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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 - July 31, 2009 
Ali Spuck & Tish Diaz 
Christopher-Joel Carter 
Katrina Loncaric Shhh. We know a secret. The Cabaret Showroom at the Liberace Museum has become one of the best spots for entertainment in the city. We don't want too many folks to know about it, though, because it's a relatively small performance space, seating only about 80 people. The Cabaret is where Philip Fortenberry (and, when Philip has other commitments, Keith Thompson) plays piano and tells a story of music and musicians, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. It is also the site of the monthly, late night, Composers Showcase and some very special musical programs. On Sunday afternoons at 2:30, for example, Ali Spuck performs her one-woman show called Here I Am. Then, there is VS, a new monthly series featuring the stars of Phantom, Jersey Boys, and other major production shows in Las Vegas, in a unique concept...as in something VS. something else (see more about Ali and VS. below). Then there are people such as Erich Bergen (Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys), Nicole Pryor (Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular), Rebecca Spencer (formerly Madam Giry in Phantom), Bruce Ewing (Phantom), Joan Sobel (Phantom), and others, who create their own individual one-person showcases to perform in the Cabaret Showroom. Always different. Always entertaining. In just the last week and a half, we attended three different performances in the Cabaret Showroom. On Thursday, the 23rd, it was the July edition of the Composers Showcase. Last Saturday night, John Kaye and the Coalition, made up of some of the city's top musicians - onetime Liberace Scholarship recipient, Tony Branco, on piano; Jeff Davis, a current scholarship winner, on bass; and Dana Barry on guitar. Among the folks in the audience for John's performance, we spotted his father, Norman Kaye of the Mary Kaye Trio fame, step-mother, Barbara Meriwether Kaye; singer/actor Don Lance; Liberace's favorite furrier and friend, the still beautiful Anna Nateese; singer Diane Ellis; community philanthropist, Cindy Doumani; and Jim Hodge, former principal production show singer. On Wednesday, August 5th at 10 p.m., the Liberace Museum will be the site of a new cabaret concept. The idea, which made its debut in May, is called VS, and it's an event produced by performers for performers. Ali Spuck co-created the concept with Keely Vasquez of Ultimate Manilow, and together they host the new monthly cabaret concept to showcase top talent from some of the biggest shows in Las Vegas, including Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular, visiting Broadway greats, and stars from TV/Film and the LA Theatre scene, plus the Las Vegas-based a cappella group, Mosaic, winner of MTV's "Top Pop Group." It's not an open mic, nor traditional cabaret. Backed by a live house band featuring some of the best musicians in Las Vegas, it's a combination of a rock show and cabaret. Each show has a different theme that will contrast two different concepts, artists, shows, composers, etc. We'll pull from all styles of music - you never know what you'll get to see and hear! Think Hello Vs. Goodbye...Love Vs. Hate...John Vs. Paul...B-Sides Vs. Hits...and the list goes on! This Wednesday's VS theme is 1967 VS. 1987. The cast includes Andrea Bochicchio from High School Musical, Erich Bergen from Jersey Boys, Charl Brown also from Jersey Boys, and Benjamin Hale from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. Additional cast members are expected to be part of 1967 VS. 1987. Joey Melotti, who has worked with Michael Bolton, Rickie Lee Jones, Julio Iglesias, Liza Minnelli, and is currently with Barry Manilow, serves as he show's musical director and pianist. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Call (702) 798-5595 ext 13 or send your ticket request to info@liberace.org Add Ali Spuck and her Here I Am mini bio-musical act to the current ongoing lineup at the Liberace Cabaret. Ali is a Los Angeles Ovation Award nominated actress and singer. She recently finished the pre-Broadway run of Vanities at the Pasadena Playhouse. Ali's professional work includes Broadway and international workshops of Zorro (London's West End), DreamWorks' Gladiator, and Disney's Snow Queen; the national tours of Jekyll & Hyde, Grease, and Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story; and a variety of new works and regional performances. Ms. Spuck (also known as Mrs. McNeeley, as she is the wife of Jersey Boy, cast member, Kristofer McNeeley), created the role of Jenny in Internet Dating: the Musical, written by 30 Rock's Ron Weiner. She has worked with Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Alexander, Dick Van Dyke, Kristen Bell, Zachary Quinto, Michael York, Alan Menken, Steven Weber, Christopher Renshaw, Steven Blanchard, Lauren Kennedy and Judith Ivey, and has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, Ford Amphitheatre, and 42nd Street Studios in New York City. Accompanied at the piano by Jersey Boys Tish Diaz, Ali Spuck: Here I Am, features a journey of music and comedy inspired by her experiences, family and friends. Selections include classic Broadway, new contemporary cabaret hits, and romantic Gershwin songs from the golden age of music. Here I Am is produced by Vs. a Rock Cabaret and Principle Productions. Tickets are priced at $15. Tickets for all Cabaret Showroom at the Liberace Museum entertainment may be purchased by phone 702-798-5595 ext. 14, or in person at the Liberace Museum store cashier. Reservations are recommended. Museum store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Museum, located at 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. at Spencer, is a significant funding source for the Liberace Foundation, created in 1976 by Liberace, and supported solely by private donations from individuals, businesses, fan clubs, and admirers globally. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. FYI...
The above mentioned guitar player, Dana Barry, is the son of Dave Barry - not the syndicated humor columnist, but the stand-up funny man who was Wayne Newton's opening act for more than eight years. A native of Brooklyn, Dave Barry began his career at the age of 16 on radio and throughout the Catskills. He served as an entertainer in the Army's Special Services Unit during WWII. After the war, Barry began a long association with Las Vegas, where his quick-fire comedy act warmed up audiences for many top stars. "I'm the kind of comic who fits here," he once told The New York Times. Dave kicked off his Las Vegas career performing at the El Rancho Hotel. He later appeared in the Desert Inn's (now Wynn Las Vegas) Hello America revue. Although he opened for a number of Vegas headliners, including Frank Sinatra, it was his long association with Newton that garnered Barry the most fans. In the 1950s, Dave Barry provided voices for several Capitol Records children's albums. He also made a featured appearance in the 1959 Billy Wilder hit, Some Like It Hot, and provided voice work for The Pink Panther TV series. In Some Like It Hot, Barry played Beinstock, the balding, owlish manager of the all-girl band Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopaters. "Can't understand it," he tells Daphne (Jack Lemmon) and Josephine (Tony Curtis), "first my glasses disappear, then one of my suitcases!" Soon, in poor Beinstock's stolen glasses, yachting cap and navy style blazer, Curtis is wooing the band's luscious vocalist, Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe), in the guise of a millionaire playboy with the voice of Cary Grant. In the later years of his career, the comic performed his act on cruise ships and appeared in the popular Palm Springs Follies variety show. Dave Barry passed away in 2001 at the age of 82. And while still on the subject of all things Liberace, the top prize winner of the 2008 Liberace Piano Competition, personable Southern gentleman, Christopher Joel Carter IV of Albertville, Alabama, is currently performing in the Lobby Bar at the M Resort Spa & Casino in Las Vegas. The annual Liberace Piano Competition is presented by the Liberace Foundation to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts. The Foundation has awarded more than $5.2 million in scholarships to some 2,500 students at more than 120 colleges and universities. * * * * * * Also, on Wednesday, August 5th, Katrina Loncaric will perform her one woman show at don't Tell Mama. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Katrina has been living in Las Vegas for five years, after moving to the city to join the cast of Bally's Donn Arden's Jubilee! as a Vegas Showgirl. After one contract as a showgirl (the showgirls are the tall, pretty ones who mostly "pose"), she become a featured singer. Following a brief stint as a Bevertainer (a singing cocktail server) at the Rio, Katrina was thrilled to be cast as the Pretzel Showgirl and the Ulla understudy in the Broadway company of The Producers. When the multiple Tony-winning Mel Brooks musical comedy opened at Paris Las Vegas, Katrina returned here to become a member of that cast (that, at different times, included Brad Oscar, Tony Danza, David Hasselhoff, Larry Raben, Lee Roy Reams, Bill Nolte and Rich Affannato among others), where she again understudied Ulla (played here by Leigh Zimmerman, aka Mrs. Domenick Allen and the mother of the very talented young Cayleigh Capaldi). Prior to living in Las Vegas, Katrina studied and performed improv comedy at Second City and Upright Citizen's Brigade in New York City. Katrina has been seen in theatre, bands, and dance companies in New York City, Los Angeles, DC, Atlanta, and Montana. Favorite Regional Theatrical roles include Lola in Damn Yankees, Irene in Crazy for You, Jeanie in Hair, among many others. An accomplished voiceover artist and the former promotions voice of TeeNick on Nickelodeon, Katrina is also New York City's Semi-Finalist for Yahoo's Favorite Amateur Yodeler. Katrina holds a B.A. in Communications from The Catholic University of America. She freelances regularly as a singer, voice over artist, dancer, model and actress. What else was a 5'10" long-legged performer from Atlanta supposed to do? Why come to Las Vegas, become a showgirl, and glide down staircases in great big hats, of course! Come join this Las Vegas/Broadway performer, in an evening of stories and songs, on Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m., when, backed by Michael Dubay on piano, she will perform Katrina Loncaric - Vegas Showgirl at Don't Tell Mama, 517 E. Fremont Street (across from the El Cortez) in downtown Las Vegas. There is a $10 cover charge, plus a one drink minimum, for this show. Call (702) 207-0788. And speaking of cabaret (and we do, when we can), if you are reading this early enough on Friday the 31st, hurry over to DeStefano's (3430 E. Tropicana, northeast corner at Pecos) and catch one of our favorite chick singers, Diane Ellis. From 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Diane will join Rochelle Felton and Christine Wiltshire, accompanied by the awesome Joe Darro at the piano. Diane will return to DeStefano's on Friday, August 14th, where she will be singing with the Joe Darro Trio. Ms. Ellis reports that the food at DeStefano's is outstanding and says the tiramisu is the best she has ever tasted. This coming Monday night, at the same place, music lover, Evan Davis, recommends Lynn Ross' Those Marvelous Musicals, celebrating the musicals of stage and screen. Last week, among those sitting in for On With the Show Cabaret, were Susan Haller, Victor Moea, Gary Anthony, Marsha Kay, Joe LaVigna, Joni Illi, Patrick Kavenaugh, Lenice Bolton, comedy of Pamela Appel, and magician Jay Anthony. The Cabaret Band features Darro on keys, Dick Straub on upright bass, and Jimmy Racey on drums. Last Monday, Robbie Robinson and his saxophone sat in. (As these names were provided to us, and we don't know all of these folks, we are going to hope they are spelled correctly.) Reservations for dinner are recommended. Call (702) 364-8424 * * * * * * 
Frenchie Davis 
Siameze 
Dolly Parton Beginning on Wednesday, August 12th, the Las Vegas Hilton will present five consecutive nights of top talent in their 1,600-seat theater. All of the shows are presented by Eric Floyd of Goddess Empire Entertainment. On Wednesday, the 12th, it's Diva Fever Revue, featuring Broadway and $100,000 Star Search vocal champion winner, Peggi Blu (Tender Moments, Love Is the Magic); Oscar and Grammy Award-winner, Irene Cara (Fame, Breakdance, Out Here On My Own, Flashdance...What a Feeling); soul icon and jazz legend, Freda Payne (Band of Gold, Deeper & Deeper, Bring the Boys Home) ; American Idol and Broadway performer, Frenchie Davis (Rent, Dreamgirls); and International Pop/Dance Diva, Universal Sex Symbol, Wanda Dee & The KLF. Showtime is at 8 p.m. and tickets are $50, $65 and $75. At 8 p.m. on Thursday, the 13th, Diva Fever Revue (Part Deux) features multiple Grammy Award-winners, The Emotions (Best of My Love, Boogie Wonderland); and soul, dance and disco divas, Sister Sledge, featuring Kathy Sledge (He's the Greatest Dancer, We Are Family, My Guy). Tickets are $50, $65 and $75. After a smashing June debut in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Hilton, this Friday night at 8, Siameze, The Godson Of Rock & Soul, returns to the property...this time to the main room! As part of Siameze's show, a special star-studded Michael Jackson song and dance tribute will take place. More than 100 dancers will participate. Tickets are $25 and $40. On Saturday and Sunday nights, at 8 p.m., Eric Floyd's Old School Party will be presented. Featured acts will include Vanilla Ice (Ice Ice Baby, Play That Funky Music), Shannon (Let the Music Play), Sisqo (It's All About Me), The KLF (3 A.M. Eternal), C & C Music Factory (Gonna Make You Sweat, Here We Go, Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...), Carol Douglas (Doctor's Orders), Carol Williams (Love Is You), Taana Gardner (Heartbeat, Work That Body, When You Touch Me), Meli'sa Morgan (Do Me, Baby, Still In Love With You), Technotronic (Pump Up the Jam, Get Up! Before the Night Is Over), Full Force ( I Wonder If I'll Take You Home, All Cried Out), Force MD's (Tender Love), UTFO (Roxanne, Roxanne), and Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam (Head To Toe, Lost In Emotion). Tickets for Old School Party are $65, $95 and $125. For reservations and/or information about any or all of these shows,, call (702) 732-5755 or (800) 222-5361. And speaking of Freda Payne, the soul, jazz and R&B diva, who has performed in Las Vegas a number of times in the past few years and returns as part of the Diva Fever Revue at the Hilton on August 12th, takes her Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald show into Manhattan's Iridium Jazz Club, Thursday, August 6th, through Sunday, August 9th. Freda, who shot to fame in 1970 with "Band of Gold," will sing selections from the Ella Fitzgerald songbook for eight shows at Iridium - at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. for all four nights. The Detroit-native followed up "Band of Gold" with hits such as "Deeper & Deeper" and "Bring the Boys Home." Payne, who has starred in a number of Broadway shows, including Jelly's Last Jam, Sophisticated Ladies and Blues in the Night, honors "The First Lady of Song" with her renditions of "A-tisket, A-tasket," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "The Best Is Yet to Come," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "It's Too Darn Hot," "Miss Otis Regrets," "Angel Eyes," and "Mack the Knife," along with other Fitzgerald classics. About the show, the New York Amsterdam News stated, "Payne conjures the spirit of Ella... she's off the charts with Ella-tonian fever. Payne rocketed the crowd up into Ella's galaxy," while Variety wrote, "Payne bears a remarkable resemblance to the legendary singer's sound, and has mastered the wordless scatting style developed by Ella." "Payne makes Ella worth seeing and hearing. Her scatting is a wonder," says the Newark Star Ledger. Iridium is located at 1650 Broadway on the corner of 51st Street. Tickets are $30. Call (212) 582-2121 for reservations. * * * * * * Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical will close on Labor Day weekend after a very disappointing four-month run. The musical, based on the 1980 film starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Parton, will have played only 148 performances when it closes at the Marquis Theatre on September 6th. Other Broadway news involves Las Vegan Jerry Lewis. Earlier this month, it was announced that a musical version of The Nutty Professor was heading to the Great White Way for the 2010-2011 season. According to the report, 83-year-old Lewis will direct, and Marvin Hamlisch will write the music and Rupert Holmes will do the book and lyrics. Both Hamlisch and Holmes are Tony Award winners, Marvin for A Chorus Line, and Rupert for The Mystery of Edwin Drood. There are plenty of talented, and hopeful, folks that will verify that saying something is opening on Broadway, and actually having it open, are two very different stories. And having something open on Broadway and be successful (see paragraph above), is yet another story. We will keep an eye on this one. 
Justin Hopkins 
Jimmy Hopper 
Marleen Marino & Michaelina Bellamy And on the local theater scene...
With no previous acting experience, Justin Hopkins has just landed a leading role in the Las Vegas Little Theatre's upcoming production of Ira Levin's Deathtrap. Nine months ago, Hopkins began studying acting with local teacher, Gerald Gordon. On Wednesday, Justin was cast to play Clifford Anderson in the dramatic thriller to be directed by Shawn Hackler. The 1982 film starred Michael Caine in the role of Sidney Bruhl, and the late Christopher Reeve as Clifford. Deathtrap opens at the Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive (near Spring Mountain and Valley View), on September 11th. For additional information, call (702) 362-7996. * * * * * * From one of Jimmy Hopper's many fans, Florence in Wayne, New Jersey, comes a request for information about her favorite singer. A regular reader, Florence is disappointed because she hasn't seen Jimmy's name in the column for a while. That is because we haven't gotten any interesting news about Mr. Hopper in recent months. We know that he works regularly in Newport Beach, California, where (not surprisingly) he has built himself a loyal fan base there, much like he did in Las Vegas. After getting Florence's e-mail, we made contact with Mr. Hopper's spokesperson, the lovely G.G. Conklin, who tells us she will have something newsworthy to report (involving Vegas, we think) about the unique entertainer, within the next couple of weeks. We will keep Florence, and the rest of the Hopper followers, posted. And, yes Florence, we certainly have seen and heard the magnificent Mr. Hopper sing, and, yes, he is wonderful. We're on your team. * * * * * * After performances at Feinstein's at Loews Regency on July 22nd and 29th, Jimmy Webb, Glen Campbell's favorite songwriter (and Richard Harris', Johnny Maestro's and the Brooklyn Bridge, Elvis, Isaac Hayes, The 5th Dimension, and Frank Sinatra, who all had great success with Webb tunes), returns to the club on August 5th and 12th for shows at 8:30 p.m. Jimmy, who wrote ("Wichita Lineman," "Up, Up and Away," "Galveston," "The Worst That Could Happen," "Didn't We," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and "MacArthur Park," is also a fine singer. Webb and the night club's owner, Michael Feinstein, collaborated on Only One Life, an album released in 2003. We especially liked the CD's title track. And speaking of Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Davis Gaines, who played the lead in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway more times than any other actor, just completed a July 26th and 27th engagement at the same bistro. For those that have been around here for a while, they may remember that Davis (and, yes, it's Davis, not David) played the lead role in Scrooge, the Christmas-inspired musical by Leslie Bricusse, that had a limited run at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin in December of 2003. Feinstein's at Loews Regency is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street in New York City. For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095. * * * * * * Marleen Marino, who ran the internet Vegas Community Online site, passed away on Monday, following a brief illness. Marleen would have turned 64 next week. She is survived by her husband, Frank. As we approach deadline, no services have been announced. * * * * * * 
Nelson & Mickey Sardelli 
Wayne Newton 
Marty Allen & Karon Kate Blackwell When Nelson Sardelli sang the beautiful "You'll Never Know" (You'll never know just how much I miss you. You'll never know just how much I care. And if I tried, I still couldn't hide my love for you...) as his wife, Fledia "Mickey" Sardelli, departed the F.I.O.R.E. Fifth Anniversary Party a couple of weeks ago, the message was not lost on some of the attendees in the Italian American Club audience (especially two of the ladies). If they picked up on it, this was a touching love song/story. Mickey has not been well for some time. Seeing her out for a couple of hours, under the watchful eye of her and Nelson's daughter, Pietra, was a good thing for many of the party participants, especially, Norman and Barbara Kaye. Norman, a member of the famed Mary Kaye Trio, was the best man at Nelson and Mickey's wedding, 46 years ago. * * * * * * A couple of news items particularly caught our attention during this last week.
First was the lead story in a local column of July 26th, regarding a possible booking of 67-year-old Wayne Newton at the Tropicana (we will refrain from making any obvious or sarcastic comments on this one). According to the article, Mr. Newton had backed out of a deal with the Tropicana, where he had planned to hold his 50th anniversary as a Las Vegas entertainer. According to a "source" (reliable or otherwise), a press conference was already set for August 3rd, with shows scheduled to kick off on September 3rd." The item went on to say that Newton had a blockbuster deal in place, with the assistance of local businessman, Jack Wishna, but it fell through this month. "He (Newton) wanted a bigger piece of the pie in the deal and tried to reduce Wishna's stake in the deal," said that unnamed source. The newspaper story goes on to say that "the development comes amid reports that Newton has not been paying bills. Two lawsuits were filed earlier this month, one for non-payment of $32,000 worth of hay for his horses and $36,999 remaining on a lease for a 2005 Escalade. Earlier this year, Newton's wages were garnished to the tune of $91,000 from his MGM Grand paychecks after his former pilot, Monty Ward, won a judgment for more than $450,000 in back wages. Wishna had negotiated Newton's Vegas comeback deal in 1999, when he signed with the Stardust for what was advertised as the richest contract in Las Vegas entertainment history - up to 40 weeks a year for 10 years with the potential of $25 million a year. That deal had an exit option after five years, and Newton took it, saying "the time had come to move on to new challenges." Two immediate thoughts come to mind. Cousin Claire wonders, (1) Why would a onetime Vegas headliner, with so much debt, not take any deal he could get to put himself back on a Strip stage and back in the black? And (2), Newton used an "exit option" from his very lucrative Stardust deal (BRILLIANTLY put together by Mr. Wishna) because "the time had come to move on to new challenges"? Let's get real here. It will be interesting to see how this one turns out. If we were advising the Wayner, we would say, "Take the offer," whatever it is! We don't see any other local hotel owners lining up to book Wayne Newton for either a short term or long term deal. And on our local NBC news, it was reported that (magician) "Steve Wyrick has sued a pyrotechnics supplier over a fire that broke out during a July 4 performance outside Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip. The complaint, filed Friday in Clark County District Court, claims Pyritz Pyrotechnics Group LLC is to blame for the blaze that injured a crew member and caused the failure of a high-profile "Death Drop" trick." The line we rolled our eyes over was this one. "The suit alleges breach of contract, negligence and defamation because of damage to Wyrick's reputation." OMG!!! In our opinion, Wyrick's reputation was damaged the minute he opened his mouth on stage at the Lady Luck, during his first Las Vegas engagement in the late 1990s. And if THAT wasn't enough to damage Wyrick's reputation, how about his "claim," in 2005, that he might be the father of the late Anna Nicole Smith's baby, Dannielynn? In more recent years, Steve's role as landlord of the trouble-plagued Wyrick Theater certainly hasn't done anything to un-damage that reputation. One of our loyal readers suggests that Mr. Wyrick's best illusion (although it is no illusion) is making tenants, and therefore audiences, disappear. How many chances does this guy get to operate this theater in a fair and honest way? Let's get Mac King, David Copperfield, Amazing Johnathan, Dixie Dooley, Penn & Teller, Lance Burton, Nathan Burton, Cashetta, Dirk Arthur, Criss Angel, and anyone else with magic powers, together, and see if they can make Mr. Wyrick disappear. Perhaps someone with some integrity can make a success out of the performance space in the Miracle Mile Mall. That place needs nothing short of a REAL miracle. LATE BREAKING NEWS! Rockstar: The Tribute, the latest entry in the Wyrick revolving-door theater, is finished. If you blinked you missed the fact it was even there. The show was to feature musicians from famous rock bands of the '80s and '90s and front them with incredible tribute artists, and at least one well-known lead singer. And another dream is shattered. The saga continues. * * * * * * Comic Marty Allen, and his musical/straight woman wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, are currently doing the Catch a Rising Star circuit, with dates at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, New Jersey, tonight; the Monticello Raceway in Monticello, New York tomorrow night (Saturday, August 1st); and the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, New Jersey, on Sunday. Don't miss the opportunity to see these two work together. Tickets are available at each venue, or on Catch a Rising Star's Web site. * * * * * * 
Donny & Marie Osmond 
Rod Russell 
Lee Roy Reams In addition to Donny and Marie (who have just added a couple of more years on to their Flamingo contract), Charo and Bette Midler on the Thursday morning edition of NBC's Today show, we spotted a couple of other familiar faces on camera - Larry "Hot Chocolate" Edwards in Elvis garb, and hunky actor Nathan Ferrier representing Caesars Palace in his Caesar costume. * * * * * * On Sunday, Sarann Knight Preddy was to be honored with a music-filled afternoon show at the South Point Casino. Unfortunately, the show was postponed (postponed sounds so much better than that ugly word, "cancelled") a week before the scheduled event. You say you don't know who Ms. Preddy is? That's why we're here...to tell you about the lady. Sarann, who celebrated her 89th birthday on July 27th, was born in the small town of Eufaula, Oklahoma, to Carl and Hattie Childs. Sarann married her first husband, Luther Walker, soon after getting out of high school. In 1942, she and her family moved to Las Vegas, settling in the black community on the Westside. Preddy took her first job at the Cotton Club as a Keno writer, later becoming a dealer. In 1950, Preddy moved to Hawthorne, Nevada, where she was offered the opportunity to purchase her own gambling establishment. She became the first African American woman to own a gaming license in Nevada. Preddy then purchased the Lincoln Bar, which she renamed the Tonga Club. The club was successful in the small booming town, and she operated the establishment until her return to Las Vegas in 1957. Preddy then worked as a dealer until a new ordinance prohibited women from being employed as dealers. During that time, Preddy operated several businesses including a dry cleaner, a dress shop, and a lounge. Once the ordinance was repealed, Preddy returned to work as a dealer at Jerry's Nugget where she remained for seven years. In 1990, Preddy turned her focus to restoring the previous glamour of Las Vegas' first integrated casino; she and her third husband, Joe Preddy, purchased the Moulin Rouge. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to secure the financing needed and eventually sold the Moulin Rouge to a developer. Preddy has made many contributions to the state of Nevada through her involvement in the NAACP. She has worked to preserve the history of the city through her efforts to place the Moulin Rouge on the National Register of Historic Places. Although we don't expect to see this event rescheduled at the South Point anytime soon (or maybe ever), if there is a tribute to Ms. Preddy (who deserves to be acknowledged for her contributions to the community), at least you readers will have some idea of who she is. The program, with tickets selling (or not selling) for $50, $55 and $60, was to feature Phil Flowers, Melanie Moore, Loretta Holloway, and "Chicago's Own, Mr. Lee" as the entertainment. * * * * * * One of our favorite musicians, Gary Olds, has snagged himself a real good gig as drummer for the popular Sidro's Armada. Sidro's Armada has been performing in both southern and northern Nevada for about 40 years. We hope to have more about this band, including their schedule and a current photo, within the next few weeks. * * * * * * Happy birthday wishes to Leo celebrants, Will Collins, Kevin Spirtas, Rod Russell (who turns the BIG 5-0), Robert Allen, Angelo Tolentino, Sally Porter Coombs, Donna Booth Koger, Toni James, Buddy Greco, Bob Flanigan and Lee Roy Reams. * * * * * * In our June 19th column, when we wrote that Buddy Greco's Dinner Club in Cathedral City, adjacent to Palm Springs, was still up and running, if it was true then, it isn't now. The club, now in its third year of operation, is facing foreclosure. In an article written by Debra Gruszecki, here is some of what was published in the July 24th issue of The Desert Sun newspaper...
"Jazz legend Buddy Greco received national attention in May when final photographs of actress Marilyn Monroe wound up in an eBay auction. The owner of Buddy Greco's Dinner Club in Cathedral City appeared on CNN's "Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer to discuss the snapshots that carried a starting bid of $7,500.
That Kodak moment, taken when Greco was performing at Sinatra's Cal Neva lounge in September 1962, fueled speculation the cozy nightclub Greco owned and operated with his wife, singer Lezlie Anders, was in jeopardy. On Wednesday, the notice of default recorded in Riverside County told the tale. Buddy Greco's at 68-791 E. Palm Canyon Drive is in a stage of foreclosure and carries total indebtedness estimated at $790,926, a legal notice said. The trustee's sale is set for Aug. 11. Riverside County property assessment records show the property formerly owned by Walter Lee Williams and operated as the Triangles Restaurant was acquired by the Grecos through a grant deed transaction in August 2005. At the time, a sales price of $535,000 was recorded against the dinner club. Canyon National Bank issued a variable rate loan in the amount of $755,000 to the Palm Desert couple that was recorded July 13, 2006. It is this second mortgage that is the focus of the notice of default. Another $100,000 loan was recorded against the property by the Katrina B. Henrich- Steinberg Living Trust in January 2007, county records show. Anders said lines of credit were taken to carry the restaurant through the harsh summer months and keep 10 families on the payroll. Compounding matters was the hardship imposed when the interest-only provision on the loan ended, Anders said, increasing the mortgage from $4,000 to $6,200 a month. The Grecos just completed a five week working tour of the United Kingdom. Buddy Greco goes into the Rrazz Room in the Nikko Hotel in San Francisco for two shows, on August 18th and 19th. Fans of music from the 50s, 60s and the Rat Pack era will recognize Greco as a jazz singer and pianist without peer. He played piano with the Benny Goodman Orchestra before going on to top the charts with "The Lady is a Tramp." Known by his colleagues as a "singer's singer" and a "musician's musician," Buddy Greco has sold more than one million records. He is well-known for releasing songs from every genre, from jazz to country to pop music. He has played every major concert hall in the world and is one of the true legends from the golden era of entertainment. Buddy is still a top performer; perhaps the last from what many consider was the Golden Era of Entertainment. 
Buddy Greco 
Mark Nadler 
Eric O'Shea And speaking of the Rrazz Room, if you are in the San Francisco area this weekend, you can see the very talented Mark Nadler perform there, through Sunday. Nadler's current show is called...His Lovely Wife, Ira - Ira Gershwin with and without George. The show is being endorsed by Michael Strunsky, the nephew of Ira Gershwin's lovely wife, Leonore, and the head of the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Trust. Michael and his wife, Jean, planned to attend the opening night performance. Here's what some critics have said about ...His Lovely Wife, Ira. "Nadler turns names carved in stone into flesh-and-blood creatures with personalities, passions and quirks... perfect -- poignant." - Stephen Holden, The New York Times. "A chance to see one of cabaret's brightest and most inventive stars in peak form." - Michael Dale, BroadwayWorld.com. "Nadler's infectious verve and ready wit are in abundance... A vivid, enthralling theater piece." - Bettina Paley, BroadwayAfterDark.com. "Mark Nadler, a performer so abundantly and insistently talented... the guy's got the goods." - David Finkle, The Huffington Post. And from Roy Sander of the BistroAwards.com, comes this story on Mr. Nadler (we have not cut a word)..."Writing about Mark Nadler over a decade ago, I labeled him quite possibly the world's greatest entertainer. I did not say that hyperbolically. His ability to command an audience's attention and laughter for hours is on a par with Bette Midler and Victor Borge's. In the realm of singer-pianists, his only peer that I know of is the late Danny Apolinar. But there is another side of his talent, one that is less hilarious and less outrageous, but no less impressive: sensitive, analytic and probing, it is Mark Nadler the serious artist. Though brief glimpses of this artistry shone through even in his most irreverent and madcap evenings, for the most part he kept it under wraps-that is, until recent years. It is on glorious display in his latest show, which honors the work of lyricist Ira Gershwin. Nadler explores Gershwin's relationship with his wife, Lenore, and his brother George ("I belong, I see, to the ranks of the brothers of the great"). Through both narration and musical illustration, he analyzes Gershwin's approach to lyric writing. For example, he traces the evolution of "Long Ago and Far Away," which was Gershwin's biggest hit during his lifetime; Nadler's rendition concludes rapturously. And there is a segment that imagines the development of the classic "Fascinating Rhythm"; clearly Nadler is as inventive as was Gershwin. This is not dry, academic analysis; it is a touching celebration of the art of songwriting-and more fundamentally, of the creative process. And there are many numbers that succeed on a purely musical, emotional, or entertainment level. (Nadler the artist is still Nadler the savvy showman.) From Lady in the Dark, "The Princess of Pure Delight" is a charmer, and a pairing of "The Man That Got Away" and "Words Without Music" is deeply moving. Some years ago, I expressed the opinion that "Someone to Watch Over Me" should not be sung by a man with the pronouns changed from masculine to feminine ("I hope that she turns out to be"). While I still believe this to be generally true, Nadler's rendition is so exquisitely vulnerable that he pulls it off; this is gorgeous work. All in all, this is an important show and a memorable evening." If you are a Gershwin fan, a fan of piano music and classic songs,, we urge you to see Mr. Nadler perform. The Rrazz Room is located in the Hotel Nikko, at 222 Mason Street, in the City By the Bay. All shows start at 7 p.m. Call (866) 468-3399 for reservations to Buddy Greco and/or Mark Nadler. * * * * * * Producer Bob Kephart has lined up three outstanding stand up comedians for the Comedy Stop at the Sahara Hotel, during the week of August 3-9. Headlining in the Congo Room is, Eric O'Shea, creator of the You Tube hit, "Elmo," along with Tina Giorgi and Kevin Knox. O'Shea also created the wildly received "Commercial Songs for Products," which got more than three million hits on YouTube, and caught the eye, and received rave reviews from film producer, Steven Spielberg. Eric was asked to come to Hollywood for a screen test by Spielberg, which of course he gladly accepted. He will be performing at the, 2009 Creative Emmy Awards show in Hollywood this September. Eric likes his audiences to sit back, relax and let his clean wit and priceless observations take you on the ride of your life. From embarrassing childhood moments to today's frustrating mishaps, O'Shea's high energy show will have you rolling in the aisle with stomach hurting laughter. He travels the world performing his unique comedy, and is a regular on the campus circuit. Eric was voted the 2007 "Campus Activities Magazine Comedy Performer of the Year." Ms. Giorgi is a former High School teacher in Washington D.C., who credits her comedic skills to staying after school with the students in detention. Reviewers call her the, "Comedienne with a brain." Tina relies on a blend of wit and commentary to charm her audiences, which she does perfectly. She was recently featured at the "Las Vegas Comedy Festival," and was a winner of the "Bud Light Fox 5 Comedy Contest." Giorgi competed and got to the finals, in the National Lampoon Comedy Search. Kevin Knox is well known on the comedy circuit as the "Wildman of Comedy." A reviewer from the Boston Globe once referred to Knox's routine as a, "high energy bag of fun." As Kevin bounces across the stage, he is constantly creating new topics to discuss or bring to the attention of the audiences. Showtime for the Comedy Stop, in the Congo Room, at the Sahara Hotel is 9 p.m., seven nights a week. Nevada residents have a special ticket price of $19.95 plus tax and fees (must show Nevada drivers license), with general admission tickets priced at $24.95 plus. For information or to purchase tickets call (702) 737-2515 or www.saharavegas.com.
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Tags: Ali Spuck Tish Diaz Christopher-Joel Carter Katrina Loncaric
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 - July 24, 2009 
Peggy Cawthon 
Denise Clemente 
Bob Newhart Anyone who was part of the Trinity Life Center family on East St. Louis in Las Vegas, knew Peggy Cawthon. Peggy, who sang in the church's choir for many years, died in a hospital on Monday, July 13th, following a heart attack at her home two days earlier. Born on Johnson City, Tennessee, Peggy was a military wife, who in the early years of her marriage, moved around the world with her husband, Fred, and son, Al (Alfred). In 1965, the Cawthons became Las Vegas residents. Over the years here, Peggy was a much sought after seamstress and alterations specialist. Among the places that she worked were Alice Ansteth's Shamar's Boutique, Jerry's Tux Shop and, on occasion, at From Here To Maternity. She was a volunteer counselor at Royal Family Kids' Camp on Mt. Charleston, serving at-risk Southern Nevada children. Royal Family Kids' Camps are the nation's leading network of camps for abused, neglected and abandoned children. Annually, 3.6 million cases of child abuse, neglect or abandonment are reported in America. One of these victims dies every six hours due to that abuse. Peg never headed to the mountain empty handed. She always had something special, something she had made, for the children. There were also homebound seniors who benefited from Peggy's kindness. The constant in Peggy's life was God and music. Music was so much a part of her well-lived life, her e-mail address was "singnhum." Services were held last Sunday at the Trinity Life Center, where she had been a very active member for more than 25 years. Many, many friends turned out to say goodbye to a lady that was loved by all who knew her. Not surprisingly, music played a large part in the final tribute to a very special lady. Peggy Cawthon is survived by her husband, Fred Cawthon, and son and daughter-in-law, Al and Melody Cawthon. Although she didn't have any grandchildren of her own, there are hundreds of youngsters whose lives Peggy touched. They will always remember this wonderful lady as "grandma." Royal Family Kids' Camps, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity. Donations and gifts are tax-deductible, as allowed by law. Royal Family Kids' Camps, Inc.'s Federal Taxpayer I.D. Number is 33-0380021. We are sure a donation to the camp or the Trinity Life Center in Peggy Cawthon's name, would be very much appreciated. * * * * * * An inquiry about Denise Clemente from Donna in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has prompted this response from Cousin Claire. Thirty-some years ago, when we first saw and heard the young Denise in a local casino lounge, we thought she was headed for stardom. Accompanied at the piano by the very talented Henry Shed, there was no doubt that the Vineland, New Jersey-native could sing. What she needed, we thought, was more stage time, some advice from a caring manager, and polish. We were right up there at the front of her fan parade, taking visitors to see her in the different lounges where she worked, and recommending her to others that asked, "Who should we go see when we are in Vegas?" What we say now will not make her current fans, or Denise, happy. In our opinion, there is more wrong with Ms. Clemente then there is right. Much of it has to do with her obvious lack of business sense. She came to Las Vegas in the late 1970s, right out of high school. Within a short time, she was featured in a lounge revue called Sassy Class (for which she earned an award for her obvious talent). Soon after, she was touring with Liberace as one of his new discoveries. Denise made some national TV appearances, and opened for the likes of Bill Cosby and Don Rickles. What this talented lady needed, but never had, was a good manager. She needed someone to tell her what to wear and, more importantly, what NOT to wear on stage. She needed someone to tell her how to move and how to communicate to the audience...none of which she did well. We remember seeing her in the Losers Lounge at the Frontier sometime in the 1980s, waving her hand behind her back as she sang some dramatic, gut-wrenching song (described by comic Cork Proctor as a "closer"). We thought she was "conducting" the band, much like Frank Sinatra Jr. does. When she finished her number, Denise turned to her players and announced, "Sorry fellas. I had Mexican food for dinner." Would we make this up? In the '90s, we made ourselves a promise to never again go out of our way to see Ms. Clemente perform. We changed our mind and, out of curiosity, went to see her open for Bob Newhart at the Stardust in July of 2005. The word to describe what we saw and heard that night is "embarrassing." The outfit? All wrong. Picture a dark colored plastic-looking (pleather?) miniskirt, and a light color tank-type top. This getup would have been too casual for a trip to the mall, let alone for an audience of mature, paying customers there to see, then, 75-year-old Newhart who was dressed in a tux for his act. And what ever possessed the lady to open her portion of the show with Donna Summer's "Last Dance"? That's certainly not an OPENING number and, even if it were, it was not the right song for the AARP recipients there to see Mr. Newhart. As for Denise's Web site, it serves no purpose. Why even have one if you aren't going to keep it somewhat up to date? And her photos. They are old and, for the most part, awful. Denise Clemente may have a few more years to work in off-Strip lounges but, at this point, she has pretty much used up her opportunity for anything more than that. It's called show BUSINESS. It is apparent that the talented Ms. Clemente never paid much attention to the business part of her career. What a shame. What a waste. * * * * * * Our apologies to Robyn Tuck, Showroom Manager at Michael Gaughan's South Point Casino. Because she does such a good job, we have mentioned this lady twice in recent weeks. Unfortunately, the second time, we misspelled her last name, calling her Robyn Turk. It's Robyn TUCK. Keep up the good work, Ms. Tuck. * * * * * * 
Susan Haller, Dolly Coulter & Diane Ellis Those Red Hot Red Heads! - Susan Haller, Dolly Coulter and Diane Ellis - will sing individually and together for a 7 p.m. show, on Sunday, July 26th at Grace In the Desert The Episcopal Church in Summerlin, 2004 Spring Gate Lane. The ladies will be accompanied on the piano by Joe Darro. The songs presented will all be originals by Ms. Haller. A six year Las Vegas resident, Susan has composed more than 200 songs, four stage musicals, six children's books, 13 network TV commercials, and countless voiceover scripts, advertisements, and media releases. She is an accomplished performer, having starred in numerous children's shows, live stage productions, and cabaret musical events, as well as in radio and TV commercials in the Seattle and Las Vegas media markets. Both Ms. Coulter and Ms. Ellis are known for their vocal and acting skills in the area, so this trio should provide an interesting and entertaining evening. Suggested donation is $10 per person.
Note: In spite of what you may have read on Sandy Kastel's Web site (if, in fact, you even read it), Red Hot Red Heads! has NOT been canceled or even postponed. The part of Ms. Kastel will now be played by the magnificent Dolly Coulter. * * * * * * From reader Howard Jochsberger of Las Vegas comes this note...
I too noticed Dondino in several shots on America's Got Talent. Just so you know, we are friends for years and he and Donna (Gummelt) are in Des Moines, Iowa, at the current time. They leave in about 10 days for a three week tour of Japan. I'll send them an e-mail and find out what was what on America's Got Talent and let you know their response.
Thank you, Howard. We will pass the America's Got Talent information, and any other interesting Dondino news, on to our readers. 
Dondino & Donna Gummelt 
Wes Winters 
Ray Jarvis * * * * * * Once again, it's popular Wes Winters' turn in the spotlight as part of the Performing Arts Society of Nevada's musical programs. Presented by PASNV and 88 Key Productions, this Sunday's Wes Winters - Back to the '50s offering will feature some of the most beloved songs from one of America's most memorable musical eras. Expect to hear familiar tunes such as "Silhouettes," "Music Music Music," "Blueberry Hill," "Just A Gigolo," "Shangri-La," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Sincerely," "Ebb Tide" and "My Way," along with other favorites of the decade. We are told (by a somewhat reliable source) that in addition to his piano virtuosity, Mr. Winters will display his skill on the banjo. Wes, a favorite of the PASNV audiences, is just back from Reno, where he joined Bobby Vinton at the Grand Sierra Hotel and Casino in performing for the Fraternal Order of Eagles (about 5,200 of them). To show their appreciation, for the second year, the Eagles gave away grants in Wes' name to worth-while organizations, one of which is the Jewish Children's Hospital in Denver. Total grants given away in Wes' name over the last two years adds up to $120,000.00. Wes will dedicate this Sunday's concert to veteran entertainer, Ray Jarvis, who passed away on July 15th, following a long illness. Ray was a fan and supporter of both Winters and John Meren and Tom Gallagher's almost two decades old Performing Arts Society of Nevada. The performance on Sunday will run from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Clark County Library Theater 1401 East Flamingo Road, just east of Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $15 each. For info, call (702) 658-6741. * * * * * * At 2 p.m., on Sunday (July 26th), Stars Among the Angels and Station Casinos will present the third in a series of FREE monthly 60-minute televised Celebrity Variety Shows at Boulder Station Hotel and Casino. The shows are designed and created to build awareness and raise funds for The Children's Service Guild of Southern Nevada. A 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, the Guild raises funds to provide for the needs of Clark County Family Services, Child Haven and the Foster Care System. The TV shows are broadcast in Las Vegas on KTUD 25, Cable 14 and 63, and Cox Cable, and air nationally on a regional basis. The line-up of performers on the July 26 show includes Larry Hart, multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist. Hart, who is a former business partner and friend of Michael Jackson, will perform Jackson's favorite song "Stand Strong" from the '90s hit musical Sisterella. Larry wrote the book, music and lyrics for Sisterella, which was executive produced and presented by Michael Jackson and Jerry Greenberg, and produced by Robert DeNiro, Tribecca Films and Miramax. Also appearing will be the cast of Hart's hit musical, Praise - Darcus Speed, Diane Spann, MarQue, Jennifer Weatherly, Jeneane Marie, Paris Red, and Jenevi. The comedy duo of Spike and Hammer, will perform their award-winning sleight-of-hand to grab your attention...along with your watch, wallet and funny bone! Motivational speaker, James Brewster Thompson, who has performed twice at The White House, appeared on David Letterman and Arsenio Hall, and performed in the film "Lionheart" with Jean Claude Van Damme, is also scheduled, along with 19-year-old singing sensation, Tess Langguth. Michael Shane's 11-piece Metropolitan Club Orchestra will provide the music. Doors open at 1:15 p.m. with a curtain call at 2 p.m. The show is FREE to the general public, but donations are greatly appreciated and graciously accepted. We suggest showing up early for this one. * * * * * * Robert Dubac brings his very clever show to the Suncoast, next weekend, Friday, July 31st, through Sunday, August 2nd. The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? (and it is, isn't it?) features Bobby, the Colonel, Jean-Michel, Fast Eddie, Old Man Linger (looking a bit like Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond), and Ronnie Cabrezzi, who all have two things in common - they are all chauvinists and they are all Robert Dubac. Sandra Dillard-Rosen of the Denver Post had this to say about the tour de force offering...Take a good-looking guy with a razor-sharp wit, a clever idea, and a stage full of props and it all adds up to The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? Robert Dubac and his five alter egos romp through the gender gap, exploring the differences between men and women (multitudinous) and the communication problem between the sexes (limitless). His delightful one-man show, a clever combination of theater and standup comedy, is built around once anguished evening with a guy whose fiancée has left him, saying she "needs space," and will call him in two weeks. Although Dubac admits he likes to get drunk, can't shop, eats likes a pig, needs his space and hates her cat, he tried to figure out why she left. We saw Mr. Dubac at the Charleston Heights Arts Center a couple of years ago, when Linda Leos brought him into the 364-seat theater. We are not surprised to see a hotel casino pick up this show. We wish the Suncoast would follow more of Ms. Leos' instincts for brining unique to Las Vegas acts and shows to the city. We would love to see New Yorker Mark Nadler do his one man show, Mark Nadler in a Nut Shell, at the Suncoast. Whenever Mr. Nadler's name came up on the Charleston Heights roster, tickets were gone in a flash. Unfortunately, city budget cuts have hampered Ms. Leos' opportunity to bring acts of this caliber into Las Vegas. As for Dubac's presentation, if we were to compare what he does with any other revue, we see some similarities between The Male Intellect and Defending the Caveman. Both of these one-man-shows (following a run at the Golden Nugget, Caveman, starring Kevin Burke, is now at the Excalibur) deal with the big differences between the sexes. Tickets for the 8 p.m. shows at the Suncoast start at $19.95, plus taxes and fees. Call (702) 636-7075 for reservations. 
Darcus Speed 
Robert Dubac 
Mark Nadler * * * * * * Tickets for the Saturday, November 14th engagement of So You Think You Can Dance at The Orleans Arena will go on sale tomorrow, July 20th. The 7:30 p.m. performance will feature the Top 10 finalists from the hit TV show - Ade, Brandon, Evan, Janette, Jason, Jeanine, Kayla, Kupono, Melissa and Randy - performing their hottest routines in Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Ballroom, Tango, Broadway, Salsa and more - live on stage! Tickets are priced at $38.50, $48.50 and $56.00, inclusive of tax and fees, and can be purchased at the Orleans Arena Box Office, by calling (702) 284-7777, or by visiting www.orleansarena.com. Due to the physical nature of the performances, not all dancers may perform and dancers are subject to change. And speaking of dancing, especially TV dancing...
Julianne Hough, the Dancing With the Stars pro who attended the famed Las Vegas Academy, turned 21 on Monday. The beautiful Ms. Hough is now in the midst of a successful country music career, and, along with her 24-year-old brother, Derek Hough (who also attended the local Academy), has been nominated for an Emmy. The talented siblings are joint nominees for outstanding choreography, for an exhibition dance they choreographed (as well as performed) to Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire." The Emmys will be broadcast on CBS, Sunday, September 20th. Julianne performs at Mandalay Beach on Saturday, September 5th. Tickets are $30 and go on sale at noon today at Ticketmaster outlets. The concert is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. 
