jean Smart, and he's in the running for another pilot for CBS. Six-year-old daughter, Ashleigh Hackett, just shot a couple of national SAG commercials. The grownups are on their second national tour with Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show, and they are producing a documentary about Lisa's dad, songwriter Ron Miller, and working on two new live theatrical productions. Lisa's mother, Aurora Miller, turns 80 on April 30^th.

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Claire Voyant's portrait by Charlie Frye