Julianne Hough 
Enrico Santarelli 
Michaelina Bellamy * * * * * * On Tuesday night, we made a trip over to Frediani's Authentic Italian Restaurant to hear Bruce Westcott at the piano. Frediani's, which in previous incarnations, was operated as Chianti and Trilussa, is located at 2895 Green Valley Parkway, just north of Sunset near 24 Hour Fitness. It's a comfortable, intimate place, with a friendly staff. Owner Enrico Santarelli realizes the merits of having live music at Frediani's, probably because he, himself, is a musician. The Jazz Utopia trio, features Marlane Coker on piano and vocals, John Plows on drums, and Santarelli on bass. They perform on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. On Tuesdays, it's Westcott playing piano, and on Saturdays, Nik Mastrangelo, the singing attorney, provides the musical entertainment. Incidentally, Frediani's is named for our juggler friend, Nino Frediani, who was a part owner of the restaurant at one time. For information, call (702) 433-1494. * * * * * * Approximately 100 people turned out for the F.I.O.R.E. Fifth Anniversary celebration at the Italian American Club last Saturday night. For those who are new to the column, F.I.O.R.E., the inspiration of entertainer/ humanitarian, Nelson Sardelli, stands (and sits) for Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events. Music for the evening was provided by the Gary Olds Trio - with Gary Olds on drums, Chuck Hoover on keyboards, and Chuck Kovac on bass - with Dr. George Ritter joining in on saxophone. Guest performers included vocalists Allen Tramont (who we remember from his days at the old Maxim, now the Westin Casurina), Don Gloude, Michaelina Bellamy, Joel Dane, Joni Illi, and trumpeter extraordinaire, Charly Raymond (not to be confused with the lesser known and not near as talented "Charly Richman"). Of course, Mr. Sardelli favored the attendees with a few songs. A very nice buffet was served, there were happy raffle winners, lots of visiting with friends, and some of the guests showed off their skills on the dance floor. A good time was had by all. And speaking of Joni Illi, who is back in Las Vegas after some time away, we have to comment on her great CD, Joni & Friends (and she does have some very talented friends). When she lived in the city some years back, as Joni Pettitt, the talented lady sang with Bobby (sometimes known as Boby) Curtola and Perfecto & Motion. She should be back singing with someone today, as she sounds and looks terrific. As for the CD, it contains some popular standards, including "The Nearness of You," "Just In Time," "Stormy Weather," "All the Way," "When I Fall In Love," and "Orange Colored Sky." One of our favorite cuts is a less familiar beauty by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde) and Jack Murphy, called "Why Do People Fall In Love." If you have the opportunity to see Joni Illi, or to purchase her CD, we suggest you do so. 
Joni Illi 
Greg Morton 
Rick Thomas * * * * * * You can bet that, come August 29th, on what would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday, there will be lots of tribute concerts all around the world. One of them will take place at the Palms in Las Vegas and is produced by Jersey Boy Erich Bergen (who plays Bob Gaudio), and journalist, Steve Friess. For one performance only, top entertainers will come together for Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson. In this production, celebrating the many hits of The King of Pop, entertainers including cast members of Jersey Boys, The Lion King, PEEPSHOW, and Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, will perform the hits from the Jackson songbook. This unique show will also include video montages throughout from those who knew Michael or were inspired by his work. The multi-faceted acts will be backed by a 10-piece band comprised of musicians led by Las Vegas' own Joey Melotti. Additional performers and event details will be announced in coming weeks. This special event will commemorate and celebrate Jackson's life while raising funds to help kids across the U.S. and right here in Nevada keep music alive in the schools. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Music Education programming in the Clark County Public Schools. Tickets for Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson go on-sale tomorrow, July 25th, at noon. Prices are $29, $54, $79, $104 and $129, plus applicable box office fees. A VIP package is available for $504 and includes VIP seating, admission to the exclusive after party with the cast, gift bag and limited edition autographed poster. To purchase tickets, visit any Ticketmaster location, call (800) 745-3000, or go to www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com. The Pearl Box Office is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily. Doors for the show will open at 2 p.m., with performance beginning at 3 p.m. * * * * * * Three million hits on YouTube and still counting. "Obama Man," is stand-up comedian, Greg Morton's latest musical creation, singing to the tune of "Candyman." Morton will be at the Comedy Stop inside the Sahara Hotel & Casino, along with Butch Bradley and Chrissy Burns, July 27th through August 2nd. Morton regularly headlines at the Comedy Stops in Las Vegas and Atlantic City for producer, Bob Kephart. Greg can be heard on the nationally syndicated radio program, The Bob & Tom Show, as well as at their live concerts. His slapstick, physical style, improvisational skills, and talent for mimicry creates a show that leaves audiences gasping for breath. Greg's anxiety ridden persona is best described as someone who watches too much cable news. Audiences seem to love Morton's two minute rendition of the Star Wars Trilogy, and his laugh stopping finale of pop star impersonations, which has been described as one of the best closings in the business. Butch Bradley is a busy comedian these days, traveling on USO tours to Afghanistan and Iraq to entertain the troops, and appearing at various comedy festivals in Canada and the United States. Bradley is an energetic comedian who doesn't just warm-up an audience, he sets them on fire. He was an original member of the Boston Improve troupe and can be seen in the documentary film, Open Mic, starring the late Richard Jeni, Dave Chappelle, Tony Rock and Shawn Wayans. Chrissy Burns looks at the world as one big buffet, and she dishes out an over-sized portion of laughter every night. Burns is a delight on stage and regales her audience with hilarious, true-life tales, told in a relaxed story telling style. She is a story teller with a wonderful sense of humor. Chrissy shares a heartfelt message about the healing power of laughter. Showtime for the Comedy Stop is 9 p.m. seven nights a week, inside the Congo Room. Tickets start at $24.95 plus tax and fees, with a $19.95 ticket for locals (must produce a Nevada drivers license) plus tax and fees. For reservations call (702) 737-2515, or purchase tickets at www.saharavegas.com. And speaking of the Sahara...Fresh from a world tour, magician Rick Thomas has once again found a home on the Strip, and it's at the Sahara. Thomas dazzles audiences with never seen before illusions. Thomas' magic has been a showstopper for audiences of all ages, as he combines the beauty of magic, the complexity of working with regal animals, and the elegance of dance, all into one dynamic performance. Thomas has performed on the Strip for more than 10 years, headlining in theaters at properties such as the Tropicana and Stardust. After earning the prestigious title of "Illusionist of the World" in 2008, and performing for audiences in various countries, Thomas decided to return to Las Vegas and open a show at the famed Sahara Theater where he performs on the same stage where legends such as The Beatles, Johnny Carson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra and many others have also worked. For The Magic & Tigers of Rick Thomas show, Thomas features some familiar illusions that he has made famous in his career, along with some new illusions that will have guests shocked and amazed. Thomas also brings back his beautiful Bengal tigers, staples of his magic career. "I am happy to perform in Las Vegas again after being on a world tour," said Thomas. "I found a new home for my show at the Sahara Hotel & Casino in a more intimate theater where audience members will be closer to the action on stage. I am bringing back the Bengal tigers and my wonderful assistants, but guests who have been following my career will see some new illusions never seen before." "Rick Thomas has an illustrious career in magic," said Bill Tremper, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the Sahara Hotel & Casino. "We are proud to bring his unique style to the Sahara stage where it will entertain audiences of all ages. Our property is focused on providing stellar and value-driven entertainment to our guests and, with Rick, this was a great fit." The Magic & Tigers of Rick Thomas can be seen Tuesdays through Fridays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 and 7 p.m. (dark Mondays). General admission tickets are $39.95 for adults and $19.95 for children under the age of 12. VIP tickets are available for $49.95, which includes preferred seating. For reservations, call (702) 737-2515.
* * * * * * The Richmond/Ermet Aids Foundation presents the Help Is On the Way XV: No Business Like Show Business, 15th Anniversary Gala. Taking place at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco on Sunday, August 2nd, this annual event is Northern California's largest star-studded AIDS benefit concert and gala. The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established to raise funds for AIDS service provider agencies through the production of quality entertainment events. Born from the grass-roots efforts of two mothers, Barbara Richmond and the late Peggy Ermet, who both lost their only sons to AIDS as a way to honor their sons' memories and to help alleviate the suffering of many of the other sons and daughters living with HIV and AIDS. The August 2nd fundraiser will feature the talents of Susan Anton, Broadway (Will Rogers Follies) TV (Baywatch) star; Davis Gaines, Phantom of the Opera; BaulPointPen, Musical comedy duo; Carole Cook, Broadway (42nd Street, Radio Gals)/TV/film star; Tyne Daly, Broadway (Gypsy)/TV (Cagney & Lacy, Judging Amy/ film star; Melinda Doolittle, American Idol/ recording star; Joely Fisher, Broadway (Cabaret) / TV (Ellen, "Til Death)/ film star; Jon Maher, sign language interpreter; Maureen McVerry, Cabaret star/actress; Shawn Ryan, TV (America's Got Talent)/cabaret star; Jeanie Tracy, recording star/Disco Diva; Wesla Whitfield, Cabaret/recording star; John Lloyd Young, Tony Award winning Broadway (Jersey Boys) star; Top Shelf Motown Madness, The Bay Area's salute to Motown; and Cate Caplin & Gary Franco, International Ballroom Dancer Champions. David Galligan is the show's director, and Michael Orland (American Idol) and Bill Keck serve as musical directors. Honorary Co-Chairs are Senator Mark Leno, Mayor Gavin Newsom, and San Francisco Treasurer, Jose Cisneros. The elegant evening of fun includes a silent auction, VIP reception, the show and a dessert party. Performance only tickets start at $175, with packages running up to more than $10,000. Raffle tickets are extra. For additional information, call (415) 273-1620. 
Wesla Whitfield 
Ali Spuck * * * * * * Reminder...
Don't forget the Unified Tribe at North Las Vegas' Aliante Station, tomorrow night at 8 p.m., John Kaye and the Coalition at the Liberace Museum tomorrow (Saturday) night at 8 p.m., and Ali Spuck and her Here I Am cabaret show at the same place on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The museum is located at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. Admission for Unified Tribe is free. Tickets for John Kaye are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and for Ali Spuck are $15. * * * * * * Through October 10th, It's A Girl Thing exhibition is taking place at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. The local artists represented are Jay Bailey, Montana Black, Marylou Evans, Jennifer and Brian Henry, Ann Hoff, Merrilee Hortt, Lauren McCubbin, Grayson Ronk, Lance Smith, Marty Walsh, Mary Warner, and Joseph Watson. An artists reception takes place tonight, from 6 to 8 p.m. Exhibit hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (702) 229-6211.
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Displaying keen perception and great insight.
She’s a little bit naughty. She’s a little bit nice.
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Claire Voyant
Las Vegas - July 17, 2009  Ray Jarvis, Rebecca Spencer & Jerry Ritholz-Jarvis  Frank Marino On Wednesday, our friend Ray Jarvis lost his 14 year battle with cancer. No one fought harder to survive than Ray. He agreed to any and all types of treatment, experimental or traditional, while never complaining or asking, "Why me?" When he was feeling good, the onetime song and dance man enjoyed life to the fullest, seeing shows, going on cruises, and spending time with friends. Ray had a variety-filled career in show business. He was practically born dancing. When he was still a teen in Canada, Ray opened his own ballet school. As a youngster, he was a champion baton twirler in Toronto. He was also a member of a well-known Canadian Ballet Company. The Ray Jarvis Trio, of which, not surprisingly, Ray was the leader, performed regularly on Canada's Shirley Harmer's TV show. Over the years, Ray appeared on Broadway in the chorus of My Fair Lady, Pajama Game and Can Can. He also performed at places such as the famed Latin Quarter in New York, appearing with many stars, including Robert Goulet, Betty Grable, Jimmy Durante, Shirley Bassey, Josephine Baker, Liberace, Dorothy Lamour, Kay Ballard, and Marie McDonald, many of whom became close friends lifetime of Ray's. In the late 1950s, Jarvis moved to Las Vegas where he performed in Minsky's Follies at the Dunes, George Arnold's 1959 Ecstasy On Ice at the Thunderbird, and for five years, beginning in the early '60s, was a principal in Les Folies Bergere at the Tropicana. It was during that period that Ray worked with the French actress/ dancer/singer, Liliane Montevecchi. In August of 1958, while performing in Cole Porter's Out of This World at the Chicago Music Theater, that Ray Jarvis first met Jerry Ritholz, who was involved with theater in the Windy City. In 1973, Ray was working for producer Barry Ashton, traveling between Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, when he auditioned for Donn Arden's new show, Hallelujah Hollywood, going into Las Vegas' brand new MGM Grand (now Bally's) hotel. When it was learned that the show's opening was going to be delayed, Ray went to work at sea. It was in 1976, on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, that Ray and Jerry met up for the second time. Ray was the ship's Cruise Director and an entertainer, and Jerry was traveling with his mother. That cruise was the beginning of Ray and Jerry's three decades long relationship. They had been together ever since. In 1983, Ray returned to Las Vegas, this time with Jerry who gave up those dreaded Chicago winters for the Southern Nevada desert. In Las Vegas, the two gentlemen enjoyed the music and theater scene, attending the ballet and concerts when the opportunities presented themselves. The Jarvis/Ritholz home reflects their love of music and art, as well as reflects Ray's career in show business, with hundreds of photos of him with almost everyone he ever sang or danced with lining the walls of a den. Quite an impressive history. Ray and Jerry were very involved with, and supportive of, a number of charities, including Golden Rainbow. After saying goodbye to those that loved him, Ray passed away on July 15th at the Nathan Adelson Hospice. Ray Jarvis is survived by Jerry Ritholz-Jarvis, his life partner of almost 34 years, and many friends. No services have been announced. Rest in peace, Ray.
The accompanying photo shows Ray and Jerry with one of their favorite ladies, entertainer Rebecca Spencer who played Madame Giry in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular for the production's first two years. * * * * * * Oh Lord...of the Dance, that is. Here we go again. If you were planning on seeing Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance during its "Limited Run" at the DOOMED Wyrick Theater, you are out of luck. We felt if ANYBODY or ANYTHING could succeed at this theater, Lord of the Dance, which has a broad international fan base, thanks to specials on PBS and performances around the world, should have been able to overcome the jinx that plagues the theater located in the Miracle Mile Mall at Planet Hollywood. They couldn't and they didn't. Welcome to the club of failed ventures, Mr. Flatley. You can get in line behind Martin Nievera, Ronn Lucas, Wes Winters, Fan Yang, Trent Carlini, Tom Dane and any of the others who have been through the "Wyrick system." It will be interesting to see just how long Rockstar - The Tribute lasts. There already seems to be a problem with this one. If you check out Rockstar on the Internet, you will see, according to numerous sites, that the show was "supposed" to be open about a week ago. In fact, there are people trying to re-sell tickets for dates when there was no Rockstar. The only way this production stands a snowball's chance on the Strip in August, is if they have a huge, and we mean HUGE, advertising budget. Even then... We wish them luck. And before we were able to write our story about Shear Madness, the interactive murder mystery comedy production, playing in a, built for the occasion, theater in Town Square, comes word that it is closing. Everything we heard and read about this show was very positive. Perhaps it was the timing (the opening was delayed by a couple of months). Perhaps it was the location (a nice shopping area on the south end of the Strip). Or perhaps it was the state of the economy. Maybe it was a combination of all of the above. Whatever. We are sorry we missed Shear Madness. * * * * * * The ripple effect of Michael Jackson's death three weeks ago, is already impacting people who are living with chronic pain. As if the suffering folks don't have enough to deal with, these battle weary soldiers are now being kicked while they are down. Rules are being changed regarding the dispensing of certain prescription drugs - not to addicts, who are getting them illegally and taking them for recreational purposes, but to folks that need them to be able to get out of bed in the morning and live anything that remotely resembles "a normal life." It will probably become a lot more difficult to obtain needed medication through legal channels, and we all know what that means - parking lot exchanges in the dead of night. Too bad that a few bad apples, both in the medical field and in the public sector, will force the government and insurance companies to take control. The truth is that, the people who want to get drugs for the wrong reasons will always find a way to do so, while those in need (as opposed to those in want) will be the ones who really pay the heavy price. * * * * * * Sheeee's, er, heee's back. Over Labor Day Weekend, on September 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, female impersonator Frank Marino, who starred in An Evening at La Cage at the Riviera for almost a quarter of a century, will return to the Strip for a special four day/eight show engagement at the Imperial Palace. Divas Las Vegas, with a cast of 14, will feature all new numbers, all new costumes and some new characters. Audience members can expect interpretations of their all-time favorites - Cher, Diana Ross, Madonna and Wynonna - plus some of today's top stars, including Beyonce, Britney Spears and Lady Ga Ga - think MTV. According to Marino, Divas Las Vegas is a show 25 years in the making. Frank credits Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah's and Flamingo Las Vegas, Don Marrandino, for adding Divas Las Vegas to Harrah's impressive entertainment lineup. Marrandino, who has been described as an "innovative gaming industry executive," has quite an impressive record when it comes to booking successful acts. He is responsible for bringing and/or keeping Donny & Marie, Rita Rudner, Human Nature, Legends In Concert, Nathan Burton, George Wallace, Mac King, Vinnie Favorito, and "X" Burlesque (we hope we haven't overlooked anyone and apologize if we did). Frank Marino is proud and pleased to join the other shows and performers, and feels he is in very good company. * * * * * * 
Keith Thompson 
Ali Spuck 
John Kaye It's that time of month again (no, not THAT time of month)...On Thursday night, July 23rd, at 10:30 (after theater), it's the AAA (Always Anxiously Awaited) monthly Composers Showcase, featuring the songs of local composers and songwriters. Among the talented group of writers, singers and musicians who will participate in this Thursday's showcase are Erich Bergen, Michael Brennan, Vita Corimbi, David De La Paz, Philip Fortenberry, Wayne Green, Ben Hale, Clint Holmes and Davy Nathan, Kristofer McNeeley, Keith Thompson, Tina Walsh and Tyler Williams. This wonderful event, and it IS an event, takes place in The Cabaret at the Liberace Museum, 1775 East Tropicana at Spencer. There is a $5 cover charge at the door (the cover charge is waived for students with proper ID). All proceeds go to the Liberace Foundation. There is also a $5 Hors d'oeuvres buffet provided by Carluccio's and the Liberace Museum, as well as a cash bar (no credit cards, please). One never knows who might show up, on the stage or in the audience, at the showcase...one of the things that makes Las Vegas, not only the Entertainment Capital of the world, but special. In addition to the ongoing monthly Composers Showcase, and the brilliant pianist, Philip Fortenberry, who performs his Liberace and Me program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m., there are a number of new and newer things happening in the performance space at the Liberace Museum. First, there is VS., a new cabaret concept. VS. is an event produced by performers, for performers. It is not an open mic nor a traditional cabaret. Backed by a rocking house band, featuring some the best musicians in Las Vegas, it's a combination of a rock show and a cabaret, showcasing talent from the biggest shows on the Strip, visiting Broadway greats and stars from TV, film and the Los Angeles theatre scene. Each edition of Vs. has a different theme that will contrast two different concepts, artists, shows, composers, etc., pulled from all genres of music. Think Hello VS. Goodbye, Love VS. Hate, John VS. Paul, B-Sides VS. Hits...and the list goes on. If you want something different, plan to check out this new show. And then, Los Angeles Ovation-nominated singer and actress, Ali Spuck, brings her one woman show, Here I Am, to the Liberace Cabaret on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Ali, who is married to Kristofer McNeeley of Jersey Boys, will take show goers on a journey of music and comedy, inspired by her experiences, family and friends. You'll be entranced, impressed and delighted by her gregarious spirit. Song selections will include classic Broadway tunes, contemporary cabaret hits, and the romantic Gershwin songs from the Golden Age of music. Backstage West described Ali as ""Buoyant and appealing," while the Los Angeles Times stated, "Ali Spuck rivals Bette Midler." Ticket prices for Here I Am, produced by VS. a Rock Cabaret and Principle Productions, are $15. A week from Saturday, July 25th, the Liberace Museum will present John Kaye and the Coalition. John, son of Norman Kaye and nephew of Mary Kaye of the legendary The Mary Kaye Trio, brings his unique style, described as Acoustic R & B Soul and Smooth Jazz, to the Cabaret Showroom at the Liberace Museum for one-night-only. Accompanied by The Coalition, John will include some of his father's original songs - Why Did You Leave Me for Perry Como, Let's Love for Johnny Mathis, I'm In Love and Let Me Help You To the Blues - in his presentation. Norman Kaye is expected to be present at the museum for John's 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $20 per person in advance, and $25 if purchased at door. Call (702) 798-5595 x14 for reservations. Then, within the next couple of weeks, a black tie event will take place at the museum, with the goal of raising enough money to put a proper and permanent sound system into the cabaret space. Once that mission is complete, we predict that the already popular cabaret will become the first choice for talented artists who want to perform without the restrictions of a major Strip production show. For tickets to, or information about any of these events, call (702) 798.5595, ext 13, or e-mail info@liberace.org FYI...
The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to 15 U.S. colleges and universities for disbursement to students excelling in the areas of music, theatre, dance, fashion design and the creative arts in the 2009-2010 academic year. The scholarship recipients are: Bard College Music Department; California State University, Sacramento Department of Music; Columbia College Chicago; Columbia University School of the Arts, Theatre Arts Division; Columbus College of Art & Design; Manhattan School of Music; Northern Illinois University Department of Music; The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University; University of Missouri
University at Buffalo, SUNY; University of Nevada Las Vegas; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Music; University of Oregon School of Music and Dance; University of Rochester Eastman School of Music; and the Viterbo University Music Department. The Liberace Foundation is supported by private donations from individuals, corporations, individual Liberace fans, fan clubs, and admirers globally. The glittering Liberace Museum, which commemorated its 30th anniversary on April 15, is also a significant funding source for the Foundation. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. For more information and to become a supporter of the Liberace Foundation, call (702) 798-5595 ext. 16, or visit the Web site, www.Liberace.org. * * * * * * 
Carol Channing & Forever Plaid Cast 
Alison Arngrim We attended the special, one-time-only, showing of Forever Plaid the movie at Sam's Town last Thursday night. We thought that Alison Arngrim, "Nasty Nellie Oleson" from TV's Little House On the Prairie days, did a good job hosting the before-the-screening, Red Carpet segment. In addition to Fred Willard, Kate Linder, Carol Channing, Carl Reiner, Loretta Devine, Donna Mills, Stefanie Powers, Rip Taylor, JoAnne Worley, and Tippi Hedren were among those interviewed by Arngrim, or spotted in the crowd at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles. After the premiere of Forever Plaid, seen simultaneously in hundreds of movie theaters around the country, Channing (who is 88) sang "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." Viewers were then treated to the live Plaids - Larry Raben, David Engel, Stan Chandler and Daniel Reichard - doing Plaid-style arrangements of songs from Cats and Sweeney Todd, as well as a crazy medley of the 1952 song "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window," and the contemporary, "Who Let the Dogs Out" (woof, woof, woof, woof, etc.). Our complaint with this unique venture was the lack of publicity and promotion regarding the nationwide, one time only, theater showing, as well as the show time. As a result, the turnout was quite sparse, at least in the Las Vegas theater where we saw the film. Since live productions of Forever Plaid, the musical, played in Vegas for some time, we feel that loyal Plaid fans would have attended the movie...if they had known about it. Also, an early afternoon show time would have made it possible for some of the local Strip performers to come out for the fun...especially since both Raben and Engel were onetime Strip performers themselves - Raben in The Producers, and Engel in Forever Plaid - and made lots of friends while they were living here. * * * * * * The Society of Seven, once again, had another successful weekend at the Suncoast showroom. SOS charms their audiences with beautiful music and outrageous comedy delivered by a talented cast of characters - Tony Ruivivar, Bert Sagum, Hoku Low, Vince Mendoza, Wayne Wakai, Mike Laygo, Roy Venturina, and special guest, American Idol finalist, Jasmine Trias. We doubt that there is anyone who could enter a showroom in a down or bad mood, watch these pros at work, and not leave at the end of the show, feeling good. Among the familiar smiling faces that we saw enjoying last Sunday night's show were, singer Mark Giovi; Dana Stern, former Golden Nugget Entertainment Manager; Carole Hassell and sister, Laura Blackburn; Ron O'Neal, the Golden Nugget's Director of Entertainment; singer/model/magician Ben Stone, son of producer Paul Stone; and Mendrei and Cecile Leelil from Rosy Cheeks Entertainment Group. * * * * * * Well, it appears that there are more problems in Steve Wyrick's life than the ever-changing talent line-up at the theater in the Miracle Mile Mall at Planet Hollywood that bears his name. As we have mentioned before, since the theater's opening, in early 2007, there has not been one act or show, that has managed to overcome the curse of the space...that curse, we feel, being Wyrick himself. The Wyrick produced July 4th Death Drop "stunt" that went awry in front of Planet Hollywood, looked like another publicity-generating attempt on the part of the magician. (You do recall, that at the time of poor Anna Nicole Smith's tragic death, Wyrick claimed that he might be the father of Anna's baby, Dannielynn, don't you? Is this guy for real???) Wyrick has yet to give an explanation regarding the accident that left a member of his stunt crew injured. The stunt called for Wyrick to be hoisted in the air above 500 flaming spikes. Some netting, holding the box, caught on fire, and one of Wyrick's crew members, reportedly inside the box, suffered burns. His name and condition were never released. Wyrick has been very quiet about this subject, and has yet to provide any specific details about the stunt or what went wrong. Oddly, he had plenty to say about poor Anna Nicole. And speaking of businesses with problems, we have to wonder exactly what is, or isn't, going on at Las Vegas' Don't Tell Mama's? It seems that the downtown piano bar/cabaret, which we were so looking forward to, is going through growing pains...or maybe we should call them "shrinking" pains. After numerous delays, due to construction and licensing issues, the club finally opened in February. We are not sure why, but apparently advertising their entry into the local market isn't important to the owners. We are very surprised at how many local professional entertainers, who should know about this club, don't. Talented performers and musicians who worked at Mama's - Phillip Officer, Lisa Wilson, Lloyd Ziel, and Joey Singer, among others - are now gone. This is a fun place, with live entertainment, including a singing wait staff, and open mic available for those with a hint of talent. We hope the owners will seek some advice on how to properly promote what could be a real, long-term asset to the city. We don't want to see Don't Tell Mama disappear. The club, open seven nights a week, is located at 517 Fremont Street, a half block east of Las Vegas Blvd. Call (702) 207-0788. * * * * * * 
Kelly Monaco 
Brent Barrett 
Giovanna & Nelson Sardelli Soap opera devotees are not just a loyal group of people, they also tend to have extremely long memories. Even decades after an actor has left the world of daytime drama, the performer's role in a favorite show can still resonate with the fans. A number of daytime drama veterans have made the transition to theater, often musical theater. Among them are beautiful Kelly Monaco, a regular cast member on the soaps, Port Charles and General Hospital, who recently headlined in Jerry Mitchell's PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood. Another example is our friend, handsome Brent Barrett, called "one of the crown jewels of musical theater," having played such iconic roles as "The Count" in Grand Hotel, "Frank Butler" in Annie Get Your Gun, the title role in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, and the suave "Billy Flynn" in Chicago, a part Barrett resumed on Broadway earlier this month. It might surprise some to know that Brent's first brush with fame was as the insanely jealous "Tony Barclay," who accidentally killed the woman he loved on ABC's All My Children. (We never pass up an opportunity to mention our Phavorite Phantom.) And, while still in a "New York State of Mind" (thank you, Billy Joel), as part of the Second Stage Theatre Uptown, if you happen to be in the area, you can see Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower, directed by the much recognized and praised Giovanna Sardelli, through August 8th. Yes, if you are wondering, Giovanna is related to the often mentioned in this column, Nelson Sardelli. The talented lady happens to be one of Mr. Sardelli's daughters. Giovanna recently won the 2008 Joseph A. Callaway Award for excellence in stage direction for Second Stage Theatre Uptown's production of Rajiv Joseph's Animals Out of Paper. Other credits include, Taking Flight (Goodman Theatre & Stages Repertory Co., CTG, San Diego Rep., and Sundance), All This Intimacy (Second Stage Uptown), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (The Lark), Huck & Holden (Cherry Lane), and Lynn Rosen's Apple Cove (The Lark/TMTP). Wildflower tells the story of a woman and her troubled son, looking to escape their past in Crested Butte, a small town with its own share of secrets. They encounter a curious girl, a forest ranger, and an ex-drag queen. The five collide in a summer of botany and sexual awakening. This comic drama explores the discovery of desire and its unexpected consequences. The cast is made up of Nadia Bowers, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Dunn Baker, Jake O'Connor, and Renee Felice Smith. Wildflower is playing at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway at 76th Street, Mondays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with added 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays. General admission ticket prices are $50, with discounts available for students and younger patrons. Box office opens one hour prior to curtain. For reservations, call (212) 246-4422. As for the proud papa, tomorrow evening, Nelson Sardelli will be overseeing the 5th anniversary celebration for the F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) group, to be held at the Italian American Club on East Sahara. The following week, he heads east to visit his dentist in Northfield, New Jersey, and then into Manhattan and the Second Stage Theatre Uptown to see the results of Giovanna's directorial work, where he will be flashing those pearly whites. Accompanying Mr. Sardelli to the theater will be his other daughter, Pietra Sardelli, who, like her busy daddy, calls Las Vegas home. * * * * * * 
Jimmie "JJ" Walker 
Ronnie Fabre Fellow columnist/publicist, Norm Johnson, reports that Bob Kephart's Comedy Stop has found its new home on the Las Vegas Strip. The Comedy Stop, which had been at the Tropicana for almost two decades, will open in the Sahara's famed Congo Room on Monday, July 20th. "After being at one hotel for nearly 19 years, I was not surprised at the immediate response I received upon leaving the Tropicana Hotel," Bob Kephart said. "I was offered various rooms on the Strip, as well as off the Strip. After considering everything presented, there was no question, the Sahara Congo Room was the place to be!" Kephart went on to say, "We will maintain our policy of booking three of the best comedians on the circuit every week. After all, that's what made us the No. 1 comedy club, as voted on by residents of Las Vegas and Atlantic City." For the launch of the Comedy Stop's Sahara location, Louis Ramey, who was one of five finalists in the 2008 edition of the NBC television series, Last Comic Standing, will join Broadway veteran Rick Crom, and television veteran, Jimmie J.J. Walker, for premiere week, inside the Congo Room. Show times for the Comedy Stop at the Sahara will be 9 p.m. nightly, with tickets priced at $24.95, plus tax and applicable fees. A locals special is available, with tickets starting at $19.95 plus tax and applicable fees (must show a Nevada drivers license). For more information or reservations call (702) 737-2515. * * * * * * Happy birthday to Ronnie Fabre, who celebrates today (July 17th). Ronnie has been performing onstage for most of her life. Ronnie began her professional career in 1968, when, as a teenager, she traveled to Vietnam with the Safaris, of "Wipeout" fame, and was also the playoff band for the Bob Hope Show for '68 and '69. She returned to the states, and sang backup for the Righteous Bros and Bill Medley. Ronnie moved to Las Vegas in 1970 and has proceeded to sing in just about every major Strip hotel ever since. Known as the "Little Girl with the Big Voice," Ronnie has appeared in Pinups 2001 at the Sahara Hotel, and Jerry Jackson's Wholly Smoke. She played the Playboy Club circuit as lead singer of the all female band, Topaz; was the lead singer for Vegas Company at Caesars Palace; portrayed Ethel Merman and Judy Garland in Legends in Concert at the Imperial Palace, and again played Garland in The Divas; performed with lounge band of the year, The Checkmates; was in Sid and Marty Kroffts Comedy Kings; sang with the Lon Bronson All Star Band, and worked on two Nelson Riddle recording projects as an ensemble and lead singer. The lady has also opened for Allen and Rossi, Frank Gorshin, and Tony Bennett. Ronnie's comedic flair has been seen at Catch a Rising Star, where her quick wit and funny impressions were warmly received by the audience. As a guest on Paul Shaffer's Viva Shaf Vegas, Ronnie was described by Paul as a "crazy and zany gal!" Over the last 15 years, she has established herself as a respected private voice teacher. She has taught hundreds of students in Las Vegas - some who have been singing for years before taking Ronnie's private singing class, and some of who are just learning how to match pitch or find their voice. Ronnie is married to musician Steve Golden. Steve is a gifted saxophone, flute, and electronic woodwind player, who has performed with the greats, from Frank Sinatra to Diana Ross. They have a band called The Golden-Fabre Syndrome, where they play everything from pop to jazz. When she isn't teaching, Ronnie and Steve frequently perform together, mostly for corporate events and private parties. Separately and together, this talented twosome make beautiful music. Many happy returns of the day, Ronnie. * * * * * * 
Unified Tribe 
Nigel Lythgoe They call themselves Unified Tribe, and they just might be the best musical ensemble you never heard of. Made up of a large, multicultural "tribe" of talented musicians and singers, Unified Tribe has a sound somewhat reminiscent of Earth Wind & Fire, while still staying true to themselves. The organization has gained a sizeable following over the last decade, for both its style and its grooves. Formed in the early '80s by the singular-named Magic, the tribe, a classy funk/R&B band with New York and L.A. roots, is anything but industry-formulated. It's their true musicality that first hooks fans. With a core that's been together for more than twenty years, their strong relationships form the perfect foundation for the potent sound in their music. Newcomers and industry veterans show an appreciation for what they have to offer. "Unified Tribe is the badest band on the planet. If history repeats itself, then Unified Tribe is the next Earth, Wind and Fire," states R&B group The Whispers. Howard Hewett, formerly with Shalamar, adds to that sentiment. "I went to their studio and left with my mouth wide open...These cats are bad!" Their production company, Magic Muzik Productions, Inc., comprised entirely of band members, has worked with music veterans such as Earth, Wind & Fire, The Whispers, The Manhattans, Phil Perry, The Rippingtons, George Duke, and Nia Peeples. After spending some time in Austin, Texas, the group is currently based in Las Vegas. Independent from the get-go, Unified Tribe debuted in 2001 with Listen to This, an album that was well received and earned positive buzz for the group. In 2003, Unified Tribe released their second album, Mixed Messages. Following a three-year break from recording, in 2006, Unified Tribe self-released FUNKtional Family, their long-awaited third album. It was a hit, and became the group's first album to chart around the world. Mixing a funk foundation with soulful grooves and messages of unity, the strong musicianship of the ensemble has solidified a relatively small but fiercely loyal following for the tribe. With their latest album, On Purpose ("Cuz that's how we dooz it"), that small group of followers is expected to grow. There have been a few changes in personnel over the past twenty-some years, but the team remains unified and focused on the future. Today's band-mates, all of whom go by single names, consist of the above mentioned Magic, Harmony, Merrily, Kal-El, Jessi, Kathy, Kay, Greg, Rochon and Orin. Whether in the studio or on stage, the teams' originality comes across loud and clear. Fans and industry aficionados often comment on the fact that Unified Tribe's show far surpasses any earlier expectations. On Purpose is available online through Amazon and CD Baby. On July 25th at 9 p.m., Unified Tribe will take over the 650-seat Access Showroom at Aliante Station, North Las Vegas' newest hotel casino. The 10-member Tribe will deliver A Performance of Gratitude, featuring music from their latest CD, On Purpose. This free concert will be part of a live video shoot. Attendees must be 21 or older. You can learn more about Unified Tribe by going to their Web site at www.unifiedtribe.net. * * * * * * Because it was a private event (and we DO respect people's privacy), we weren't going to mention the goings on at Nigel Lythgoe's recent 60th birthday party at his home in Lake Las Vegas. Among the guests attending the festivities were American Idol judge Simon Cowell and Olivia Newton-John. Lythgoe, the former executive producer for Idol, and the current executive producer and a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, apparently likes Southern Nevada, as he owns, not one, but, two homes in Las Vegas. Paul Stone provided the entertainment for the VIP party guests in the form of The Overtures, widely regarded as the finest '60s tribute band in the world. A fun time was had by all. 
The Overtures 
Elisa Furr 
Helen Joy (Wray) * * * * * * If our friend, Joann Toranto, says "she's great," we must give entertainer Elisa Furr a plug...even though she is doing her thing at that Italian joint on the south end of Las Vegas Blvd. You know, the one that we don't talk about or patronize. Ms. Furr, who has performed as Celine Dion in American Superstars at the Stratosphere, and shared main room stages with artists such as Lou Rawls, Mickey Thomas and Mike Reno, entertains this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. at THAT place. * * * * * * Tonight and tomorrow night, at 7 p.m., Michael Chapman and ChapQuist Entertainment present Helen Joy's Fifth Annual Broadway Vignettes at the Starbright Theatre, at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. in Sun City Summerlin. This exciting evening of highlights from some of Broadway's most memorable musicals, features a cast of youngsters, ages six to eighteen. The fun-filled show promises to entertain Broadway music lovers, as well as inform those who've never experienced a live Broadway musical. Tickets are $12. For credit card orders, please call (702) 869-2064. For general Starbright info, call (702) 240-1301. Sadly, on July 3rd, after a long and valiant battle with emphysema, longtime Las Vegas entertainer Helen Joy died at the Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. Between 1975 and 1989, her group, Helen Joy & The Joy Bells, performed on the Strip at the original MGM Grand, the Dunes, Jockey Club, Sahara, Aladdin and Landmark hotels. On three occasions, she took Helen Joy's Young Entertainers to the White House to perform. Helen, an Australian native, was awarded a Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal by Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain for entertaining the troops in Vietnam. Though she still occasionally performed, Helen's passion was passing the torch to talented youth. In addition to teaching stage and vocal dynamics, she also produced many shows throughout the community each year, featuring these talented young performers, Helen Joy's Young Entertainers. One of her proudest accomplishments was having the honor of this talented group being invited to perform at the White House during the holidays five times! A memorial service was held at The Lakes Lutheran Church on July 11th. For those that would like to honor Helen, the family suggests a memorial scholarship contribution in her name to the Youth Foundation for the Performing Arts, helping children become the stars of tomorrow, 5430 Sandpiper Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89146, (702) 364-8669. * * * * * * Naked Boys Singing! continues to do impressive numbers at the Onyx Theatre, located inside The Rack on East Sahara in the Commercial Center. Brides-to-be are discovering what New Yorkers, where the show has been running for 10 years, already knew...Naked Boys Singing! is a great event for Bachelorette Parties! After 10 years, the smash hit comedy is still running strong in New York. As mentioned in an earlier column, after just a couple of weeks, NBS has been extended for an indefinite run. A Sunday matinee has also been added. Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. The Onyx Theatre is at 653 E. Sahara, just west of Maryland Parkway. Tickets, for adults only, are $30. For additional information about Naked Boys Singing! (the answer is YES, they are really naked), and to make reservations, call (702) 732-7225. * * * * * * When you're alone and life is making you lonely, You can always go - downtown...and while you are down there, you can check out the talented impressionist, Gordie Brown, currently knocking them out in his own showroom at the Golden Nugget. Show times are 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Tickets range from $39.95 to $99.95, plus applicable taxes and fees. Call the Golden Nugget ticket office at (866) 946-5336 for reservations. 
Gordie Brown 
Dondino 
Neil Patrick Harris Tomorrow (July 18th), in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, Jefferson Starship will perform a free concert as part of downtown's Fremont Street Experience's Summer of '69. On July 25th, The 5th Dimension will provide the musical entertainment. Both groups play from 9 to 11 p.m., with Jefferson Starship on the 3rd Street stage and The 5th Dimension on the 1st Street stage. Don't forget to dig out your tie dyes. Marriage Can Be Murder, an award-winning comedy and murder mystery dinner show, is celebrating its tenth year in Las Vegas. The longest running dinner show in Southern Nevada, Marriage Can Be Murder, is an interactive experience where the audience unknowingly becomes involved with mystery unfolding around them. "Guests keep coming back to see the show because they enjoy the interaction of the characters on stage and in the crowd," said Eric Post, co-creator of the dinner theater concept with wife Jayne Post "Our audience members love that they are submerged into the action, and, with their reactions, each show takes on a different twist and turn. We knew 10 years ago our idea of dinner theater was different than anything else in Las Vegas and we look forward to celebrating 10 more years of Marriage Can Be Murder." Marriage Can Be Murder, which recently moved from the Four Queens to Fitzgeralds," can be seen seven nights a week at 6:30 p.m., with seating beginning at 6 p.m. inside the Showroom at Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel in fabulous downtown Las Vegas. A Marriage Can Be Murder dinner show package is $54.95, and includes a three-course dinner, one non-alcoholic drink, and tip. A VIP package is available for $69.95, and features premium seating, a souvenir t-shirt, one complimentary well cocktail, domestic beer or wine, and tip. Special Nevada resident pricing is $44.95 and includes one non-alcoholic drink, and tip. Prices do not include LET and service/ticket fee. Fitzgeralds is located at 301 Fremont Street and anchors the east end of the world-famous Fremont Street Experience. Tickets can be purchased by calling (702) 388-2111 or by visiting www.marriagecanbemurder.com. * * * * * * Imagine our surprise when we spotted onetime Vegas lounge star, Dondino, in the holding area for people hoping to get onto America's Got Talent. Dondino was shown in close-ups, numerous times over a couple of shows. Since we haven't seen him do his thing in front of the judges yet (and maybe we won't), we have no idea if Don will make it into the actual competition. For some time, we know the singer was living and working in Branson. We have no clue where he hangs his hat these days. We will keep an eye (and an ear) on this. * * * * * * Larry Hart and company (and he had plenty of both "Hart" and company) put on quite a show at the South Point last weekend. Many of Larry and the cast's family and friends turned out to enjoy Praise and to see Hart receive a number of honors, including Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's proclamation declaring July 12th, 2009, Larry Hart Day. In addition to Hart, the concert, which was dedicated to Larry's friend and onetime business associate, Michael Jackson, included performances by Darcus Speed, Jeneane Marie, MarQue, Jenevi, Paris Red, Dianne Spann and Jennifer Weatherly. Larry's mother, Toni Hart, was a special guest, and she was a hoot. There were some great outfits (lots of designer names were involved) and some terrific songs. Among our favorites were "Jesus Loves Me...For the Mess I Am," "Stomp My Prada," "Stand Strong" (from Hart's Sisterella), "These Pumps," and "Big Hair Gets You Closer to God." Among those spotted in the audience were Cindy Doumani, Dr. Parvin Modaber Jacobs, Shelley Berkley, Papote Varet, Sandy Peltyn, Eric Floyd and Wanda Dee with their son, rising star, Siameze, Jeanne Bavaro (celebrating her birthday one day early), Dr. Adele "ZZ" Zorn, Mary Schwartz, Tony Arias, Lloyd Ziel, and Tim Searcy. PR lady, Jackie Brett, did a fine job promoting the afternoon, and, once again, Showroom Manager Robyn Turk handled the guests and room with poise and politeness (a lost art in some hotel casinos). On Sunday, August 9th, Larry Hart's Praise will return to the South Point for the third time. If you missed it before, or want to see it again, mark your calendars now. * * * * * * Neil Patrick Harris, who we thought did a great job hosting the Tony Awards last month, has been signed to emcee the 61st Annual Emmy Award show on September 20th. The Emmys will air on CBS, the network that is also, coincidentally, the home of How I Met Your Mother, in which Harris stars. How I Met Your Mother will launch its fifth season, also on September 20th, immediately following the award show. * * * * * * Matsuri is one of the new offerings at the Imperial Palace. Maybe three times will prove to be the charm when it comes to the Japanese "Muscle Musical" and Las Vegas (the . We really liked Matsuri when we saw it in its limited run at the Riviera in the summer of 2006. The following year, the energetic, fast-paced production moved to the Sahara. We know that the Golden Nugget checked out the show for their hotel's, then under construction, new expanded showroom. Although Matsuri might have been too big for the Nugget stage, it probably would have done much better than what went into the, then new, 600-seat theater, Cover Girls and Simply Ballroom. Neither show lasted very long. But we digress (that happens frequently). Matsuri will open at the IP on Friday, July 31st, with shows scheduled for 4 p.m., Wednesdays through Mondays. Additional shows will be at 8 p.m. on Fridays, with an early afternoon (1 p.m.) show on Saturday. It will share the hotel casino's 650-seat showroom (the former home of Legends In Concert) with Human Nature, the Australian "boy band." Tickets for this 70-minute family-friendly show are priced at $49.99, plus taxes and fees, for general admission; $59.99 (plus taxes and fees) for VIP seating; and $65.99 (plus taxes and fees) for the show and dinner. There are discounted ticket prices for children. Phone (702) 731-3311 for more information and reservations. We will have more details on Matsuri after it opens and we see it...again. * * * * * * The Tears of Joy Theatre will perform Stellaluna at the historic Fifth Street School, Thursday, July 23rd at 2 and 7 p.m. Adapted from the popular book by Janell Cannon, Stellaluna is the story of a baby fruit bat that falls into a bird's nest. She tries to adapt to her new home, but struggles to fit in with others. The message of self-acceptance and celebrating diversity is warm and clear. Tickets are priced at $3 each, or $10 for four. Children less than two-years-old will be admitted without charge when accompanied by a supervising adult. Tickets may be purchased online at www.artslasvegas.org or at the door. The Fifth Street School is located downtown, at 401 S. Fourth St., on the corner of Fourth and Clark streets. Parking is available in the adjacent lot and on the surrounding streets. The building opened originally in 1936 as a much-needed grammar school for the growing population (about 12,000 people at that time). Officially called the Las Vegas Grammar School, the complex was informally referred to as the Fifth Street School almost since its inception, due to its location on Fifth Street (renamed Las Vegas Boulevard in 1959). Now restored and officially called the Historic Fifth Street School, the building and its site are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the city of Las Vegas Historic Property Register. For more information on this entertaining and educational series, call (702) 229-4614.
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Tags: Ray Jarvis Rebecca Spencer Jerry Ritholz Jarvis Frank Marino Keith Thompson
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 - July 10, 2009 
Kenny Ortega 
Larry Edwards at Julien's Auction 
Samantha Harris And yet more on Michael Jackson and other members of the Jackson family. How many longtime Las Vegans or Vegas visitors remember when the Riviera was the home of a very good musical revue called The Latin Quarter? The show was housed in one of the upstairs showrooms, in a space that had been cleverly redone to look like a street in Mexico or another Latin country. There were building facades and balconies created on the walls, giving the room a very comfortable and "authentic" feel. Who was the chorographer for this production, heavy on dance? None other than Kenny Ortega, the same talented man who was working with Michael on his much anticipated, upcoming concert tour. Ortega has a long history with the Jackson family. As a matter of fact, at the media opening for The Latin Quarter, both the matriarch of the family, Katherine Jackson, and her daughter, LaToya, were present. We were quite impressed (as were our Vegas friends), when both of the Jackson women recognized Cousin Claire, after more than 10 years since they had last seen each other. For those not familiar with Kenny Ortega, the Emmy-winning producer, director, and choreographer worked with actor/dancer/choreographer, Gene Kelly on Xanadu, the 1980 film starring Olivia Newton-John. Ortega went on to choreograph 1987's Dirty Dancing, and has won awards for his choreography in music videos, such as Madonna's Material Girl. Together with Michael Jackson, Kenny created and designed the Dangerous World Tour (1992-1993), and the HIStory World Tour (1996-1997). In addition to choreography, Ortega has directed the three High School Musical films, and is set to direct the new Footloose remake, starring Chace Crawford of TV's Gossip Girls fame. And still on the subject of Michael Jackson...At the July 26th Julien's Auction, held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas the day following Michael's death, a Swarovski crystal-studded shirt, worn onstage by the King of Pop during the 1984 Victory Tour, sold for $52,500. A painting of Mickey Mouse, done by a young Michael Jackson, went for $25,000. Before Jackson's death (the auction was planned months ago), the 21 items, formerly owned by David Gest, the producer and promoter once married to Liza Minnelli (Michael, who introduced the couple, served as best man at their wedding), were expected to bring between $6,000 and $10,000. Instead, they generated more than $200,000 in a bidding war by fans and collector/investors who wanted to take home a piece of Jackson memorabilia. One of those fans in attendance was Las Vegas entertainer, Larry "Hot Chocolate" Edwards. Edwards came to the auction hoping to become the new owner of an African-American Mickey Mouse, signed by "Mike Jackson." "It's so unique, and it means even more to me that it's so soon after his passing," the female impersonator said. Larry was prepared to spend $1,000 but was shut out immediately by an opening bid of $1,500. The painting wound up selling for $20,000, plus a 25 percent commission for the celebrity auction house. Glenn Johnson, a real estate developer and amateur collector from Houston who paid the big bucks for that shirt, stated "I see Elvis Presley costumes go for a quarter of a million these days. I'm hoping this will be an investment." It is doubtful that anyone who has watched the last two weeks of news coverage following the death of Michael Jackson could deny his talent. Michael Jackson was a genius...a tortured genius. He may have been the best visual entertainer ever. When he danced, or even moved, it was almost impossible to look away. The odd behavior, his drastically changing appearance, the unsubstantiated accusations about his personal life (Was Michael, in fact, a Smooth Criminal?), all pales when assessing Jackson as an artist. The poignant lyrics to Michael's beautiful song, Gone Too Soon, are almost prophetic... Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon
* * * * * * Dancing With the Stars co-host, Samantha Harris, has taken over the role of "Roxie Hart" in the Broadway company of Chicago. Harris, a two-time Emmy Award-nominee, will perform at the Ambassador Theatre through August 16th, before joining the national tour at Greenville, South Carolina's Peace Center, August 18th through 23rd. Currently appearing with her on Broadway are Brent Barrett returning to his role as slick lawyer "Billy Flynn" through August 9th (Barrett starred in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian for almost two years), Roz Ryan portrays "Matron Mama Morton" through August 30th (Roz played the same role in the Las Vegas version of Chicago the Musical at Mandalay Bay), Amra-Faye Wright as "Velma Kelly," Tom Riis Farrell as "Amos Hart," and R. Lowe as "Mary Sunshine." Harris previously appeared on stage in Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python and Reefer Madness. Her many television credits include The Insider, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and Extra. Brent received an Olivier Award nomination for his role in the London company of Kiss Me, Kate. Some of his other theatrical credits include the Broadway productions of Annie Get Your Gun, Chicago, Grand Hotel, Dance a Little Closer, West Side Story and Candide. He received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for his work in the Los Angeles production of Chicago, and has been seen off-Broadway in Closer Than Ever, March of the Falsettos, The Death of Von Richtofen, The Time of the Cuckoo, and Portrait of Jenny. His television and film appearances include Hercules, Longtime Companion, All My Children, Another World, and Guiding Light. Roz Ryan made her Broadway debut in the Fats Waller revue, Ain't Misbehavin'. She also starred on The Great White Way in Dreamgirls and One Mo' Time, and in the national tours of Annie, South Pacific and Blues in the Night. Ryan's film credits include Went to Coney Island, Cotton Club, and Dark Indigo. Chicago features a score by John Kander and the late Fred Ebb, including such hits as "All That Jazz," "Mister Cellophane," "Razzle Dazzle," and "Nowadays." The production is directed by Walter Bobbie with choreography by Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse. The long-running musical (which celebrated its 12th anniversary and 5,000 performances on Broadway in November of last year) won six 1997 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. Chicago plays the Ambassador Theatre, located at 219 West 49th Street. For more information, visit www.chicagothemusical.com. 
Amra Faye-Wright, Samantha Harris & Brent Barrett in Chicago 
Tommasino's in Pahrump * * * * * * All good things come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue. Well, you get the idea. The point is that Tom and Alice Saitta finally have their new dining venture/adventure up and running in Pahrump. Tommasino's Fine Italian Dining and All That Jazz, while being Pahrump's newest hot spot, is also it's coolest. After months of construction and a few delays, Tommasino's is open to serve Southern Nevada. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. Early Bird Dinner is from 4 to 6 p.m., with dinner being served late into the evening. They have a lovely nightclub and bar area, a beautiful stage, and a Grand Piano, with live music nightly, beginning at 7. There is also a dance floor. Tommasino's carries fine beers and wines and serves a complete array of cocktails. Menu prices are low to moderate for both lunch and dinner, and there is no dress code or cover charge. Very soon, there will be patio dining, complete with fireplaces for the winter and refreshing misters for the summer. The Interior is very much like a Plaza in Rome, with much to see. Everyone is invited to go out and join Tom and Alice for an intimate and beautiful experience, as they show Pahrump and Southern Nevada their "Italian Disneyland In The Desert." You don't have to have dinner or lunch to enjoy a visit to Tommasino's. Just go and hang out with them and enjoy the lovely bar and live music. Check them out at www.tomsaitta.com * * * * * * We attended a lovely wedding last Sunday, when Linda Glynn married Marvin Lashever in a ceremony at the Rainbow Gardens on West Charleston. Among the friends who participated in the festivities, were dealmaker Jack Wishna and his wife, Donna (the Wishnas stood up for the happy couple); the bride's closest friend, Gina Laino from Chicago; funny lady, Kathleen Dunbar; Candi Cazau and spouse, KJUL's Duke Morgan; the talented team of Linda November and Artie Schroeck; the musical duo of George and Mary Shriver-Bugatti; The Cannery's Director of Entertainment, Kathie Spehar and her sister, Barbara "Barbie" Spehar; Tony Orlando, wife Francine, and young adult children, John and Jenny Rose; Tony's mother, Ruth Schroeder; entrepreneurial Jeanne Bavaro; comic, Sammy Shore; former Entertainment Manager at the Golden Nugget, Dana Stern and husband, Eric Bogan; and Joyce Kessler, and her Marilyn Monroe-lookalike daughter, Stacey Nicole (Weir). Family members included Linda's children, Patrick, who walked his mother down the aisle, Ryan, from Florida, Haley from Illinois, and Corey who now lives in Las Vegas; the bride's sister, Mrs. Mary Burrell; her niece, Angie Ajroja, and Angie's two young sons, Julian (ring bearer) and Ashton (flower boy), all from Chicago. Also traveling to Las Vegas for the nuptials were Marvin's son, Jason, from Southern California, and his sister and brother-in-law, Sheila and Maurice Rosenthal from New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Lashever chose Karon Kate Blackwell's (Karon is married to comedian, Marty Allen) lovely song, "I'll Be There (Wedding Vows)," for their first dance as a married couple. The evening was both touching and fun, with short speeches of congratulations given by Orlando and Shore (who often work together). After the ceremony and reception, a select few of the wedding attendees headed over to Casa di Amore at 2850 East Tropicana for more visiting and more music. 
Tony Orlando and Linda & Marvin Lashever 
Jose Galvan at East Side Cannery And speaking of George Bugatti and Casa di Amore, on Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 7 to around 10:30 p.m., you can see and hear the fine singer performing at the southeast Las Vegas restaurant. Casa di Amore has new hours. They now close at 5 a.m. and reopen at 4 p.m. (closed for business on Tuesdays). For more information, call (702) 433-4967. * * * * * * Talk about lucky and being in the right place at the right time...Last Friday, July 3rd, Las Vegan, Jose R. Galvan, hit the Loco Loot Primary Jackpot at the Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel, earning himself $60,110.62. Galvan had been playing for approximately 25 minutes before wagering 25 cents on his lucky penny game and hitting the jackpot.
In the accompanying photo, Galvan poses beside the winning machine after winning more than $60,000 playing the Loco Loot Primary Jackpot at the Eastside Cannery. * * * * * * Michelle Johnson, who, in the past, has sung with both Sheena Easton and Gladys Knight, is back singing after a three year hiatus following the sudden death of her 36-year-old husband. On Sunday night, Michelle will be performing at that restaurant on Las Vegas Blvd. South that we refuse to mention by name. There is a possibility that two of Cousin Claire's favorites - Martin Nievera and Clint Holmes - may join Michelle for a song or two. If you are a regular reader, you probably already know the drill at this joint. If you want to have ANY chance at all of sitting someplace where you can see and/or hear Michelle (or anyone else who performs there), make reservations. Get there early (by 7) and plan to have dinner at the joint. If not, and you arrive (with or without reservations) closer to 8, chances are you will either get no seat at all, or you will be quite a ways from the performance space. Based on Michelle's talent, we would say it's worth the effort and a little aggravation. Calling her show My Life in Music - a night of standards and popular music, the lady reflects on her life and career in music, from growing up overseas, to attending Yale, performing on the Broadway stage, touring with a myriad of recording artists, and starring on the Las Vegas Strip. Learn what you don't know about this eclectic and versatile vocalist while enjoying an evening of jazz, pop, opera and much more. If you have other plans for Sunday night, or don't want to patronize THAT place, you can catch Ms. Johnson singing the Canadian (in French) and US national anthems for the NBA Summer League on Monday, the 13th, at 5 p.m., when the Toronto Raptors play the Portland Trailblazers at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. 
Michelle Johnson 
Jack Jones 
Denise Clemente * * * * * * It's one of our favorite boy singers at the South Point, tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30. The man that had us all humming along to TV's Love Boat theme, and listening to hits like "Wives and Lovers," "Dear Heart," "Lollipops and Roses," "Lady," "Call Me Irresponsible", and "The Impossible Dream," Jack Jones, will keep it mostly romantic for these two nights. Tickets start at $25. Call the South Point at (702) 797-8055 for reservations. Hey! Did you ever notice how much Jack Jones sounds like singing impressionist Bob Anderson? It's amazing! Simply amazing! Check it out. * * * * * * From Donna in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, comes this question...Is Denise Clemente performing anywhere
in Vegas Sept. 9 thru 14? As far as we know, the only thing on Clemente's upcoming schedule is two dates at La Scala Ristorante, the first one taking place this Sunday, the 12th, and next Sunday, the 19th. If you happen to be in Las Vegas on either (or both) of those dates, Donna, LaScala is located at 1020 East Desert Inn, inside the Mark I Tower. A meet and greet, with a complimentary glass of wine/champagne, starts at 7 p.m. Dinner seating is at 7:30 p.m. The menu consists of chopped salad, a combination plate of Lemon Sole Piccata, Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper, Couli and Chicken Marsala, and Tiramisu for desert. Presented by Jeanne Bavaro of BavaroETC Exclusive Talent Concepts, the show, featuring the vocal talents of Ms. Clemente, runs from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Price for the evening? It's $50, all inclusive. Seating is extremely limited. Based on demand, if necessary, an early 4 p.m. will be added. Call (702) 367-9805. Next month's dinner/cabaret event will feature George DeMott at LaScala. Watch this column for more details. Also, for Donna, we will have more on Denise Clemente in our July 24th column. * * * * * * 
Frankie Randall 
Society of Seven Frankie Randall, who spends much of his non-traveling time between Las Vegas and Palm Springs, is returning to his roots in New York City for a limited engagement at Feinstein's at Loews Regency" on July 15th and 16th. Frankie will re-live his memories from his early Jilly's days, where he played piano and sang at this world famous nitery for some of the greatest entertainers of all time, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Judy Garland. Often they would sit in with him at the piano bar and perform while Frankie accompanied them on the piano. Frankie was born and raised in Clifton, New Jersey, and fondly remembers those wonderful days. As the lyric states in a song he wrote especially for his return: "I used to drive in from New Jersey, and every night was crazy. Just hanging out at Jilly's with Frank And now I'm back here on the East Side, here at Michael Feinstein's. Living large like I just robbed a bank. These two shows are a must see for anyone who would like to re-visit that wonderful musical era in Manhattan. Joining Frankie will be Sherrie Maricle on drums, and Link Milliman on bass. If you are a regular Claire Voyant reader, Maricle's name may be familiar to you. We mentioned her in March, when she and her DIVA Jazz Orchestra performed at UNLV. Show times for Frankie Randall are at 8:30 p.m. on both nights. Please call (212) 339-4095 for reservations or further information. * * * * * * Back by popular demand, it's the Society of Seven at the Suncoast, tonight through Sunday at 8 p.m. Formed in Hawaii, and perfected in showrooms throughout Las Vegas and the Islands, Society of Seven, joined by American Idol's Season three finalist, Jasmine Trias, brings its lively variety show back to the Suncoast Showroom. Presented by Paul Stone, the famed Hawaiian-bred group, offers an energetic show that combines comedy sketches, celebrity impersonations, dance and live music performances, including popular standards, Top 40 and Broadway. "The Suncoast is our favorite place in Las Vegas, and we've always wanted to perform in its showroom," said Tony Ruivivar of Society of Seven. "This engagement gives our local fans, who have supported us through the years, the chance to see us in a familiar and comfortable location close to home." In what has been called an entertainment experience that plays like a classic Hollywood movie, Broadway show, and Vegas spectacular rolled into one, Society of Seven has been entertaining fans for more than 40 years. Audiences can expect a memorable evening that combines lights, choreography, action and Hawaiian talent. Tickets start at $29.95, plus tax, and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (702) 636-7075, or by visiting www.suncoastcasino.com. * * * * * * In New York, more than 1,000 brides-to-be (along with nearly 10,000 brides-maids-to-be) have celebrated their pending nuptials with a visit to see the smash-hit, musical comedy, Naked Boys Singing! In the Big Apple, revues and plays have become a popular event for a Bachelorette Party, so why not in Las Vegas?
Currently playing at the Onyx Theatre located in the off-Strip Commercial Center, Naked Boys Singing! is much like a traditional musical revue, with one major difference, and that difference makes this show perfect for a Ladies Night Out and/or a Bachelorette Party! Unlike most of the beefcake revues around the country, there is no g-string between the eight singing and dancing boys, and the girls who are out to have one heck of a good time. In the vein of vaudeville and high-camp American musical theater, this production celebrates the splendors of the male body in comedy, song, dance...and fun. Naked Boys Singing! presents 16 original musical numbers, ranging from the screamingly funny opening, "Gratuitous Nudity," and the circumcision-based "Bliss of a Bris," to the poignant and moving "Kris Look What you've Missed" and "Window to Window."
This clever revue has proven to be a fun and unique way for the ladies to let loose before the big day, making for a Bachelorette Party that the bride-to-be and her friends will never forget! Show times at the Onyx are Thursdays through Saturdays at 10 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30 per adult (leave the kiddies at home for this one). Discounts for Bachelorette Parties are available. For the Naked Boys Singing! Bachelorette Party discounts, general information and/or reservations, call (702) 732-7225. We guarantee you will have a good time. 
Naked Boys Singing! 
F.I.O.R.E. Welcoming Committee * * * * * * Next Saturday, July 18th, F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) will celebrate their 5th anniversary. The non-club club, where everyone is a president (it's a boy's non-club), welcomes ladies (as long as they are in the company of a president) to only a few gatherings a year, with the anniversary party being one of those special events. The celebration takes place at the Italian American Club, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Nelson Sardelli, one of the presidents, tell us that the event will be celebrated and commemorated in traditional F.I.O.R.E.-style, with a buffet, no host bar, live music, entertainment, dancing, a 50/50 drawing, surprise gifts and more. Oh yes. Among the "more," roses and chocolates for the ladies (sorry fellas). All this for $35 per person. The Italian American Club (no, you don't HAVE to be Italian to be admitted, but it helps if you are) is located at 2333 E. Sahara. RSVPs are a must. E-mail to nonclubclubfiore@aol.com. And speaking of Nelson Sardelli, his daughter, Giovanna Sardelli, got another nice write-up in the June 28th issue of the New York Times. Giovanna is directing Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower for 2econd Stage's Uptown Series. We will have more about this project in next week's column. In the meantime, you can read the New York Times article by clicking on... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/theater/28cohe.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Women directors article on June 28, 2009&st=cse * * * * * * Reminder...Larry Hart's Concert of Praise, An Irreverently Reverent GOSPEL Experience, takes place in the showroom at the South Point Hotel Casino, this Sunday, July 12th, at 2 p.m. Billed as "very non-typical," the cast of performers includes Hart; Las Vegas favorite, Darcus Speed; former Shirelle, Diane Spann; onetime New York/Las Vegas Rockette, MarQue; Jennifer Weatherly, country dynamo; jazz vocalist, Paris Red; Jeneane Marie, commercial and casino lounge singer; and Korean-American songstress, Jenevi. Praise is an original 90-minute musical, written and conceived by Grammy Award-winner Larry Hart. The show celebrates the rural roots of gospel music and fuses it to the idea of higher consciousness in giving praise to God, no matter how you choose to see the spirit. Praise is inspired by the 10 major religions of the world. It fuses their ideologies into a truly entertaining and fun, staged performance. Multi-Platinum and Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Hart, wrote the book, along with all original music and lyrics contained in the score. Larry's other writing credits include, Sisterella, Have a Rotten Christmas!, and original adaptations for the stage of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Color Purple, and the Academy Award-winning best Foreign Film, Cinema Paradiso. On Sunday, during his Concert of Praise at the South Point, Larry Hart will sing Michael Jackson's favorite song, "Stand Strong," from the musical Sisterella, staged in the ‘90s. Hart wrote the book, music and lyrics for Sisterella, which was executive produced and presented by Michael Jackson and Jerry Greenberg, and produced by Robert DeNiro, Tribecca Films and Miramax. With Jackson's support, Sisterella went on to do great things. While in Los Angeles, Sisterella received rave reviews and won 16 NAACP Theater Award nominations and eight NAACP Theater Awards including best Play and Best Director. In Europe, Sisterella was voted Show of the Decade. Hart reflects, "Michael was my business partner, who became a dear friend." Hart is the only composer that Michael Jackson ever attached his name to a project that was not of his creation. Hart acknowledges that Jackson influenced new techniques in the studio for the Sisterella cast album, as well as ideas for costumes and dance. Hart informs that a new touring production of Sisterella is being mounted in 2010, with thoughts of Michael Jackson close at hand. Tickets for Concert of Praise are $25, $30, and $35, with tax included. Call the South Point box office at (702) 797-8055, or (866) 796-7111 for reservations. 
Larry Hart & Michael Jackson 
Carmine Mandia * * * * * * There's more to singer Carmine Mandia than his role as a member of Shades of Sinatra. He also does his own thing, sometimes joined by other friends. As a matter of fact, tonight and tomorrow night, Carmine appears at Piero's, 355 Convention Center Drive, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. For information, call (702) 369-2305. * * * * * * Known to many for their brilliant on-stage performance that combines supreme musicianship with comedic stylings, wild antics and breathtakingly good looks, the band, Steel Panther, is filling the Ovation at Green Valley Ranch every Friday night, from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., and the Access Showroom at Aliante Station, beginning at 10 p.m. Formed in 1983, Steel Panther has since become widely known around the world for their wild and crazy antics, pristine hairdos and flashy spandex (that leaves very little to the imagination). Rockers Michael Starr, Satchel, Lexxi Foxxx and Stix Zadinia embrace the spirit and love of everything rock ‘n' roll with their colorful repartee, loud costumes and graphic body language. The band has built up a loyal fan base by playing favorites from such artists as Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison and Bon Jovi, just to name a few. Along with the numerous metal classics in its repertoire, Steel Panther also has a host of original material including the songs, "Death To All But Metal," "The Shocker," "Eatin' Ain't Cheatin'"and "Community Property." These songs will be included on the group's debut album which just dropped in the UK and will be released nationally in the fall. Station's Vice President of Entertainment, Judy Alberti, informs us that the shows are open to adults 21 years and older and there is no cost for admission. Entry to the shows will be first come, first served and based upon venue capacity. Booths are available for a $125 minimum bar tab or bottle service and reservations are limited, and can be made by calling (702) 290-4675. Seats fill up quickly for this '80s glam metal parody band, as they demonstrate their spirit and love of everything rock ‘n' roll with their colorful repartee, loud costumes and graphic body language. We suggest you get there (either place) early. 
Steel Panther 
Joey Kola * * * * * * Joey Kola headlines the award-winning Riviera Comedy Club, July 13th through 19th. From audience warm-up, to comedy room headliner, Joey has amassed an impressive list of television credits including The Late Show With David Letterman, Showtime Comedy Club All-Stars, and Half Hour Comedy Club Hour. Joey has also appeared in two independent films, Mixing Nia and The Deli. Joining Joey will be RC Smith whose influences are Don Rickles, Lenny Bruce and Gene Simmons. He has warmed up audiences for The Tony Danza and Caroline Rhea Shows, as well as worked with Dom Irrera, Jeff Altman, Jeff Dunham and Wendy Liebman. The Riviera is pleased to welcome him back to its intimate venue. Adding to the week's festivities is fellow funnyman John Garrett. After a successful career as a Certified Public Accountant, John left corporate America to follow his passion for stand-up comedy. Since then, he has appeared on The Bob & Tom Radio Network, performed in concert with the musical group Train and has opened for numerous celebrities, including Louie Anderson. You can catch tracks from his debut comedy album, Outside The Box, on both XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Show times for the Riviera Comedy Club are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $24.99 plus tax and fee. Ask about the dinner and show combinations. For more information, call the Riviera Box Office at (702) 794-9433, or go to www.rivierahotel.com. All guests must be at least 18 years of age. * * * * * * On Saturday, July 18th at 2 p.m., pianist Rosita Kanes will be the featured artist in the Solo Acoustic Spotlight Series at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Relax while this elegant performer entertains you with her diverse repertoire - everything from contemporary standards, ballads, show tunes, Gershwin and Cole Porter, to classical, Latin and international favorites. Tickets are $5 for all seats. Call (702) 229-6211 for more information. * * * * * *
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Tags: Kenny Ortega Larry Edwards At Julien's Samantha Harris Amra Faye-Wright Bre
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 - July 3, 2009 
Fred Astaire by Al Hirschfeld 
Michael Jackson Candy Bars 
Jacksons Picture Disc In 1974, two year before moving to Southern Nevada, some of our family members traveled from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for the express purpose of seeing the Jackson family perform at what was then the MGM Grand (it's now Bally's). At the time, Michael Jackson was just 16, and certainly not old enough to hang out in a casino. During the daytime, Michael's brothers, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, and little Randy, along with sisters Rebbie, LaToya and baby Janet, were able to do fun things, like go to Lake Mead, Mt. Charleston and even down into the MGM's shopping arcade. Not Michael. He was a virtual prisoner, having to stay in his hotel room, only emerging at night to head to the showroom to do what he did, just about better than anybody else, perform. There were at least a hundred young girls hanging around the MGM elevators, hoping to get a close-up look at the rising teenage star. While most of the Jackson kids had a relatively normal life (attending public school, going to the movies, etc.), Michael was isolated from real life, attending a private school in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, and watching movies at home. In spite of his fame, we found the way this young man lived, rather sad. We had the opportunity to actually meet Michael and, in fact, have him in our home. When he was 17, he purchased a piece of art from us - a signed and numbered etching of Fred Astaire (one of Michael's heroes), by the famous caricature artist, Al Hirschfeld. Michael paid $145 for that treasure. Today, that piece of paper would be worth about $3,000, although the fact it belonged to Michael Jackson, would increase its value even more. And still on the subject of Michael Jackson...In a strange coincidence, some of Michael's personal possessions - a drawing of Mickey Mouse done by Jackson when he was a child, handwritten lyrics for his 1987 hit "Bad," and a shirt the star wore on his 1984 Victory tour - were sold by Julien Auctions at Planet Hollywood the day after Jackson's death. Auctioneer Darren Julien says the pieces were from a collection owned by David Gest, the producer and promoter who was once married to Liza Minnelli. Jackson introduced the couple and was best man at their wedding. This sale, that also included things from both the Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley estates, was scheduled some time prior to the King of Pop's sudden death. The Jackson items, earlier estimated to generate about $10,000 in from sales collectors, brought in more that $250,000. Online auction websites like E-bay and Amazon are flooded with thousands of items relating to Michael Jackson. Memorabilia ranges from autographed CD collections and posters, to clothing made popular by the music icon. Cousin Claire has contact with some Las Vegans who have Jackson collectibles that they are interested in selling. Among the items for sale are a couple of Michael Jackson candy bars and a rare picture disc (the exact same one just sold on e-bay for $460+). Michael Jackson's Thriller, remains the only album to ever sell more than 100 million copies. See accompanying photos for sale items. For more information, contact Claire Voyant. When it comes to who will raise his three children, we can pretty much guarantee that Michael would never, repeat NEVER, want Prince Michael III, Paris and "Blanket," to grow up in a house in which his father, Joe Jackson, was present. Joe Jackson terrified and terrorized his own children (that has been confirmed both in interview with Michael, and in LaToya Jackson's book, Growing Up In the Jackson Family). To his and Katherine's nine children (Joe Jackson fathered a daughter, Joh'Vonnie Jackson now in her 30s, with another woman), Mr. Jackson was not known as Dad, Papa, Father, or Daddy. He was "Joseph." Joe Jackson and Ben Morgan (he of Bada Bing fame) were producers of a very small revue at the Maxim (now the Westin Casuarina) many years ago. Morgan's then wife, impressionist Bethany Owen (who appeared at the Sands in Sid and Marty Krofft's Comedy Kings), starred in the show called Calendar Girls. The "media opening" for this may have been one of the strangest that we have attended during our almost 33 years in Las Vegas. Morgan's "ploy" to get us there was announcing that ALL of the Jackson's would be at this "Hollywood-type" premiere. We knew this couldn't be true, as the Las Vegas opening was taking place at the same time that the Grammy Awards were being held in Los Angeles. Since both Michael and Janet were up for awards, it didn't take a genius to know where those two would be...NOT at the Maxim in Las Vegas. When it came time for the red carpet arrivals, it was Steve Rossi doing the announcing in front of the small East Flamingo hotel. Although it arrived late, a white stretch limo finally pulled up. Without a lot of fanfare, Joe Jackson, escorted by two costumed showgirls, stepped out of the car. The trio entered the casino and the limo disappeared. About five minutes later, it was Jermaine Jackson and two lovelies alighting from the fancy looking vehicle. Greg Morris (of TV's Mission Impossible), pulled up in his own car (a Volkswagen Beetle, as we recall). Can't remember who else arrived in a limo, but on the third time one approached, it was pointed out that there weren't a fleet of luxury automobiles involved...it was one. The same car that dropped off the first VIPs, traveled around the building to the back where they picked up the next small group. And so it went. (Would we make this stuff up???) Although the cast worked hard, the show was pretty bad. Even Jermaine, the only Jackson besides Joe who was there that night, was gone before the revue ended. The piece de resistance was that, when the Calendar Girls show ended that performance, waiting outside the tiny showroom for the departing audience was Michael Jackson. Not THE Michael Jackson, but a rather pitiful copy cat. Needless to say, the show did not survive for very long. 
Harve Presnell & Debbie Reynolds 
Fred Travalena & The Rat Pack Is Back! Sadly, the last couple of months has seen a rash of celebrity deaths. On May 1st, this community was shocked and saddened at the news that impressionist Danny Gans had died at age 52. Early on Thursday, June 25th, Farrah Fawcett lost her brave and public three-year battle with cancer at the age of 62, and only a few hours later, the world learned of the sudden death of 50-year-old Michael Jackson. Johnny Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon, died on June 23rd at the age of 86; familiar TV Oxi Clean and Kaboom pitchman, Billy Mays, died on June 23rd at the age of 50; My Little Margie star, Gale Storm, passed away on June 27th at 87; impressionist and Las Vegas headliner, Fred Travalena (who last appeared here at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino, the weekend of October 26th, 2007) died on Sunday at the age of 66; and on Wednesday, Oscar-winning actor (for A Streetcar Named Desire), Karl Malden died at the age of 97. As we near our Friday afternoon deadline, we have learned that Harve Presnell, who starred as "Johnny Brown" in both the stage (opposite Tammy Grimes) and film (opposite Debbie Reynolds) versions of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, has died of pancreatic cancer. Between 1979 and 1995, Presnell played "Daddy Warbucks" in both touring and Broadway productions of Annie and later versions of Annie. Presnell also played William H. Macy's father-in-law in the Coen Brothers' 1996 film, Fargo. The singer/actor was 75. Shown in the accompanying Rat Pack Is Back! photo are (left to right), Brian DuPrey as Frank, Drew Anthony as Dean, visiting Fred Travalena, Kyle Diamond as Sammy, and Tom Wallek as Joey. Dick Feeney and Sandy Hackett's The Rat Pack Is Back! plays in the Copa Room at the downtown Plaza, Mondays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. * * * * * * In honor of the 20th anniversary of Forever Plaid, "Sparky" (Larry Raben), "Smudge" (David Engel), "Jinx" (Stan Chandler), and "Francis," also known as "Frankie" (Daniel Reichard), have finally achieved immortality, in the form of a real movie! Forever Plaid, the movie, was filmed last August and, this Thursday, July 9th, it will hit the big screen...in a most unique way! On that night, a theatrical event will take place on 375 big screens all around the country. Produced by Fathom Entertainment, the movie event will be broadcast live, from the Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Audiences will be introduced to Raben, Chandler, and Engel, all members of the original Forever Plaid off-Broadway cast, in addition to Reichard, one of the original cast members of the original Broadway production of Jersey Boys, and Stuart Ross, the creator and director of Forever Plaid. Forever Plaid is an affectionate musical homage to the close-harmony 'guy groups' that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. This quartet of high-school chums, and their earnest dreams of recording an album, ended in their death, when their '54 Mercury collided with a bus filled with Catholic schoolgirls on their way to see the Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The girls were fine. The boys were not. Forever Plaid, one of off-Broadway's most popular and critically acclaimed musicals, begins with the Plaids returning from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory. Following the red-carpet arrivals and the pre-taped performance of the musical, this laugh-out-loud event will continue with more than a half hour of LIVE music, sung in glorious four-part harmony by the cast, and end with a live "bouncing ball" sing-a-long! This is a once-in-lifetime event prior to Forever Plaid's DVD release in the fall! Audiences across the country will experience a memorable evening, combining the 20th Anniversary event classic production with new and interactive twists, including a first-ever live, coast-to-coast in-theater sing-a-long with The Plaids. Be there when two chart-topping musical questions collide, as "How Much is That Doggy in the Window?" meets "Who Let the Dogs Out?" No, really! And please do practice your own "me-me-me's" for a bouncing ball sing-a-long where everyone joins in. This sensational musical event will take place on Thursday, July 9th at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, 7 p.m. Central Time, 6 p.m. Mountain Time, and 8 p.m. Pacific Time (tape delay). In Las Vegas, the film will play at 8 p.m. at the following movie theaters: Orleans 18, Sam's Town 18, South Point Century 16, Village Square 18 (9400 W. Sahara), and the Colonnade 14 (located on South Eastern at Pebble). You can buy tickets for this sensational musical event at www.FathomEvents.com. Tickets to the Los Angeles Worldwide Premiere at Club Nokia are available at www.foreverplaid.com/tickets. To learn where the Forever Plaid 20th Anniversary Special will play in your area, go to http://www.ncm.com/FathomContent/PDF/Forever-Plaid-Participating-Theatres.pdf. 
Forever Plaid the Movie 
Frank Sinatra Jr. * * * * * * Look for Franklin Wayne Emmanuel Sinatra to appear at the Suncoast, September 5th and 6th. You may know him better as Frank Sinatra, Jr. For reservations, call the Suncoast at (702) 636-7075. * * * * * * Susan Coker-Stevens passed away on June 11th, her 47th birthday. A Henderson resident, Susan was a graduate of Chaparral High School, and a former showgirl/iceskater (at both the Hacienda, now Mandalay Bay, and the Flamingo). Susan is survived by her husband, Chris Stevens; daughters, Amanda Trombetti of Las Vegas, and Emily Stevens of Henderson; mother, Ruth Coker of Henderson, father, Gordon Coker of Las Vegas; brother, Tony Freese of Atlanta; and brother, Vincent Frey of Henderson. The viewing and service was held on Friday, June 19th, at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Donations in Susan's name can be made to Child Haven, and sent to 701K N. Pecos Road, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Our sympathies go out to former showgirl/choreographer/director Mistenguett on the death of her mother, Margi Sessions. Margi, 78, was a 16-year resident of Nevada. She spent 23 years as an art sales consultant for Christian Lassen, Anthony Quinn, Red Skelton and Tony Curtis, to name a few. In addition to Mistenguett, Margi is survived by two other daughters, Regina Carter of Fort Worth, Texas, and Rene Haynes of Maui, Hawaii; her son, Rick Jussel of Denver; a brother, Richard Dearing of Denver; sister, Happy Roberts of Houston; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services were held on July 2, at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. in Las Vegas. The family asks that all gifts and memorials be made as a donation to PDS Foundation For Children, 83 E. Agate Ave., #407, Las Vegas, NV 89123, c/o Mistinguett. Our sympathies go out to both families. * * * * * * Where is our daily newspaper? What we have been finding at the front door in the mornings is the remainder of what used to be the Las Vegas Review-Journal, or as we call it these days, R-J lite. Sorry, but we don't consider 40-some pages much of a newspaper. * * * * * * We have missed some of the early installments of this season's America's Got Talent, so we're not sure how many Las Vegans have been seen on the audition portions of America's Got Talent. What we do know is that at least three current Southern Nevada residents are going through to, er...Las Vegas! The pretty blonde Polish-born, fiddling Alizma Triplets - Aleksandra, Izabela and Monika Okapiec - have made it through the early auditions. Stay tuned. 
The Alizma Triplets 
Mikalah Gordon And speaking of reality shows...
On July 4th, 5th and 6th, four former finalists from America's No. 1 TV talent show, American Idol, will perform at the South Point in a show called Idolized. The 80-minute show consists of Jasmine Trias (3rd place in season 3), David Hernandez (in the Top 12 in season 7), Nikki McKibbin (3rd place in season 1), and Mikalah Gordon (11th place in season 4) performing songs from yesterday and today, including some they performed on American Idol. There will also be some original compositions featured. The four singers are backed up by the All Star Band, under the musical direction of Joe Spraker, and backup vocals by the Superstars Live Singers. Each artist performs for approximately 20 minutes, separately, and may also sing with his or her fellow contestants in never before performed duets and group songs. There is also a patriotic finale with the entire cast. There will be a meet and greet following the performance for photo ops, autographs and merchandise sales. The talent line-up is subject to change, but whoever the performers are, they are all Idol finalists. Idolized is produced by Barrie Cunningham, of BC Entertainment, Inc. in Las Vegas. Show times for Idolized are at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $15, $20 and $25. To purchase, call (702) 797-8055, or visit the South Point box office. On August 28th, 29th and 30th, another American Idol finalist, Josh Gracin, comes into the South Point for shows at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for prices for Gracin are $25, $30 and $35. To make reservations for South Point shows, call (702) 797-8055, or (866) 796-7111. Added notes...Mikalah Gordon grew up in Las Vegas. The now 21-year-old was only 16 (one of the show's youngest competitors) when she appeared on American Idol. Mikalah's father is local musician, Rocky Gordon. As for Idolized producer, Barrie Cunningham, he may best be remembered around these parts for his tribute shows to both Neil Diamond and Jimmy Buffett, during the late 1990s at the Gold Coast. * * * * * * Based on its first two sold out weekends at the Onyx Theatre in Commercial Center, we are not one bit surprised that Naked Boys Singing is adding a matinee show, beginning this Sunday, July 5th. Not only that, according to what we have heard (from a very reliable source) Naked Boys Singing, which was originally scheduled to run only through June 27th, and then was extended until July 4th, will be held over for as long as interest remains high. We think that will be for quite some time. After all, the off-Broadway New York production has been running for 10 years! And, yes, for those who have asked, the Boys really ARE naked! Show times are at 10 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 on Sunday afternoons. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased either by phone, at the door, or online at www.onyxtheatre.com. For reservations or additional information, call the Onyx at (702) 732-7225. 
Naked Boys Singing 
Cowboys for Cancer * * * * * * Cowboys for Cancer, held on Sunday, June 28th at Club Madrid inside Sunset Station Hotel & Casino, was a success, raising more than $7,000 for cancer survivors and bringing awareness to rehabilitation and wellness programs, with the event's proceeds benefiting Vance Davenport and The Caring Place. Davenport, a former Las Vegas resident, recently survived an arduous battle with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). Before moving to Nashville, he performed in and later became musical director of the Aladdin's (now Planet Hollywood) Country Tonight revue. Vance's brother, Las Vegas resident JR Davenport, singer and lead guitarist of WolfCreek, created the benefit not only to honor and assist his brother, but also to support those surviving and living with this debilitating disease. "I can't thank everyone enough for their overwhelming support and tireless efforts in making our event such a tremendous success, from Station Casino's generous donation of Club Madrid, to the local businesses who donated raffle items, to the media who helped us spread the word," said event coordinator, JR. "I feel so blessed to have been able to make a difference, not only in my brother's remission, but in so many others' lives affected by this disease in our community. We definitely plan to do it all again next year." Lending their time and talent in support of Cowboys for Cancer were: Scotty Alexander, The Randy Anderson Band, Desert Outlaws, John Encinio, Lefty Lucy Band, comedienne Pam Matteson, Tony Marques, Mark O' Toole, Third Town and WolfCreek. Matteson and O'Toole, both cancer survivors, inspired and moved the audience when sharing their personal experiences of struggle and survival. The event also featured a silent auction with autographed guitars and fiddles from such country superstars as Clint Black, Larry Gatlin, Alison Krauss, Tracy Lawrence and Loretta Lynn, among others. "We're delighted to be a part of this event. We applaud JR for all that he did, and these kind of events represent the best of the Las Vegas community," said Connie Bernstein, Chair, The Caring Place, Chair. "The Caring Place will make good use out of the proceeds we are given and continue to provide free services to those touched by cancer." The highlight of the evening was when Austin Davenport, Vance's 7-year-old son, joined his father and WolfCreek on stage to perform his rendition of Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee" to a standing ovation. The Caring Place is the only center of its kind in southern Nevada created to provide an oasis for individuals and families on their journey with cancer in order to enhance their quality of life. Programs at The Caring Place began in February 2008 and include complementary therapies such as Yoga, Meditation, and the healing arts, Wellness Seminars, Support Groups and Art Therapy. All programs and services are provided at no charge. Shown in the accompanying photo by Peter Chmiel are (left to right) Pam Matteson, JR Davenport, Austin Davenport and Connie Bernstein. * * * * * * American Casino and Entertainment Properties (ACEP) recently named Claude Gaty chef de cuisine for the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower. Gaty brings 26 years of culinary experience, primarily in French cuisine, to the Stratosphere. His responsibilities as chef de cuisine include recipe and menu development, training the staff, and insuring total guest satisfaction. Gaty works closely with Executive Chef Rick Giffen and Executive Sous-Chef Carlos Vargas. Prior to joining the Stratosphere, Gaty took a hiatus from the restaurant industry and spent most of 2008 traveling in France, learning the fine art of artisan bread baking at the San Francisco Baking Institute, and being schooled in Thai cooking on the island of Koh Samui. With a passion for working in a lively restaurant environment, Gaty became chef and partner for the Lettuce Entertain You organization where he played an integral role in the collaboration and creation of the highly acclaimed Mon Ami Gabi, a classic French bistro restaurant. In the late '90s, Gaty joined the Las Vegas restaurant industry, where he spent 10 years as chef and partner for Mon Ami Gabi's Las Vegas location. Gaty has spent his career not only as a chef, but also as an entrepreneur. He has opened a number of restaurants including La Bretagne in Maui, The Hatchery in Petaluma, and Bistrot Zinc in Chicago. 
Chef Claude Gaty 
Diane Ellis 
Lance Burton * * * * * * Following Paul Campanella's recent show at the Starbright in Sun City Summerlin, the entertainer received a number of "fan letters." Here is a sample...
"I thoroughly enjoyed your singing, energy and enthusiasm...You are so clever and so "real." And the fact that you had not worked with this band nor sung with the beautiful young lady (Gret Menzies Gonzalez) -- WOW, you are a pro, and you deserve to be in this business!" If you get a chance to see Paul perform, check him out and see what you think. * * * * * * On Sunday, singer/entertainer Diane Ellis will have her turn in the spotlight at that Italian joint on the south end of Las Vegas Blvd. Appearing with her for the 8:30 to 9:50 p.m. show will be Joe Darro on keys and vocals, and Danny Calico on drums and vocals. Ellis and Darro have worked together for many years and have developed a great blend. As for Calico, Diane and Danny over the past 20-some years, the duo have been part of two musical Las Vegas acts, Chazz and D'Cal. In addition to his musicality, Danny Calico adds his great sense of humor to the mix. Some surprise guests are expected to stop by the joint for a song or three. We suggest that if you want to sit someplace where you can see and hear, get to the place early and plan to have your dinner there. Otherwise, you might wind up on a folding chair in the parking lot. * * * * * * Apparently Lance Burton won't be doing a permanent disappearing act from the Monte Carlo after all. The magician, who has been missing from his self-named showroom at the hotel since breaking his foot during a performance on May 7th, has been extended at the Strip resort for six more years, until the year 2015. During the "signing in ceremony" on Wednesday, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman presented Lance with a proclomation naming June 7th Lance Burton Day. Burton's previous Monte Carlo contract ran for 13 years - beginning in June of 1996 with the opening of the hotel casino, and ending a couple of weeks ago. The Kentucky-born Burton made his first appearance on a Las Vegas stage in the early 1980s, when he joined the Tropicana's Les Folies Bergere. Before landing at the Monte Carlo, for five years (beginning in 1991), the Master Magician headlined his own show at the Hacienda, now buried under Mandalay Bay. Hopefully recovered from his foot injury and resulting surgery, after a number of delays, Burton is expected to return to the stage of The Lance Burton Theatre for a 7 p.m. show on Tuesday. For tickets and show times, call (702) 730-7160. And speaking of the Folies Bergere, comic juggler, Michael Holly, who was one of the best things about the Folies (especially in its later days), was one of the guest stars in Paul Stone's Variety Live that played at the Suncoast last weekend. Always a crowd pleaser, Holly was joined by Portugal's Rolla Bolla Man, Tino Ferreira (Kids, don't try ANY of this at home!); the clever hand shadow artist, Sonny Fontana, who, among other things, created celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Jimmy Durante, Dolly Parton, Louis Armstrong, Jerry Lewis, Ray Charles, and Madonna, using just his hands, a light and a screen; Larissa, the happy hoopster; ventriloquist/puppeteer, Paul Zerdin; and handsome singer, Ben Stone. A "surprise" guest was Paul Sperrazza, the "Human Beat Box" member of the clever a cappella group, Toxic Audio. Once again, the amazing "Talking Head in a Box" greeted and intrigued audience members as they approached the Suncoast showroom. This talented group of variety artists provided a fast-paced evening of fun. * * * * * * 
Mosaic 
Arrival Plays ABBA There is lots going on around here over the holiday weekend. For example, the Las Vegas Philharmonic's Star Spangled Spectacular. This year, the traditional flag-waving July 4th event will toot its horns at the Springs Preserve. For the past decade, the concert was held at the Hills Park in Summerlin. Fittingly, this year the place where Las Vegas began will be the setting for celebrating America's birth. Gates at the outdoor amphitheater open at 6 p.m., with the performance beginning at 8. Following a rousing "Star Spangled Banner," the Philharmonic, under the baton of Music Director David Itkin, will swing into our local anthem, "Viva Las Vegas." Toe-tapping marches like National Emblem and Washington Post and all-time favorites, The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Finale of Tchaikovsky's thundering 1812 Overture, set the patriotic beat. Adding Hollywood flair are the overture to "Gypsy" and the march from "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Once again, the "Armed Forces Salute" will bring the crowd to its feet. The popular a cappella band, Mosaic, will also make a special guest appearance as well as sing the National Anthem. Mosaic is an instrument-free, all vocals group that blends elements of pop, funk, jazz, hip-hop and opera. Their memorable music experience includes renditions from Sly and the Family Stone's "Thank You" to Bill Withers' "Lean on Me" to Zapp & Roger's "More Bounce" to classic television theme songs. The six-man ensemble was recently voted MTV's Top Pop Group, and regularly performs with comedian George Wallace at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Mosaic was also the winner of CBS' The Early Show search for The Next Great A Cappella Group. Mosaic is a unique vocal band that produces every sound with the human voice - from the guitar riffs and funky bass lines, to the ambient rhythms and the complex chord textures. The change of venue will also bring a change in programming. True to its eco-awareness, instead of fireworks, Springs Preserve has planned an outdoor light show that will run throughout the evening for added effect and interest. Three levels of tickets are available: Assigned amphitheater seating is $27.50 per person; grounds passes, which include non-seated access to the concert venue, are $17.50 per person; and VIP Packages, at $82.50 per person, which includes a pre-concert VIP reception in the ORIGEN Rotunda and an exclusive tabled seating area in the Amphitheater. Springs Preserve annual pass-holders receive a discount of $7.50 off VIP or reserved amphitheater seating. Children 12 and under receive $7.50 off Amphitheater seating or grounds pass (cannot be combined with pass-holder discount). VIP and Amphitheater seat assignments will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 6 p.m. on July 4. Please bring your printed ticket with you. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.springspreserve.org and at the Springs Preserve box office. The Springs Preserve is located at Valley View Boulevard and U.S. 95. For more information, call (702) 822-7705. Information and tickets are also available at www.lvphil.com. PLEASE NOTE: No outside food, beverages or chairs will be allowed on the premises. Food and beverages will be available at both amphitheater concession areas and the Springs Cafe by Wolfgang Puck. On Saturday, Bill Fayne's four member Voci Vegas provides the music at the South Point for a July 4th Red, White & BBQ afternoon. The party includes a buffet of hot dogs, hamburgers, salads and apple pie. Tickets are $33. Call (702) 797-8055 for reservations. And, if you have been missing the sounds of Mamma Mia! since the musical ended its almost six year run at Mandalay Bay in January, this may be just what you need. Arrival, an ABBA tribute band, will perform at The Club inside the North Las Vegas Cannery Casino & Hotel on Saturday, at 8 p.m. Arrival was founded in 1995, and is currently the largest ABBA show in the world. The group, from Sweden, has performed in more than 20 countries worldwide, including the United States, England, Holland, France, China, Australia, and of course, Sweden. The show is a spectacle with 12 members on stage including some original ABBA band members. Arrival from Sweden also has the exclusive worldwide rights to the original ABBA costume designs and they wear exact reproductions of the original costumes. Arrival will play many of the ABBA hits including "Mamma Mia," "Fernando," "Dancing Queen," "Waterloo" and "Money, Money, Money." ABBA fan clubs around the globe have declared Arrival the best ABBA tribute in the world. Tickets start at $9.95 plus tax and fees, and are on sale now at the Cannery Casino & Hotel's ticket sales counter located at the front desk. Tickets will also be available for purchase by calling (702) 507-5757 or (866) 999-4899 (toll free), or by visiting www.cannerycasinos.com. This is only a small sampling of the Fourth of July activities happening in and around Las Vegas. * * * * * * Red-hot illusionist/magician Scarlett has successfully carved a unique niche for herself in a male dominated business. She has mastered some of the most difficult feats performed by the legendary Harry Houdini and Harry Blackstone, Jr. Scarlett has conquered the unimaginable by being handcuffed; feet shackled, dropped upside down and locked in bone-chilling water in an escape never intended for a woman. "In keeping with the tradition of world-class entertainment, we welcome Scarlett to the Versailles Theatre in the Riviera Hotel and Casino. She is talented, beautiful and brings the class and entertainment value the Riviera is known for," said Riviera President Bob Vannucci. Produced by John Lewis, and under the direction of Las Vegas director/choreographer Bobby Boling, Scarlett and Her Seductive Ladies of Magic brings a sexy element to the show, and, yes, the beautiful dancers will be topless. Scarlett performs 10 p.m. nightly (dark Friday). General admission tickets are $44.55, and VIP seating is $53.64 plus tax and fee. Dinner/show combinations are also available. For more information, call the Riviera Box Office at (702) 794-9433. All guests must be at least 18 years of age. 
Scarlett 
Charo 
John Argent And speaking of the Riviera...It's that Spanish firecracker, actress-musician Charo, bringing her bubbly personality to the Riviera, beginning next Friday, July 10th. The all new show, titled Charo in Concert: A Musical Sensation, is expected to be full of Charo's music, featuring her fabulous Flamenco guitar, dancing and comedy. Of being back in Vegas, Charo says, "I am delighted to be back in Vegas," says Charo. "This is one of the places where I started, where I have many friends and have called home through the years. I want to invite all the fans to come to the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas to see my brand new show, it is full of great music, dancing and lots of comedy. A real Las Vegas experience." Charo in Concert: A Musical Sensation" is presented by A Bang Production, Inc. The show will play Wednesday thru Monday at 7:30 p.m. and features Charo performing her biggest hits, while accompanied by a full orchestra. Tickets are available at the Riviera Hotel Box Office, or via internet at www.rivierahotel.com, or toll free at (877) 892-7469. * * * * * * Happy birthday to our Cancer friends who are celebrating between June 22nd and July 22nd...Bruce Zarka, Deano Noto, Denyce Tuller, Bill Acosta, Jennifer Porter, John Argent, Scott Humphries, Lee Plotkin, Jeanette Shead, Jerry Herman, Philip Fortenberry, Jeanne Bavaro, Joey Gian, Cook E. Jarr, Steven Cowart and Cork Proctor. July 8th seems to have the Sound of Music around it, as Loretta Holloway, Steve Lawrence, Michael Cagle, Jerry Vale, and the late Billy Eckstine, all share the same birth date. And speaking of the talented musician, John Argent (known by some as Johnny Argent), Marino de Silva, guitar hero/producer and founder and president of Angels Across America, heard him play a few notes on the piano late one night when Argent and his longtime (about seven years) girlfriend, Roseanne Barr, were dining in Las Vegas. De Silva, who lives in Vegas, liked Argent's playing and, more than a year later, asked him to do a song (a solo piano version of "Lady Madonna") on a benefit CD he was producing to help autistic kids. The CD, called Yellow Submarine, has just been released and features some pretty big names, like The Beatles: John, Paul, George and Ringo; Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Bill Champlin, Keith Richards, Argent, Roger Daltrey, Duncan Faure, Bill Wyman, Jethro Tull, Ronnie Wood, Steven Swinford, Fools For April, Mick Fleetwood, Marino De Silva, himself, and others. This project aims to raise one million dollars for kids with autism. The CD is available online for $15.99 including shipping and handling. Contact http://www.YellowSubmarineCD.org. Angels On Earth is a 501(c)3 Non Profit Foundation. All Aboard the YELLOW SUBMARINE for Children with Autism!
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Tags: Michael Jackson Jackson 5 Hirchfeld Fred Astaire Fred Travalena Rat Pack Ha
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 - June 26, 2009 
Brent Barrett 
Wes Winters 
Joe Bologna & Renee Taylor Our Phavorite Phantom, Brent Barrett, returns for a stint in the long-running hit musical, Chicago, where he will once again portray lawyer, "Billy Flynn." Brent has played "the silver-tongued prince of the courtroom," several times on Broadway and on the National Tour. Beginning on May 26th, Barrett will have traveled from Miami Beach, Florida; Columbia, South Carolina; Worcester, Maine; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; to the Ambassador Theater in New York, where he will perform from July 7th to August 9th. His "Roxie" for much of that time will be Samantha Harris, co-host of TV's Dancing with the Stars. Barrett describes his return to the stage at the Ambassador in the popular John Kander and Fred Ebb musical as, "A nice way to reenter the work force in NYC." Following his current run in Chicago, Brent heads for Dublin, where, on August 28th, he and Kim Criswell will perform The Ultimate Tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein, with favorites from The Sound of Music, Carousel, South Pacific, Oklahoma! and more, accompanied by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, conducted by John Wilson. Also from Mr. Barrett comes word that, in September, he will be back in the studio, recording his third solo album. His two earlier CDs are The Kander and Ebb Album and The Alan Jay Lerner Album...both gems. The new CD, should be out for the holidays, which is a good thing, since it's a Christmas album. Plans are to debut the new recording via a two night stint at Birdland on December 13th and 14th. And from another Kansas talent (did we mention that Brent Barrett is from Quinter, Kansas?), Wes Winters (who is from Olathe) continues to do great business at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel on Paradise Road. Tom Xavier, the General Manager at the Renaissance, has this to say about entertainer Wes Winters, "Wes Winters at ENVY The Steakhouse is a home-run that keeps on going." Winters has been playing piano on Sundays in the high-class dining spot since mid-February. To say that Music & Mimosas, with Winters at the piano, has taken off would be an understatement. The Sunday morning brunch, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., features a cheese and wine tasting, unlimited sparkling wine, Mimosa, fruit smoothies, and a "Build your own" Bloody Mary bar. Appetizers include fresh fruit and berries, smoked salmon with tomatoes, red onions and capers and ENVY's signature fruit and granola parfaits. The Mimosas & Music" brunch also features various serving stations, including omelets, classic Belgium waffles and seafood stations. Entrees will include Egg Benedict with hollandaise, vanilla-raisin Brioche French toast, and mini gourmet sandwiches. The dessert menu consists of homemade mousses, chocolate-covered strawberries, and assorted mini pastries. On Mother's Day, 380 people were in attendance at the ENVY brunch, and on Father's Day, 260 folks came out for Music & Mimosas. Wes, who was inspired as a child by Liberace, specializes in musical tributes of the glittering piano genius. Self-trained, and with a list of credits including television, radio, live theater, composing and producing, Winters conceived, wrote, produced and, for almost five years, starred in "A Musical Tribute to Liberace" at the world-renowned Liberace Museum. At ENVY, he performs a repertoire of standards and musical favorites. The cost for all of this? A very reasonable $25 per person. And at the same place (these folks know a good thing when they see it), from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Winters is back, in the ENVY Steakhouse Lounge, to entertain the evening customers. It's a great spot for dancing, drink specials, and bar menu discounts. ENVY is located in the Renaissance Las Vegas at 3400 Paradise Road. Reservations are recommended. Call (702) 784-5716. On Sunday, July 26th, Wes performs "Back to the 50s" at the Clark County Flamingo Library for the Performing Arts Society of Nevada (we will have more on this closer to the date). In mid-July, the Piano Man opens for Bobby Vinton at a private event in Reno, and at the end of August, Winters is off to entertain on an Alaskan Cruise. October 23rd and 24th, Mr. Busy Busy will perform at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin, and in December, it‘s a three-venue-week in Canada. Whew! * * * * * * If you happen to be in New York (and we know some of you are or will be), on June 30th and July 1st, the husband and wife team of Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna will be performing their self-penned show, If You Ever Leave Me...I'm Going With You, at Feinstein's at Loews Regency. Based on their life together (the twosome has been married for almost 44 years), Taylor and Bologna have done this show in Las Vegas a number of times, first at the downtown Plaza in 2005, and at the Suncoast in both 2007 and 2008. Called "The Nightclub of New York," Feinstein's is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street. For reservations, call (212) 339-4095. * * * * * * 
Farrah Fawcett 
Michael Jackson June 25th, 2009. What a sad day for the world of entertainment. On Thursday morning, Farrah Fawcett lost her three year battle with cancer. What a valiant fight the beautiful blonde actress, best known as "Jill Munroe" of TV's Charlie's Angels fame, put up, even documenting her battle on film. Fawcett was 62. Then, early that same afternoon, came word of the sudden death of pop star Michael Jackson. It appears he died of cardiac arrest. Is Jackson's death, at 50, shocking? Yes. Is it surprising? We would say, no. Did Michael look healthy? Not for years. Could anyone picture him living to be an old man? We think not. The death of Danny Gans on May 1st, and Jackson yesterday, bears some similarities. The two entertainers were very close in age (Gans was 52) and, according to reports, both suffered breathing problems and could not be revived. Listening to the just released playback of the 911 emergency call made by Danny‘s wife, we found her to be surprisingly calm, considering the circumstances. We are not suggesting anything wrong or suspicious, nor are we the only ones to comment on this. It just seems unusual. And, in the same week, Ed McMahon, best known for his three-decades as the sidekick and announcer of Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, died on Tuesday, June 23rd. McMahon's "Heeeeere's Johnny" became as familiar as Tarzan's (and Carol Burnett's) yell. McMahon, who had suffered numerous health problems in recent years, was 86 at the time of his death. Seen in the accompanying photo with Ed McMahon is local celebrity, Larry "Never Miss a Photo Op" Edwards. 
Ed McMahon & Larry Edwards 
George Wallace And speaking of Larry Edwards, also known as "Hot Chocolate"...He serves as a greeter at a number of the clubs located in the Fruit Loop (on Paradise, between Harmon and Tropicana). Larry was very excited when Caesars Palace headliner, the Divine Bette Midler, stopped in at Gipsy the other night to see a number of her backup dancers perform. The star of The Showgirl Must Go On, was low key (wearing a cap to cover her hair). It was pretty obvious that, much like Greta Garbo, Bette "vanted to be (left) alone" to enjoy the show. * * * * * * SOMEONE wasn't paying close attention...that would be Cousin Claire and/or her regular (and loyal) readers. How come no one bothered to mention that the big Golden Rainbow annual fundraising show takes place THIS Sunday, on the 28th, not last Sunday the 21st, as this dozing at the wheel columnist indicated in last Fridays ramblings? Not that we are making excuses (although we are), but the Ribbon of Life production, featuring hundreds of Las Vegas Strip performers AND top name headliners donating their time and talent for a very worthwhile cause, USUALLY holds the event on Father's Day Sunday, which was last weekend. This year's show, number 23, takes place this coming Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. the theater at the Las Vegas Hilton...which means if you were otherwise occupied last Sunday, you still have the chance to see it, THIS Sunday. Is everyone (including us) clear now? Starring in the show are comic George Wallace (Flamingo), Mosaic (The Mirage), Vegas newcomers Human Nature (Imperial Palace), plus 250 performers from producers and shows, including ChapQuist Entertainment, Jersey Boys, Jubilee!, Ka, La Femme, Love, O, Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Rich & Famous, Searcy Entertainment, Sin City Bad Girls, Voci Vegas and Zumanity. Tickets start at $50, and may be purchased by calling (702) 384-2899. Golden Rainbow is a uniquely caring and responsive non-profit organization that exists to ensure that the fundamental needs of Southern Nevada men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS are met. We apologize for any confusion we may have caused. * * * * * * 
Patti LuPone 
Martin Nievera of Vocal Soup We are pleased to say that our busy weekend did not disappoint. On Saturday night, we saw Patti LuPone debut The Gypsy in My Soul at The Orleans showroom. She was great, generating a number of standing ovations from the almost sold out 810-seat theater audience. Among the songs Patti sang were "Gypsy In My Soul," "Do It Again," "The Man I Love," "I Never Do Anything Twice," "I Regret Everything," "The Way You Look Tonight," and, of course Evita‘s "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." Credit goes out to LuPone's terrific backup musicians (identified by her as the "Gypsy Vagabondos"), made up of her own Musical Director/pianist, Joseph Thalken, and drummer, Paul Pizzuti; along with Las Vegas players, Tom Ehlen and Wes Marshall, on trumpets; Bobby Scann on trombone; Dan Philippus, Steve Golden, and Gary "Flash" Freyman on reeds; Chris Gordan on upright bass; and Jack Cenna on percussion. Steve Cantor served as contractor/leader (although Cantor is a guitarist, he did not play for LuPone‘s engagement). Both Cantor and Golden, who did a beautiful job on saxophone, described Ms. LuPone as "a pleasure to work with"... as long as you leave your camera or cell phone at home, or turned off. It may be hard to believe but, in spite of Cousin Claire's warning about no photography, cell phones or other electronic devices during Ms. LuPone's performance (Hasn't everyone with a computer heard or seen the rant, captured for youtube viewers, that occurred during Patti's final performance in Gypsy on Broadway?) Before the show, we had a lovely dinner at Canal Street in The Orleans. What added to the enjoyment of the meal itself, was the hospitality, and great sense of humor, of host/sommelier, John Messana. If Big John looks familiar, it may be because, for many years, he was the Theater Manager of the Stardust showroom (now a pile of rebar across from the Riviera). We might also give a tip of the hat to Stacey Medall, Managing Director of the Orleans showroom, who does a fine job of keeping things running smoothly. On Sunday night, we were at the Suncoast (the last night of three) for the debut of Vocal Soup, a brand new consolidation of people/friends and ideas, featuring the talents of (in our frequently used, politically correct, alphabetical order) Domenick Allen, Susan Anton, Clint Holmes, and Martin Nievera. The show ran nearly two hours. It takes that much time to showcase each of the individuals as well as show them in clever combinations. The show opened with all four entertainers singing an original song, written, we think, by Allen and Holmes, called, surprise, "Vocal Soup." In his solo portion of the revue, Nievera sang Anthony Newley's "For Once In a Lifetime," "Ikaw Ang Pangarap" (You Are a Dream), "You Are My Song" (written by Martin), "Be My Lady," and closed with "This Is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde. It is no wonder that Mr. Nievera is a major star in the Philippines. During her solo segment, Susan sang James Brown's "It's a Man's World," and "If I Wrote a Note To God." Domenick, who toured with the group Foreigner, did some of their tunes, including "Cold As Ice," "Feels Like the First Time," "Urgent," and Billy Joel's "The Entertainer," with rewritten lyrics. Clint Holmes, who came up with the idea of pooling talent and then put this quartet together, sang "Mr. Bojangles" in a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., did some tap/scat, "Colorful" from the musical Golden Boy, and ended his solo part with another Newley song, "What Kind of Fool Am I." With Vince Falcone at the piano, the foursome paid homage to Ol' Blue Eyes, The Chairman of the Board, Francis Albert Sinatra, with 18 songs associated with the man who, more than likely, will go down in music history as the best pop/saloon singer EVER. Falcone, who worked with Sinatra for almost 10 years, started the segment with a lovely piano rendition of "Angel Eyes." Then, with the four singers taking turns, they went through "Luck Be a Lady," "My Kind of Town," "All Or Nothing At All," "Fly Me To the Moon," "Nice and Easy," "Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week," "All of Me," "The Best Is Yet To Come," "Where Or When," "Come Fly With Me," "Night and Day," "Lady is a Tramp," "The Second Time Around," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Summer Wind," "I've Got the World On a String," and wound up with the group doing "I've Got You Under My Skin." There were a number of other highlights, too many to mention, but we have to give special mention and a big A+ to Domenick Allen, who, not only sings his ass off, but also is a one man orchestra, playing multiple horns, guitar and, although he didn't do so in Vocal Soup, plays piano with the best of them. What we neglected to do (we bad) was get the names of the musicians. Some, but not all of them, in addition to Falcone, were Bill Fayne, Jeff Neiman and Davy Nathan, all on piano and/or keys, and the amazing drummer, Brian Czach, who works with Domenick all around the world. And speaking of Mr. Nievera (and we were), on September 3rd and 4th, he will perform in a big concert at Manila's Araneta Coliseum. For the first time ever, Martin will share the stage with Gary Valenciano, a Filipino musician, composer, actor, producer and gospel singer, who is best known for a number of songs that became movie themes. We suspect that Terry Jenkins, Boyd Gaming's Director of Entertainment, might be following us. On Saturday, June 13th, we spotted Jenkins at both the Marty Allen and Karon Kate Blackwell show at the South Point, as well as at the 25th anniversary surprise party for the talented couple, later in the evening. This last Saturday, June 20th, we saw him at both Patti LuPone's show at The Orleans, and dining at the hotel's excellent Canal Street restaurant, where we also had dinner. And then, the next night, he was at the Suncoast, taking in Vocal Soup! What's going on here, Mr. Jenkins? And speaking of Boyd Gaming...
From Jim Seagrave, Vice President of Advertising for the corporation and one of our favorite Las Vegans, comes this recommendation. During last weekend, Jim and his bride of 30 years, that would be Jan, attended a local production of My Fair Lady on the campus of the new Bishop Gorman High School. Mr. Seagrave reports that My Fair Lady was presented by Writing on the Wall Productions in Gorman's brand new performing arts theater. "Very nicely done. Beautiful facility," says the gentleman who knows much about entertainment. Managing Producer, and Las Vegas native, Margaret Larsen, along with Artistic Director and Broadway veteran, Elena Ferrante-Martin, have teamed up to form Writing on the Wall Productions. Their goal is to provide high quality, affordable musical theatre to the community. Writing on the Wall Productions has enlisted the talents of a group of entertainment professionals who have devoted time and passion to bring the timeless favorite, My Fair Lady, to the Las Vegas stage. Set and lighting are designed by BJ Allen, the current Production Stage Manager of Jersey Boys. Sound and music are designed by the Donny & Marie show's, Michael Martin. Accredited choreographer, Tammy Pessagno, also brings her professional experience to the group. If you are interested in musical theater, and would enjoy the Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe score, telling the tale of "Eliza Doolittle," the Cockney flower girl, and her mentor, professor "Henry Higgins." Director Elena Ferrante-Martin performed in Mamma Mia! before leaving four years ago to teach drama and choir at Bishop Gorman High School. Years ago, we saw Ferrante-Martin in an Equity production of William Finn's musical, Falsettos. We have to say, we were very impressed with her performance. Her version of "Trina" singing "I'm Breaking Down," was a real showstopper. My Fair Lady, often described as "the perfect musical," runs through Sunday, June 28th. Tickets are priced at $12. The Jim3 House of Performing Arts is located on the campus of Bishop Gorman High School, 5959 S. Hualapai Way in Summerlin. For show times and reservations, call (702) 528-4462. 
Variety Live (Holly & Zerdin) 
David Pomeranz And STILL speaking of Boyd Gaming, this weekend's entertainment offering at their Suncoast property is Paul Stone's Variety Live, a world class show featuring an international cast of entertainers. Presented by Showstealers, Variety Live blends the exceptional abilities of six seasoned performers into an action-packed showcase of skill. Las Vegas' own comedy juggling star Michael Holly, who wows audiences with his keen dexterity and unbelievable ball-handling stunts, will be joined by an international cast of performers whose talents are as diverse as the countries they call home. Comedian and ventriloquist Paul Zerdin, a four-time Royal Command performer from London, delivers laughs with the help of his trusty "talking" puppets. From South America comes Sonny Fontana and his repertoire of unique hand shadows. Just as outstanding is the skillful balancing act of Spain's Tino Ferreira, known as the exciting "Rolla Bolla" man. Originally from Russia, but now living in Las Vegas, is hula hoop artiste, Larissa. Ben Stone, Britain's new singing sensation, melts hearts with his good looks and memorable sound. Also, expect a surprise or two (Although if we are telling you, it won‘t be a surprise, will it?). Skilled artists who complement each other's unique talents, the impressive cast of Variety Live offers something for everyone as the performers seamlessly blend their perfected natural abilities and showmanship skills to entertain audiences of all generations. Show times are at 8 p.m. (not 7:30, as had been the show start times until just recently) tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (June 26th, 27th and 28th). Tickets start at $19.95, plus tax, and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (702) 636-7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com. Much like the above mentioned Martin Nievera, David Pomeranz is also a favorite in the Philippines. The uber-talented musician/composer/singer/entertainer, hell David does everything, reports that his musical, Little Tramp - The Musical, based on the life of Charlie Chaplin, will have four performances at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts in Smithtown, New York, July 9th through the 12th. This is welcome news for Pomeranz fans who are in that part of the country. Among the many, many songs that he has written, the two that are probably most familiar to the masses are the Barry Manilow hits, Trying To Get the Feeling Again, and The Old Songs. If you have never heard of Little Tramp - The Musical, it's probably because it has yet to be produced in the U.S. That doesn't mean that you can't hear the music. If you want to cough up $99, you can buy a used copy of the CD through Amazon (still available on June 20th, when we looked it up). The album was recorded in the UK in 1992. The people contributing their talents for a project they believed I, included Mel Brooks, Petula Clark, Tim Curry, Peter Duncan, Richard Harris, Leonard Kirby, Johnny Logan, Lea Salonga, Mel Smith, Treat Williams, and the songwriter himself, David Pomeranz. Pretty impressive lineup, dontcha think? We were lucky enough to see and hear Pomeranz perform some of the 14 songs from this work, live, during a few shows that he did in Las Vegas, at the private Stirling Club in the Turnberry Towers, and in the Wyrick Theater at Planet Hollywood. (We also happen to own a copy of the wonderful, hard-to-find, CD!) David also performed at The Orleans theater with Imelda Papin, on New Years Eve of 2007. Individual tickets for the Smithtown performances are $42.50. Call (631) 724-3700 to Order! * * * * * * Teddy Davey returns to La Scala Ristorante for a second go round as part of Jeanne Bavaro's Classic Dinner Show series, To Italy With Love. When we mentioned the songs that Davey did during his first show at La Scala's two weeks ago, we neglected to include one of our favorites, Jack Lawrence's beautiful Tenderly. Mr. Lawrence, a man we called a friend, also wrote All Or Nothing At All, Beyond the Sea, Hold My Hand, If I Didn't Care, and many other, passed away on March 15th, a couple of weeks before what would have been his 97th birthday. If you missed Davey‘s earlier La Scala appearance, with Tommy Deering at the piano, you get another chance. For $50, you can have a wonderful meal at La Scala (1020 E. Desert Inn, in the Mark I Tower) created by chef Roberto Perotti, followed by the talented team of Davey and Deering providing after-dinner music. Seating is at 7 p.m., with the show following at 8:30. To make reservations, please call (702) 699-9980. * * * * * * 
Have a Nice Day 
Michelle Rohl A reminder...
It's Have a Nice Day, the Las Vegas-based Bon Jovi tribute band, performing three sets at Lake Las Vegas tonight, beginning at 7 p.m. Fronted by Larry Atello on vocals, currently appearing in Tony n' Tina's Wedding at Planet Hollywood, all of the band's other members - Seth Yudof (guitar and vocals), Noel "Jazz" Dimazana (keyboards and vocals), Derek M. (bass and vocals) and founder/drummer Jim Norris - are associated with production shows up and down the Strip. Have a Nice Day promises to be the complete Bon Jovi experience! * * * * * * The Pinball Hall of Fame, a popular spot for aficionados of the "flippers," is planning to relocate from a nondescript, neighborhood shopping center at the corner of East Tropicana and Pecos, to a couple of miles closer to the famed Las Vegas Strip. What we have learned is that owner, Tim Arnold, who owns about 1,200 pinball machines, including many from the 1950s and '60s, is taking over a warehouse with about double the space of his current location, in hopes of attracting more tourists. The Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club bought the building on Tropicana Avenue near Maryland Parkway for $1.24 million in November. The new space will be renovated and is expected to be open for business within three months. We know that entrepreneur/pinball wizard, Gene Balmain, will be delighted with this news. * * * * * * It's the talented Michelle Rohl performing at that, never named in this column, Italian joint on Las Vegas Blvd. South, come this Sunday night at 8:30. As part of Kelly Clinton's Celebrity Spotlight, Michelle will sing a variety of songs, covering everything from blues, rock, and R& B, to inspirational tunes. Over the years, Ms. Rohl has performed in Las Vegas revues, tribute shows, and as a featured singer with Clint Holmes in his long running show at Harrah's. Although we happily endorse Michelle as an entertainer, we cannot, in all good consciousness, endorse the establishment where she will perform on Sunday. We have many amazing friends who put in time there, for very little money and very little thanks. We would love to feel comfortable and welcome at the place, but we don't. Customers (who would probably not be in the place after dinner hours, if not for the hard-working entertainers they come to see), are all to often greeted and treated poorly. We suggest you check it out and decide for yourself to determine if this is a business you want to patronize. As mentioned before, we would like to hear of your experiences...both positive and negative * * * * * * 
Trent Carlini 
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. 
Yanni Hmmm. Just as we suspected. That story about Elvis tribute artist, Trent Carlini, leaving the Wyrick Theatre because of his commitment to America's Got Talent (why couldn't he do both?) didn't ring true to us at the time. Now we learn that Mr. Carlini, who was the winner of TV's Next Best Thing in 2007, is doing his Dream King show at the Riverside in Laughlin, August 11th through 16th. Our guess is, that like every other act that has pinned their hopes on doing something meaningful and ongoing (for more than a few months) in that cursed space in the Miracle Mile Mall at Planet Hollywood, Carlini realized the futility of it all and decided to toss in the towel...a towel that he more than likely used to dry off after the financial bath that he took in the trouble-plagued theater. These days, in addition to the theater's landlord, magician Steve Wyrick himself, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance (without Michael Flatley), and bad boy comic, Andrew Dice Clay, are using space at the Wyrick. We will see if either of these two shows are able to last any longer than top acts such as Ronn Lucas, Wes Winters, Martin Nievera, Aga-Boom, Fan Yang and his Mega Bubble Show, Tom Dane, and the above mentioned Trent Carlini. Show times for Carlini's August dates are 8 p.m., and ticket prices are $34 (less than half the price it cost to see him during his short stay at the Wyrick). * * * * * * Former members of the 5th Dimension, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., will entertain at the Suncoast next weekend. Shows are Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 3rd, 4th and 5th) at 8 p.m. (not 7:30 as in the past). Tickets start at $29.95 plus taxes and fees. For info or to purchase tickets, call (702) 636-7075. It's Yanni at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, tomorrow night. Tickets range from $45 to $ 131.25. Call (702) 632-7580 for reservations and show times. * * * * * * That Ronnie Rose is just like the Energizer Bunny. In a tough time for many performers, Rose seems to find rooms where he can work. On Sunday night, from 8 to midnight, Rose will be a guest vocalist, performing blues, jazz and some R&B, with the Chris Koman Band at the Golden Greek Restaurant, 8565 W. Sahara at the corner of Durango. According to Rose, "The Mad Greek" offers an excellent variety of food selections.
Phone number for the Golden Greek is (702) 242-7669. * * * * * * Jay and the Americans, a ‘60s pop group known for their distinctive sound, will perform their greatest hits at the Cannery Casino & Hotel in North Las Vegas on Friday, July 3rd. The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are just $14.95, plus taxes and fees. Jay and The Americans made their entrance into the music scene with the release of the chart-topping single, "She Cried," in 1962. The group's success continued to rise after the release of their biggest hit "Come A Little Bit Closer," which landed them on The Beatles' first American tour. Some of their other chart-toppers include "Cara Mia," "Only In America," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "This Magic Moment." Tickets are on sale at the Cannery Casino & Hotel's sales counter located at the front desk. They are also available for purchase by calling (702) 507-5757 or (866) 999-4899 (toll free), or by visiting www.cannerycasinos.com. * * * * * * Tomorrow, June 27th, Hot Lava Productions is hosting a fundraising benefit for rugby coach and player (and Hot Lava drummer), Masiano "Masi" Sala, who was injured on the rugby field in San Diego, leaving him paralyzed. Rugby has been a lifelong sport for Masi Sala ever since he was a young boy on the island of American Samoa. Always the athlete, Sala sought out local leagues wherever he lived; ultimately playing with rugby teams all across the southwest United States. In 1994, Sala moved his family to Las Vegas and played with the Blackjacks. He earned a reputation for his exploits on the field, and the nickname Samoan Bowling Ball by his teammates, for knocking down so many players who made the mistake of trying to stop him. In 2008, Sala took on coaching duties for an open-division rugby team in Las Vegas called the Silverbacks. On March 28th, due to lack of players, Masi strapped on his cleats and stepped out onto the turf at Robb Field in San Diego. In the middle of the first half of the game against the San Diego Armada, with the Silverbacks two tries ahead, Sala was tackled and seriously injured. His neck was broken at C4-5, and he was paralyzed from the shoulders down. The event, being held at the All American Sports Center, 121 E. Sunset Road (at Las Vegas Blvd. and Sunset), runs from noon to 9 p.m. and will have live entertainment, arts and crafts, food and prizes. Tickets are $20. Youngsters 14 and under will be admitted free, when accompanied by a paying adult. Funds raised will be used to assist Sala and his family through their financial hardship. To purchase tickets, call (702) 270-8821, e-mail masibenefitfund@hotmail.com, or go online through PayPal at www.lasvegassilverbacks.com at Masi's Benefit Fund Donation Link. 
Masi Sala 
Firefighter Nick Pickard & Fans In an effort to raise funds for cancer survivors and bring awareness to rehabilitation and wellness programs, a group of Las Vegas country artists have come together as Cowboys for Cancer to perform a benefit concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 28th at Club Madrid inside Sunset Station. Proceeds will benefit Vance Davenport and The Caring Place. Davenport, a former Las Vegas resident, recently survived an arduous battle with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). Vance performed in, and later became Musical Director of, the Aladdin's (now Planet Hollywood) Country Tonight show, before he moved to Nashville, performing and touring with such artists as Mark Chestnutt, Sara Evans, George Jones, Lone Star, Toby Keith, Ricochet, and Trent Willmon. Vance's brother, Las Vegas resident JR Davenport, singer and lead guitarist of WolfCreek, created this benefit, not only to honor and assist his brother, but to also support those surviving and living with this debilitating disease. "Music inspires, gives strength and provides hope. I am blessed to have the support of not only our local country music community, but the gracious support of Station Casinos," said Vance Davenport. "My wife and I met at Sunset Station, and I'm so grateful to celebrate the gift of life with family and friends while helping others through their fight." "We at The Caring Place are so appreciative for the support we will receive from the organizers and attendees of the Cowboys For Cancer event," said Connie Bernstein, Chair, The Caring Place. "It is just another example of how this devastating disease brings out the best in people, and the community, who want to help others on their journey with cancer." Cowboys for Cancer features some of the Valley's hottest country acts under one roof, including: Scotty Alexander, The Randy Anderson Band, Desert Outlaws, John Encinio, Lefty Lucy Band, Tony Marques, comedienne Pam Matteson, Mark O' Toole, Third Town, and the above mentioned WolfCreek. Tickets for the Cowboys for Cancer benefit concert are on sale now and can be purchased at any Station Casinos Rewards Center, The Fiesta's Amigo Clubs, online at www.stationcasinos.com or by phone at (702) 547-5300. General admission tickets are $20, and VIP booths are available for $150 and seat up to four people. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will be split between the Davenport family and The Caring Place. Local firefighters raised more than $55,000 at the 10th Annual Fire & Rain Firefighter Bachelor Auction, held on June 6th at RAIN Nightclub inside the Palms Casino Resort. Eighteen of Southern Nevada's finest firefighters put themselves on the line, and all for a good cause. Proceeds benefit the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation and UMC Burn Center. "There were a lot of people who poured their hearts and souls into making this event possible, and it is fulfilling to see so much community support," said Warren Whitney, Public Information Officer and spokesperson for the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation. "From the outstanding support we received from our bachelors, community partners and public supporters who attended the event, the Burn Foundation was able to raise $55,000, which will benefit Southern Nevada families in need." The Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, a non-profit organization guided by Valley firefighters from Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, North Las Vegas Fire Department, Nellis Air Force Base Fire Department, and Henderson Fire Department, is a charitable organization that assists the Southern Nevada community during catastrophic situations, and provides assistance for sick or injured children through financial aid and donations. More than 18,000 Las Vegas Valley residents have benefited from the Burn Foundation in the past two years, and the organization has raised more than $700,000 for the Southern Nevada community since 2003. Shown in the accompanying photo is bachelor firefighter, Nick Pickard, and three lucky ladies. Pickard, a "hottie" from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, was auctioned off to the highest bidder for $1,800. His date package included MGM Grand show tickets, dinner for two, a spa package, and a membership to Gold's Gym.
* * * * * * While many fledgling productions need time and positive word of mouth to slowly build an audience, Naked Boys Singing came charging out of the gate, with sold out performances on Thursday‘s opening night, as well as last Friday and Saturday nights. In fact, business was so good on Saturday, additional chairs and barstools were brought into the Onyx Theatre to bring the accommodations up from 99-seats, to 120! Even at that, with not another chair available, one person was willing to pay the full $30 ticket price to stand in the back of the room. Instead, management sold the customer a ticket for $20, and permitted the determined "music lover" to sit on some steps and watch the show from there. Everybody was happy. Jimmy Emerson, of Starr Pro Productions, in conjunction with Rack Media/Onyx Theatre Group, is producing Las Vegas' Naked Boys Singing. Jimmy's brother, Hank Emerson, is directing, and Brad Barnes, who has been associated with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes and the national touring company of Cats, is the choreographer. The seven cast members, accompanied by Spencer Baker (who keeps his pants on) at the piano, expose much more than just their bodies. In the 90-minute, 16-original song presentation, the men also expose their other talents - that of singing, dancing, acting and comedy. Productions of Naked Boys Singing have been playing in numerous cities around the world, while the New York version has been a hit for the past 10 years. At this point, the Las Vegas version of Naked Boys Singing has been extended (excuse the expression) through July 11th. Ongoing show times at the Onyx are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m. If the buzz and crowd counts continue, it is possible that the Boys will add a Sunday matinee to the schedule. There is also talk that the revue could become an ongoing feature at the Onyx. Just in case that doesn't happen, don't take the chance on missing Nolan, Ivan, Mitchell, Allen, Paul, Daryl and Mark, show their stuff. The Onyx Theatre is located inside The Rack, 953 E. Sahara, Bldg. 16, in Commercial Center. As mentioned above, tickets are $30, and can be purchased either by phone, at the door, or online at www.onyxtheatre.com. For reservations or additional information, call the Onyx at (702) 732-7225. Make your reservations today. * * * * * *
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Tags: Brent Barrett Wes Winters Joe Bologana Rrnee Taylor Phantom
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 - June 19, 2009 
Mac King 
Bob Kaz OMG! Mac King is missing! Mac King has disappeared! No. No. Not from Harrah's, where he has been performing The Mac King Comedy Magic Show, afternoons, for more than nine years. Mac's Magic In a Minute Sunday strip is gone! GONE we say...from the comic section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal! According to the R-J's editor, Thomas Mitchell, that are running a smaller section to save money and are "evaluating," whatever that means. Apparently, we have lost our sense of humor, as we don't find this latest budget cut one bit funny! * * * * * * The Supreme Mary Wilson heads off to the United Kingdom for an 11 day, six-show series of performances. Tomorrow is flying day, and on the 22nd, it's rehearsals. The 23rd, sees Wilson and company in Tyne. On the 24th, they are in Nottingham, the 25th in London, 26th in Birmingham (and we don't mean Alabama), 27th in Manchester, and wind up in Liverpool on the 28th. Come the Fourth of July, Ms. Wilson will be performing at the Riverfront Park in North Charleston, South Carolina. Handling all the arrangements for these journeys, is Mary's Tour/Production Manager, Bob Kaz. When he isn't busy working out travel schedules and creating itineraries for Mary Wilson and her entourage, or for Friends of Distinction (Grazing In the Grass, Love Or Let Me Be Lonely), or the Pointer Sisters (Neutron Dance, I‘m So Excited), or the 5th Dimension (Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, Wedding Bell Blues, One Less Bell to Answer), or Radiance, Kaz can often be seen playing Easy Rider (or The Wild One) as he buzzes around Las Vegas on his snappy motorcycle. As the saying goes, the difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys. Mr. Kaz has some pricey toys. * * * * * * On Monday, June 15th, we got word that, effective that day, Nicole Durr, also known as ND, the creator of Club Fuego at the Rio, has opted to close the nightclub "in order to pursue future projects in other formats." According to the media release, Marilyn Winn, president of Rio, Paris and Bally's Las Vegas, stated, "We regret that ND has decided to close Club Fuego, however we have enjoyed a positive partnership with ND and respect her desire to explore alternative projects. We have benefited from her originality, creativity and enthusiasm and wish both ND and her talented team much success as they continue to develop the various elements of the brand." If you keep up on these things, you probably know that ND was the producer (Siegfried and Roy were also involved) of Havana Night Club that played in the theater at the Stardust in late 2004, closing early in 2005, and you may also recall that, in January, Ms. Durr's show, Fuego Raw Talent Live, closed at the Sahara following a three-month run. ND's nightclub show, Fuego - The Evolution of Night Life, opened at the Rio In February, closing four months later. We can only wonder what is next, and where it will happen, for ND and her projects. The lady doesn't give up easily. Maybe ND also stands for Not Done. * * * * * * It's still spring (until Sunday, anyway) and love is in the air (or maybe it's ragweed). Therefore, we are happy to spread some romantic news. On July 5th, Linda Glynn and Marvin Lashever will become husband and wife in a ceremony attended by family members and about 40 of their nearest and dearest friends. Since we plan to crash the party, we will report on the event, after the fact. Marvin is the president/CEO of G.E.M. Group Inc., Global Entertainment & Management. Congratulations to the happy couple. 
Marvin Lashever & Linda Glynn 
Vocal Soup * * * * * * The 100-seat Onyx Theatre, located inside The Rack clothing store in Commercial Center, 953 E. Sahara at Maryland Parkway, offers some of the most unique entertainment in a city known for entertainment. In a recent feature article in Las Vegas Weekly, Steve Friess named "anything at The Onyx" among his Top 10 Entertainment picks in the city. The tradition continues. In a city where topless showgirls are almost as common as video poker machines, one would be hard pressed to find any type of nudity that might be even slightly controversial, that is until now. With last night's opening of the Las Vegas production of the award winning off-Broadway musical, Naked Boys Singing, tongues around here are sure to be wagging. The number one question I get, says Jimmy Emerson, whose company Starr Pro Productions, in conjunction with Rack Media/Onyx Theatre Group, is producing the Vegas revue, is "are the boys really naked?" The answer, Emerson continues, is "YES they are!" Cast member Nolan Christopher, who moved to Las Vegas from Chicago after performing in the Windy City's version of Naked Boys for two years, believes that, thanks to the wonderfully written script and music, audience members quickly discover that the actors on stage also have faces...and voices. "Ten minutes into the show, the shock wears off," Emerson states, "and the comedy and passion of the piece take over." Under the direction of Jimmy's brother, Hank Emerson, and the choreography of Brad Barnes, who has been associated with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes and the national touring company of Cats, Naked Boys Singing, which has been running for 10 years in New York, and has played in most major cities around the world, lures in the audience with the guise of seeing attractive men bare it all. The catch is, when no one is looking, Naked Boys Singing slaps you in the face with a mixture of comedy and, as cast member Paul Pratt puts it, "Honesty." Mr. Pratt, whose theatrical credits are nearly as extensive as his talents, explains, "You can't hide anything when you're naked." Luckily, the seven talented cast members, accompanied by pianist Spencer Baker, will be exposing much more than their bodies. In a 90-minute, 16-song presentation, they will also be exposing their gifts of song, dance, acting and comedy, when Naked Boys Singing premiers tonight at 10 p.m. in the Onyx Theatre. Ongoing show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m., through July 11th. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased either by phone, at the door, or online at www.onyxtheatre.com. For reservations or additional information, call the Onyx at (702) 732-7225. * * * * * * Last minute weekend reminders...
We are anxiously looking forward to seeing the debut of Vocal Soup at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino. The new collaboration plays through Sunday, with show times at 8 p.m. Long-time friends and performers, Clint Holmes, Susan Anton, Domenick Allen and Martin Nievera, combine their talents onstage for the first time in this union. The 90-minute showcase of solo performances, duets and group numbers will leave fans wanting more as the stars of Vocal Soup fulfill a shared dream of rekindling the Las Vegas tradition of entertainers coming together in an "anything can happen" atmosphere. The show will feature a variety of musical genres, including rock ‘n' roll, hits from Foreigner, popular songs and standards, Broadway classics and originals, including the title song, "Vocal Soup." In addition, special guest Vincent Falcone, onetime pianist and conductor for Frank Sinatra, will perform and conduct during a segment of the show dedicated to the music of "Ol' Blue Eyes." Each one an accomplished performer, Holmes, Anton, Allen and Nievera bring their individual vocal ranges and standout showmanship skills together for a rare group performance. Holmes, known for his powerful voice, magnetic stage presence and success in theater, enjoyed a six-year run in Clint Holmes at Harrah's, during which readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal named him Las Vegas' best singer. A charismatic performer with a smooth style, Holmes had a Top 10 smash hit with 1973‘s "Playground In My Mind (My Name Is Michael)." Clint is currently working on a theater project called JAM. Susan Anton is known as one of the most enduring and versatile performers in show business, having achieved fame on Broadway, the big screen and in numerous television shows, including Night Court and Murder She Wrote. Anton, with her beautiful and free-spirited style, spent more than five years as special guest star with the Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular and its renowned Rockettes at the Flamingo Hilton on the Strip. Holmes and Anton, whose bond of friendship has spanned two decades, will perform alongside their friends Domenick Allen and Martin Nievera. Rock ‘n' roll legend Allen is a former member of the multi-platinum rock group Foreigner, known best for such hits as "I Want To Know What Love Is," "Double Vision" and "Cold As Ice." A professional actor, singer and musician, Allen also toured the world for four years with the famed pianist Liberace and appeared on the London stage in several productions. He co-starred with Helen Reddy in the musical Blood Brothers on Broadway, and was a regular on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. Recording and television star Martin Nievera, who has 15 gold hits in Asia and is regarded as "The Concert King" and a heartthrob in his native Philippines, had his own show at the Golden Nugget, and has performed in other Las Vegas venues, including as a guest artist with Society of Seven (returning to the Suncoast, July 10th through 12th). Martin has dazzled crowds with his diverse repertoire, including his signature "On the Right Track," Broadway medleys and his swing rendition of Michael Jackson songs. Tickets are now available starting from $29.95, plus tax, and can be purchased by calling (702) 636-7075, (702) 636-7111, or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com. Note that the new show time is not at 7:30, as has been the case, but at 8 p.m. Take the extra half-hour to eat slower...and have dessert. In the same neighborhood this weekend, Paul Campanella, co-star of Tony ‘n Tina's Wedding at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort, steps into another role tomorrow night (June 20th)...that of himself! At 7 p.m., on the stage of the Starbright Theatre, at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. in Sun City Summerlin, Campanella, in conjunction with the Sun City Summerlin Community Association Inc., presents Good Times! Good Times! is a music/comedy variety show, built on the classic sounds of Motown, Memphis, Delta Blues, and good old fashioned Soul. The audience can't help but feel good after Paul's dynamic performance! Add a live band, sprinkle in some quick-hit comedy, special giveaways and audience participation, and you have a winning formula for a great time. Tickets are $10 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $15 for non-residents (including LET), and may be purchased at Desert Vista, Mountain Shadows and Pinnacle, or at the Starbright. Call (702) 240-1301. 
Patti LuPone 
Kristofer McNeeley 
Karon Kate Blackwell & Marty Allen Then there is Broadway diva, Patti LuPone, performing at The Orleans, at 8 p.m., tomorrow and Sunday. A two-time Tony-winner (for Evita in 1979, and Gypsy in 2008), LuPone performed her Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda (songs she should have sung) program at the Suncoast two years ago. For that engagement, in a smaller, more intimate room, Patti was accompanied by just piano. This time around, in the larger Orleans theater, she will be backed up by 10 musicians. In addition to Evita and Gypsy, some of LuPone's other credits include Sunset Boulevard, Anything Goes, Oliver!, Working, Master Class and Pal Joey. LuPone also headlined two solo Broadway concerts, Patti LuPone On Broadway and Matters of the Heart, and received excellent reviews for her role as "Mrs. Lovett" in the Lincoln Center concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. She also earned a Tony nomination for her performance as "Mrs. Lovett" in the recent revival of that Sondheim musical. Tickets range from $33 to $60.50, all inclusive. For reservations, call (702) 365-7075. And let us remind you...Don't you dare take a photo, especially with a flash, while Ms. LuPone is performing, or you, too, might wind up on youtube! You want more? We got more. At the Liberace Museum, it's the second edition of VS. (versus), as in Hello VS. Goodbye, Love VS. Hate, John VS. Paul...well, you get it. On this Sunday, at 10 p.m. (after theater), it will be B Sides VS. Hits (as in records). Like with the monthly Composers Showcase, the performers for VS. are all pros. For this Sunday's show, for example, the cast will include Travis Cloer from Jersey Boys; Pilita Danesh from Sin City Heat; Leslie Goddard, also from Jersey Boys (but she‘s a girl); Kristen Hertzenberg from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular; and Mosaic, the six-member, a cappella "boy band" that was the winner of MTV's Top Pop Group. There will also be special appearances by Erich Bergen and Kristofer McNeeley, both from Jersey Boys. The incredible House Band is under the direction of Joey Melotti (Ultimate Manilow), and features Tom Barney, Sonny Emory, and Mike Miller, from Bette Midler's The Showgirl Must Go On). Hosting the evening are Ali Spuck and Keely Vasquez. Ali is a Los Angeles Ovation Award-nominated professional actress and singer. She recently finished the pre-Broadway run of Vanities at the Pasadena Playhouse. Ali's professional credits include Broadway and international workshops of Zorro (London's West End), DreamWorks' Gladiator, and Disney's Snow Queen; the national tours of Jekyll & Hyde, Grease, and Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story; and a variety of new works and regional performances. She created the role of Jenny in Internet Dating: the Musical, written by 30 Rock's Ron Weiner. She has worked with Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Alexander, Dick Van Dyke, Kristen Bell, Zachary Quinto, Michael York, Alan Menken, Steven Weber, Christopher Renshaw, Steven Blanchard, Lauren Kennedy and Judith Ivey, and has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, Ford Amphitheatre, and 42nd Street Studios in New York City. Keely is a Chicago-based actress/singer dancer, currently enjoying a long run in Vegas singing for Barry Manilow in Ultimate Manilow:The Hits. Nominated for a Joseph Jefferson award for her first show in Chicago, Vices, she has had a varied and successful stage, TV commercial and voice-over career. For the last few years, Keely has performed with Manilow in more than 50 US and overseas cities, and appeared on TV shows such as Good Morning America, the Today Show, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Entertainment Tonight, EXTRA, Dancing With The Stars, the Emmy Awards and American Music Awards, as well as several shows on the BBC. She has been featured in four of Manilow's DVD's, including the Emmy Award winning Music and Passion. Tickets for VS. are $20 in advance, and $25 at the door. To purchase, call (702) 798-5595 ext. 13, or go to info@liberace.org. For the two people who don't already know this, the Liberace Museum is located at 1775 Tropicana Ave. (at Spencer) in Las Vegas. And if the public didn't already have enough entertainment choices to make for this weekend, let's not forget Golden Rainbow's 23rd annual Ribbon of Life production show. This year's event takes place on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (which means you can probably do this one, AND a nighttime outing) in the theater at the Las Vegas Hilton. Starring in this weekend's show are comic George Wallace (Flamingo), Mosaic (The Mirage), Vegas newcomers Human Nature (Imperial Palace), plus 250 performers from producers and shows, including ChapQuist Entertainment, Jersey Boys, Jubilee!, Ka, La Femme, Love, O, Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Rich & Famous, Searcy Entertainment, Sin City Bad Girls, Voci Vegas and Zumanity. Tickets start at $50 and may be purchased by calling (702) 384-2899. Golden Rainbow is a uniquely caring and responsive non-profit organization that exists to ensure that the fundamental needs of Southern Nevada men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS are met. So many choices. So little time. * * * * * * Last weekend, comic Marty Allen and his bride, Karon Kate Blackwell, performed two completely sold out shows at Michael Gaughan's South Point. These two are a throwback to Vegas days of yore (and that's a good thing), presenting good old-fashioned entertainment. With Marty and Karon, ticket buyers (and there were plenty) get big doses of both music and comedy. The duo, backed by Dave Kowalski on keyboards, John Plows on drums, Tim Fahey on bass, and David Dubuc on guitar and conducting, seemed to have almost as much fun as the audience who showed up to see them. Karon, who is a skilled piano player (look out, Jerry Lee Lewis) and an excellent singer, proves to be a worthy foil/straight woman for her veteran entertainer husband. At 87 (yes, Mr. Allen is 87), the wild-haired comic has hardly slowed down, even including a little dancing in his portion of the "Marty & Karon Show." Did you know that, many years ago, Marty sold dance lessons...door-to-door? That's true! After his stint in the Air Force (where he earned a Medal of Valor), to supplement his GI Bill income, he hit on a novel idea. Marty became the first door-to-door dance salesman. For $10 a half-hour, he would arrive at women's door with a record player and records and they would dance. He finally gave it up, "because he was visiting 15 clients a day and it was costing him a fortune in new shoes and foot powder." A tip of the hat to assistant showroom manager, Robyn Tuck, who, in spite of an overflow crowd, did an outstanding job of keeping the room running smoothly and the customers happy (there is a definite art to that). Unfortunately, there are too many people working in the "hospitality" industry, that have no clue wat the word means. Ms. Tuck knows. We were delighted to see Norman Kaye (of the Mary Kaye Trio fame) and his wife, Barbara Meriwether Kaye, in Marty and Karon's Saturday night audience. It was just a little more than a year ago, as Norman was fighting to recover from a serious illness, that a benefit was held at The Orleans to raise money to allow him to remain in a rehabilitation facility for a couple of more months. In April of last year, for just a few hours, Norman was allowed to leave the medical facility where he was being cared for. He was in a wheelchair at the time. Last Saturday night, the pioneer lounge performer was on his feet and walking - assisted by Barbara, but walking - in the South Point casino. It's wonderful to actually be able to see the results of the hard work and long hours that goes into a community fundraiser like the one held for Norman Kaye. Following Saturday nights' show, a surprise party, in celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Allen's 25th wedding anniversary (they were married on June 17th, 1984), was held in a lovely suite at the South Point. About 60 friends gathered to congratulate the couple and enjoy a little food and libation, along with a beautiful personalized sheet cake (it was from Freed's Bakery, so you know it was good). Beginning on July 30th, Marty Allen and Karon Kate Blackwell will do a short Catch a Rising Star run, performing at the club in Allamuchy, New Jersey; followed by Princeton, NJ on the 31st; Monticello, New York, on August 1st; and back to New Jersey and Monroe Township on the 2nd. Traveling with the busy couple will be their producer/ director, Howard Jochsberger. The Las Vegans won't even have time to return to home before setting sail from New York on one of their many cruise ship bookings. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are favorites with the cruise companies, as they work clean and have an act that always entertains, and never offends. And speaking of the South Point, on July 4th, it will be Red, White and BBQ, featuring Bill Fayne's Voci Vegas in the hotel's Grand Ballroom. For $33 per person (all inclusive), guests will have a lunch buffet, offering salads, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, and an "as American as apple pie" dessert. A cash bar will be provided. Doors open at noon and Voci Vegas starts at 1:30. For reservations, call (702) 797-8055, or (866) 796-7111. 
Voci Vegas by Ed Foster 
Veteran Nelson Sardelli * * * * * * And also this weekend...Nelson Sardelli is once again showing his humanitarian side (would that be "softer side"?). As he has for four previous Father's Days, Sardelli, who happens to be a veteran himself, is organizing a team of volunteers, entertainers and schleppers (of which he is one), to head out to the Nevada Veterans Home in Boulder City on Sunday (Father's Day, June 21st) to bring a little joy to those who have done so much for their (and our) country. Sardelli says, "For the last four years, we have been going to the Veterans Home and spending four hours entertaining the heroes who reside there." Nelson goes on to say, "It is the least we can do for those who have given so much. For those of you who have taken part in this before, I don't need to tell you what it means to the residents there." This year, the entertainers will be performing indoors - with air conditioning, a stage, and a new public address system...in a setup befitting the pros that they are. The Gary Olds Trio, with Gary Olds on drums, Vincent Falcone (yes, THE Vincent Falcone) on piano, and Bob Sachs on bass, will be providing the backup music. Musicians Tommy Deering and Dr. George Ritter will also be contributing. The entertainment starts at 10 a.m. and will go until 2 p.m. As has been the case for the past four years, many generous souls have volunteered their time and talent, and giving up their Father's Day at home, to participate in this worthwhile annual event. In addition to the above mentioned musicians, among those making the trip to Boulder City are (in alphabetical and politically correct order), Linda "Marilyn Monroe" Angeline, Gary Anthony, Peter Anthony, Michaelina Bellamy, Paul Campanella, George Dare, Teddy Davey, Joe DeCaprio, Robert S. Ensler, Genevieve, Don Gloude', Roy "Willie Nelson" Hammock, Don Hill, Richel Kompst, Robby LeBlanc, Larry Liso, Jerry Lopez, Nik Mastrangelo, Linda November, Babe Pier, Cork Proctor, Charly Raymond, Ronnie Rose, Sonny Rose, Felix Silla, Frank Sinestero, Allen Tramont, and Nathan Brian Wine. The volunteer crew is made up of Andrea Gross, Don Sacco, Pietra Sardelli, and Lou Toomin, with, as we mentioned above, Sardelli serving as stage hand/schlepper. * * * * * * We often lay awake at night, wondering where will the next tier of Las Vegas headliners come from, and who will they be? We have pointed out before, that almost all of the BIG names that play this city, whether as recurring regulars, or once a year visitors, are all on the AARP mailing list. The above mentioned Marty Allen (87), along with Paul Anka (who will be 68 in July), Frankie Avalon (69), Glen Campbell (73), Charo (a longstanding mystery, but we are quite sure that she is in her 60s), Cher (63), James Darren (73), Neil Diamond (67), Engelbert Humperdinck (73), Julio Iglesias (65), Al Jarreau (69), Elton John (62), Tom Jones (who celebrated number 69 on June 7th), Gladys Knight (65), Barry Manilow (who turned 66 on Wednesday), Johnny Mathis (73), Marilyn McCoo (65) and Billy Davis Jr. (69 on June 26th), Bill Medley (68), Bette Midler (63), Liza Minnelli (63), Wayne Newton (67), Tony Orlando (65), Debbie Reynolds (77), Smokey Robinson (69), Don Rickles (83), Carlos Santana (turns 62 next month), Neil Sedaka (70), Tom (72) and Dick (69) Smothers, Barbra Streisand (67), Paul Williams (68), and the Supreme Mary Wilson (65), are all eligible, or nearly so, to collect their social security retirement benefits, although they continue to work. After his recent successful engagement at the Suncoast, if Shecky Greene decides to return to a Las Vegas stage as a regular, or semi-regular, performer, we can add the 83-year-old comic to this list. And, because he will turn 60 tomorrow, we will also include Lionel Richie. We are sure that we have omitted someone (or a few someone's), but you see the pattern/problem here. And speaking of Neil Diamond, three of Diamond's biggest fans, Jean Scigliano, Iris Gerhardt, and Eydie Ruth, administrators of www.iaisnd.com (with "iaisnd" standing for I Am I Said Neil Diamond), tell Cousin Claire that Neil will be performing with the Boston Pops for the city's Fourth of July celebration. Neil's Sweet Caroline is an anthem of sorts for Red Sox fans. The singer/songwriter will join conductor Keith Lockhart and the Pops for the traditional concert and fireworks spectacular on the Charles River Esplanade. That's not far from Fenway Park, where fans sing along with Sweet Caroline during every game, and where Diamond played a concert last summer. Sponsors say about a half-million people attend the free show each year. The final hour, from 10 to 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, will be televised nationally by CBS. 
Neil Diamond 
Aretha Franklin in THAT hat 
Shoshana Bean And speaking of Barry Manilow, the Hilton headliner is one of the featured entertainers announced for PBS-TV's A Capitol Fourth, to run Saturday, July 4 at 8 p.m. (check local listings). The event, which will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., and which concludes with a spectacular fireworks display, will be hosted by actor Jimmy Smits. In addition to Manilow, the show will feature cast members from companies of the award-winning musical Jersey Boys, as well as Michael Feinstein, Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, Andrew von Oeyen, the Muppets, and the National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Erich Kunzel. The BIG question here is, "Will Aretha wear that infamous hat?" Ms. Franklin is performing at Primm tonight. For reservations and/or additional information, call (702) 386-7867. And the question, once again, is "Will Aretha wear that infamous hat?" * * * * * * Beginning on Monday, June 22nd, there will be two big changes in Jerry Mitchell's PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood. Broadway veteran, Shoshana Bean, will replace former Spice Girl Mel B (Melanie Brown) as the Mistress of Ceremonies, and former Girl Next Door (and Playboy Hugh Hefner's girlfriend) Holly Madison will step in for Kelly Monaco who played Bo Peep in PEEPSHOW. On Broadway, Shoshana took over Indina Menzel's role of Wicked's green-skinned witch "Elphaba." Menzel, who originated that role, won a Tony for it. Initially cast as Menzel's standby, Bean played Elphaba for a year on Broadway and reprised the role during a national tour. Before that, she originated the role of "Shelley" in another Tony-winning Broadway hit, Hairspray. In addition to her stage success, Bean has worked as a back-up singer for Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Britney Spears. The title track from Bean's album, Superhero, was used by NBC to promote part of the network's prime-time lineup. * * * * * * In addition to some of the regular multi-talented Composers Showcase contributors, last week's edition featured performances by a couple of Vegas newcomers, Monique I. Midgette and Alton Fitzgerald White, cast members from Las Vegas' newest big production show, The Lion King. These two blew the roof off the Liberace Museum with their individual performances. Monique and Alton bring an impressive list of Broadway credits to our community. Monique was nominated for a 2008 Helen Hayes award for her role as "Kiswana Browne," in the musical adaptation of the great novel by Gloria Naylor, The Women of Brewster Place. She has also had roles, on and off-Broadway in Seussical the Musical, Marie Christine, The Who's Tommy, Ain't Misbehavin', House of Flowers, The Civil War and Dreamgirls. Alton comes to the Las Vegas company directly from a three-year engagement as "Mufasa" in The Lion King on Broadway. Other Big Apple credits include "Coalhouse Walker Jr." in Ragtime: The Musical, "Ken" in Smokey Joe's Cafe (Broadway and original London company), "John" in Miss Saigon (original company member) and "The Hawker" in The Who's Tommy. Favorite regional roles include Scott Joplin in Tin Pan Alley Rag, Jackie Robinson in The First, "Athos" in The Three Musketeers, and "Curtis Taylor, Jr." in Dreamgirls. Alton has also performed in many concert dates around the world. Welcome to Las Vegas! 
Monique L. Midgette 
Frank Marino 
Felice Garcia as Carrie Underwood * * * * * * We were among the approximately 50 people who showed up at the first of a series of Classic Dinner Shows, to be held at La Scala Ristorante. The folks came out to enjoy a meal at the East Desert Inn Italian eatery, and to listen to the combined musical talents of the TDs. No, that's not the name of a new boy band, although, with these two entertainers, it could be. To launch the new series, producer Jeanne Bavaro brought together singer Teddy Davey (he of Las Vegas Tenors fame) and pianist/songwriter Tommy Deering (thus the TDs). Arriving guests were greeted by two lovely showgirls (one who happened to be Angela Acosta, the daughter of Bavaro and Bill Acosta), and offered a glass of complimentary wine or champagne, while La Scala's owner/chef, Roberto Perotti, was busy preparing a meal of chopped salad, Ossobuco ala Milanese, Saffron Risotto, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Trottole Pasta Pescatora. Cannolis were served before the musical performance began. The talented Mr. Davey (not only can he sing, but he is funny too) and Mr. Deering did a set that included standards, opera, Broadway tunes and even some Italian numbers (after all, the series is called To Italy with Love), including Al Di La, Volare', Matinatta, Sway, Mona Lisa/Speak Softly Love, Route 66 (with the unexpected, but crowd-pleasing "Route 66 Dancers"), Caruso, Unchained Melody (Italian), and Another Vintage Year and A Votre Sante (To Your Health in French), two original songs from Deering's Paso Robles song cycle. Frank Sinatra was remembered with Almost Like Being In Love, You Make Me Feel So Young, Young at Heart, I've Got You Under my Skin, Swingin' on a Star and Forget Domani. Teddy and Tommy will perform again at La Scala on Sunday, June 28th...same time, same ticket prices ($50 per person, all inclusive), different music, and a different meal. Next month, on the 12th and 19th (both Sundays), it will be Denise Clemente in the spotlight at La Scala. The series will continue through August 9th, 23rd and 30th), with performers to be announced. Call (702) 367-9805 for more information and reservations. Seating for this series is expected to be extremely limited. * * * * * * An Evening at La Cage has been gone from the Riviera since February, but that doesn't mean that the show's star, Frank Marino, is lounging by his pool, sipping a mint julep, and being fanned by a handsome cabana boy (although he might be doing that too). The female impersonator is not letting any grass grow under his Manolo Blahniks. No indeed. As he waits to make an announcement regarding a new home on the Strip, Frank has managed to stay busy. He recently wound up a six-week guest-starring role in Tony n' Tina's Wedding at Planet Hollywood, and last weekend, he and six additional impersonators - Steven Wayne as Cher, Crystal Woods as Diana Ross, Sammy Gonzales as both Liza Minnelli and Debbie Reynolds, Christopher Ray as Reba McEntire, Coco Vega as Tina Turner and Shirley Bassey, and Gary Seitz as Big Madonna and Mae West - calling their revue Diva Las Vegas, did three sell-out shows in the 300-seat Freedom Hall at Independence Center in Anthem. Also last Saturday, in conjunction with Gay Pride Month, the group did a free performance of Diva Las Vegas at the West Charleston Library. In November, Diva Las Vegas will do their thing at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. We will have more details on that, and a few other things, in upcoming columns. On a more personal level, when it comes to female impersonators, the public is often curious about the performers sexuality, as in "Is he, or isn‘t he?" In the case of Frank Marino, with out-there Adam Lambert honesty, he states that "he himself is not gay, but he thinks his boyfriend might be." * * * * * * Java Detour introduces two new ways to cool off during the desert heat, with some unique beverage additions - the Oreo Mint Latte and the Lemon Drop Smoothie. The Oreo Mint Latte offers an unusual twist on one of Java Detour's classic favorites, the Oreo Latte. Java Detour's Oreo Mint Latte is blended with peppermint for a refreshing taste, similar to that of the classic Girl Scout cookie. Prices start at $4.74 (small) and $6.79 (extra large). The icy Lemon Drop Smoothie is the ideal combination of tart and sweet, blended to perfection with homemade lemonade and ice (small, $3.40; extra large, $5.06). Both drinks are available on Java Detour's menu from now through Labor Day. Java Detour offers 100 percent organic premium coffees and teas, and all packaging is made from recycled materials. In addition to serving organic coffee, Java Detour has a wide variety of delicious syrups, and can create custom specialty drinks. They also offer a variety of fresh blended smoothies, fruit juices, breakfast sandwiches and pastries, along with a wide selection of kid-friendly beverages. All of Java Detour's custom drinks are served up in a trendy, lounge-feel atmosphere, with all the comforts of home. Both locations boast modern furniture, free Wi-Fi, high-definition televisions, and will soon feature live entertainment. Java Detour, a San Francisco-based upscale boutique brand, has 21 stores throughout California, Nevada, Minnesota, Wisconsin and China. The Java Detour, located at 6087 S. Pecos Rd. is open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Java Detour, located at 100 City Parkway, Suite 130 in the Molasky Corporate Center complex, is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information visit www.javadetourlv.com or www.javadetour.com. * * * * * * In spite of what you may have heard, Buddy Greco's Dinner Club in Cathedral City, adjacent to Palm Springs, is still up and running. Now in its third year of operation, the restaurant/lounge most often features Greco and wife, Lezlie Anders Greco, as the entertainment. Currently, the Grecos are on a working tour of the United Kingdom. As with many businesses in the desert community, and while Buddy and Lezlie traveling, the club will be closed until August. * * * * * * Nevada Public Radio listeners and members have a unique opportunity to support public radio while experiencing Jersey Boys and an exclusive Q&A session with the cast and crew following the performance at The Palazzo on Friday, June 26th, at 7 p.m. Five hundred tickets for the June 26th performance - all located in the front orchestra section - will benefit and must be purchased through Nevada Public Radio. Only Nevada Public Radio ticket holders will have access to the rare post-show meeting with the talented performers who take audiences up the charts and behind the timeless sounds of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. This musical biography that traces one of the greatest successes in pop music history is the same production that fans around the world have come to know and love. It features electrifying performances of such classics as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "My Eyes Adored You." Jersey Boys was voted "Best Show" in Las Vegas by the staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal in the newspaper's 28th annual "Best of Las Vegas" poll. Special ticket pricing of $100 is available for current Nevada Public Radio members. Listeners of News 88.9 KNPR and Classical 89.7 can purchase tickets for $125 each, which includes Nevada Public Radio membership. All proceeds benefit Nevada Public Radio. To purchase tickets, visit www.knpr.org, www.classical897.org or call (702) 258-9895 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. * * * * * * It was bound to happen. The American Superstars show at the Stratosphere has introduced a Carrie Underwood tribute, with Felice Garcia filling the role. "Carrie Underwood is one of the most popular artists out there," said Mark Callas, who produces American Superstars with his Springtime Productions partner, Donny Moore. "This is a great addition to the American Superstars lineup. Felice Garcia has amazing talent - combine her Carrie Underwood with Elvis, Tim McGraw, Michael Jackson and our new Britney Spears, and you have a tribute artist group that puts on a show everyone will enjoy and one that simply can't be missed," he added. Garcia will perform a three-song set of Underwood hits including: "All American Girl," "I Told You So," and "Last Name." Garcia's set was conceived and designed by veteran American Superstars producer and Las Vegas Walk of Stars 2008 inductee Donny Moore. Garcia is a singer, dancer and actress, and comes to American Superstars from Les Folies Bergère. She is pursuing a bachelor of art in music and vocal performance at UNLV, and attended the I Can Do Anything Performing Arts Conservatory. American Superstars is a full-scale production show that combines the talents of tribute artists portraying the likeness and musical abilities of today and yesterday's hottest stars. The high energy Superstars Dance Band and the beautiful Superstars Dancers back the multi-talented cast. Show times are Sunday through Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Stratosphere's Theater of the Stars Showroom. The show is dark on Thursday. Summer Special: Tickets are $39.99 for adults and $29.99 for children ages 5 to 12. Buffet and Observation Deck Package is just $5 more. VIP Seating is available for an additional $10 per ticket. For tickets or more information, call (702) 380-7711 or (800) 99-TOWER. * * * * * * 
Jimmy Hopper 
Jean Francois Detaille 
Denny Dent For those who have been enquiring about the whereabouts of Jimmy Hopper, lately, the unique entertainer has been spending most of his time in Southern California - more specifically, the Newport Beach area. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 7 to 10 p.m., Hopper performs at the Ritz Restaurant & Garden on Fashion Island, and on Fridays and Saturdays, from 8:45 to midnight, he entertains in the Palm Terrace at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach. If you are in the area... Word is that Trader Vic's, where Jimmy last performed in Las Vegas, is closing its Planet Hollywood/Miracle Mile Mall location. * * * * * * The Happening will be performing at Marilyn's Lounge inside the Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel tonight and tomorrow. The group burst onto the music scene in the summer of 1966 with the release of their first single, "See You In September." The song quickly spiraled up to the top of the national and international music charts, and was recently categorized as one of the top 100 summer songs of all time by Entertainment Magazine. Riding on the momentum of their success, The Happening released their next smash hit "Go Away Little Girl," from their album Bye, Bye, So Long, Farewell. Many great releases soon followed including the classic hits, "I Got Rhythm," and "My Mammy." Today, the extraordinary vocal talent and unparalleled showmanship of The Happening continues in their performances throughout concert venues and arenas across the country. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets, at a reasonable $10, are available for purchase at the front desk, prior to the show. * * * * * * On Friday nights, from 7 to 10 p.m., The Village at Lake Las Vegas is offering a series of free classic rock concert tribute bands throughout this month. Tonight, enjoy the relaxing lakeside ambiance and music from the Billy Joel songbook, with Billy Joel Tributet; and next Friday, the 26th, Have A Nice Day, a Las Vegas-based Bon Jovi tribute band, featuring our friend Larry Atello (Larry is also a cast member of Tony n' Tina's Wedding, currently doing great business at Planet Hollywood), will be featured. This takes place on The Village lakeside lawn, at 15 Costa di Lago. And in the Jazz on the Lake concert series, tomorrow night, also from 7 to 10 p.m., The Village at Lake Las Vegas welcomes jazz pianist Woody Woods to the stage. On June 27th, it's the band, Blu7, and the monthly Vino di Lago wine tasting. Except for the wine tasting event, the concerts are free and open to the public. The wine tasting event is the perfect evening for wine enthusiasts to experience wines from vineyards across the country while supporting MDA of Southern Nevada. Tickets for Vino di Lago are available at the event for $25 per person, and can also be purchased at https://secure.mdausa.org/mdavinodilago. No coolers please. Overnight stays are available at MonteLago Village Resort. For lodging reservations, please call (888) 600-2688 or visit www.montelagovillage.com. * * * * * * Tomorrow night, beginning at 8, paint flies to music at the Philharmonic "Pops" at Henderson Pavilion.
Extreme Artist Jean Francois Detaille literally throws himself into his work, using not only brushes, but brooms and his body to create amazing paintings at warp speed. He's been known to paint while hanging upside down on a burning rope! He has also painted the Mona Lisa while blindfolded. His unique comedy routines are as quick as his paint brush. Tomorrow evening, members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic will inspire Detaille's efforts in "LV Philharmonic Goes to the Extreme...with Artist Jean Francois," a family friendly blending of the arts. The orchestra will have its work cut out for it, keeping pace with the whirlwind artist. While the orchestra plays rousing American music, Jean Francois will dazzle with his amazing ability to paint a picture upside down...then reveal it as the Statue of Liberty when turned right-side up. Paintings with international themes take the audience on a parallel worldwide musical journey. For the grand finale, Jean Francois and the orchestra will pair a giant mural of pop music legends with music. By the end of the evening, Jean Francois frequently has as much paint on himself as on his canvases. Las Vegas is half a world away from Jean Francois' birthplace, Namur, Belgium. A chance meeting with flamboyant artist Salvador Dali in Spain convinced the fledgling artist that a sequestered studio life was not for him. He enrolled in the Academy des Beaux Art in Belgium, best known for such painters as Jan van Eyck, Brueghel, Peter Paul Rubens, Rene Magritte, James Ensor, Pierre Alechinsky and others, and then continued his studies at the Academy des Beaux Arts in Paris. This school, which inspired famous impressionists Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Jean-Francois Millet, Paul Gauguin, and Henri Matisse, cubist Pablo Picasso, and surrealist Dali, also produced performance artist Yves Klein. The stage was set. Jean Francois' unique vision of the arts scene catapulted him into a career as a mile-a-minute artist filling large canvasses with vibrant colors in record time. His first gig in Vegas was in Madhattan at New York-New York in 1997. That served as a springboard for appearances as an "event painter" throughout the world, including Hong Kong, Milan, Paris, Tokyo, London, and Monaco. He has taken center stage at global events such as the Olympics, the World Soccer Tournament, political conventions, and world summit meetings, and also performed for the King of Belgium, the Sultan of Brunei, Prince Charles, the Sheik of Kuwait, and the Grimaldis, from the Royal House of Monaco. He's also starred on TV, including The Today Show and Larry King Live. Jean Francois also painted Nelson Mandela in South Africa for his 90th Birthday, Pope John Paul in 1978 for his first inaugural tour to Europe, and did the grand opening of the 2008 Ryder cup. In 2000, he was named the Spotlight Awards Entertainer of the Year for the special/corporate event market. Tickets for "LV Philharmonic Goes to the Extreme...with Artist Jean Francois" are available by phone at (702) 267-4849 and on the Pavilion website: www.hendersonlive.com. Reserved seats are $50, Section A; $30, Section B; $25, Section C. Children 4-12, $10; Children 3 and under, free. Lawn seating is also $25 but will be available only after all reserved seats are sold. The Henderson Pavilion is located at 200 South Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. Please note: There are no refunds or exchanges on all ticket purchases. All performances will continue as scheduled, rain or shine. For additional information on our programs and entertainment, please contact us directly at (702) 267-2171. A few specific rules apply at this venue: One unopened bottle of water per person, blankets and animals assisting disabled are allowed. Items prohibited from being brought to the Pavilion include: coolers, bottles, cans, weapons, laser pointers, chairs, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, illegal drugs, outside food and beverage, pets, recording devices, cameras, umbrellas and any items deemed inappropriate by the management. Smoking is only permitted in designated area. Shoes and shirts are required. All bags are subject to search at anytime. Management reserves all rights. Performance artist, Denny Dent, was another entertainer known for his artistic abilities to paint celebrities and historical figures in a short period of time. He termed this his 'Two-Fisted Art Attack.' A native of Oakland, California, Dent could paint on a six-foot canvas with three paint brushes in each hand, sometimes working upside down. He could even paint with his feet but rarely did this. Dent performed to audiences from 25,000 to 300,000 people, including at Woodstock 94. He was also featured as an opening act for Steppenwolf and the B-52s when they were on tour. In the late ‘80s, Denny was one of the specialty acts in Steve Notario and Chris Andreoli's Star Shop at the Sands. Star Shop was quite creative in the rotating acts that they booked. In addition to the very clever Denny Dent, jugglers Michael Holly, Daniel Rosen, Rejean St. Jules, and Michael Marlin were in at different times, singer Catte Adams of Star Search fame had a shot, as did comic ventriloquist JTO & Bobby Duck, magician Ed Alonzo, the dancing Footlockers and Jahna Steele. Among the many famous people that Denny painted were Gerald Ford, Rudolph Giuliani, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Pope John Paul II, Bill Clinton, and Jimi Hendrix. In his later years, Dent's paintings sold for about $60,000 each. Denny Dent passed away on March 29, 2004, in Aurora, Colorado. He was only 55 when he died of multiple organ failure. As for Michael Holly, look for the funny man (late of the Tropicana's Les Folies Bergere) in Paul Stone's Variety Live!, at the Suncoast next weekend. * * * * * * Tonight and tomorrow night, and again next Friday and Saturday (June 26th and 27th), it's Eric Comstock and his wife, Barbara Fasano, back at Palm Beach, Florida's, Royal Room Supper Club at The Colony. About their Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams show, which they are performing for this engagement, critics have written things like, "Their joint venture is a capital idea. Fasano is a gorgeous, soulful singer who has an actor's intensity in whatever she sings. When they (Comstock and Fasano) sing together, the evening is transformed from collaboration to alchemy." - Frank Scheck, New York Post. Stephen Holden, of the New York Times writes, "A smart and amusing show. Comstock (is) an aesthetic heir of Bobby Short and droll walking reference book of traditional American pop-jazz. Mr. Comstock and Ms. Fasano are turning the neighborhood into a hotbed of pleasure." Doors open at 6:45 for dinner, with shows at 8 p.m. The cost for dinner and show is $85 per person, and $50 for the show only. The Colony Palm Beach is located at 155 Hammon Ave. For reservations, call (561) 659-8100.
Comstock and Fasano photo by James Smith 
Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano 
Michele LaFong & Paco * * * * * * Musician Michael Shane and Hollywood producer, Jon Fondy, are of the thinking that pride in our community is a natural extension of pride in ourselves. With this in mind, they say, "We in Las Vegas have a great opportunity to invest in our future by investing in our children. As our community grows, our challenges grow with us and this includes a widening population of children in facilities such as Child Haven - places designed to give a home to kids with no home. As the Entertainment Capital of the World, we can help these kids by using one of our best resources...the entertainers that have come to call Las Vegas THEIR home." As a result, they have put together a non-profit (yes, they have their 501 c3 permit) fundraising organization. On Sunday, the Las Vegas Tenors - Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, and Teddy Davey - will headline a charity variety show to be held at Santa Fe Station, 4949 N. Ranc
Tags: Mac King Bob Kaz Marvin Lashever Linda Glynn Vocal Soup
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 - June 12, 2009 
Trina Johnson-Finn 
Marty Allen & Karon Kate Blackwell 
Steve Tyrell Trina Johnson-Finn, who had been imprisoned in a South American jail since early March, was released last Friday, and, as of Wednesday, is back home in Las Vegas. Trina was accused of posing as Toni Braxton at a concert in Suriname, where she was pelted with trash and booed offstage. Prosecutors requested that she serve a one-year sentence with nine months of it suspended, meaning that even if she receives the full sentence, she will have already served the three months. After fleeing the area, and leaving Johnson-Finn behind, Angel Ventura, the concert promoter, said Trina was not involved in the scheme that charged up to $53 per ticket for the February 28th concert in Suriname's capital. A crowd of about 3,000 threw bottles and beer cans at her in what has been dubbed the "Phony Toni" concert. The real Braxton won six Grammys and is best known for the hit "Un-break My Heart," as well as appearances on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Braxton also had a two year stint at the Flamingo from 2006 to 2008. Prosecutor Duncan Nanhoe alleged that Johnson-Finn likely came to Suriname as an impersonator but later decided to play along. "She had several opportunities to pull out of the scam, but she did not," he said. "She could have decided not to come on stage when Toni Braxton's name was announced, but she came on." The entertainer's husband, Raymond Finn, says that his wife was duped by the concert promoter Ventura. Ventura, and his girlfriend, Signet Sampson, are expected to stand trial in July. Ventura initially said that Johnson-Finn knew about the scam from the beginning, according to police. He later said she was not involved in the scheme. Johnson-Finn, a onetime back up singer for Barbra Streisand and MC Hammer, has augmented her 20-year singing career by impersonating various artists. * * * * * * Don't forget, it's funnyman Marty Allen and his talented musician/straight woman wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, at the South Point, tonight and tomorrow night. Show times are at 7:30, and tickets start at $15 and are available at the South Point box office, or by calling (702) 797-8055. See you there. And, as long as we're giving friendly reminders, you can also catch Steve Tyrell in the Gordie Brown Showroom at the Golden Nugget. The Grammy-winning singer is filling in for vacationing Gordie Brown, through Monday. * * * * * * While the Sin City Bad Girls take some time off from their gig in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Hilton, Siameze Floyd (called "The Godson of Rock and Soul" - his parents are Eric Floyd and Wanda Dee) will take over the late night spot, this Tuesday through Saturday. On the 16th (Tuesday), there will be a special 7 to 9 p.m. showcase. Show times, Wednesday through Saturday, will be from 10 to midnight. Backed by the Alley Catz, an 11-piece, multi-cultural, all-star group of veteran musicians, including some who have worked and/or toured with acts such as Lenny Kravitz, The Temptations and Foreigner, Siameze has been compared to Prince, Michael Jackson and James Brown, among others. Effortlessly switching between high energy funk, dance and rock, to soul stirring originals, sets this boy wonder apart from anyone currently performing in Las Vegas. In addition to two percussionists, two guitar players, two keyboard players, two bass players (something not normally practiced since Little Richard himself), and a horn player that doubles on alto/tenor sax and flute, there are two remarkable background vocalists (both lead singers in their own right), who Siameze refers to affectionately as his Sweet Infiltrations, in homage to Elvis Presley's Sweet Inspirations. Although he's only 22, Siameze is already a stage veteran - dancing and singing backup with his mother 10 months a year, all over the world. This limited engagement at the Hilton will be his major Vegas casino headlining debut. Although all shows are free and open to the public, it is requested that all press, casino/ label executives and fellow performers, RSVP as quickly as possible to GoddessEmpire6@AOL.com to arrange special VIP seating on the night(s) they will be attending 
Siameze Floyd 
Babe Pier 
Jerry Herman * * * * * * Funny man Babe Pier is back at that Italian joint on the south end of Las Vegas Blvd., tonight and tomorrow night, from 9:30. The impressionist will have a slew of "guests" on stage with him, all created in the mind of Mr. Pier. The guy is a longtime pro. Catch him if you can. * * * * * * For Cousin Claire, Sunday night's Tony Awards offered some special moments, including when Broadway's writer of show tunes (most often, both words and music), Jerry Herman, was named as the recipient of the 2009 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. Herman's award was presented by Angela Lansbury, who had won her fifth Tony earlier in the evening, for her role in Noel Cowards' Blithe Spirit. He graciously accepted the well-deserved honor with a touching, from the heart speech. (Lansbury, by the way, starred in the 1966 TV special, Mrs. Santa Claus, and Broadway's Dear World and Mame, all with music written by Herman.) BroadwayWorld.com's James Sims had this to say about the 77-year-old legendary composer...There is never an evening when, somewhere in the world, the music and lyrics of Jerry Herman are not being sung by a lady in a red headdress, or a lady with a bugle, or a middle-aged man in a wig and a boa. Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles are home to some of the most popular, most-often performed and most successful musical heroines of all time, and have given Jerry the distinction of being the only composer-lyricist in history to have had three musicals that ran more than 1,500 consecutive performances on Broadway. When Dear World opened in 1969, Jerry became the only composer-lyricist in history to have three productions running on Broadway simultaneously. His first Broadway show was Milk and Honey (1961), followed by Hello, Dolly! (1964) Mame (1966) Dear World (1969), Mack & Mabel (1974), The Grand Tour (1979), La Cage aux Folles (1983), Jerry's Girls (1985) and "Mrs. Santa Claus" (1966), a CBS TV special starring Angela Lansbury. Showtune, a revue of his life's work, is performing in regional theatres around the country and around the world. His string of awards and honors includes multiple Tonys, Grammys, Drama Desk Awards, the Johnny Mercer Award, the Richard Rodgers Award, the Oscar Hammerstein Award, the Frederick Lowe (sic) Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame. Two of his classic songs are the emotional highlights of the hit Disney-Pixar film Wall-E. A revival of La Cage aux Folles is currently playing in London's West End, and recently won the Olivier Award for Best Revival, as well as the London Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical. Jerry Herman was the subject of the 2008 PBS documentary, "Words and Music by Jerry Herman." Regarding Jerry Herman, the man also created the, as yet, unproduced Miss Spectacular. In 1999, the musical, with a Las Vegas background, was written for the Mirage, at the request of hotel mogul Steve Wynn. For whatever reason, even though he had many theater spaces where he could have put the production, Wynn never used it. There is a concept album available, though, featuring the voices of Christine Baranski, Michael Feinstein, Davis Gaines, Debbie Gravitte, Steve Lawrence, Karen Morrow, and Faith Prince, singing some terrific Jerry Herman songs. And in another Herman/Las Vegas connection...In October of 2006, Herman's longtime conductor, Donald Pippin, Jason Graae, Karen Morrow and Las Vegas' own Paige O'Hara, came to Las Vegas as part of the New York Stage & Beyond series, where they performed in Hello, Jerry! at UNLV. Although he was expected to be here, Herman's health at the time prevented that. The rest of the cast not only put on one heck of a show, they came in a couple of days early so they could conduct some master classes in musical theater performance at the university. It was also nice to see our community represented by Rick Faugno, who portrays Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys, now at The Palazzo. Faugno joined four other actors who play Frankie Valli, in the Chicago company (Dominic Scaglione, Jr.), the Toronto company (Joseph Leo Bwarie), the Broadway production (who we could not identify, sorry), and the national touring company (Courter Simmons), to perform a medley from the musical story of Frankie and The Four Seasons. We thought the acceptance speeches by the three very excited young winners in the Best Performance (Performances) by a Leading Actor (Leading Actors) in a Musical - David Alvarez (14), Trent Kowalik (14), and Kiril Kulish (15) - for their roles as "Billy" in Billy Elliot The Musical, were natural and charming. 
Three Billy Elliots 
Neil Patrick Harris As for Tony Award host, Neil Patrick Harris, we thought he did a great job. As a result of Barak and Michelle Obama taking in August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone in New York earlier this month, it was Harris' suggestion that Broadway "go presidential," with shows such as Barack of Ages, Phantom of the Oprah (she's near presidential), and Obama Mia! Mr. Harris closed the show with one of the best performances of the evening. His witty and well-sung parody of Tonight from West Side Story, and Luck Be a Lady from Guys and Dolls, with special lyrics written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, cleverly working in the names of the night's winners, ended the award ceremonies on a high note. Neil never missed a beat. Who knew Doogie Howser was so talented? We do have to wonder, though, why was the sound so awful throughout much of the evening??? Especially when they, more than likely, had Tony-nominees for sound in the house! And why didn't they show close-up photos and names of the members of the Broadway community that died during the last year? The way that portion was (mis)handled, left viewers asking "who?" And speaking of musical theater...The talented Tony-nominee (for 42nd Street), Lee Roy Reams, who played "Roger DeBris" in the Vegas version of The Producers, sends this news...I am heavy into rehearsals with 42nd Street at the MUNY in St. Louis, with Dee Hoty and Bob Cuccioli. We open June 15th. In August (11th through 24th), we'll be on the Crystal Line's Baltic Cruise to Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Berlin and Copenhagen, ending in Dover (London). Some of the stars, presented by the Theatre Guild and sailing with Reams on the Crystal Symphony, will include Patricia Neal, Susannah York, and Patricia Routledge (PBS' Keeping Up Appearances). Lee Roy also reports that he will be singing with the Cincinnati Pops on July 4th. 
Lee Roy Reams 
Patricia Routledge 
Mark Nadler And, while still in a New York State of Mind (thank you, Billy Joel)...The multi-talented (he sings, he dances, he plays piano, he's witty, and he has an incredible mind and memory) Mark Nadler is presenting His Lovely Wife, Ira at the Metropolitan Room, Thursday nights through June 25th. If you are in the Big Apple (why do they call it that?), don't miss the chance to see Mr. Nadler, one of cabaret's brightest and most inventive stars at the top of his game. * * * * * * Next Saturday, June 20th, starting at 7 p.m., Paul Campanella presents his Good Times! revue at the Starbright Theater in Sun City Summerlin (2215 Thomas Ryan Boulevard). Like Mr. Nadler (mentioned above) Campanella is a multi-talented entertainer. He is an actor/singer/comedic performer/musician/ published songwriter and show producer. In August of 2006, Paul began appearing as "Anthony Nunzio Sr." in the hit show, Tony n' Tina's Wedding, currently doing great business the at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. In 2007, he was asked by the show's director to take an additional role as "Sal Antonucci" the photographer. His hilarious interpretation of the character even had fellow cast members cracking up, showing his versatility as an actor. Paul has performed as a singer/entertainer and actor in showrooms, lounges, and clubs all across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. He has shared the stage or co-starred with stars such as Barry Williams ("Greg Brady" on The Brady Bunch), Joey Ganniscolli ("Vito" from The Sopranos), Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tiffany, Kato Kaelin, Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling, Rich Little, Charlie Callas, Pete Barbutti, Nelson Sardelli, Clint Holmes, and many others. He has appeared on national television singing the American and Canadian National Anthems for the HBO event, Night of the Young Heavyweights, in 2003. Good Times! at the Starbright is just that. It's a music/comedy variety show, built on a blend of classic favorite songs from Motown, Memphis Soul and Delta Blues with material from The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, B.B. King and many others. Campanella is backed by a real live band, made up of his son, Paul Campanella Jr. on drums (currently with Jump Street at the Top of The World lounge at The Stratosphere), Gret Menzies of Dangerous Curves on vocals, Tim Scott on bass and vocals (he's with the Cordle/Scott Band), Dean Reichart on guitar (also with the Cordle/Scott Band), and Todd Rogers on keyboards (formerly with Yellow Brick Road). The audience can't help but feel good after this dynamic performance. Sprinkle in a little quick hit comedy and audience participation, and you have a winning formula for a great time. In the words of B. B. King, "Let the Good Times Roll!" Some of the comments regarding Campanella's talents include, from the Las Vegas Tribune, "A bundle of energy, talent and charisma...absolutely captured his audience with his dynamic performance." And from fellow entertainer, Diane Ellis who stated, "Paul is terrific...he's got the moves!" Tickets are on sale at Desert Vista, Mountain Shadows and Pinnacle community centers. The price is $10 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $15 for non-residents. All shows at the Starbright are first come, first served with no limit on the number of tickets purchased. Saving seats is prohibited. All ticket prices include Live Entertainment Tax. Tickets are non-refundable. Starbright Theatre shows are open to everyone ages 12 and over. 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. 
Paul Campanella 
Danny Gans 
Kalani Kokonuts * * * * * * Here we go again. In the late 1990s, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, without Flatley, was the headlining entertainment at New York-New York in Las Vegas. The Irish step-dancing revue, which generated buzz around the country, thanks in part to national TV exposure for Riverdance via PBS, lasted a few years at NY-NY. A stint in 2002 at The Venetian didn't last quite as long. Now they are back, for what is described as a "Limited Engagement." On June 25th, Lord of the Dance (once again, sans the Chicago-born Flatley) returns to Las Vegas...this time going into the trouble plagued Wyrick Theater in the Miracle Mile Mall at Planet Hollywood. We think a Miracle is what it would take for this production, even in a limited run, to succeed at the House of Wyrick. Lord of the Dance is scheduled to run through August 16th. We'll see. * * * * * * Regarding the May 1st death of entertainer Danny Gans...We have had readers asking what could have happened to an apparently healthy 52-year-old man to cause his very unexpected and shocking death. Until a few days ago, we didn't know. On Tuesday, Clark County Coroner, Mike Murphy, announced that Gans died as a result of suffering a toxic reaction to the painkiller Dilaudid, an opiate similar to morphine. Murphy said Gans was taking the pain medication to treat chronic pain syndrome. He refused to use the term "overdose," as it's not a medically applied term used in the cause of death. It turns out that Gans was not as healthy as he appeared, suffering from hypertensive cardiovascular disease and a condition known as polycythemia, described by Murphy as a red blood cell disorder that has the opposite effect as anemia, with the person suffering an abundance of red blood cells. Murphy said Gans had toxic levels of hydromorphone (sold under numerous names, including Hydal, Sophidone and Hydrostat) in his system when he died. He also said that Gans had a toxic reaction to the drug because of an existing heart condition. Some people have suggested that this information still leaves many unanswered questions. Who prescribed the drug, and when? How long had Gans been using pain killers, and in what amounts? The public may never know the answers to these questions. The key issue here is that a family is without its husband and father, and the community has lost a talented performer and citizen. Rest in peace, Danny Gans. * * * * * * We are pleased to report that the May 17th benefit at The Orleans, to raise funds for the victims of the April Abruzzo Earthquake in Italy, raised more than $35,000. Congratulations to Nelson Sardelli and the hardworking group of volunteers and entertainers. In these tough economic times, and with other worthy events taking place on the same day and time, this event managed to pull off what seemed almost an impossibility. Who says Las Vegas has no heart? Surely not us! * * * * * * From reader Grant Philipo comes this e-mail and photo...
Boys and girls, drum-roll please. So nice, she won twice! Kalani Kokonuts is the Reigning Queen of Burlesque 2009 (formerly called Miss Exotic World...and she did it wearing a Grant Philpo creation. Grant has unbelievable respect for the judges, Dixie Evans and Luke Littell and Laura Herbert, who made people like him, who doesn't necessarily believe in dreams coming true, a believer! He applauds the decision makers for their fine taste and great sense of talent. Not only did Kalani become this year's queen, she also won Most Dazzling. Philipo says, "Wow! My faith in the Burlesque Hall of Fame (held at The Orleans the weekend of June 4th) has been restored." * * * * * * Okay, all you voyeurs and those of just a curious nature...from June 18th through the 27th, those Naked Boys will be up (no pun intended) and singing, and they are doing it in public! Naked Boys Singing! The title says it all! Caution, and costumes are thrown to the wind in this outrageous musical revue featuring a group of buffed and butt naked guys, with camera-ready bods and perky personalities to match, sing and dance their way through 16 musical numbers dedicated to stripping you of your inhibitions in a glorious celebration of the altogether. I'll be darned if they don't succeed. After the initial shock wears off, you get so accustomed to the nudity that it no longer gets in the way of the entertainment. The effect is strangely liberating. It's only 90 minutes long, and by the time it is over, you'll feel overdressed in a tank top. The New York production is now in its ninth year! No need to go to New York, though, as starting on Thursday, you can see NBS right here in Las Vegas. Produced by Jimmy Emerson and Michael Morse, the boys are directed by Jimmy's brother, Hank Emerson (currently with Criss Angel's Believe at the Luxor). Brad Barnes, of Rockettes fame, is the choreographer. Musical direction and piano accompaniment is by Spencer Baker. Back Stage Manager is Neal Patalion. The Las Vegas cast of NBS is made up of Nolan Christopher, from the Chicago cast of NBS and currently in Tony n' Tina's Wedding at Planet Hollywood; Ivan Hardin, UNLV singer; Mitch Johnson, Tony n' Tina's Wedding; Allen Merritt, Madame Tussauds actor; Paul Pratt, previously in the Chicago production of Naked Boys Singing!, and a member of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago; Daryl Roth, who has a musical theater background; and Mark White, a singing gondolier at The Venetian. The performances will take place at the Onyx Theatre, inside The Rack in the Commercial Center (at east Sahara and Maryland Parkway). Naked Boys Singing! offers a fun, unique outing for singles, couples, bachelorette parties and groups! Show times are at 10 p.m. and tickets are $30. Call the Onyx Theatre at (702) 732-7225 for reservations. 
NOT Vegas Naked Boys Singing 
Kenny Rankin 
Sharon McNight as Sophie Tucker * * * * * * Kenny Rankin, who we mentioned in last week's column in conjunction with our story on musician Artie Schroeck, died on June 7th of complications related to lung cancer. Rankin was an acclaimed New York-based singer-songwriter who contributed guitar to Bob Dylan's 1965 classic, Bringing It All Back Home. Rankin penned songs like Peaceful, a hit for Helen Reddy, and Haven't We Met, which was recorded by both Carmen McRae and Mel Torme. Signed to a contract with Decca Records while still in his teens, Rankin soon moved over to Columbia Records, where he was recruited to join in on the recording sessions for his label-mate Dylan. Rankin went on to have a notable solo career in his own right, beginning with his 1968 album Mind Dusters, and peaking with 1976's The Kenny Rankin Album, which was recorded live with a 60-piece orchestra. Kenny appeared on the Tonight Show With Johnny Carson more than 20 times. Carson was such a big fan, that he wrote the liner notes for Rankin's Mind Dusters. Rankin also recorded a version of the Beatles' White Album ballad, Blackbird, for his own 1975 album Silver Morning. The cover version was so revered, Paul McCartney asked Rankin to the song at the ceremony where McCartney and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Kenny Rankin was 69. * * * * * * Entertainer Sharon McNight brings vaudeville singer, Sophie Tucker, to life with her Red Hot Mama! tribute at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. Due to popular demand, this is McNight's fourth visit to Las Vegas. Ms. McNight has repeatedly won the San Francisco Entertainer of The Year Award, and has also been honored with a Tony Award nominee for her role in Broadway's Starmites. Tickets are $15 for Sun City residents, and $18 for nonresidents. Tickets can be purchased at the Desert Vista Community Center, 10360 Sun City Blvd.; the Mountain Shadows Community Center, 9107 Del Webb Blvd.; and the Pinnacle Community Center, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. For credit card orders, call (702) 869-2064. For general information, call (702) 240-1301 or visit www.chapquist.com. And more Summerlin news...Things will heat up (more) in the west side community on Sunday night, when the ladies of Dangerous Curves - that would be Margaret Menzies, Karen Merstik-Michaels and Lisa Smith - raise their voices in song at Grace in the Desert Episcopal Church. Girl Talk! features the songs of yesterday and today, with gorgeous harmonies and heartfelt solos; including songs made famous by the Andrews Sisters, Judy Garland, Linda Eder, New York Voices, and MORE. A part of the "Hot Summerlin Nights" guest artist series, there will be one performance only, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Grace in the Desert church is located at 2004 Spring Gate Lane. A $10 donation is suggested. For bookings and other information, please contact The Girls directly at (702) 777-0328 * * * * * * An Evening with Frankie & Sherry, the story of Frankie Valli and Sherry and their journey from break-up to make-up. Saturday, June 13th, fro m 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara. Tickets are $22 per person (includes one well drink). For $10 more, get an optional buffet, served from 6 to 8 p.m. Call (702) 459-0199 or 457-3866 for reservations or additional information. And speaking of the Jersey Boys (sort of), Thursday's Composers Showcase (the brainchild of Michael Brennan and Keith Thompson, musical director for Jersey Boys), at the Liberace Museum, turned into quite a night. The short list of participants we printed last week, grew into an impressive couple of hours, with songs by some of the city's top songwriters. Among the talents contributing were, Jason Andino (who looks very much like Adam Pero, another young local musician), Erich Bergen, Michael Brennan, Jason Martinez, Kristofer McNeeley, Richard Oberacker, Sharon Paquette, Keith Thompson, William Waldrop and Robert Williamson. Singing the original material were John Ambrosino, Kelli Andino, Jen Cantorna, Jason Forbach, Leslie Goddard, Ben Hale, Kristen Hertzenberg, Christine Hudman, Greg Kata, Judy Lombino, Monique L. Midgette, Andrew Ragone, Lauren Tartaglia, Tina Walsh, Alton Fitzgerald White, and other special guests. Contributing instrumentally were Jim Belk, Andrea Bensmiller, Glen Colby, Philip Fortenberry, Keith Hubacher, Mike Neufeld, Kevin Stout, Matt Taylor, Eric Tewalt, Tyler Williams and Drew Zingg. We will write more about the June edition of the Composers Showcase next week. * * * * * * Music fans of all ages will enjoy the free Jazz on the Green concert on Saturday, June 13, at 7 p.m. in the Centennial Hills Park Amphitheatre. The Bill Trujillo Quintet and the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Ensemble will perform, presented by the city of Las Vegas. A top saxophone player with big bands, then a performer in the show bands of many Las Vegas casino/hotels, Bill Trujillo continues to perform popular jazz music with his own band. The Las Vegas Academy band, led by well-known professional percussionist Patrick Bowen, earned top honors as Outstanding Nevada High School Ensemble at the University of Nevada Reno Jazz Festival this April. Concert and park admission are free. Bring blankets, folding chairs and picnics, but no pets or glass containers, please. The park is located at 7101 N. Buffalo Drive. For more information, call (702) 229-1087. * * * * * * 
Teddy Davey 
Brandon Albright Entrepreneurial Jeanne Bavaro, is back in show business again (the lady just can't help herself). Her company, BavaroETC, Exclusive Talent Concepts, will produce To Italy with Love.....A Classic Dinner Show, a summer series of talent and taste sensations with Chef Roberto Perotti of La Scala Ristorante, located at 1020 E. Desert Inn, on the street level of the Mark I Tower. Perotti will create a different entrée selection each month during the series. This will serve to remind repeat customers of why La Scala is one of their favorite eateries, and entice first time diners to become regulars. To launch the series, Teddy Davey, of The Las Vegas Tenors, will perform two shows, one at 4 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m., on both June 14th and 28th. "Davey's voice is great and, for me, when he sings in Italian, you don't want to breathe for fear you'll miss one of the perfectly pronounced vowels of the romantic language," states producer Bavaro.
Upon arrival at La Scala, guests will be greeted by two beautiful showgirls, a BavaroETC standard welcome, and offered their choice of a glass of champagne or wine to enjoy on the festive and quaint cooled and decorated Italian style patio. Once inside, they will dine amongst friends and then be treated to a one hour performance by Davey. Teddy will be accompanied by well-known pianist, Tommy Deering. It was friend and restaurant expert, Carlo Medicina, that contacted Bavaro to put their energies together and present this exciting "Lucky 13" event. The inclusive dinner show price will allow for an extraordinary, intimate and affordable experience. Simply reserve one of each of the 12 optional dinner show times, and receive the August 30th show free. That's your Lucky 13th dinner show. The price is $ 50 per person, including tax and tip. On July 14th, and again on the 19th, singer Denise Clemente will perform two shows each night. The presentation will, of course, include a bit of Italian in keeping with the theme of To Italy with Love. Clemente has been a locals favorite since the late 1970s. If you have not seen and heard her before, this will be your opportunity to do so. If you have had the pleasure already, we are sure you will want to experience Ms. Clemente again, so treat yourself and reserve now for July. The talent selection and menu for August will be announced at a later date. Call (702) 367-9805 for more information and reservations. Seating is expected to be extremely limited. * * * * * * Pack a picnic, bring a blanket, take a jacket (really - it can get quite chilly when the sun goes down), and take a short drive to the west. Super Summer Theatre's first musical of the 2009 season is right around the corner at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park (8000 Blue Diamond Road). Brandon Albright plays the lead in Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, Wednesdays through Saturdays, ending on June 20th. Gates to the park open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 8:05 p.m. (Hey we just print the information, we don't determine it.) Seating is on the lawn, or you can rent a chair for $1. Advanced tickets are $10 (www.unlvtickets.com) or pay $15 at the gate. Children under 5 are admitted free. Have we mentioned that Mr. Albright is a former student of drama coach, Gerald Gordon. * * * * * * A couple of weeks ago, we had a nice phone conversation with Tom Saitta. Tom is getting ready to open a beautiful restaurant/lounge in Pahrump. The place is called Tommasino's Fine Italian Dining and All That Jazz! In addition to excellent cuisine, prepared by world class chef Michael Parascandolo (Wolfgang Puck's at the MGM Grand, Nana B's Trattoria in Las Vegas, and Sfuzzi's in Costa Mesa, California), Tommasino's will feature live entertainment. Among the pros expected to fill Tommasino's with music are Joe Darro, Tommy Deering, Autie Goodman, Dennis Mellen, and April Spain. Saitta, himself, is a fine musician, who sings and plays the trumpet and flugelhorn (although not at the same time). He loves quality music including jazz, swing and "old standards." Tom has been in the automobile business for more than 43 years, and has owned three well-known dealerships in Las Vegas. He and his wife Alice are longtime residents of Southern Nevada, having lived many years in Las Vegas, and for the past six years in Pahrump, where they are partners with Don and Tamara Trudeau in Saitta Trudeau Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge Inc. Tommasino's is expected to open within the next few weeks. We will keep you posted. 
Tommasino's 
Diane Ellis * * * * * * On Thursday, June 18th, from 5 to 9 p.m., it will be songstress Diane Ellis at the mic, with jazz vocalist/pianist Joe Darro (mentioned above) and sax and flautist Steve Golden accompanying, entertaining at Wolfgang Puck's Cafe inside the Springs Preserve (behind the Meadows Mall on the corner of Valley View and Meadows Lane). Entry to Wolfgang Puck's is free. If you purchase an entrée in the café, a visit to any of the museums or galleries is also free (saving yourself $13). The café offers beer, wine and specialty drinks, but must be ordered with food, as the café has a taverns' license. Ellis states that she has had the pleasure of working with both Joe and Steve many, many times, and feels that they have a great blend. We have heard these folks before, and we can attest to the fact that they have a great blend! You never know who might stop by and grace the stage with Ellis, Darro and Golden. * * * * * * The Greatest Show On Earth, that would be the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, takes over the Orleans Arena, from June 18th through the 21st. Calling this edition Zing Zang Zoom, show times are at 7;30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, the 18th and 19th, and 11:30 a.m., and 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Orleans Box Office number is (702) 284-7777. * * * * * * A memorial service for musician Sam Butera, who died on June 3rd at the age of 81, will be held tomorrow (June 13th) at noon, at St. Viator Catholic Church, 2461 E. Flamingo at Eastern. We are saddened to report the death of music man, Tim Ballard. Tim passed away on June 8th in Dallas at the age of 61. Ballard became a professional musician at the age of 15. He attended Warrensburg College of Music in Kansas City before receiving a four-year contract with Capitol Records. Tim, a smooth jazz master (vocal, saxophone, piano), appeared with many well-known artists, including Bobby Vinton, Tina Turner, Redd Foxx, the Brothers Castro and the Harmonicats, just to name a few. He was ranked as the number one male vocalist in Texas for three years by the readers of Texas Jazz magazine, and was inducted into the Kansas City Music Hall of Fame. In 1990, Tim moved to Las Vegas. During the years he lived here, Tim's name graced many hotel and casino billboards, including Bally's, Mandalay Bay, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Flamingo Hilton, the historic Desert Inn (where he served as associate musical director), and the MGM Grand. Tim was also a main attraction at the former Hotel San Remo (now Hooters) for a number of years. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Stampley Ballard of Allen, Texas; daughter, Kathryn Shut of Denver; stepdaughter, Jaci Stampley; granddaughter, Ashley Swelling; and great-grandson, Caden Swelling, all of Las Vegas; brothers. Seldon Ballard of Ponca City, Okla., and Lance Ballard of Florida. A funeral service was held yesterday in the Chapel at Fellowship Bible Church in Dallas, with Rev. Gary Brandenberg officiating. Interment followed at White Rock Cemetery in West, Texas. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486, (713) 792-3450, or at www3.mdanderson.org. 
Tim Ballard 
Rebecca Spencer & Philip Fortenberry * * * * * * Back Stage Bistro Award-winning vocalist, Rebecca Spencer, will return home to New York to make her debut at The Castle in Tarrytown on Sunday, June 14th at 8 p.m. This will be the first New York appearance for Rebecca in three years. She will be joined by her musical director Philip Fortenberry, Broadway's most sought after pianist, and current conductor for the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys. From Broadway to Las Vegas is a romantic evening filled with a rainbow of sensual art songs and inspired selections, surrounded by lively anecdotes from Rebecca's experiences as an original cast member of Broadway's Jekyll and Hyde, to the gala 30th Anniversary celebration for Las Vegas' Liberace Museum. Rebecca will bring her elegant repertoire to the intimate stage at The Castle to offer collaborations heard on her concept recordings, Wide Awake and Dreaming, and her Red Hat Lady-inspired Fair Warning. Rebecca debuted as a solo concert headliner with Fortenberry during her two year run in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. Las Vegas Life Magazine chose Rebecca's concert as the city's top pick of the month. After being chosen by Hal Prince to premiere the role of "Madame Giry" in this newly conceived production, Ms. Spencer was embraced by the Las Vegas press, including The Las Vegas Review-Journal, who, in naming Phantom the Top New Production on the Strip in 2006, noted: "There's lots of talent on display at 'Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular,' but the person I can never stop watching is Rebecca Spencer. The actress gets to show her sensuous side in a new CD, Fair Warning, and it's difficult to believe that this passionate vocal performance comes from the same body and soul as our Madame Giry." That same year, Rebecca was applauded as a leading cabaret artist in the international publication Entertainment Divas, Cabaret, Jazz Then and Now, compiled by musicologist, Maximillion DeLayfette. In this encyclopedia of artists, Mr. DeLafayette noted "She redefines romanticism, vocal virtuosity and human warmth for the contemporary cabaret." In awarding Rebecca the Back Stage Bistro Award, John Hoglund noted she is "an artist on the verge of a serious breakthrough." Rebecca has performed in concert as a guest soloist with the Syracuse, New Haven and Detroit Symphonies, and the Florida Orchestra, and with the Indianapolis and Naples Symphonies conducted by Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops. She has also been guest soloist for composer Marvin Hamlisch. In New York, she has been featured at Lyrics and Lyricists, the Ira Gershwin Centennial at Carnegie Hall, recorded for PBS, and has appeared in five Encores! Concerts at the City Center. She was featured at the Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2004 and 2005 NYC Cabaret Conventions, and has recorded for numerous record labels. From Broadway to Las Vegas will be performed at The Castle on the Hudson, 400 Benedict Avenue in Tarrytown, NY, on Sunday, June 14th at 8 p.m. For dinner and concert reservations, as well as more information about this event, call (914) 631-3646, or visit www.castleonthehudson.com. * * * * * *
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Tags: Trina Johnson-Finn Marty Allen Karon Kate Blackwell Steve Tyrell Tim Ballar
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 - June 5, 2009 
Vegas Show Business Veterans On Wednesday evening, we got a call from musician Bruce Zarka, telling us that veteran lounge legend Sam Butera had died earlier in the day. The New Orleans-born Butera was a tenor saxophone player best noted for his collaborations with Louis Prima and Keely Smith. For many years, the band was a Vegas lounge staple. Butera's professional career began right after high school, with a stint in big band drummer Ray McKinley's orchestra. When he was just 18-years-old, Sam was named one of America's top upcoming jazzmen by Look magazine. While still in his early twenties, he had landed positions in the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey, Joe Reichman, and Paul Gayten. When touring slowed down, Butera returned to New Orleans, where he played at the 500 Club for four years. As fate would have it, the club was owned by Leon Prima, Louis' brother. It was this connection that lead Sam to Louis, Keely and Las Vegas. In 1956, they opened at the Sahara. On opening night, the band had no name. In a rather off-handed way, Butera called the group of musicians The Witnesses. The name stuck. Butera remained the bandleader of The Witnesses for almost 20 years, during which time he performed with Louis and Keely on Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody, the Grammy-winning That Old Black Magic, Jump, Jive an' Wail, When You're Smiling, and a number of other Prima/Smith classics. In more recent years, some of those tunes were covered by contemporary artists such as David Lee Roth, Brian Setzer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Los Lobos.
Later, Butera began calling the band The Wildest. From 1994 to 1996, Sam and Keely were reunited, performing with The Wildest in the Desert Inn's (now the site of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore) Starlight Theatre. Butera had been hospitalized since January, suffering from Alzheimer's and then pneumonia. Sam Butera, who was 81 at the time of his death, is survived by Vera, his wife of 62 years, and four children. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Accompanying Show Business Veterans photo, circa 2002, features (from left to right): Carme, Sam Melchionne, Nelson Sardelli, Sam Butera, Blackie Hunt, Sonny King and Freddie Bell. As for Bruce Zarka, the keyboard player from St. Louis had a history with both Louis Prima and Sam Butera. Bruce was only in his twenties when he became a part of the Prima band in 1972. Three years later, he was performing with them in Chicago when Prima collapsed on stage. Louis never recovered, dying in 1978 as the result of a brain tumor. When we came to Vegas, Bruce was a member of The Goofers, playing the Hammond B-3 organ/piano for the group, joining Rolando "Rolly Dee" Di Iorio on bass; Morgan Thomas on alto sax, valve trombone, clarinet, trumpet, flute and piccolo; and Jimmy Vincent on drums. These nights, you can find Zarka at the piano, with his partner Geralyn Lee on bass, entertaining guests in the Baccarat Bar at Bellagio. Stop by for a listen. * * * * * * 
Artie Schroeck 
Paul Kozak 
Cindy Margolis If you happen to be hanging around Southern California over the next couple of weeks, you might want to put this information on your calendar. The great Artie Schroeck, will be performing at Vibrato, in Southern California, on Wednesday, June 17th, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. One of Los Angeles' most exciting new restaurants, Vibrato Grill Jazz ... etc. was conceived by seven time Grammy-winning music icon, Herb Alpert. Vibrato brings together the best in contemporary American cuisine and the free-form wonders of jazz. Opened in 2004, Vibrato is perched atop Mulholland Drive, at 2930 Beverly Glen Circle in Bel Air. It is easily accessible from all points of the greater L.A. area. Once inside its inviting confines, patrons will find a retreat from the city that is both relaxed and sophisticated. This June 17th engagement will mark a special reunion, when Las Vegan Schroeck joins his former Newark Arts High schoolmate, Pat Senatore and the Pat Senatore Quartet. (FYI...Other notable New Arts alumni include Wayne Shorter, Sarah Vaughan, Connie Francis, Woody Shaw, Frankie Valli, Joe Pesci, Melba Moore, Savion Glover, and real live Jersey boy, Bob Gaudio. New Arts, the first public high school in the United States specializing in the visual and performing arts, opened in 1931.) Senatore, who serves as Vibrato's musical director, has quite an impressive musical history. After high school, he attended the famed Julliard School of Music on a partial scholarship. In 1960, he moved to Los Angeles, where he was offered a job with Stan Kenton's band. During his nine months with the band, he recorded two albums for Kenton, Adventures In Blues and Adventures in Jazz for Capitol Records. During that time, Pat's first son, Kenton, was born. He named his other son Scott after his greatest influence and inspiration, bass player Scott La Faro. Over the years, Senatore worked with the Dick Stabile Orchestra at the famed Coconut Grove, and with the Les Brown Orchestra, traveling to Vietnam with the Bob Hope Show. He performed with two weekly television shows, The Bob Hope Show and Dean Martin Show, before joining Alpert and the original Tijuana Brass. With the TJB, Pat recorded nine albums, performed on major network television shows, did five TV specials and numerous world tours, performed for huge audiences as well as Command Performances for President Johnson, the Queen of England, and the King of Thailand. Pat Senatore also toured with Carmen McRae, Buddy Rich, and Anita O'Day. As for Mr. Schroeck, although he didn't sing with Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio and the other Seasons, he too is an authentic Jersey boy, having been born in Irvington. Artie is a composer, arranger and consummate musician. His impressive credits include working with Lionel Hampton, Louis Prima, Gene Krupa, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (writing their hit arrangements for I've Got You Under My Skin and Can't Take My Eyes Off You), Frankie Randall, The Cowsills, Laura Nyro, Kenny Rankin, Jackie & Roy, Paul Anka, The Lovin' Spoonful, Neil Diamond, Kenny Loggins, and, of course, his wife, Linda November (aka "The Jingle Lady"), to mention a few. He has also written hits for Liza Minnelli, Petula Clark, Sammy Davis Jr., Barry Manilow and Frank Sinatra (Here's To the Band). His film and TV credits include The Deer Hunter, The Sunshine Boys, You're a Big Boy Now, The Last Request, Liza in London, and Liza at Carnegie Hall and Radio City. Artie has won a number of Clios (the world's most recognized global awards competition for advertising) for his arrangements and compositions for a number of commercials, among them "Now Is the Time, ABC Is the Place," "Come On Along With ABC," McDonalds "You Deserve a Break Today," Nobody Cares for Your Eyes More Than Pearle," and Dannon Yogurt spots. Schroeck and Senatore. Sounds like a winning combination. For information about Vibrato's, or to get directions, call (310) 474- 9400. * * * * * * From Atlantic City public realtions man, Neil Cirucci, comes this e-mail...
"Regarding Human Nature (mentioned in Cousin Claire's last week's column) at the Imperial Palace, I did their PR when they played the Tropicana in Atlantic City last year. They are, hands down, the best casino production show that has ever played AC and soon to be the top drawing show in Vegas. No brag, just fact!" With recommendations from the likes of Jerry R., and now Mr. Cirucci, we are going to have to get over to the Imperial Palace and check out Human Nature for ourselves. By the way, Cirucci also does PR for comic/magic man Paul Kozak, better known as Kozak the Magician, and "Queen of the Internet," glamour spokes model/actress, Cindy Margolis. Formerly in Dick Feeney's World's Greatest Magic Show at the Greek Isles, Kozak is doing great biz at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, and Cindy is going into production this Monday for Seducing Cindy, a dating reality show for FOX Reality Network. Men from 21 to 60 will compete to get a date with Cindy. These two clients, alone, should keep Neil Cirucci plenty busy. * * * * * * 
Gary Oakes & Lou Garcia 
Wild Rose Last Sunday, we were busy, busy, busy...
In the afternoon, we were at the Clark County Flamingo Library Theatre to see Gary Oakes and Lou Garcia perform. We are sure that there is no one, who has ever seen these two gentleman work, that wouldn't agree, they are, without a doubt, a couple of real pros. And why shouldn't they be. Both Oakes and Garcia have a Broadway background - Gary in Boys From Syracuse, and Lou in Zorba and Illya Darling. After relocating to Southern Nevada, the two went to work for the notorious Donn Arden in the lavish spectacular, Hallelujah Hollywood, at what was then the MGM Grand (now Bally's). Gary and Lou have been performing their annual two-man show for the PASNV for more than 15 years. Each year, they bring something new to the party. Their most recent offering included everything from an Old Songs medley (Shine On Harvest Moon, Ida, For Me and My Gal, and a number called We Love the Old Songs, with music and lyrics by Oakes), September Song/Memory, Put a Little Love In Your Heart, After You've Gone/With a Song In My Heart, and an Eddy Arnold medley (Anytime, Just a Little Lovin', When the Love Bug Bites, Make the World Go Away), to selections from Broadway, including Jerry Herman's Shalom and I'll Be Here Tomorrow, Hey There, Everything Old is New Again, and Hey Look Me Over. A highlight of last Sunday's show was Lou Garcia's turn as a drum major - with hat and baton. He really knows how to twirl and toss that thing! When these two sing There's No Business Like Show Business, they mean it!
Note: We apologize to Gary for leaving the "E" out of his last name in last week's column. It's OakEs, folks! A real compliment for any performer is when other professionals in the same field show up as audience members (unless, of course, they are coming to steal the act). There was a handful of well-known magicians present in the Suncoast showroom last Sunday night. They were there to see Paul Stone's World Stars of Magic, starring Mark Kalin, Jinger Leigh (who hadn't performed together in Las Vegas for eight years) and Jeff Hobson. We seriously doubt that Criss Angel, Siegfried Fischbacher, Mark Kornhauser, Johnny and Pam Thompson (The Great Tomsoni & Co.), Peter and Coral Reveen, Joaquin Ayala and Tanya, Diana Zimmerman, Hugo, Scott Hitchcock, and Richard McDougall, were there to steal anyone's act, as it would be difficult for any of these visiting performers to look as beautiful, and move as well on stage (she has a dance background) as Jinger, or to fit into Mark's wardrobe. As for Jeff Hobson, we don't think anyone could ever duplicate his hysterical act. An added attraction was the incredible 'Talking Head' that was right outside the Suncoast showroom prior to the show. This illusion generated plenty of buzz. Very clever. Very clever indeed. * * * * * * Wild Rose, featuring Jim Belk (Zumanity, PEEPSHOW, Spamalot) on drums and vocals, Christie Copeland (former lead singer in Jubilee!, current lead singer for The Crush, co-star of Marriage Can Be Murder) on vocals, Vita Corimbi (PEEPSHOW, Menopause the Musical, Las Vegas Tenors) on keyboards and vocals, and Tommy Wayne (Superstars of Country, Hank Williams Jr., formerly Country Tonight) on guitar/steel guitar, will perform tonight and tomorrow night, from 5:30 to 9:30, at Roxy's Lounge inside Sam's Town. We have been told that this is the best country band this side of Nashville. Let us know what you think. * * * * * * 
Tom Stevens 
Josh Gracin 
Marty Allen & Karon Kate Blackwell We are really puzzled by this one. Singer-impressionist Tom Stevens, who has a regular five times a week gig in the Le Bistro Lounge at the Riviera, is taking off Sundays at the Riv, through the month of June. This is not so that Tom, who we have never seen, can take a vacation. It's so he can work the main showroom at the South Point for a month of Sundays. What we find MOST odd about this is that ticket prices to see Mr. Stevens at the Riviera are $50 plus tax and fees, while at the South Point, tickets are a very reasonable $12.50. Unless you were trapped at the Riviera, without transportation to go anywhere else, why would anyone pay more than $50 to see this Dean Martin look-alike, when they could see him down the road a piece for about $40 less? Mr. Stevens, we would love to know the logic here. And speaking of the South Point, former American Idol competitor, Marine Josh Gracin, will appear in the showroom there, August 28th, 29th and 30th. Tickets are $25, $30 and $35. Call (702) 797-8055 for reservations. And still speaking of the South Point...
Next weekend, it's Hello Dere!, starring legendary comedian Marty Allen and singing sensation (and Mrs. Marty Allen), Karon Kate Blackwell. Show times on Friday and Saturday are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, $20, and $25. For reservations, call the South Point box office at (702) 797-8055. * * * * * * Kelly Clinton's re-launch of her open mic night at that Italian joint on Las Vegas Blvd. So., appears to have been a success. Hosted by the multi-talented/multi-personality Clinton and some of her internal cast of characters, and with piano accompaniment provided by Michael Clark, approximately 30 people shared their creative gifts with an attentive audience during a three-plus hour show. The primary difference between this new talent showcase and the one that Kelly hosted about five years ago, is that this incarnation is more likened to a cabaret/piano bar than a karaoke joint. That ladies man, "Joe Joe Spaghetti Moretti," showed up before the actual show started, and apparently took a liking to Susan Anton (who joined some of the vocalists in song a little later in the evening). Joe Joe flirted shamelessly with the almost six-foot tall blonde beauty, and was heard to say something about "climbing Mount Anton." Security! Among those who displayed their talent for an almost full house on Monday were Mark Giovi, Gayle Steele (Sunny Side of the Street), The Las Vegas Tenors, Joni Illi (You Made Me Love You), Domenick Allen (Let the Good Times Roll), trumpeter Charly Raymond (Sugar Blues), Larry Liso (Night and Day), Michael Cagle (Somewhere), Drew Anthony (Everybody Loves Somebody), along with Kelly and husband Clint Holmes (Suspicious Minds and Love Me Tender). Also displaying a surprisingly good singing voice was Vegas visitor, Stepfanie (yep, that's how she spells it) Kramer. Best known for her co-starring role with Fred Dryer in the TV series Hunter, it turns out that Kramer is a trained mezzo soprano (who knew?). During the height of her television career, Stepfanie showcased her musical abilities on several episodes of Hunter, as well as on a number of Bob Hope specials. She has released two albums, with the most recent being 2008's The Great American Song Book. As for Ms. Clinton, we wish her much success with Monday's ongoing Open Mic Cabaret. 
Stepfanie Kramer 
Leigh Zimmerman & Jerry Springer 
Susan Boyle And speaking of Domenick Allen...His lovely and talented wife, Leigh Zimmerman, who has appeared on the Great White Way in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum, Crazy For You, The Will Rogers Follies, and performed as "Ulla Inga Hansen-Bensen-Yanson-Tallen-Hallen-Svaden-Swanson... Bloom," "Ulla" for short (even though she is tall) in the Las Vegas production of the Mel Brooks Tony Award-winning musical comedy, The Producers, is currently singing and dancing in London's version of John Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago, where she is playing the murderous "Velma Kelly." This is not Leigh's first time in the musical that tells the tale of "murder, greed, corruption, adultery, treachery – and all that jazz!" On Broadway, Leigh played the role of "Go-To-Hell-Kitty." As Velma, who kills her husband and sister after finding them in a compromising position, Ms. Zimmerman joins the likes of Chita Rivera, Ute Lemper, Bebe Neuwirth, Jasmine Guy and Reva Rice, who starred in multiple productions of Starlight Express (including the Vegas version), Monty Python's Spamalot, Fosse, Smokey Joe's Café, and JAM: Just Another Man, who have also played the role of the vaudeville star. In this current West End version of Chicago, in an inspired bit of casting, trash talk show host and former Dancing With the Stars competitor, Jerry Springer is playing the role of "Billy Flynn," a lawyer of questionable ethics (we will refrain from making any obvious comment). Since Chicago first made its debut in 1975, Flynn has been portrayed by an interesting assortment of actors, some who even have a Vegas connection. Both Ben Vereen and Hal Linden played Flynn during Chicago's run at Mandalay Bay. Brent Barrett (the former star of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular), Wayne Brady, who has his own show at The Venetian, and David Hasselhoff, who played "Roger DeBris" at Paris Las Vegas when the show first opened here, have also played the crooked lawyer. Others who have performed the role (on Broadway, in North American touring companies, internationally, or on film) include, the late Jerry Orbach, George Hamilton (in his Broadway debut), Gregory Harrison, Patrick Swayze, Usher (Raymond), James Naughton, John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Jimmy Osmond, Alan Thicke, Huey Lewis, and, in the Academy Award-winning film, Richard Gere. About Springer's performance in Chicago, Bloomberg News' theater critic, Warwick Thompson, writes "He's an absolute hoot. Springer communicates an infectious joy at being on stage. Occasionally a wide grin spreads over his face like a sunburst. It's almost entirely innocent of any theatrical purpose, and as irresistible as watching puppies playing in a basket. His sense of rhythm may be a little off, his hand gestures are too flappy, and he's unlikely to win any awards for the depth of his characterization. Who cares? Flynn becomes him. Springer is a lawyer-turned-showman who parades desperate people on his eponymous TV circus. Flynn, his character, is a lawyer-cum-showman who parades his desperate clients in a circus of fabricated courtroom theatricals. Both exist in a world of tabloid journalism. He almost doesn't have to act. It's so neat, it hurts. Plus, Springer's show is filmed in Chicago and he's starring in "Chicago." Could the glove fit more snugly? There's the sheer pleasure of watching a genial TV pundit in a fish-out-of-water situation and having a good time. And who knew that he could sing? Despite a few rhythmical blips in the complicated number, "We Both Reached for the Gun," his delivery is beguiling, his tuning good, and his voice surprisingly smooth. Acting-wise, he substitutes charm for talent. You wouldn't want to sit through his King Lear or Macbeth; leave those to Jay Leno. Here, Springer is thoroughly enjoyable. Kudos to the producers who spotted this fun opportunity and invited him for what should be a successful six-week run. It couldn't hurt that Springer has fans numbered in the millions. If some of them feel like coming to London to see him, I'll wager they'll have a good time. They'll certainly be wowed by the rest of the cast, which is one of the best I've seen in this long-running production. The leggy Leigh Zimmerman is electric as (Roxie Hart's) homicidal rival Velma, and brings a note of vulnerability and weary resignation to the role that I hadn't seen before. The company numbers "All That Jazz" and "Razzle Dazzle" go like rockets. All this, and a Jerry Springer newly turned hoofer too. A great start to the summer. Rating: ***1/2. What the Stars Mean: **** Excellent *** Good ** Average * Poor (No stars)Worthless Chicago is playing at the Cambridge Theatre in London. Jerry Springer's stint as Billy Flynn, and Leigh Zimmerman's turn as Velma, ends on July 12th. We assume that Chicago, which has been running in London for more than 10 years, will go on, with an ever-changing cast, forever. * * * * * * The annual Ribbon of Life stage spectacular is Golden Rainbow's single largest source of funding. Staged each June, Ribbon of Life is an incredible production show featuring hundreds of singers, dancers and other performers from the best shows in Las Vegas. Original numbers are created specifically for each year's show. The performers donate their time and talent to the production. Easily the biggest show of the year, Ribbon of Life is a theatrical event for all ages that leaves audiences breathless, on their feet and cheering for more. This year marks the 23rd annual Ribbon of Life, which is being held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 28th at the Las Vegas Hilton. Last year's production raised its largest total ever, with more than $300,000 generated from show ticket sales, the ad book, auction and other money raising sources. The donations to Golden Rainbow are used to support people affected by HIV/AIDS in Clark County. Over the years, stars such as Liza Minnelli, Charo, Loretta Holloway, John O'Hurley, Bob Anderson, Sheena Easton, Billy Stritch, Jimmy Hopper, and comic George Wallace, who spontaneously donated a $5,000 check during his 2008 stand-up performance, which brought the audience to its feet, are among those who have lent a hand to make worthwhile event a success. As of this week's column deadline, all we know is that George Wallace will return, and the cast of Jersey Boys, relative newcomers to the community, will be participating. * * * * * * Has Susan Boyle's dream turned into a nightmare? Possibly the most downloaded woman ever (with even more hits than the Internet champ, Cindy Margolis), Boyle, the Britain's Got Talent phenomenon, Dreamed a Dream one more time over last weekend, when she sang the song from Les Miserables that made her a worldwide celebrity virtually overnight. The lady, who seemed almost a shoo-in to be crowned the winner, came in second, being beat out by dance troupe, Diversity. Following the finale, Susan Boyle seemed to have a meltdown and was admitted to a facility in London. Many are blaming Boyle's recent problems on the fact that she didn't win the talent competition. With our vast knowledge of such things, we feel this was inevitable, whether she won or not. In fact, her NOT winning was probably a blessing. At least now, she can retreat for a while. This poor lady, who seems to have led a fairly sheltered life, was totally unprepared for the kind of attention she generated following her first appearance on the popular reality television show. It should have been obvious to those around her, that Susan Boyle is fragile and needed to be shielded from too much too soon. A world tour? People grabbing at her, taking photos, and making demands? Big money? This could get much worse. It probably won't happen, but the best thing for her would probably be to return to her simple life in her small town, surrounded by the folks that knew her before her overnight success. An album, possibly. No tour. No TV cameras. No pressure. It's a sad dark outcome for something that seemed so positive and bright less than two months ago. And speaking of reality TV, we have to wonder...Is it the lure of money or the seduction of fame that prompts a group of used-to-bes, wannabes, or never weres to sign on to a show such as I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here? What do you think? * * * * * * 
Bobby Vinton 
LaVerne Christie Trio Billboard magazine calls Bobby Vinton "the most successful love singer of the Rock-Era." Next Saturday, June 13th at 8 p.m., Vinton will perform his greatest songs at The Club inside the Cannery Casino & Hotel in North Las Vegas. Following the release of his first single, Roses Are Red (My Love), which spent four weeks in the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 100 charts, Vinton's magical voice and sentimental orchestral arrangements quickly set the standard for love music. In 1963, Vinton hit No. 3 on the charts with Blue on Blue, and then topped the charts with Blue Velvet, and There, I've Said It Again. The following year, Vinton recorded Mr. Lonely, which also reached No. 1, earning him more hit records than any other male recording artist in the 1960s. Bobby Vinton's timeless love songs are recognized as standards throughout the world, and his music has retained its vitality and relevance throughout the changing eras of the music industry. Tickets start at $14.95, plus tax and fees, and are available for purchase at the Cannery Casino & Hotel's ticket sales counter located at the front desk. Tickets are also available for purchase by calling (702) 507-5757 or (866) 999-4899 (toll free), or online at www.cannerycasinos.com.
* * * * * * Jimmy Emerson's presentation of Naked Boys Singing! is opening at the Onyx Theatre (located in The Rack inside the Commercial Center at East Sahara and Maryland Parkway) on June 18th instead of June 11th as originally scheduled. Show times are at 10 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, through July 4th weekend. The producers are hoping to then go to s six-night week. We are told the cast is excellent...and the boys can actually sing! And speaking of Jimmy Emerson, his Showstoppers Too opened at the Northern Quest Casino outside of Spokane, Washington, last night. The same company that brought Born Diva's, An Evening at La Cage, Bottoms Up, and the smash hit Showstoppers to the Spokane area, returns with a brand new all Broadway production. "We have gathered together a wonderful group of talented actors, singers, and dancers for our newest project Showstoppers Too", says Las Vegas based Starr Pro President Jimmy Emerson. "Last year's version of the original Showstoppers-Can't Stop the Beat!, which premiered at the Northern Quest, was so well received," he adds, "that the exec's ask for an encore." Emerson, along with Showstoppers co-creator Kenneth Blake and famed "Rockettes" choreographer, Brad Barnes, wasted no time crafting an all new production filled with Broadway's great moments from the theater that are sure to have audience members singing along with the talented cast or humming one of the beloved show tunes featured in this new production as they head home. Like its predecessor, Showstoppers Too is a fun filled compilation of musical theater songs that literally "stopped the show" when they first played on Broadway. Through June 13th, guests can start the evening off with a great pre-show dinner, catch a Broadway production, top it off with a post theater night cap, and all without leaving the comfort of the Northern Quest Casino. This time around Mr. Emerson has decided to change up the format by combining introductions, some of the original dialogue, and the classic tunes from such hits as Funny Girl, CATS, Gypsy, 42nd Street, Mame, Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles, and other all time favorites from the Great White Way. Showstoppers Too runs through June 13th. Tickets may be purchased directly from the Northern Quest Casino Box Office in person or by calling Tickets West at: 800-325-SEAT (7328) or 509-340-6700 (www.northernquest.com)
* * * * * * The City Of Las Vegas Arts and Community Events presents the LaVerne Christie Trio at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center, tomorrow June 6th, at 7 p.m. Jazz fans of all ages will enjoy the trios' uncomplicated approach to jazz. Christie's sense of swing and appreciation for Brazilian music are evident in her arrangements. She pays respect to her jazz predecessors, while appealing to new listeners through her interpretation of classic standards on her guitar. Christie is joined by Mark Ruben on bass, and Mike Candito on drums. Tickets are priced at $7 for all seats. The center is located at 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. For tickets or more information, call (702) 229-6211. Also sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre presents The Reluctant Dragon at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. In Kenneth Grahame's story, the village of Guildermere blames the dragon who lives upon the Downs for anything that goes sour in their lives. But this dragon is a peace-loving, poetry-spouting fellow, who would much prefer a cup of tea to a battle. Find out what happens when St. George arrives! Suitable for all ages, performances are tonight, June 5th, and June 6th, 11th, 12th, and 13th at 7 p.m., and June 7th, 13th, and 14th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for teens and seniors, and $3 for children age 12 and younger. Call (702) 229-6383 for information. 
The Reluctant Dragon * * * * * * From Nelson Sardelli, who heads up F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events), the group of presidents (everyone is a president) that make up this non-club club, comes this official announcement...
Dear Presidents and Friends: Please make note. Henceforth, all regular F.I.O.R.E. meetings will be held on the second Thursday of the month (as stated on our membership application). For some unknown reason we goofed on the last couple of meetings and held them (erroneously) on the third Thursday of the month. Not wishing to be repetitious, redundant, repetitive or say the same thing over and over and over again, let me just reiterate and rephrase this a few more times. All the regular F.I.O.R.E. meetings will be held on the second, notice, on the SECOND Thursday of every month. Capice? Fershtay? Understand? Comprehend? Get it? So the June lunch meeting will be held on Thursday, June 11th at 11:30 a.m. at the Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara. Please RSVP no later than June 9th (that's on a Tuesday). Call (702) 499-6919 or 646-1813, or e-mail to Nsardelli@aol.com. Editors note: Good grief! We hope everyone got that straight!!! The last F.I.O.R.E. gathering at the Italian American Club brought out a lot of presidents, including Peter Anthony, Pete Barbutti, Charlie Callas, Joel Dane, Robert Ensler, Jerry Fink, Don Hill, Chick Hughes, Rolando Larraz, Rich Little, Jerry Lopez, Jim Marsh, Gary Olds, Babe Pier, Cork Proctor, Ronnie Rose, Artie Schroeck, Felix Silla, Bobby Slayton, Lou Toomin, and Allen Tramont. In case you missed it, the June meeting will take place on Thursday, the 11th, at the Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara. * * * * * * Next Saturday, June 13th, at 7 p.m., Sharon McNight is back at the Starbright Theatre with her Red Hot Mama! The Life and Loves of Sophie Tucker show. Due to the overwhelming success of her sold-out performance last year, Michael Chapman and ChapQuist Entertainment are happy to present the return engagement of Red Hot Mama! The Life and Loves of Sophie Tucker. Sophie Tucker was a powerful presence in American entertainment for nearly 60 years. Not only was she physically imposing, she also had a powerful, distinctive voice. Her particular strength was the naughty song delivered with such gusto, that many commentators began to categorize her as a force of nature. Tucker was a magnificent entertainer, a luckless gambler, a generous friend, a tireless trouper, and an unforgettable character ...truly the last of the Red Hot Mamas. The multi-talented Sharon McNight also has a long and successful entertainment history, including having repeatedly won the San Francisco Entertainer of the Year Award. McNight is also a Tony Award-nominee, for her role in Broadway's Starmites. She recently did two sold out shows at Davenport's, Chicago's premier entertainment supper club. The Tony Nominee/Theater World Award winner was back in Broadway's best form delighting audiences with her wit, wisdom and, of course, the voice that needs no microphone. Sharon was sassy, looked elegant (even with a medical boot on one foot), and wowed the crowds with her evil-but-hilarious "Ursula," from Disney's Little Mermaid. McNight is always a bundle of sarcastic dynamite, and audiences rewarded her with two standing ovations. Sharon loves the road. That's why she traveled from metropolitan Chicago to the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan to appear in concert on Sunday, May 31st. Why else would anyone travel to Three Oaks, Michigan? There she performed Ladies, Compose Yourselves!, a tribute to living female songwriters. This is the show for which Sharon received the Bay Area Critics award and was nominated for New York's Best Cabaret Performer award in 2007. Then it was back to the Windy City, where Sharon opeed a concert series at the Hoover Leppen Theater on Monday, June 1st. For this date, McNight did her Songs To Offend Almost Everyone, her award-winning, crowd-pleasing journey through songs, stories and laughs about sex, relationships, sex, non-relationships, sex, politics, sex, religion...and did we mention sex? Sometimes both topics are covered in the same song. Hmmm. During her trip to Chicago, Sharon did seven shows in six venues over a two week period. About her May engagement with Bruce Vilanch at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco's Nikko Hotel, KGO Newstalk Entertainment's radio personality, Jerry Friedman, had this to say in his on air review... What a combination! Bruce Vilanch together with Sharon McNight. They opened at the Rrazz Room and they are presenting an evening of wonderful comedy and music. Bruce Vilanch, a brilliant comedy writer and best known for Hollywood Squares, delivered some great jokes and one-liners as only he can do. And Sharon McNight sang some funny, bawdy songs that she's famous for. But they've put together and perform together some songs and gags that work perfectly in this intimate cabaret room. It had the crowd in stitches. And there were plenty of clever adlibs that kept everyone laughing, especially due to unexpected street construction that could be heard in the background. It was food for some funny lines. Here's a show that you won't want to miss. Although Las Vegans DID miss that one, they don't have to miss the show at the Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. in Sun City Summerlin on June 13th. Tickets are $15 for Sun City Summerlin residents and $18 for non-residents. For show info, call (702) 240-1301. For credit card orders, call (702) 869-2064. 
Sharon McNight 
MarQue Munday 
Bart Williams * * * * * * The Winchester Cultural Center's Theater Boot Camp upped the ante with this summer's program, adding writing, magic and circus to its list of traditional dance and drama skills taught at the camp held at the center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Theater Boot Camp begins on June 9th, and is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with instructional time from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is closed Mondays, as well as on the Fourth of July holiday (Friday, July 3rd). Campers can enroll on a monthly or weekly basis. Registration is $225 for June 9th to 26th, $206 for June 29th to July 17th, and $300 for July 22nd to August 14th. Weekly registration is available for $85 per child. An additional $10 will be charged at first enrollment for admission to the end-of-the-summer performance, August 14th and 15th. Students must attend eight weeks of camp - two of which must be the last two weeks of camp - in order to perform in the final show. The show is a musical journey through dance, rock n' roll and magic, where the audience participates in the laughs and fun as the children run off to the circus. Along with professional theater instruction, participants will attend classes in the skills of musical theater, dance, magic and circus skills. Dance classes include tap, jazz and ballet along with acrobatics. Field trip shows include The Lion King, Mystère, and a magic show on the Strip. Apart from instructional classes, campers also will participate in recreational activities and watch movies. The Theater Boot Camp is lead by Winchester Players Director Susan Swanson and her brother Christopher Swanson. Susan brings Broadway experience from shows such as No, No Nannette, The Pajama Game, and Anything Goes, while Christopher was a long-time performer in Jubilee! at Bally's on the Strip. Those interested in Winchester's Theater Boot Camp can call (702) 455-7340. You can also register online at www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks. Everyone will enjoy the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre presentation of The Reluctant Dragon at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, from June 5th through the 14th. The show is based on the popular children's book of the same name by Kenneth Grahame. Directed by Karen McKenney, the folktale comedy features a cast of 16, including Gabriel Gentile as the dragon, Randy Messaoudi as St. George, and Sean Harasti as Glaston. The one-hour production focuses on the village of Guildermere, which blames the dragon who lives upon the downs for everything that goes wrong in their lives. But this dragon is a peace-loving, poetry-spouting fellow who would much prefer a cup of tea to a battle. Find out what happens when St. George arrives. The production begins at 7 p.m. on June 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th and 13th, and at 2 p.m. on June 7th, 13th, and 14th. Tickets are priced at $7 for adults, $5 for teens and seniors, and $3 for children age 12 and younger. The center is located at 800 S. Brush St. Box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To purchase tickets by telephone, or for more information, call (702) 229-6383. For more than three decades, the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre has trained generations of young people and won numerous prestigious, national awards. Members learn all aspects of stagecraft and participate on stage and backstage in five annual productions. Rainbow Company is a program of the City of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services. For more information about the company, call (702) 229-6553. * * * * * * On Friday nights, The Village at Lake Las Vegas is offering a series of free classic rock concert tribute bands throughout the month of June. From 7 to 10 p.m., enjoy relaxing lakeside ambiance and music from The Man in Black, a Johnny Cash tribute band, tonight; Evenflow, a Pearl Jam tribute band that tours nationally, on June 12th; Billy Joel Tribute, playing hits from American rock icon Billy Joel, on June 19th; and Have A Nice Day, a Las Vegas-based Bon Jovi tribute band, featuring our friend Larry Atello (Larry is also a member of the Tony n' Tina's Wedding cast, currently doing great business at Planet Hollywood), on June 26th. This takes place on The Village lakeside lawn, 15 Costa di Lago. This event is free and open to the public. No coolers please. For the Jazz on the Lake concert series, the Village at Lake Las Vegas provides a relaxing environment for jazz fans to kick back and enjoy Las Vegas' top jazz artists by the waters' edge every Saturday night. Again, no coolers please. All the Jazz Concerts are on Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. On June 6th, it's Sid the Kid; and on June 13th, MarQue Munday is featured. An ex-Rockette, MarQue has moved into her second career as a singer of pop and smooth jazz music in the Las Vegas Valley. For more than seven years, she has also been performing her impersonations of Donna Summer and Diana Ross in various Legends-type shows around the country. MarQue stays in physical and vocal shape, as a full-time Pilates instructor by day and a freelancing singer at night. * * * * * * Drive a little, see a lot...
Longtime Claire Voyant reader, actor Bart Williams, informs us about the upcoming season at Utah's Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts, located outside of St. George. Described as "Broadway in the Desert," Tuacahn's 2009 season will present Annie, Footloose, and Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA in the outdoor amphitheatre. About Annie, the New York Times wrote, "An intensely likeable musical. It has a rare kind of gutsy charm." Annie, in which Williams plays President Roosevelt, will run from June 9th through October 16th. The Green Bay Press Gazette calls Footloose, "A cracklin' show...better than the movie." Williams portrays Principle Clark in the production, that will play from June 9th through October 14th. AIDA, the Grammy Award and three-time Tony Award winning musical, will run from August 25th through October 17th. In this one, Williams will understudy the role of the Pharaoh. A Performing Arts High School is adjacent to the theatre. Mr. Williams, who performed in Las Vegas productions of Top Banana, Anything Goes, and Guys and Dolls, starring Jack Jones, Maureen McGovern and Frank Gorshin, states that he would have loved to go to school there. Monday through Thursday adult ticket prices for the 2009 season range from $25 to $39 (children, 12 and younger, $20 to $29). Friday and Saturday pricing is $29 to $49 (children $24 to $39). Seniors and members of AAA save $3.00 per ticket. A $5.00 per show service charge is added to each order. To order tickets for any of the season's productions, call the Tuacahn Box Office at (435) 652-3300, or the Toll Free number at (800) 746-9882.
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Tags: Artie Schroeck Paul Kozak Cindy Margolis Wild Rose Gary Oakes Lou Garcia
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 29, 2009 
Trent Carlini 
Charo 
Annie Duke & "Joans" Not surprisingly, Trent Carlini has ended his run in Elvolution at the Steve Wyrick Theatre. The man who, in July of 2007, took top prize on the ABC reality show, The Next Best Thing, thanks to his amazing vocal abilities and uncanny resemblance to Elvis Presley, called it quits after about two months. Carlini is a talented man and no newcomer to the Las Vegas entertainment scene. He has been performing here for a number of years, beginning in Legends in Concert, and then starring in his own shows, Trent Carlini - The Dream King at the Boardwalk Casino, Riviera and Sahara. He even performed on the same Las Vegas Hilton stage where the King spent much of his local career. In addition to his national exposure on The Next Best Thing, Trent has also made guest appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Oprah and Entertainment Tonight. Although we were told that the reason "Elvis/Trent left the building," was because he is going to compete on the new season of America's Got Talent, we don't buy that. Since it first opened in early 2007, the Wyrick Theatre has been consistent in one thing...its failure rate. From Ronn Lucas, Martin Nievera, Aga-Boom, Fan Yang the Mega Bubble Man and Tom Dane, to Wes Winters and now Trent Carlini, not one of these talented individuals or shows (we are not counting the talented composer/performer David Pomeranz, who used the Wyrick for two performances as a showcase, or Kevin Burke who bailed with his Defending the Caveman show BEFORE setting foot on the stage) was able to make a success of their (ad)venture in the shopping mall adjacent to Planet Hollywood. There are numerous reasons for this facility's poor track record, one being the proprietor himself. In the case of Mr. Carlini, we feel he was doomed to fail before he started. Not only did he have to deal with the "cursed" theater itself, Carlini's ticket prices were totally out of line and unrealistic - with a general admission ticket priced at $70, a premium admission ticket at $92, and a VIP admission cost of $150. (Elvis could only have dreamed of those kind of ticket prices.) Of course, that top ticket included front row seating in the 500-seat theater, a few trinkets, and "a private meet and greet with Trent at Triq Nightclub following the performance." Private? Triq is a club open to the public. And what if there were a dozen folks who paid for VIP admission? Would they all be greeted privately and individually? And how long would the visit be? Oh well, for now, it's all a moot point...unless, like we were told, Carlini goes back into the Wyrick after the new season of America's Got Talent ends. Can we say, "When hell freezes over"? * * * * * * On Monday, we learned what would be going into the third floor Mardi Gras showroom at the Riviera. In the theater space that, until February, was the longtime home of An Evening at La Cage, starring Frank Marino and a cast of glamorous (and funny, when you picture Jimmy Emerson) female impersonators, another glamour girl will take to the stage. The one and only Charo will launch her show at the Riviera on Sunday, July 12th. We will have more details on this (show times, ticket prices) closer to July 12th. And speaking of Marino and LaCage...Recent Celebrity Apprentice competitor/pro poker player, Annie Duke, and multiple Joan Rivers impersonators, took to the red carpet for the "Sucking Out on the Rivers" charity tournament benefiting international refugees, held at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino on Wednesday. The REAL Rivers (is there a REAL Rivers today?) who won the competition, and Duke, did not part the "reality" series as the best of friends. Therefore, the Duke/"Rivers" group at the Hard Rock, involved some faux ass kicking...all in fun, of course. Our accompanying photo, taken by Duane Prokop, shows Frank Marino on lAnnie's left, and Larry Edwards on her right. Both Marino and Edwards were members of the La Cage cast. And still speaking of Frank Marino, it appears that he, the cast, and audience members at Tony n' Tina's Wedding, are having enough fun at the interactive Planet Hollywood Resort, that Frank will hang around as a special guest cast member for a while longer. Since their move from the Rio to Planet Hollywood, Tony n' Tina producers have come up with a clever guest-star gimmick. In addition to Marino, Barry Williams (Greg on the old Brady Bunch TV series), Kato Kaelin (of OJ Simpson fame), singer Tiffany (I Think We're Alone Now), and Rowdy Roddy Piper, have also made cameo appearances. * * * * * * 
Human Nature 
Jim Caruso's Cast Party When a reader recommends an act or performer, we often take a "we'll see" attitude, but when friend Jerry R. tells us something or someone is special, we (usually) listen, sooo...Jerry says we "have to go see" Human Nature, now playing in the showroom at the Imperial Palace. Billed as Smokey Robinson Presents Australia's Human Nature The Ultimate Celebration of Motown (whew!), the show is produced by Adam Steck, CEO of SPI Entertainment, who also produces comedy icon Louie Anderson at the Excalibur, and the hit shows Thunder From Down Under (also at the Excalibur), and American Storm (at the V Theater, located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort). Human Nature, made up of Phil Burton, Toby Allen, and brothers Michael and Andrew Tierney, performs six nights a week (dark Friday) at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $49.95 (plus tax and fees), and VIP tickets are $59.95 (plus tax and fees), and can be purchased by calling (888) 777-7664 or online at www.imperialpalace.com. Seen in the photo, by Erik Kabik, are (left to right): Phil, Toby, Michael and Andrew. * * * * * * One of our favorites, Kelly Clinton, resurrects her Monday night open-mic show at that Italian joint on the south end of Las Vegas Blvd, beginning next week. The onetime Engelbert Humperdinck and Wayne Newton backup singer, formerly hosted a similar program for three years. This time around, she is using Jim Caruso's New York Cast Party as part of her inspiration. Caruso, a cabaret performer and recording artist of note, has been the guiding force behind, and host of, the Cast Party for more than five years. Thanks to the way the performers are treated, Monday nights at Birdland has become THE place to be...for both the entertainers and audience members. We think Clinton is a real talent, but we question the idea of holding this weekly series at that cliquey, often snobby establishment just south of the Las Vegas Outlet Center (formerly known as the Belz Outlet). If she combines some of the methods of the Cast Party, Composers Showcase, and downtown's Don't Tell Mama, Kelly may be able to turn the newly named Open Mic Cabaret into something special. We plan to keep tabs on this project. In the meantime, the opening-night lineup includes Susan Anton; Domenick Allen, former lead singer of Foreigner; Clinton's husband, Clint Holmes; and the Las Vegas Tenors. Showtime is at 9 p.m. The accompanying photo, taken at Jim Caruso's New York Cast Party, shows (from left to right): Paige Davis of TV's Trading Spaces, Clint Holmes, and Kelly Clinton. We would be very interested to have readers share their experiences, good or bad, at this Bistro. You know how to reach us. We will happily print SIGNED letters. * * * * * * The reason you haven't read anything about a May Composers Showcase date is because, due to scheduling problems, there wasn't a May Composers Showcase (don't forget that there were TWO in the month of April, one on the 2nd and another on the 23rd). Calm down, you music/theater/cabaret lovers. You can get your fix on Thursday, June 11th. As usual, show time begins at around 10:30 p.m. (after theater) in the Cabaret at the Liberace Museum. This month will feature the songs of local composers and songwriters: Jason Andino, Erich Bergen, Michael Brennan, Wayne Green, Jason Martinez, Niles Rivers, Keith Thompson, William Waldrop and others. The original material will be delivered by vocalists Jason Forbach, Kristen Hertezenberg, Andrew Ragone, Carly Thomas, and other special guests, and played by : Lindsey Springer (we will have more names in the June 5th column). Sound is in the capable hands of Richard Camuso and Mary McFadden. Don't forget, there is now a $5 cover charge at the door (free with Student ID), with all the proceeds going to the Liberace Foundation. For thirsty guests (and aren't they all?), there is a Cash Bar (no credit cards, please), and for hungry guests (and aren't they all), there is a $5 Hors d'oeuvres buffet provided by Carluccio's Restaurant and the Liberace Museum. The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. The Liberace Cabaret Showroom is located at 1775 E. Tropicana (at Spencer) next to Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens Restaurant. 
Manny Kellough, Marlene Arden, Fred Watstein & Phil Conti 
Mike Tyson And speaking of the Composers Showcase, Las Vegas-based bass player extraordinaire Fred Watstein, who frequently is asked to play at the popular monthly (usually) event, has gone cruising. In March, Watstein joined the Marlene Arden Quartet, featuring pianist Phil Conti, vocalist Marlene Arden and Grammy-winning drummer Manny Kellough, on the Celebrity Cruise's Solstice. In mid-June, Fred will be back in Vegas for a short visit (his mother, Shirley, lives here), before heading back to sea until right before Thanksgiving. For the July through November part of the journey, the Marlene Arden Quartet will be at home on Celebrity's Equinox. FYI...Mr. Kellough was Billy Preston's drummer for more than 25 years. His association with Preston earned Kellough four Gold records, including for the song, Nothing From Nothing. The drummer, who also worked with Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Carmen McRae, the Rolling Stones, and The Platters, among others, also is the recipient of a Grammy Award for his connection with Graham Central Station. We might say that Fred Watstein is traveling in very good company. Also at Liberace's, at 1 p.m., on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, music-lovers can see and hear the amazingly gifted Philip Fortenberry, pianist from Jersey Boys, performing his entertaining Liberace and Me show. Admission is $17.50 per person, and reservations are recommended. At this point, Fortenberry is scheduled to play at the museum through the end of June. Like everything else in life (or most things, anyway), this is subject to change. But, if you want to catch the show, do it in the next month...just in case. Please call (702) 798-5595, ext. 14, for tickets or information. Philip will be away from the piano on Wednesday, June 3rd, Saturday, June 6th, and Saturday, June 13th. On those days, Keith Thompson, musical director for Jersey Boys, will present his popular Celebrate Me Home show, that has been very well received in the Cabaret on other occasions. * * * * * * We are sad to report that the 4-year-old daughter of boxer Mike Tyson died at a Phoenix hospital on Tuesday, a day after her neck apparently got caught in a treadmill cord at her Arizona home. Little Exodus Tyson, who had been on life support since being hospitalized on Monday, was pronounced dead just before noon the next day. Former heavyweight champion Tyson was in Las Vegas at the time of the accident and flew to Phoenix after getting word of the tragic accident. The death of his child adds yet another awful chapter to the boxer's very troubled life. Mike Tyson was 12 years old when he began boxing in a facility for juvenile delinquents in upstate New York. At 19, he became the youngest heavyweight champion ever when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in 1986. In 1990, soon after we was defeated by James "Buster" Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, Tyson was convicted of raping a beauty pageant contestant in Indianapolis. Although he still denies he raped the woman, Tyson served three years in prison. A few years later, he served three months in jail for beating up two men after a minor car crash in suburban Washington. Trouble and bizarre behavior has continued to follow the boxer. In 1997, he bit off a portion of Evander Holyfield's ear during a boxing match. Tyson even threatened to eat the children of heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. In November 2007, Tyson spent 24 hours in Maricopa County's "Tent City" jail after pleading guilty to one count of cocaine possession and one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. According to police, Tyson said after his arrest that he bought cocaine "whenever I can get my hands on it." There have been other newsworthy incidents in Tyson's life, including his turbulent marriage to actress Robin Givens. In this latest tragedy in Tyson's life, it seems that Exodus's mother, whose name has not been released, was cleaning in another part of the house when she sent her 7-year-old son to the playroom to check on his sister. The boy found Exodus tangled in a cord dangling from a treadmill. He called for his mother, who dialed 911 and administered CPR. The little girl, who had been on life support since being found, was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m. at St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. In an eerily similar accident, but with a different ending, in 1979, boxer Joe Louis' small daughter, Janet Louis Barrow, was the victim of a near-drowning in the family' backyard swimming pool. The toddler was in a coma for three months. The accident, and subsequent cerebral palsy, left Janet brain-damaged, crippled and unable to speak. As for Mr. Louis, during the 1970s, Louis, who lived in Las Vegas, served as a greeter at Caesars Palace. It has also been reported that the proud former champion received monthly checks from Frank Sinatra. Louis maintained his dignity through numerous setbacks, including serious troubles with the IRS. On April 12, 1981, Joe Louis died at Desert Springs Hospital following a heart attack. His death came just hours after his last public appearance, where he attended the Larry Holmes-Trevor Berbick heavyweight championship fight at Caesars. President Ronald Reagan waived the eligibility rules for burial at Arlington National Cemetery, and Louis was buried there with full military honors on April 21, 1981. His funeral was paid for in part by former competitor and friend, Max Schmeling. * * * * * * We prefer to keep our political opinions to ourselves, BUT...we think Nevada's already embattled governor, Jim Gibbons, was an idiot, no, make that an ass, to not be present to greet president Barak Obama when the president arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday. No Las Vegan was thrilled with the remark the leader of the free world made regarding our city, but it had been done. The way for a state, that depends on gambling for much of its revenue, to win, would be to play the game smart, and that doesn't mean snubbing the president of the United States. "Smart" may be the operative word here. Gibbons hasn't done anything smart in quite a spell (remember the McCormick & "Schmuck" incident?). Jim needs to build up his low approval rating, and this sure isn't the way to do it. Doesn't he know that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar? Hell, even Cousin Claire knows that. Personally, we don't think Obama's reference to Las Vegas was done as a slam to our city. On the contrary. We think he was trying to make a point when, in February, in reference to companies that received bailout money, he was suggesting that corporate heads were not going to be able to give out those big bonuses until the taxpayers were paid back. "You can't get corporate jets. You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime. There has got to be some accountability and some responsibility, and that's something that I intend to impose as president of the United States.'' Makes sense to us. During his stay in Las Vegas, Obama participated in a glitter-filled fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Obama, Bette Midler, Sheryl Crow, and Clint Holmes, took the stage at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace - although, we assume, not at the same time. It was estimated that the event would raise $2 million for Reid and the Nevada Democratic Party, And as long as we are being politically "something" (take your pick), we vote for giving Steve Bornfeld a Pulitzer Prize for Journalism, thanks to his Las Vegas Review-Journal story on Alicia Jacobs. If you don't know who she is, that's probably a good thing. And although we may be criticized for giving her any more publicity than she has already gotten for herself, via her "relationships" with the Davids, both Hassellhoff and Foster, magician Criss Angel (whose best Vegas trick may have been making Jacobs disappear), American Idol's Nigel Lythgoe (who bought Alicia a $10,000 dog), and a few others we may have forgotten; her "expertise" on anything to do with beauty pageants or pageant contestants; and her cloying, embarrassing "reporting" on the death of her friend, Danny Gans, we have to express our opinion. The only criticism we have on the Steve Bornfeld piece, was that he was too kind. "Juice" helped get this lady on TV. What will it take to get her off the air? We think she is awful. The way she stands. The way she talks. We could go on and on...BUT, "Back to you guys." * * * * * * We have a busy day on Sunday. During the day, we will be at the Clark County Flamingo Library (1401 E. Flamingo) to see the Gary and Lou Show, that's Gary Oaks and Lou Garcia, local favorites. The singing and hoofing duo will do their annual turn for the Performing Arts Society of Nevada, much to the delight of their many fans. Tickets are $15, and may be purchased at the library an hour before the 2 p.m. show time. 
Jeff Hobson 
Las Vegas Seance 
Joe Darro On Sunday night, we will be at the Suncoast for the 7:30 show of World Stars of Magic. Produced by busy, busy, bi-costal/world traveler, Paul Stone, the show features the husband and wife team of Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh, and the hysterically funny lovechild of Liberace and Paul Lynde, Jeff Hobson. Tickets start at $19.95, plus taxes and fees. For reservations for World Stars of Magic, call (702) 636-7075. And speaking of magic, and all things strange and mysterious...Entrepreneurial Robert Allen, he of the Haunted Vegas and Mob Tours, now has a third business up and running. It's called Las Vegas Séance. The séance experience provides a spine tingling look into the dark and mysterious side of the afterlife. This intriguing presentation invites you to experience the thrill of a live séance and perhaps grab a glimpse of the "Other Side." Producer Allen presents, an evening of ghostly entertainment that recreates the mystery of the classic séance with a modern day twist. Guests participate in paranormal 'Living or Dead" experiments with spirits, witness common objects move by unseen forces, and communicate with the dead. You may even contact someone from your past. Allen says, "The possibility of communicating with the dead has fascinated people for centuries, with mankind's spiritual mortality being the source of great debate. Is death the final end or just a curtain that can be swept aside? Is contact really possible or just a magician's trick? Either way, it makes for exciting entertainment." Your senses will feel the eerie excitement as your medium summons forth the spirit world and guides you through 90 minutes of fascinating supernatural phenomenon designed to manifest ghosts from the other side. Last Friday, a woman purchased nine tickets to the séance show. Allen assumed it was a family gathering, or bachelorette party, or something similar. When he entered the Séance room, there sat magicians David Copperfield, Mac King, Chris Keller, and Jason England, along with prop and illusion designer/builder Bill Smith, Homer Liwag (David's artistic director), and three woman. Talk about pressure! Following the show (and a few laughs) the VIP guests all said they liked the concept and, although it needs some work, it has great possibilities. It was a very exciting night! The Las Vegas Séance runs every evening at 10 p.m., excluding holidays. The actual experience lasts approximately 90-minutes. General admission tickets are $64.90 per person. Minors 16 years and older are permitted to attend, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For additional information, available séance dates, and to order tickets, call (866) 218-4935 toll free. Sorry, no alcoholic beverages may be consumed during the séance, and the taking of still photos or videos is not allowed during the séance. Las Vegas Séance is conducted for entertainment purposes only! And speaking of the Suncoast (and we frequently do), we have it on good authority that the fabulous Society of Seven will be returning to the hotel/casino's showroom on July 10th, 11th and 12th. Early reservations are suggested, as this musical/comedy ensemble is sure to be a sellout. We will have more on the SOS engagement in a few weeks. * * * * * * Pianist/vocalist Joe Darro, who has been around these parts since Nevada became a state (okay, not quite that long), wants us to remind our readers that every Thursday, from 7:30 to 10:30, DeStefano's is hosting an "open mic" night. (No rock and rollers, please.) Anyone who wants to be heard (and can hopefully sing or play on key), is invited to drop by and join in the fun. "A singer's singer" is a term reserved for the likes of Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. But who did those "singer's singers" like to listen to, besides each other? None other than Joe Darro. During his career (we mentioned it was a long one, didn't we?), Darro has appeared with some of the greats in entertainment, including Vic Damone, Sammy Davis Jr., Shecky Greene, Frank Sinatra Jr., Louis Prima, Kenny Rogers, Jack Jones, Joe Williams, The Four Freshmen, Mickey Rooney, The Smothers Brothers, and Debbie Reynolds, to name just a few. In 1998, Joe was selected to open the Bellagio Hotel. Go check him out. Also at DeStefano's...Tomorrow night, for the first time in many years, pianist/singer, Bruce Westcott, with award-winners, Dick Straub on bass and Joe Locatelli on drums, will be taking the stage to play and sing the Great American Standards in his own unique way. Expect some drop-in guests to possibly join the trio for a song or two on Saturday, beginning at 7:30 p.m.. DeStefano's, which has a very nice dinner menu and a bar, is located on the northeast corner of Tropicana and Pecos. * * * * * * 
Rich Affannato 
Sam Harris 
Joe LaVigna Happy birthday to Geminis Tom Gallagher, Rich Affannato, Sarasue Essenpreis, LaToya and Rebbie Jackson (the sisters share May 29th birthdays), Diane Ellis, Marvin Hamlisch, Bill Nolte, Sam Harris, Michael LaRocca, Nicholas Pomeranz, Grace "Bambi Jr." Coronel, Kenny Mazlow, Sharon Holmes Mandel, Eric Floyd, Dick Feeney, Dan and Elizabeth Pero, Mel Carter, Gordie Brown, Nate Tannebaum, Joe LaVigna, Sandy Hackett and Merrick Wolfe. And happy anniversary to Gerry and Kim McCambridge, who are celebrating their 11th, and Jim and Jan Seagrave on their 30th. And speaking of Gerry McCambridge, we would like to remind readers that, two years after he opened there, Gerry has left Hooters Casino on East Tropicana, and taken his show to a new venue, and no, it's not to O'Sheas on the Strip, it's to the V Theater adjacent to the Planet Hollywood Resort. We suspect there might be some confusion here, and we sure wouldn't want that. Gerry, who is billed as The Mentalist, is going to have to deal with someone calling himself Mental. This guy must be "mental" to come up with a name so similar to that of someone who has had national television exposure - including his own NBC special, a stint on the reality show, Phenomenon, and impressive guest spots on the Today show - as well as has established himself as a Las Vegas headliner. In his May 21st Las Vegas Weekly story, Top 10 Vegas Shows You Absolutely Have to See, journalist Steve Friess names The Mentalist, Gerry McCambridge, as No. 7 on his list. About The Mentalist Live (that would be McCambridge), Friess says, "One weekend a while back, I was dragged to see star Gerry McCambridge when he was at Hooters. I'm usually right about what I'll hate-the Scintas, Steve Wyrick, Elvolution and Criss Angel Believe are recent wastes of my time-but McCambridge turned out to be entertaining and original. There's this sequence where he grabs numbers out of the audience and somehow they end up in a sealed box or some such, and, well, I just don't understand how it's possible. And that's a good thing." For those of a curious nature (and you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't curious), here is Steve Friess' lineup of Top 10 Vegas Shows You Absolutely Have to See (or send your visitors to see). And the winners are...No. 10, Donny & Marie at the Flamingo; No. 9, The Mac King Comedy Show at Harrah's; No. 8, Rita Rudner, also at Harrah's; No. 7, Mr. McCambridge as already mentioned; No. 6, Jersey Boys at The Palazzo; No. 5, Bette Midler's The Showgirl Must Go On, recurring at Caesars Palace; No. 4, Barry Manilow - Ultimate Manilow: The Hits, recurring at the Las Vegas Hilton; No. 3, anything at the Onyx Theatre (located in the off-Strip Commercial Center); No. 2, Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian; and (drum roll) No. 1, Cirque du Soleil's KA at the MGM Grand. To see Freiss' very funny commentary for yourself, check out http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2009/may/21/winners/. 
Kim & Gerry McCambridge 
Judy Thorburn & Waxy Johnny Depp 
Justin Hopkins * * * * * * We are always willing to admit when we make a mistake (since we make so few), especially when someone who is an expert on the subject corrects us. Therefore, we are sharing this e-mail from fellow entertainment writer Judy Thorburn, known as one of the Internet "Flick Chicks" (the other being Jacqueline Monahan). The very astute Ms. Thorburn reminds us that Judi Dench, make that DAME Judi Dench, mentioned in last Friday's column, did not win a Best Actress Oscar for her role in Shakespeare in Love (that went to Gwyneth Paltrow). What the Dame DID win was Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in that film. Incidentally, Shakespeare in Love won seven Oscars in 1998, including that for Best Picture. Congratulations to Judy and Stephen Thorburn who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on May 6th, and to Steve who turned another year older on the 18th of this month. And still on the subject of mistakes...Apparently, when we weren't looking, Unified Tribe (who we wrote about two weeks ago) made some fairly recent personnel changes. Let's see if we can give credit where credit is due. The correct (we hope) and current lineup of talent consists of Magic (founder, lead and background vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums), Harmony (lead and background vocals, keyboards, violin and mandolin), Merrily (lead and background vocals, keyboards and acoustic guitar), Kal-El (background vocals, trombone, guitar and bass), Jessi (lead/background vocals), Kay (lead/background vocals, guitar), Kathy (lead/background vocals, keyboards), Rochon (bass), Greg (drums), and Orin (trumpet). Watch for Unified Tribe's name on a marquee, album (or CD) cover, or anywhere else that good music turns up. Sorry, folks. * * * * * * Last week's memorial service for the late Danny Gans attracted a host of familiar faces, including Louie Anderson, Criss Angel, Gordie Brown, Carrot Top, Jerry Fink, Siegfried Fischbacker, Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton Holmes, Roy Horn, Shawn (Mrs. Larry) King, Robin Leach, Gerry McCambridge, siblings Donny and Marie Osmond, Rita Rudner, Earl Turner, George Wallace, Mike Weatherford, Wes Winters and Mayor Oscar Goodman, who declared May 21st Danny Gans Day in Las Vegas. On occasion, Gans would close his show with Sol Weinstein's The Curtain Falls, a song sometimes used by the late Bobby Darin to end his show. The final lyrics of The Curtain Falls say...Your cheers and laughter will linger after, They've torn down these dusty walls. People say I was made for this, Nothin' else would I trade for this, And just think I get paid for this..."Goodnight ladies and gentlemen and God love you, thank you." * * * * * * We recently attended another actor's showcase, featuring the students of drama coach Gerald Gordon. We have lost track of exactly how many of these "graduation classes" we have been to (being an audience member is by invitation only). There are always new scenes and usually new actors (except when the class is made up of intermediate or advanced students). One thing is always consistent. There are always some surprises. There are always participants who give outstanding performances and a hint of what their future as actors might be. And it is always very exciting to know that you might be seeing the very beginning of someone's successful career. After all, Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist) was one of Mr. Gordon's Los Angeles students. Time and space (and our advancing age) prevent us from going into too many details - such as naming all the theatrical scenes, telling who did what and how well they did it - so we will provide a brief synopsis of the afternoon. The latest program opened with Lysander Abadia (who recently did a great job in A Taste of Shakespeare at the Springs Preserve) and our friend, Paul Hansell, delivering Invocation and Instructions to the Audience, thanks to Stephen Sondheim and his clever and funny lesson in theater behavior from The Frogs. Performances of scenes from playwrights Tennessee Williams, John Guare, Jules Feiffer, William Inge, Eugene O'Neill, Murray Schisgal and others were well delivered by Jeffrey Bentz, Jennifer Brown, Michael Cassano (who, along with Abadia, also emoted in A Taste of Shakespeare), Erica Dilanjian, Jay He, Christopher Hirmiz, Justin Hopkins (who brilliantly delivered an "f-bomb" laden monologue from David Benioff's 25th Hour), Mercedez Jeffrey, Shelley Krawchuk, Alexandra Schmid, Michael Spadoni, Jason Tillmon, and Olga Verchinina. Scott Crookston handled piano duties, while David Brocard was in charge of lights, and Hopkins served as stage manager. The gracious hosts were former Gordon students, Luke Jones and Domenica Castro. A number of the actors were performing or speaking lines on stage, and in front of an audience (that included professional actors such as Kristi Holden from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular), for the very first time. Quite impressive. Congratulations, one and all. Latest update...Following the May 16th showcase, Justin Hopkins was signed by Vegas' eNVy Talent Agency. On June 9th, Gerald Gordon will be taking Hopkins and Michael Cassano into Hollywood, where they are scheduled to meet with casting agents, Craig Campobasso and Bruce H. Newberg (The Class TV series, starring Jason Ritter and Sam Harris; The Closer, with Kyra Sedgwick). In addition, both Justin and Michael will have a photo session with top photographer, Michael Helms. We will keep you posted on these two talented fellows. And also speaking of former Gerald Gordon students...Kenny Harlow, who was in the Toni Braxton show at the Flamingo, can be seen (look closely) in the new Wayans family film, Dance Flick. Directed by Damien (yes, Damien) Wayans, in addition to actors Shawn, Marlon, Kim, Keenen Ivory, and Damon (yes, Damon) Wayans Jr., Dance Flick also features David Allen Grier, Amy Sedaris and Chris Elliott. 
Michael Cassano 
Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 
Fremont Street Experience * * * * * * The annual Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend will take place at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, from Thursday, June 4th, through Sunday, June 7th. The world's top showcase for international burlesque entertainers and enthusiasts, the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend attracts outstanding artists, both exotic and mainstream. Scheduled to appear: Miss Exotic World 2008, Angie Pontani ("NYC burlesque's reigning star" - New York Post); Immodesty Blaize (Miss Exotic World 2007, star of British stage and TV), Whitney Biennial artist Julie Atlas Muz (Miss Exotic World 2006, Law and Order), Michelle L'amour (Miss Exotic World 2006, America's Got Talent); Dirty Martini (Miss Exotic World 2004), Kitten DeVille (Miss Exotic World 2002, Auto Focus); and over 100 of the world's top neo-burlesque acts. "Burlesque has become a truly worldwide phenomenon, and the performers that make it to our show are the sexiest, most unique and talented entertainers on the planet" says Burlesque Hall of Fame representative, Luke Littell "It's the only event of its kind, featuring both today's brightest new stars and the living legends of yesterday." Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend also includes a Striptease Reunion, now in its 52nd year, at which newer performers can learn tricks of the trade from surviving superstars of the 1940s, '50s and '60s. "The living legends love to be there with all the wonderful girls who come from all over the world to celebrate an American tradition!" says Hall of Fame curator, Dixie Evans, herself a retired dancer (she was dubbed "The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque" by legendary promoter Harold Minsky), "Burlesque is much more than striptease, it combines the whole live experience of dancers, comedians and music." Among the many activities slated for 2009 are Friday's "Titans of Tease" Burlesque Reunion Showcase, and Saturday night's main event, the 19th annual Burlesque Competition. Called the "Striptease Olympics" by the London Daily Mirror, it is the most prestigious competitive burlesque event in the world; drawing bump 'n' grind's best of the best, year after year, from Tokyo to Toronto. Titles up for the taking include: "Best Debut," "Best Troupe or Duo," "Best Boylesque," new category "Best Variety Act," and of course 2009's "Reigning Queen of Burlesque." But wait, there's more! The weekend is also full of fabulous music, including sets by the world's hottest Go-Go, Garage, Rockabilly, Lounge and Exotica DJs; a live performance by the weekend's co-emcee El Vez, the Mexican Elvis, along with his band, the Memphis Mariachis. Additional events include a weekend long Burlesque Bazaar, featuring contemporary and vintage burlesque/pinup-inspired wares; a display of unique items (costumes, props and other historical ephemera) on loan from the Burlesque Hall of Fame; the Barecats Invitational Bowling Tournament; the 4th annual Pinup Safari and Cheesecake Camera Club; Texas Tease 'Em Poker Tournament; Burlesque Hall of Fame Finishing School Master Classes and an all-star Dr. Sketchy's live drawing event, hosted by Vegas' own Cha-Cha Velour. Weekend passes are $150 for general admission, and $200 for VIP passes. The weekend passes include admission to all showroom activities. Individual tickets may be purchased for Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, and are $35 in advance for Friday and Sunday, $45 in advance for Saturday. Tickets and passes are available by phone at the Orleans Box Office, (702) 365-7070, or online at www.orleanscasino.com/whats-new/events/burlesque-hall-of-fame-weekend. The "Titans of Tease" Burlesque Reunion Showcase (on Friday), the 19th Annual Miss Exotic World Pageant (Saturday), and the Closing Gala featuring El Vez and the Memphis Mariachis (Sunday), will all take place in the Orleans Showroom at The Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue. Doors for all shows open at 7 p.m., and shows begins at 8. All three shows are open to individual ticket and Weekend Pass holders. Other Weekend events, including the Opening Night Burlesque Bash (Thursday) and the Mimosa Beach Pinup Pool Party (Sunday), are open only to Weekend Pass holders. The Burlesque Hall of Fame is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Their mission is to establish a permanent, first-rate tourist attraction and research/exhibition space for the unique collection, in hopes of inspiring, educating and entertaining the public and fostering an appreciation for the unique history and heritage of American Burlesque; including but not limited to the art, artifacts and personal histories of the art's biggest names and brightest stars. For a complete schedule of events or more information about Burlesque Weekend or The Burlesque Hall of Fame, please visit the Web site at www.burlesquehall.com. * * * * * * For those who weren't in downtown Las Vegas on May 22nd, you missed an exciting Experience on the street called Fremont. Taking their lead from the T-Mobile ad, filmed in Liverpool in January (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM), and the Antwerp Central Train Station, 200+ group of "performers," for the Sound of Music video filmed in March (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k), Nancy Hardy assembled a "cast" of volunteers to do the Vegas version of a big "impromptu" dance-off. Judging by the large crowd this attraction collected, the launch for the Summer of '69's Age of Aquarius was a big success. To see the Vegas production, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztGhJ_XCFPg&feature=channel.
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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 22, 2009 
Italy Earthquake Benefit Supporters 
Gary Olds 
Natalie Cole
In spite of a lagging economy, a number of other worthwhile benefits going on at the same time, and only three weeks to put the whole thing together, last Sunday's fundraiser at The Orleans brought out more than 500 people, who for the price of a $35 ticket, had the opportunity to help those ravaged by the early April earthquake in Italy. It also gave attendees the chance to see one helluva show. Nelson Sardelli, his team of hardworking volunteers, and a lineup of top entertainers, must feel very proud of their accomplishments. The afternoon show consisted of the Gary Olds Quintet - with Tommy Deering on piano, Chris Gordan on bass, Dr. George Ritter on saxophone, Don Hill on sax, and Gary Olds on drums - backing up Robert Ensler (Night and Day), Allen Tramont (I Got the World On a String), Joni Illi (You Made Me Love You), and The Swing City Dolls (The Andrews Sisters, Apple Blossom Time) during the 12:30 to 1 p.m. pre-show. Eighty-three-year young Don Hill's version of The Good Life was a real crowd-pleaser. Hill was with the legendary Treniers show band for more than 50 years. For the main portion of the afternoon, the 12-piece Gary Olds Orchestra, with Vince Falcone conducting, Gary Olds on drums, Chris Gordan on bass, Danny Falcone on trumpet (Bette Midler, Jersey Boys), Tom Ehlen on trumpet, Tom Porrello on trumpet, Marty Radunz on tenor sax, Gary Freyman on baritone sax, Dennis Wilson on lead alto sax and doubles, Sam Pisciotta on alto sax, Walt Boenig on trombone, and Randy Crawford (until very recently, with the late Danny Gans) on trombone, accompanied an all-star program. The opening number featured the orchestra playing Sammy Nestico's Ya Gotta Try, followed by host/MC Nelson Sardelli singing Without a Song. The rest of the talent parade (and, for the vocalists, what we were told they sang) was made up of Rich Little, Mafalda, escorted to the piano by Paul Campanella (Sambas), Scott Record (comedy impressionist), Frankie and Chrissi Scinta, with drummer Pete O'Donnell (The Prayer), Cork Proctor, Michaelina Bellamy (Cuando Vuelva Ha Tu Lado, and in English, What a Difference a Day Makes, arranged by award-winning Gary Anderson), Shecky Greene (with his musical director Vic Glazer on piano), Phyllis McGuire (Scandal), Artie Schroeck and Linda November (I Love a Piano), Pete Barbutti, Lena Prima (Buena Sera), Dennis Bono (Please Be Kind), and with Lorraine Hunt-Bono (Our Love Is Here To Stay), Sammy Shore, Babe Pier, Denise Clemente (Birth of the Blues), Frankie Randall (Fly Me To the Moon), Charlie Callas, Ronnie Rose (Bye Bye Blackbird), comedienne Kathleen Dunbar, Mark Giovi (You'll Never Walk Alone/I Walk With God), Peter Anthony, Susan Beaubian (The Best Is Yet To Come), and Kelly Clinton (Baldheaded Men). The program closed with Clint Holmes, and Bill Fayne on piano, for a West Side Story medley. The orchestra members, in tuxedos all, were on stage and playing for more than four hours. If you missed it, you missed it. Italian Earthquake Benefit photo (from left to right): Frankie Scinta, Bobby Slayton, Babe Pier, Nelson Sardelli, Rich Little, Pete O'Donnell, Vince Falcone, Bill Fayne and Jac Hayden. We were quite surprised to learn that a local media-type videotaped parts of the above mentioned benefit and, without authorization or permission to tape, has posted some of it (including almost 10 minutes of Shecky Greene's act) on the Internet. Do we smell a lawsuit? And speaking of Gary Olds, the busy drummer, who has played for the likes of Smokey Joe's Café, Lesley Gore, Little Anthony and The Imperials; and the Saturday Night Live Reunion Tour with Victoria Jackson, Don "Father Guido Sarducci" Novello, and Joe Piscopo; will spend tomorrow night at the Tropicana in Laughlin where he, along with musical director/pianist Chuck Hoover, Brent Alverson on bass, Steve Cantor on guitar, and Olds on drums, will back up comic/impressionist Rich Little in a one-nighter in the Pavilion Theater. * * * * * * Yesterday, Las Vegas said its final goodbye to entertainer Danny Gans. Family members, friends, fans and fellow performers gathered to honor Gans inside the 1500-seat theater at the Encore, where he headlined, prior to his untimely death on May 1st. Among those sharing memories at the by-invitation-only ceremony, were Gans' wife, Julie, and children, Andrew, Amy and Emily, along with Encore owners, Steve and Elaine Wynn, Gordie Brown, Gerry McCambridge, Donny and Marie Osmond, and Clint and Kelly Clinton Holmes. We know there were many more notable faces in the crowd. Perhaps by next Friday, we will have a more complete list. Danny Gans was only 52 at the time of his death. The cause is still unknown. * * * * * * Natalie Cole will not be appearing tomorrow at the new M Resort on the very south end of Las Vegas Blvd. The 59-year-old Cole underwent a kidney transplant at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles on Tuesday. As a result, her summer tour has been postponed. Last July, Natalie revealed that she had Hepatitis C, saying she probably contracted the liver disease from drug use more than 30 years ago. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease that can cause inflammation of the liver, and in extreme cases, liver cancer. It is usually contracted through transfusions of unscreened blood, or by injecting or inhaling drugs. The daughter of Nat King Cole, Natalie has been receiving kidney dialysis three times a week since September. The singer has won nine Grammys in a 30-year career that has included albums such as Everlasting and Unforgettable ...With Love, which featured her singing a duet with her late father via electronic technology. Natalie Cole's latest album is Still Unforgettable. Tickets for Ms. Cole's canceled performances will be refunded at point of purchase.
In a very strange and sad twist of fate, Natalie's sister, Carole "Cookie" Cole, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer just the week before, died on Tuesday, while Natalie was undergoing her kidney transplant surgery. Cookie was 64. The singer was by her older sister's side when she learned that a donor organ had become available. Carole, who went by the nickname of Cookie, was seen on her father's television show in the 1950s, and went on to appear on TV and in movies in the 1960s and '70s. Her credits include Sanford and Son, and the 1974 movie, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. * * * * * * We told you we were Claire Voyant (If you look up the word clairvoyant in the dictionary, you will see that it means: perceiving things beyond the natural range of the senses; someone who has the power of clairvoyance; foreseeing the future). We knew it was only a matter of time before someone (or a few someone's) came forward with info on this particular subject. Apparently, it was the scary thought of a children's theater mentioned in last week's column that brought a couple of caring and concerned citizens to our aid. The outfit in question calls itself COLABO. It is led by someone using the name "Troy Adams." The fact that "Mr. Adams" claimed to be an actor with lots of credits, and yet we could find no photos of him or any "reviews" for anything he supposedly did, was a red flag. A shy actor? Not likely. No photos of him, anywhere, at any age? Very unusual. Like Judge Judy says, "If it doesn't make sense, it probably isn't true." Mr. Adams' story (or non-story) didn't make sense and, just as we suspected, it proved to be pure fiction. After hearing from some folks in Southern California ("Adams" bio states he is from the San Diego area), we once again got to work checking on this bozo. This is what we now know to be true. "Troy Adams" is, in fact, really Obalac Phillips. Colabo is Obalac spelled backwards. Our sources confirm that Phillips is "shady," and suggest that he left the San Diego area because too many people were looking for him. Guess he figured he could sort of disappear here once he had a new name and no face. According to his bio, found online at http://www.colabo.biz/hedwig_cast.html on Monday: After Troy Adams (Artistic Director of Colabo) received a BA in Journalism from San Diego State University, he promptly created the non-profit organization UMOJA Theatre Company. Through UMOJA. he produced over 30 stage productions in 10 years, employing over 1200 performers and musicians in large scale productions such as THE WIZ, FAME, ANNIE, and WEST SIDE STORY. He also founded San Diego's first fully integrated independent youth theater (PYT), giving many children of all race, creed and religon (sic) their first taste of the Arts. Troy appeared on Broadway as a swing/understudy in the two time Tony award-winning musical revue 5 GUYS NAMED MOE and often stunned the audience with his 3.5 octave range. He graduated high school from the School of Creative and Performing Arts in San Diego and is an in-demand choreographer and actor. (The Picture Coming Soon note has been up for more than a year.)
Regarding his claim to have been in Five Guys Named Moe (that would be FIVE, not the numeral as his bio indicates), IBDB (Internet Broadway Data Base), the bible of all Broadway information, has no listing at all for either Obalac Phillips or Troy Adams. The original musical, which ran from April 8, 1992 to May 2, 1993, had a relatively small cast - only a dozen people, including understudies and replacements - and not a one of them was named Phillips or Adams. * * * * * *
Following our blurb on Forbidden Broadway, presented by Musical Theatre West, and playing at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, California, from May 1st through 17th, some of our readers decided to believe us when we indicated that seeing this production would be time well spent. A couple of folks who took our suggestion and went to see Forbidden Broadway have forwarded some comments that we will share with you. FM from Long Beach writes...
Time flies when you are having fun. In Forbidden Broadway time zipped by at the speed of light. How much fun can you have and how much laughter can you muster? Forbidden Broadway affords you plenty of fun and laughs. Here is a show that relies on an extremely talented cast with great enunciation, physical and facial dexterity, in great costumes, with an out of this world piano accompanist and clever potently hilarious lyrics. Add to that an un-relentless pace and well dispersed visual and vocal surprise and voila; Forbidden Broadway shines at every turn and leaves you feeling great about theater, comedy and one's self. And from HG, also a Southern Californian...
Last Friday night a friend of mine and I attended the performance of Forbidden Broadway at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, and both came away with the same opinion. It was superbly performed by four very talented stage actors (Whitney Allen, Susanne Blakeslee, David Engel and Larry Raben) and beautifully supported by Michael Paternostro, an amazingly gifted piano virtuoso. The cleverly written lyrics came through with clarity, and the dance routines and costuming was superb. We'll be looking forward to their return! 
Larry Raben & Whitney Allen 
Michael Cassano as Benedict 
Lysander Abadia as Romeo * * * * * * Reminder...
It's A Taste of Shakespeare at the Springs Preserve this Memorial Day weekend. From noon to 6 p.m., on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, those who like their culture in small doses can have their taste satisfied by heading to the Preserve at 333 S. Valley View (near US 95). For less than $10 admission, visitors can see snippets from Much Ado About Nothing, with actor Michael Cassano as Benedict, and Tracy Blackwell as Beatrice; As You Like It, with Rosalind, Norma Wood as Rosalind and Scottie Scott as Celia; Hamlet, with Brandon McClenahan as Hamlet, and Gary Lunn as Hamlet's Ghost; Macbeth, with Russell Feher as Macbeth, and Clare Paget as Lady Macbeth; King Lear, with Tom Deishley as Lear, and Michael Harnett as Kent; and Romeo and Juliet, with Lysander Abadia as Romeo, and Louisa Lawson as Juliet. For additional information, call (702) 822-7705. * * * * * * 
Blue Man Group If you are a fan of the blues, and your kids are too, do we have a deal for you! Exclusively for Las Vegas residents, kids (ages three through 12) can see the Blue Man Group at The Venetian for FREE. Here is the deal (and such a deal). Show your Nevada ID at any Venetian/Palazzo box office to take advantage of this offer. Buy one full-price ticket and get one children's ticket free. Children under three are always free, but must sit on the lap of an accompanying adult. This offer is subject to availability and not valid with any other offers and is not good on holidays. Also, this offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets. No refunds; all sales are final. Good through December 31st. Show times are 7 and 10 p.m. nightly. For reservations or additional information, call (702) 414-9000, or (800) BLUEMAN. Mention "KIDS FREE" to receive this offer. * * * * * * When it comes to PEEPSHOW, Jerry Mitchell's sexy revue currently at home at Planet Hollywood Resort, changes are underway. Some things are going, and some things are coming. In the "going" department, it's the show's co-star, General Hospital vixen and former Dancing With the Stars competitor, Kelly Monaco, as well as the pasties worn by the dancers in PEEPSHOW. What's coming, is Holly Madison, one of Hugh Hefner's former playmates, and onetime girlfriend of the Luxor's headlining magician, Criss Angel. Next month, Madison will take over the role of Bo Beep in the adult revue. In addition to a cast of talented dancers, singers and specialty acts, former Spice Girl, Mel B (Melanie Brown) also stars. Show times are at 8 p.m., Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 8 and 10:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. Dark on Wednesdays. Tickets start at $71.50, all inclusive. For PEEPSHOW reservations, call (702) 785-5000. 
Holly Madison 
Gloria & Don Hill 
Penelope Cruz * * * * * * When we mention someone with the last name of Hill in this column, more often than not, it is musician Don Hill, the one-time saxophone player with the famous Treniers, that we are writing about. Today, it's his bride's turn. We want to wish Gloria Hill a belated birthday greeting. We did not know, until this week, that Gloria is a Taurus who celebrates her birthdays on April 30th. Since she looks great, we don't think that Mrs. Hill will mind us telling readers that she just turned 75. These days, isn't 75 the new 50? Happy birthday, Gloria. * * * * * * The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Nine, is coming to the big screen. Nine will be directed by Rob Marshall, who didn't do too badly with his 2002 version of John Kander and Fred Ebb's movie musical, Chicago, or with Memoirs of a Geisha. The story of a filmmaker and the women in his life, the musical Nine was inspired by the 1963 Federico Fellini film, 8 1/2. The cast of Nine includes six Oscar winners - Penelope Cruz (best supporting actress for her role in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Nicole Kidman (best actress winner for The Hours), Daniel Day-Lewis (two best actor wins, for My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood), Marion Cotillard (best-actress winner for playing chanteuse Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose), Judi Dench (best actress win for Shakespeare in Love), and Sophia Loren (best actress award for Two Women). Nine is scheduled to be released in the U.S. at the end of the year. And speaking of new films, musician/producer Dick Feeney, will soon be able to add a new credit to his resume...actor. He will have a small part (there are no small parts, only small actors) in a film called Get Him To the Greek. This movie, which features Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Colm Meaney and Stephanie Faracy, with cameo appearances by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, filmed some scenes at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, where Feeney and partner Sandy Hackett are producers of The Rat Pack Is Back! The film's director, Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) decided that he could incorporate the tribute show into his movie. The filming, using the Rat Pack cast - Brian Duprey (Frank Sinatra), Kyle Diamond (Sammy Davis Jr.), Drew Anthony (Dean Martin), and Tom Wallek (Joey Bishop), plus Feeney as himself (producer) - was done last Friday. The fellows were performing Ain't That a Kick In the Head, backed by the revue's 12-piece band (no taped music for this show). On stage with the guys for this scene was actress Faracy doing her Shirley MacLaine impersonation. A second scene, was filmed in the backstage dressing room and featured the lead actors with Diamond and Feeney, as well as Rat Pack musicians, Ron Camire, George Bryant and Dwight Smith. The Universal Picture is scheduled for release sometime next year. 
Dick Feeney 
Adam Lambert 
Kris Allen As if this wasn't enough, Dick Feeney has another exciting event coming up in his life. On June 10th, he will be inducted into the Rockland High School Academic Hall of Fame. The letter informing him of the honor states that his achievements are "truly noteworthy and are a source of inspiration and motivation for the current Rockland youth." The ceremony will be held at the Abington VFW Hall in Massachusetts and, we assume, that the Feeney family will be present. * * * * * * In the world of reality television, anything goes.
Another season of American Idol (its 8th) has come to an end, and a new winner has been declared. From the very beginning, we knew that Adam Lambert would be the one to beat. What we didn't count on was that it would be Kris Allen standing next to Lambert on the Nokia Theater stage during the final week of the American Idol competition. Weeks ago, we anticipated a vote-off between Adam and Danny Gokey. But, last week, Gokey was sent home, leaving Lambert and Allen to battle it out for the top spot. Like Mine the Bird, the fifty-to-one long shot horse who won the recent Kentucky Derby, quiet, boy-next-door, Kris Allen, not only wound up in a face-off with glam rocker, Lambert, he came from behind, sneaking up along the rail, to take home the season title. We were rooting for Lambert. Idol history may repeat itself, giving the runner-up a bigger career than the winner (Remember winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken?). We have no doubt that Adam Lambert will make a lot of money and go on to have a successful career. As someone said recently (can't recall who that someone was), it may have been in Adam's best interest not to have been declared the American Idol winner. This way, he won't have to spend the next year singing No Boundaries. The winner of Dancing With the Stars was also unexpected. The odds-makers seemed to favor Gillies Marini, but it was 17-year-old Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson and her partner Mark Ballas who took possession of the big mirror ball trophy on the show's season finale. It's The Donald's World and we just live in it. What is Donald Trump thinking? Joan Rivers winning Celebrity Apprentice? She shouldn't have even been in the running, after she and her bratty daughter, Melissa Rivers (Rosenberg), made their dramatic, not to mention embarrassing, exit from the show, following Melissa's "firing" a few weeks ago. When a four-year-old has a tantrum in a grocery store, because mommy won't buy him a toy, and mommy caves in and buys him the toy just to quiet him down and avoid the glaring stares of judgmental strangers, what does that teach junior? Anytime he doesn't get his way, just have a meltdown and be rewarded for bad behavior. Apparently that is the lesson young Ms. Rivers learned at the feet of her diva-like mother. And, surprise! It works!!! * * * * * * We are sad to report the death of Kevin Davis, son of the late comic, Pepper Davis. We remember Kevin from more than 30 years ago, when his father was a principal in the Ice Fantasy revue at the Hacienda (now the location of Mandalay Bay), and Kevin, a friendly and outgoing young man, worked in valet parking at the same property. Over the last three decades, Kevin worked in hospitality at Caesars, the Aladdin, Riviera, MGM Grand and Venetian. Pepper and Tony Reese were the nationally known comedy team of Davis and Reese. In the '60s and '70s, the duo appeared on most of the popular TV variety shows. Pepper went on to guest roles in film and television, including a recurring role as Manny the Mechanic in the Vega$ series. Pepper passed away in 1990. Kevin Davis died on May 13th at the age of 51. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. tomorrow, at Hope Baptist Church, 180 E. Pebble. Our sincere condolences to his family. 
Pepper Davis 
Face First * * * * * * It seems that folks just can't get enough of the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. In spite of the troubling economy, Jersey Boys at The Palazzo is doing just fine, thank you. And so, it seems, is Chapquist Entertainment's Oh What a Night!, a musical tribute to those boys from New Jersey. Written, staged and directed by George Solomon and Michael Chapman, with choreography by Paul Holmquist, this popular production will return to the Starbright Theatre, next Saturday, May 30th for a 7 p.m. show. Due to audience requests, this will be the fifth time that Oh What a Night has played at the Starbright in the past six months. When last here in early April, the presentation sold out so fast, a quick-to-follow second date was set at that time. This is it! Interpreting the popular tunes of are Valli and the Four Seasons - including Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man and Can't Take My Eyes Off You - are Brandon Albright, Paul Holmquist, Rick Morgan, and George Solomon. Tickets are $18 for Sun City Summerlin residents and $23 for others. The theater is located in Sun City Summerlin at 2215 W. Thomas Ryan Blvd., west of Rampart, off Lake Mead. For ticket information, call (702) 240-1301. To order by credit card, call (702) 869-2064. * * * * * * Local band, Face First, will reunite at the Tailspin Bar & Grill after a 20-year hiatus. Calling this concert its We're Not Dead Yet tour, the band will be bringing down the house tomorrow night, beginning at 9 p.m. Face First will perform songs of Van Halen, Simple Minds, Def Leppard and more. Face First got its start in 1985, when five UNLV students formed the group to cover the giant hits of the day. Face First created a cult following at the time, performing in popular local hangouts of the day – Steak Out, Sneakers and Doc 'N Eddies. In addition, they headlined a UNLV concert that was touted back then as one of the first "dry fraternity rush" parties for the university. "Back in the day, we were college guys in different fraternities that decided to form a cover band in the '80s just for something to do. What started out as a fun side gig, really turned into a full-time experience and we made a name for ourselves that lasted the entire time we were in college, said Steven "Bongo" Doctors, drummer for Face First, and current director of sales and marketing for magicians Penn and Teller. "Face Book has been an instrumental source to help reunite the band with many of our friends and old fans trying to locate us," said Dirk Hanson, lead vocalist (now an account executive at The Geary Company). "The band (Kevin Anderson on keyboards and currently a professional musician; Don Polednak, Esq., lead guitar and current partner/founder of Sylvester & Polednak, Ltd; and Ray Tuntland, bass guitar player, and current managing partner/broker at Tuntland Land & Development in Reno) has always kept in touch, remaining great friends to this day. We thought it would be a great way for us to get together. We had no idea that our former following would be so receptive," he said.
According to Doctors, the Face Book events link (Face First We're Not Dead Yet event listing) has already received hundreds of RSVPs for the reunion gig, with hundreds of former 1980s UNLV alumni set to attend.
Located in Green Valley, Tailspin Bar & Grill (themed with airplane décor and rock 'n' roll flair) is at 6295 South Pecos, just north of Sunset. For more information, please call (702) 436-7925. * * * * * * Unfortunately, although we had planned to be there, we missed seeing veteran Las Vegas entertainer Shecky Greene at the Suncoast last weekend. From the reports we got, at 83, Shecky is still in top form. The almost 500-seat showroom was sold out for all three nights, and the full houses loved the man many consider to be the ultimate nightclub performer. Backed by Vic Glazer on piano, Jimmy DeJulio on bass and Clyde Duell on drums, Greene joked and sang his way through the evening, delighting all who came to see a pro in action. Among the fellow show folk who showed up to watch a master at work, were Domenick Allen, Marty Allen, Dennis Bono, Lorraine Hunt-Bono, David Brenner, Bill Fayne, Penn Jillette, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Rich Little, Linda November, Cork Proctor, Nelson Sardelli, Artie Schroeck, Sammy Shore, Johnny Thompson "The Great Tomsoni," and Fielding West. 
Shecky Greene by Ed Foster 
Sin City Bad Girls * * * * * * Sin City Bad Girls, Rock On. Top Off, is the newest show into the Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret. A super sexy, rockin' topless revue, the Bad Girls features a cast of eight gorgeous dancers, lead by knockout songstress Lorena Peril, and an electrifying live band. The sizzling, scantily clad beauties burn the floor with their seductive moves, performing sexy scenes that reveal their best assets. The show's opening number features Lorena with her amazingly unique vocals and her hot topless pro dancers. When the lights go down, the action heats up. The girls taunt and titillate, leaving the audience wanting more. The rockin' live band - guitarist and vocalist, Ray Jon; Jamie Hosmer on keyboards, vocals and guitar; and Kip Mungin, on drums and vocals - provide the sounds of pulsing rock, pop, country and blues. Created and produced by entertainment executive Glenn Medas and Emmy Award-winning choreographer and director, Michael Chambers. Medas has been involved in entertainment, sports and events for more than 20 years and has been an integral part of the evolution and success of the Las Vegas entertainment industry. Since 1987, he has held several executive positions in Las Vegas, including Director of Entertainment at Bally's Resort and Casino, Vice President of Entertainment at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, and Corporate Vice President of Entertainment at Mandalay Resort Group. Over the years, Medas has produced countless shows and events and booked and contracted numerous touring acts and sporting events, including some of the most memorable championship fights in the history of Las Vegas, such as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad, and De La Hoya vs. Fernando Vargas, Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield and Lewis vs. Hasim Rahman and the knock-down battle between Erik Morales and Antonio Barrera. In the concert touring and event business, Medas has booked and contracted many prestigious acts such as Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, The Three Tenors, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Jewel, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Jessica Simpson and others. He brought the CBS Academy of Country Music Awards show to Las Vegas which features every major country music star in the industry. Also to his credit, he teamed up with the Tiger Woods Foundation and Tiger's annual charity event, Tiger Jam, which has featured numerous acts such as John Mellencamp, Prince, Train, Seal and Bon Jovi. One of his proudest achievements was bringing Japan's World Sumo Championships to Las Vegas and to the U.S. for the first time in more than 20 years. Medas has produced and been involved with many theatrical productions such as the mega production, EFX at the MGM Grand, Storm and Mamma Mia! at Mandalay Bay, Lance Burton and Hairspray. Through his company, Platinum Productions, LLC, formed with Michael Chambers, Medas creates and produces a variety of live entertainment shows and events. Together, Medas and Chambers have produced and presented a wealth of entertainment events, including their successful long running cabaret group, Sin City Heat, performing nightly at the Las Vegas Hilton. They formed one of the hottest rock/party/dance bands, "Rich & Famous," originally for Station Casinos, currently seen all over Las Vegas including Mandalay Bay, Town Square's Blue Martini and various corporate events. In addition, Platinum Productions manages one of the entertainment industry's most amazing rising stars, Lorena Peril. Currently, they are producing a topless cabaret production, Sin City Kitties, in association with Primm Valley Casino Resorts. Emmy Award winner Michael Chambers is one of the most experienced director/choreographers in the business today. From star acts and production spectaculars, to major corporate events worldwide, Chambers uses his creative imagination in combination with his "get the job done" sensibility to create productions that leave audiences wanting more. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Warner Bros., Disney, Ford, Microsoft, Redken, Intel, Mandalay Bay, MGM, The Venetian, Las Vegas Hilton and Planet Hollywood are some of the corporate customers who have called on Chamber's talents. In addition, Chambers has also worked intimately with industry giants such as Janet Jackson (as one of Janet's original "Nasty Boys"), Diana Ross, Sting, Cher, Gladys Knight, Dolly Parton, Paula Abdul, David Bowie, and Sheena Easton, among others. His production shows are also on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, Caesars Palace, Trump's Taj Majal, Barona Valley Ranch and the Fremont Street Experience. Chambers has worked with some of the great masters of entertainment, including famed choreographers, Twyla Tharp, Kenny Ortega and Michael Kidd, who chose Chambers to help him with the 60th Annual Academy Awards. Walter Painter also asked for Chambers assistance on the NBC Disney/MGM Television Special, which won an Emmy Award for choreography, as well as an American Dance Award. Sin City Bad Girls shows are at 9 p.m., every night but Sundays. Ticket prices are $45, general admission and $55 for VIP seating with souvenir. All ticket prices exclude tax and fees, and tickets can be purchased at the Las Vegas Hilton box office, online at www.lvhilton.com, www.vegas.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling the box office at (702) 732-5755 or (800) 222-5361. Guests must be at least 18 years of age. Through the month of June, as a grand opening special, Las Vegans can purchase tickets for $29. Sin City Bad Girls photo by Ron Koch. From left to right: Summer, Natasha (kneeling), Veronica, Lorena (lead songstress), Melanie, Elizabeth, Cherry and Angel (she's seated at far right). * * * * * * Nearly a decade after sharing a stage as a spellbinding trio act, next weekend, illusionists Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh are back with comedian and magician Jeff Hobson for Paul Stone's World Stars of Magic at the Suncoast Showroom. The magicians made a name for themselves in the '90s when they mesmerized audiences in Spellbound on the Las Vegas Strip. They later starred in the critically acclaimed Carnival of Wonders in various Reno showrooms, where they amazed and entertained through a showcase of magic, comedy and spectacle. The unbelievable illusions will continue in World Stars of Magic, where the entertainers will introduce a talking-head illusion. Arriving audience members will encounter the living, breathing and talking head – with no body – as they find their seats in the Suncoast Showroom and prepare for an evening of mind-boggling marvels. Early in their career, Kalin and Jinger established a rapport that bucked the traditional "magician and assistant" roles. Their signature illusions, the Fire Spiker, Circle of Fire and the heart-stopping Sawing-in-Half illusion, earned them a reputation that set the stage for a successful career in the competitive world of magic. As they began creating their own shows in the mid-'90s, Kalin and Jinger earned accolades and set records in showrooms throughout the United States. Working with comedy magician Jeff Hobson -- called "a hilarious, chameleon-esque master of entertainment" by Time magazine -- gave Kalin and Jinger the chance to combine breathtaking magic with comedy to captivate audiences. Hobson has served as master of ceremonies for numerous shows including The World's Greatest Magic Show and V-The Ultimate Variety Show. Respected around the globe as powerful performers and creative, trend-setting magicians, the performers of World Stars of Magic suspend belief and leave audiences wanting more. Tickets, starting at $19.95 plus taxes, are expected to disappear fast for World Stars of Magic, so early reservations are suggested. Performances are May 29th, 30th and 31st, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Suncoast Box Office at (702) 636-7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.
For nine weeks, in July and August, Kalin, Jinger and Hobson will be taking their very entertaining show to Trump Resort in Atlantic City. This weekend at the Suncoast, it's Clint Holmes. Clint's shows are almost always sellouts, so it may be too late to get tickets for this engagement. You can give it a try, by calling the Box office at (702) 636-7075. Good luck!
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Tags: Italy Earthquake Benefit Gary Olds Natalie Cole
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 15, 2009 
The Taffetas 
Dom DeLuise as "Aunt Kate" 
Frank Sinatra In March, after wildly successful runs of Nunsense A-Men!, Three Fairy Godmothers, and Annie Get Your Gun, the award-winning theater company, Hoochi-Doo Productions, and the Sonoma Charter School, presented the hit off-Broadway musical, The Taffetas. Set in a 1950s TV studio, The Taffetas is the story of the four singing sisters (Kaye, Peggy, Cheryl and Donna) who are making their national debut appearance on Spotlight On Music, a fictitious weekly program on the real-life Dumont Television Network. Prior to Spotlight On Music, the Taffetas most notable appearance had been at the Moose Hall in their home town of Muncie, Indiana. They sing and dance their way through nearly 40 classic tunes including hits like Sh-Boom, Mister Sandman, Johnny Angel, and Where The Boys Are. The Taffetas pay tribute to the sounds of the girl groups of the '50s, such as the McGuire Sisters, Fontaine Sisters, and Chordettes. Taking the audience back to the golden age of music, hula hoops, 3-D movies and home perms, the toe-tapping performance follows the lives of the sisters and their drive to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. This version of the Taffetas starred Daniela Innocenti-Beem as Kaye, Sonia Perozzi as Peggy, Elizabeth Seagrave Nunan as Cheryl and Melina Diaz as Donna, and featured Julia Holsworth as the Stage Manager. The Taffetas was directed by Scott Maraj (who also choreographed) and Vicki Martinez, with musical direction by William Hedge. The ladies were accompanied by a three-piece band. If the "Seagrave" name stands out or sounds familiar, that is because Elizabeth's father, Jim Seagrave, currently VP of Marketing and Advertising for Boyd Gaming, has been a media man around Las Vegas since the 1960s (he was at the Stardust for 18 years, prior to the property's closing in November of 2006). Jim, and his wife Jan are the proud parents of TWO talented daughters. Last year, Jill Seagrave received excellent reviews for her role in Hay Fever at the Altarena Playhouse in Alameda, California, and in December, The Taffetas took on a holiday glow for A Taffeta Christmas at the same theater. The lively musical, conceived by Rick Lewis and directed by Frederick L. Chacon, combined hits from the Taffeta prequel, with a few new songs and some Christmas favorites. For this production of A Taffeta Christmas, Kaytie O'Hara, Meghan Ihle, Jillian Seagrave, and Jillian's real life sister, Elizabeth Seagrave (Nunan), turned into the ever-smiling Kaye, Peggy, Cheryl and Donna, and took the audience on a magical Christmas tour of the Moose Hall in Muncie, as they performed their special Holiday Hometown Hoedown on the Dumont Television Hour. We have a feeling you will be hearing more about, and more from, the talented Seagrave sisters.
In the accompanying photo of The Taffetas, Elizabeth Seagrave is in orange, Jill is in teal, Kaytie is in purple, and Meghan is in fuchsia. * * * * * * From actor Bart Williams comes this e-mail...
I was so sad to hear about Dom DeLuise passing away. The DeLuise family are dear old friends. I met them about 1980 through Eleanor Keaton (Buster's widow) my sweet companion for all those years. Last year I was set to do a film interview with Dom for my Burlesque Comedy Documentary. Dom worked with and knew many of the great Comics of that era. Just days before the interview, Carol called me to say that Dom was in the hospital. It has been a big health struggle for him ever since then. What a generous, FUNNY and talented man he was! When I was cast in the opera, Die Fledermaus, several years ago, he gave me hilarious comedy "bits" to be used by the character of "Frosch," who he had also played. He knew comedy-timing like a Swiss watch, and he was a WONDERFUL director. Eating the food that Dom cooked was also a real treat. Once, when I decided I needed to make a Spinach Quiche to take to some gathering, it was Dom who, over the phone, gave me the perfect easy recipe. I don't make a lot of Quiche, but I will always keep that recipe and use it forever! I just know that all the great comedians up in Heaven, will be on hand to greet him at the gates, and usher him into the stage-door of the Heavenly Variety Theatre. He loved to work with his tools, and could fix about anything. Dom was a dear, loving husband and father, and one of the kindest people I have ever had the great pleasure to have known. Oh yes, Dom DeLuise will be missed by the public and by his friends. Memorial services for Dom DeLuise were private. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to one of the following charities - The Elixir Fund www.elixirfund.org, The Pearl S. Buck Foundation www.pearl-s-buck.org,The Lily Sanctuary www.lilysanctuary.org, or the Hydrocephalus Foundation, Inc. www.hydrocephalus.org. Mail to the family may be addressed to: P.O. Box 1801, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. "It's easy to mourn his death, but easier to remember a time when he made you laugh." We also received this e-mail, on a much different subject, from another reader...
I noticed a negative article about Colabo on your site from last year. Has your opinion changed? I was thinking about sending my kids to theater camp at Family Music. Any thoughts? Do you know of any safe and legitimate theater camps in Las Vegas? We are just looking for a fun experience.
This is our response...
There has been absolutely no reason for us to change our opinion about COLABO. Hardly anything that they claimed they were going to do (ongoing performances of three productions) has materialized. For about a year, constantly changing dates for performances were announced and then canceled. (Note the ON HOLD comments about their currently listed shows.) We still don't know how things might have been resolved for anyone who purchased tickets. The people who were involved ("Troy Adams") with Colabo, and who claimed to have a reputation in theater in the San Diego area, could be found NOWHERE on the Web. There were never any photos of him where there should have been. We suspect he was "hiding" under a phony name and feared showing his photo, lest some of his former "victims" recognize him. (See his section under the Hedwig show bios.) We had not looked at the Colabo site for some time...until getting your inquiry. Based on the LACK of information on the site, we would suggest not giving them a dime or enrolling any youngster in their supposed "program." There are too many unanswered questions. Who is behind this "school"? Who are the teachers? Why wouldn't there be names and credentials provided by the owner/instructors? He (or she) who has nothing to hide, hides nothing. There is way too much mystery behind EVERYTHING Colabo is involved in. If we were you, we would RUN in the opposite direction of this organization...especially when there are children involved. We suggest that you get in touch with the award-winning Rainbow Company Youth Theatre in Las Vegas. This is a LEGITIMATE operation that has been around for years. The number for them is (702) 229-6553. You can ask for Jay Neal. Here is a Link about the Rainbow Company...
http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/TextOnly/Find/4847.htm
* * * * * *
A film, based on the life of Frank Sinatra, is planned for the big screen. Academy Award-winner Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, The Aviator, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Color of Money, and The Departed) will direct. No production date has been announced, and no casting decisions have been decided. Although there have been two made-for-TV movies - 1992's Sinatra, with Philip Casnoff as Frank, the late Danny Gans as Dean Martin, David Raymr as Sammy Davis Jr., and Shelly Lipkin as Joey Bishop (iIt won a Golden Globe for best miniseries, and an Emmy for director James Sadwith), and 1998's The Rat Pack, starring Ray Liotta in the title role, Joe Mantegna as Martin, Don Cheadle as Sammy, and, Vegas comic, Bobby Slayton as Joey - this will be the first feature film on Ol' Blue Eyes. It took two years to secure the rights to Sinatra's life and music. Warner Music Group and the Sinatra estate are partners on the project. Sinatra "was indisputably the 20th century's greatest singer of popular song," according to Rolling Stone. "Not only did his freely interpretive approach pave the way for the idiosyncrasies of rock singing, but with his character a mix of tough-guy cool and romantic vulnerability, he became the first true pop idol, a superstar who through his music established a persona audiences found compelling and true," the magazine says on its Web site. Sinatra, who died in 1998, performed on more than 1,400 musical recordings, was awarded 31 gold records and earned 10 Grammys. He also appeared in 58 films and won a supporting-actor Oscar for 1953's From Here to Eternity. In 1971, Frank Sinatra was presented with another Oscar: the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. At one time, Scorsese was in talks to direct a Dean Martin biopic, but that project never came to fruition. Here's a bit of Danny Gans trivia...In a 1991 episode of Roseanne, the impressionist did a takeoff on Wayne Newton. * * * * * * 
Gary Oaks & Lou Garcia 
Shecky Greene 
Nelson Sardelli & Cork Proctor On Sunday, May 31st at 2 p.m., it's local favorites, Gary Oaks and Lou Garcia, taking their annual turn on the stage of the Clark County Flamingo Library Theater. Presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada, this versatile singing team will perform selections from Broadway as well as other popular standards. Both Oaks and Garcia have a musical theater and production show background. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the library an hour before show time. The library theater is located at 1401 E. Flamingo. * * * * * * Lance Burton will be doing a real disappearing act, until at least June 2nd. The magician, who has been headlining at the Monte Carlo since 1996, broke his foot during a performance at the hotel on May 7th. Burton was scheduled to have surgery the following Monday. When Lance signed on with the Monte Carlo, it was for 13 years. The 13 years are up next month. As of now, no plans have been announced regarding his future at the property. As a result of this injury, there is a very strong possibility that Burton will have to bow out of this Sunday's big fundraising event at The Orleans. If Mr. Burton is a no show, chances are that his girlfriend, singer Gabriella Versace (late of Erocktica at the Rio), will also be absent. But, never fear, there will be plenty of entertainment taking place at the Las Vegas Italian Earthquake Relief Fund, to be held in The Orleans Theater on Sunday afternoon, beginning at 1. Among those expected to perform are the perennial favorite, longtime Las Vegas lounge legend, Shecky Greene (at the Suncoast this weekend, after at least a 10 year absence from the Las Vegas entertainment scene); comic/impressionist Scott Record; Phyllis McGuire of the famed McGuire Sisters (Something's Gotta Give, Sincerely, He, Sugartime, May You Always, the theme from Picnic), unless some scheduled Friday dental work keeps her away; the man of many voices, Rich Little; comics Pete Barbutti, Charlie Callas, Kathleen Dunbar, Cork Proctor, Sammy Shore; and musicians Michaelina Bellamy, Denise Clemente, Kelly Clinton, Clint Holmes, Linda November, Artie Schroeck, and siblings Chrissi and Frankie Scinta. Nelson Sardelli will serve as host/MC. Doors open at noon, with a pre-show starting at 12:30, and the main show from 1 to 4 p.m. The Gary Olds Quintet - with Gary Olds on drums, will play the pre-show music, and the 12-piece Gary Olds Orchestra, with Vince Falcone conducting, will provide the music for the main portion of the show. Tickets are $35, and may be purchased at the hotel box office, right outside the showroom. The money raised from the event (which will also include a silent auction, and merchandise for sale, as well as commemorative T-shirts at $15), will go to help rebuild the areas destroyed during the devastating Earthquake last month. Hundreds were killed in the disaster, while thousands were left homeless. A show of this size would not be possible without the help of volunteers. Among those Committee Members lending a hand, are Peter Anthony, Pete Barbutti, Paul Campanella, Rolando Larraz, Nik Mastrangelo, Pietra Sardelli, Frankie Scinta, Felix Silla, Lou Toomin, Allen Tramont and Conrad Villella. 
Scott Record 
Babe Pier 
Claudine Williams Tonight and tomorrow night, clever comic/impressionist Babe Pier will give a sneak preview of what he will be doing at the above mentioned fundraising show on Sunday. Pier will perform at that (never mentioned here by name) Italian joint on the south end of the Strip, with shows at 8:30 both nights. Chances are he will mention the Sunday fundraiser to help rebuild communities in Italy destroyed by the April earthquake. Pier, a Vegas entertainer for half a century (no kidding), is one of the city's good guys. He is always available to help out a worthy cause. Check him out at both the Italian bistro and at the above mentioned Las Vegas Italian Earthquake Relief Fund benefit at The Orleans on Sunday afternoon. * * * * * * Menopause the Musical, that did good business at the Las Vegas Hilton for three years before being displaced by Voices with Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha, opens at the Luxor on May 26th. Menopause will join Carrot Top, Fantasy and Criss Angel in Cirque du Soleil's Believe, at the pyramid-shaped hotel/casino. Tickets are now on sale at the Luxor. We will have more details (show times, cast members and ticket prices) next week. * * * * * * A true Las Vegas pioneer woman, Claudine Williams, died on Wednesday. Williams, who bought her first casino before she was 21 and who in Las Vegas proved that women could stand up to men in the corporate world of gaming, was 88. Williams may best be known as the long-serving chairwoman of Harrah's, the successor of the Holiday Casino, that she and her husband, Shelby, opened in 1973. Williams was the first woman to be enshrined in the Nevada Gaming Hall of Fame and, in 1992, the first woman inducted into the American Gaming Association Gaming Hall of Fame. Claudine Williams was an active philanthropist, and served on the board of trustees at UNLV. Memorial services are pending. * * * * * * If you are a KJUL listener in Las Vegas (or any easy listening radio station where you live), you probably know the name, and voice of Steve Tyrell. Good news! During a special limited engagement, from June 12th through the 15th, while Gordie Brown takes a few days off, the Grammy Award-winning vocalist will be performing in the Gordie Brown Showroom at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. We saw Tyrell when he appeared at the Nugget in April of 2007 and enjoyed his show very much. We plan to see him this time around as well. Known for bringing the standards from the Great American Songbook to life, the jazz vocalist will perform at 7:30 p.m. nightly for the four-day stint. "Steve Tyrell is an amazing vocalist who has worked with some of the biggest-named performers of the Twentieth Century," said Justin McVay, Golden Nugget public relations manager. "We're very excited to have him appearing in our venue." With his breakthrough performances in 1991's Father of the Bride, and 1995's Father of the Bride II (where we first "discovered" the singer), Tyrell reinvented and re-popularized classic pop standards for a modern-day audience. In September, his voice will be featured over the end title of Steven Soderbergh's next film, The Informant, singing a new song written for the movie by Academy Award-winners, Alan and Marilyn Bergman along with Marvin Hamlisch. Tyrell has produced hits for artists ranging from Linda Ronstadt to Grammy-winner Rod Stewart, and has collaborated with numerous other artists, including Ray Charles, Aaron Neville, LL Cool J, Blood Sweat and Tears, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Burt Bacharach, Bette Midler, and Stevie Wonder. He has also sold thousands of albums and gained a passionate following all over the world with his hits like The Way You Look Tonight, A Kiss To Build A Dream On, and Sunny Side of The Street. Tickets start at $29.95, plus applicable taxes and fees, and are now on sale now at the Golden Nugget Ticket Office. Special VIP tickets are available for $59.95, and include a backstage meet and greet. Tickets may be purchased in person, over the phone at 866-9-GOLDEN or online at www.goldennugget.com. 
Steve Tyrell 
Eric Comstock 
Unified Tribe * * * * * * On Thursdays, Larry Liso performs great jazz standards and provides dance music at the Mezza Lounge & grill, 9460 West Tropicana from 6 to 10 p.m. There are always guest singers dropping by to lend a hand and a tune to the festivities. Call (702) 489-4493 for additional information. And on Saturday at 10 p.m., and Sunday at 8 p.m., entertainer Ronnie Rose joins the Chris Koman Band as guest vocalist at the new IBO Turkish & Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar, 9755 W. Flamingo (west of 215). The restaurant's founder, Ibo Olmeztoprak, has a goal. He "wants to blow the socks off of hospitality in Las Vegas." Sounds like a place to check out. Call (702) 365-6111. As for Rose, the blues, jazz and soul man will also be one of the participants in the Earthquake benefit at The Orleans on Sunday. * * * * * * This Sunday, May 17th, musician Eric Comstock returns to one of his favorite venues, Shanghai Jazz, a magnificent gourmet Asian restaurant in Madison, New Jersey (23 miles west of Manhattan, and easy to reach by NJ Transit). Shanghai Jazz owners, Martha and David Niu, love jazz and bring the best to their room, presenting top artists such as Marian McPartland, Junior Mance, Geri Allen, Freddy Cole, Bill Charlap, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli and, of course, Mr. Comstock, among others. Eric has been appearing at the restaurant for ten years now. He reports that the atmosphere at Shanghai Jazz is relaxed and casual; the food is superb and the crowd friendly and knowledgeable. He will do two sets, ranging from well-known pop and jazz standards to more obscure tunes, and if you've got a song you want to hear, he will take requests (of a musical nature). Show time is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Shanghai Jazz is located at 24 Main Street in Madison. As we frequently say, if you happen to be in the neighborhood. Call (973) 822-2899 for directions and further information.
Eric's photo by Gary Brewster. * * * * * * Las Vegas's own jazz superstar, drummer/vibraphonist, Joe Locatelli, and his trio, will be playing at DeStefano's Restaurant, located on the northeast corner of Tropicana and Pecos, next Friday, May 22nd. On June 7th, Locatelli, who has lived in Las Vegas since the early '60s, will receive a BIG honor from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. At a ceremony in Southern California, the LAJS, an internationally recognized jazz organization, will present Locatelli an award earned for his skill on the vibes. This award has also been won by musicians Lionel Hampton and Terry Gibbs. Pretty impressive company, we think. * * * * * * They call themselves Unified Tribe, and they just might be the best musical ensemble you never heard of. Made up of a large, multicultural "tribe" of talented musicians and singers, Unified Tribe has a sound somewhat reminiscent of Earth Wind & Fire, while still staying true to themselves. The organization has gained a sizeable following over the last decade for both its style and its grooves. Formed in the early '80s by the singular-named Magic, the tribe, a classy funk/R&B band with New York and L.A. roots, is anything but industry-formulated. It's their true musicality that first hooks fans. With a core that's been together for more than twenty years, their strong relationships form the perfect foundation for the potent sound in their music. Newcomers and industry veterans show an appreciation for what they have to offer. "Unified Tribe is the badest band on the planet. If history repeats itself, then Unified Tribe is the next Earth, Wind and Fire," states R&B group The Whispers. Howard Hewett, formerly with Shalamar, adds to that sentiment. "I went to their studio and left with my mouth wide open...These cats are bad!" Their production company, Magic Muzik Productions, Inc., comprised entirely of band members, has worked with music veterans such as Earth, Wind & Fire, The Whispers, The Manhattans, Phil Perry, The Rippingtons, George Duke, and Nia Peeples. After spending some time in Austin, Texas, the group is currently based in Las Vegas. Independent from the get-go, Unified Tribe debuted in 2001 with Listen to This, an album that was well received and earned positive buzz for the group. In 2003, Unified Tribe released their second album, Mixed Messages. Following a three-year break from recording, in 2006, Unified Tribe self-released FUNKtional Family, their long-awaited third album. It was a hit, and became the group's first album to chart around the world. Mixing a funk foundation with soulful grooves and messages of unity, the strong musicianship of the ensemble has solidified a relatively small but fiercely loyal following for the tribe. With their latest album, On Purpose, that small group of followers is expected to grow. There have been a few changes in personnel over the past twenty-some years, but the team remains unified and focused on the future. Today's band-mates, all of whom go by single names, consist of the above mentioned Magic (lead and background vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums), Starr (lead and background vocals, bass, didgeridoo and percussion), Harmony (lead and background vocals, keyboards, violin and mandolin, Merrily (lead and background vocals, keyboards and acoustic guitar), Baby (lead and background vocals and guitar), Kara (background vocals, sax and flute), Tamara (background vocals and keyboards), Zen (drums and percussion), Hammer (drums and percussion), Kal-El (background vocals, trombone, guitar and bass), Seth (background vocals, guitar, bass and trumpet), and Falcon (background vocals). Whether in the studio or on stage, the teams' originality comes across loud and clear. Fans and industry aficionados often comment on the fact that Unified Tribe's show far surpasses any earlier expectations. On Purpose ("Cuz that's how we dooz it") is available online through Amazon and CD Baby. You can learn more about Unified Tribe by going to their Web site at www.unifiedtribe.net. * * * * * * 
Larry Atello 
Harvey Goldson 
Gerry mcCambridge From friend Larry Atello comes this update on his world. The musician/actor reports that the move of Tony n' Tina's Wedding, from the Rio to Planet Hollywood in February, has been a major success. Atello states that he is "having a blast, working with the likes of guest stars Tiffany, Barry Williams (from The Brady Bunch), "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Kato Kaelin and, currently, his good friend Frank Marino!" As far as his Bon Jovi tribute band, Have A Nice Day, this week the group made an appearance on local Fox News, where they performed a few songs and talked about the tribute scene in Las Vegas. Have a Nice Day will be playing at Lake Las Vegas' Montelago Village on Friday, June 26th. * * * * * * There was an accidental omission (probably more than one) in last Friday's list of Taurus birthday celebrants. How in the world we managed to omit Harvey Goldson from the group, is a major mystery. A faux pas on our part. An embarrassment. Something we will never forgive ourselves for. An executive with a Southern California Commercial Interior Design company, Mr. Goldson is also a familiar face in the poker rooms of California and Nevada. We hope he had a very happy birthday last Tuesday. In our attempt to make amends, we are throwing in a photo of the younger-than-springtime Harvey Goldson. We hope he had a happy birthday and promise to try and do better next year. * * * * * * Not only is Gerry McCambridge a fine entertainer, The Mentalist is also a son that any mother would be proud of. Last Thursday night, after his show at Hooter's, McCambridge took the red-eye (that means late at night, when most folks would or should be sleeping) to New York so he could take his mom to dinner on Friday night (his night off at Hooter's). It was a quick Mother's Day celebration, as Gerry had a show on Saturday. Beginning tonight, The Mentalist will be performing on a new stage at a new location. He will be performing 7:30 p.m. shows, Thursdays through Tuesdays (dark on Wednesdays) in a newly created space at the V Theater, in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Tickets are $60 to $71, all inclusive. Call (702) 260-7200, or (702) 932-1818. If you haven't seen the act, we highly recommend The Mentalist. If you HAVE seen it, go again. This time, take your mother with you. * * * * * * The Bob Saget show, scheduled for Saturday, June 6th at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort, has been canceled due to a change in Saget's production and filming schedule. Tickets purchased with a credit card via telephone or through the internet have been automatically refunded. For refunds on tickets purchased at a Ticketmaster outlet or The Palms box office, please return to the original point of purchase to obtain a refund. 
Bob Saget 
Michael Cassano 
Lysander Abadia * * * * * * Two of the members of SinCityQSocials have written and produced The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode. This very funny comedy, that had extended sold out performances in both Miami and Los Angeles, is now playing at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara in the Commercial Center, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., through May 30th. Tickets are $20, and may be purchased by calling (702) 732-7225, or visit www.onyxtheatre.com. This is a must see event, especially for Facts of Life groupies. * * * * * * Over Memorial Day weekend, from Saturday, May 23rd through Monday, the 25th, between noon and 6 p.m., Dan Decker Theatricals, in association with the Springs Preserve and Metro Arts Council, presents A Taste of Shakespeare. Six shortened plays - Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, and Much Ado About Nothing - with one starting every half hour on two different stages, will be performed. Music will be provided by members of both the Henderson Symphony Orchestra and the Green Valley High School Orchestra. Food, beverages (including wine), and gift items are available for purchase throughout the Springs Preserve. This oasis, in the middle of the desert, is located at I-95 and Valley View, across from the Meadows Mall. Free parking is available. Drama coach, Gerald Gordon, informs us that two of his students, Michael Cassano and Lysander Abadia, are among the A Taste of Shakespeare cast members. Adult general admission ticket prices are $18.95. Locals pay $9.95. There are discounts for seniors (65+), students (18+), and children from five to 17. There is no charge for children under five. To go, or not to go, that is the question.
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Tags: Tarretas Dom DeLuise Frank Sinatra Gary Oaks Lou Garcia Shecky Green N Sard
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 8, 2009 
Richel Kompst 
Lea Salonga 
Manny Pacquiao Oh crap! We hate when this happens! Last Friday, under Reminders, we ran this item...
Richel Kompst repeats her Blame It On the Walleye - A Musical Journey Through the Neurotic Mind of a Norwegian Blonde, tonight at 7. This time, backed by The Nightcrawlers band, the multi-talented Richel does her thing at the Reed Whipple Theater, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Tickets are only $7. Call (702) 229-6211. Check her out. So, what is the problem? The bad news is that the show wasn't LAST Friday, the 1st. The good news is that it's THIS Friday (as in tonight) at 7 p.m., which means you still have time to see this clever romp through shifting personalities in musical comedy and cabaret jazz. * * * * * * Last weekend, the Filipinos had two big winners in Las Vegas. On Friday night, it was the amazingly talented Lea Salonga who charmed and entertained an audience of about 959 in UNLV's Artemus Ham Concert Hall. A Tony Award-winner for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon, Lea closed out UNLV's 2008-2009 New York Stage & Beyond series. (As we mentioned last week, next year on May 1st, it will be Bernadette Peters performing in the same venue as part of the New York Stage & Beyond series.) The night after Ms. Salonga's appearance in our city, it was junior welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in the spotlight, as he knocked out England's Ricky Hatton in the second round of a well-attended fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. * * * * * * Friends Larry Raben (Leo Bloom in the Vegas production of Mel Brooks' The Producers) and David Engel (Smudge in Forever Plaid) are appearing in Forbidden Broadway, currently the entertainment offering from Musical Theatre West. Your favorite shows...The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Wicked, Les Miserables, Chicago, Annie, Cats, Joseph, The Phantom of the Opera. Your favorite stars...Liza, Carol Channing, Ethel Merman, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Crawford, Andrea McArdle...Nothing and no one is sacred to the sharp wit and barbed satire from the creators of Forbidden Broadway...one of the longest running Off-Broadway hits of all time! Charles Isherwood of the New York Times, called the tongue-in-cheek swipe at musical theater, "The most inviting introduction to the new season on Broadway may well be Gerard Allesandrini's merciless evisceration of the last one, in the consistently riotous latest edition of Forbidden Broadway." 
Larry Raben as Daniel Radcliffe in Equus 
David Engel as Harvey Fierstein in Hairspray From Charlotte Stoudt of the Los Angeles Times comes this review...
Mandy Patinkin, watch out. Daniel Radcliffe, take cover (literally). The satirical revue "Forbidden Broadway" has come to Long Beach's Carpenter Performing Arts Center, and it's only just begun. Even the Wicked Witch of the West isn't safe. Gerard Alessandrini's ever-evolving take-off on American musical theatre began in a supper club in 1982 and ran in New York for an astonishing 27 years, spawning international tours and a string of cast albums. With only four performers, a pianist, and no set, the show's format is a cash-strapped artistic director's dream. It's also a terrific showcase for comic talent, and Larry Raben, an original cast member from "Forever Plaid," is a standout in this Musical Theatre West production. Accompanied by the upbeat piano of Michael Paternostro (also serving as musical director), Raben and crew sing and dash their way through sly parodies of Broadway hits from "Les Misérables" to "Wicked." Some of the jokes are visual, such as the tart Susanne Blakeslee's entrance as an "Annie" has-been in a mangy red wig, sucking on a cigarette. Others showcase Alessandrini's way with a lyric, as when "Avenue Q"'s sexually active puppets advise, "If you want a Tony/flash a cloth cojone." Disney takes a drubbing, what with "Lion King," "Little Mermaid," and "Mary Poppins" claiming so much real estate on the Rialto. At one point the ensemble (which includes the fine David Engel and Whitney Allen) staggers around in huge, Julie Taymor-inspired headdresses -- and neck braces -- in a song called "The Circle of Mice." But human targets inspire the best moments: Raben sends up "Harry Potter" star Radcliffe's nude turn in "Equus" with the song "Let Me Enter Naked" (to the tune of "Let Me Entertain You"). Blakeslee does a wacked-out Carol Channing, forever reviving "Hello, Dolly!" Later, Raben skewers the tortured vocal stylings of Patinkin in "Somewhat Overindulgent," sung to "Over The Rainbow." And Mandy thought serial killers were tough. Never mind if you haven't seen all the musicals in question. None of the sequences lasts more than a few minutes, and most of the jokes explain themselves. Best of all, the show, briskly directed by William Selby, takes the business of entertaining seriously, even as it lampoons the medium's worst excesses. It's a pleasure to watch seasoned performers hit their marks with such ease and command. Smart, irreverent and under two hours: What's not to love about "Forbidden Broadway"? Beginning as the Whittier Civic Light Opera in 1952, Musical Theatre West has grown into one of Southern California's most respected regional musical theatre companies. During the years, they have presented not only established and well known musicals, but a World Premiere (Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood! written by Star Search winner Sam Harris), a Los Angeles/Orange County premiere (a new version of Phantom by Kopit and Yeston), and the West Coast premieres of Cole Porter's The New Yorkers; Eleanor: An American Love Story, and a new version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Nothing is sacred to the sharp wit and barbed satire from the creators of Forbidden Broadway...one of the longest running off-Broadway hits of all time. Forbidden Broadway is a hilarious musical that, in reality, is 20 shows rolled into one - the big moments AND the big mistakes. Forbidden Broadway was first seen at Palsson's Supper Club on New York's Upper West Side in January 1982. An unemployed actor, Gerard Alessandrini, wanted a showcase for his talents. He decided to assemble some of the musical parodies of Broadway shows he had written since childhood into a nightclub act. Critics and audiences were wowed and it has since become New York's longest running musical comedy revue. Forbidden Broadway has won Drama Desk, Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards. Most of its victims (stars and casts) make a point of stopping by to see what Alessandrini has done to them. Updated regularly, Forbidden Broadway has had several editions, countless revisions, three New York City performance spaces, several national and international tours, and thousands of special performances. The show also became known for talented but as yet unknown actors, many of whom have gone on to stardom on Broadway, on television and in the movies. Looking back at Forbidden Broadway provides an informal and very funny history of the American musical theatre. It has remained one of the funniest evenings on or off-Broadway. As long as Broadway and Hollywood exist, there will be a Forbidden Broadway (or a Forbidden Hollywood or a Forbidden Vegas), poking, prodding, teasing, pleasing, jeering and cheering, but always with love. Performances of Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits, Volume I, are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through May 17th. Additional shows are scheduled for May 9th and 16th at 2 p.m. and May 10 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30 to $78. The Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located at 6200 Atherton Street in Long Beach. To purchase tickets online, call (562) 856-1999, Ext. 4. 
Dom DeLuise 
Liberace Museum 
Bobby Slayton And speaking of Mel Brooks, on Monday, Dom DeLuise, the cuddly actor-comedian whose affable nature made him a popular character actor for decades with movie and TV audiences as well as directors and fellow actors, died in his sleep after a long illness. He was 75. DeLuise appeared in a number of Mel Brooks movies - Blazing Saddles, The Twelve Chairs, Silent Movie, and Robin Hood: Men In Tights among them, and was often Burt Reynolds' on-screen sidekick. DeLuise's best-remembered films include The Cannonball Run, The End, Smokey & the Bandit II, and The Muppet Movie. A 1980 movie starring DeLuise as a fat man on a diet, Fatso, was generally panned by critics and avoided by audiences, but remains an unfairly neglected gem. DeLuise is survived by his wife of 43 years, actress Carol Arthur, their sons, actors Peter, Michael and David, and three grandchildren. And still speaking of Mel Brooks, The Producers, is taking Adolf Elizabeth Hitler back to Berlin. More than six decades after the Nazi dictator killed himself in his Berlin bunker, a character parodying Hitler will be featured in the first production in Germany of Brooks' award-winning Broadway musical, The Producers, opening at Berlin's Admiralspalast theater, beginning May 17th. The musical comedy, created from Brooks' 1968 movie, won a record-breaking 12 Tony awards after it opened on Broadway in 2001 with Nathan Lane as scheming theatrical producer Max Bialystock, and Matthew Broderick as his accountant Leo Bloom. And speaking of The Producers, Billy Elliot, the tale of a British coal miner's son who dreams of becoming a dancer, has the potential of winning a record number of 2009 Tony Awards, honoring the best of a star-driven Broadway season. Its 15 nominations, which Tuesday tied the number received by The Producers in 2001, included one of the more unusual nods. The three boys who share the title role in Billy Elliot - David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish - were named together for the best actor-musical prize. Other major multiple Tony nominees were Next to Normal with 11, and Shrek The Musical, and the revival of Hair, both tied with eight. The music for Billy Elliot was written by Elton John and Lee Hall, who have both been nominated for Tonys. The Tony Award show will air on CBS, June 7th. * * * * * * Not surprisingly, our article on some of the recent and questionable goings on at the 30-year-old Liberace Museum generated feedback (we love feedback of any kind, since it indicates that people are reading our rants). Here is an example from one of our "fans"...
Marsha sent the following message (our response to each item is in bold type):
You should be ashamed of what you wrote regarding Darin Hollingsworth. We aren't ashamed at all. The truth needs to be told. He has done more to promote the Foundation and Museum than anyone who has served as the Executive Director/President. We feel that he has done more to ruin the once popular tourist spot than any other previous "administrator." Those comments in the Las Vegas Sun are from disgruntled employees and unsuccessful former entertainers who have an axe to grind. And your comments are very obviously from a friend or relative of Mr. Hollingsworth, who chooses to close their mind and eyes, and ignore the signs of serious problems at the museum. Why didn't you print the positive comments as well. We provided the Link to Kristen Peterson's Las Vegas Sun story, where those interested could read it, along with ALL of the follow-up comments, for themselves. Hide behind this website and "Claire Voyant"....we know who are, you should be ashamed of what you have written here. We are not "hiding" behind this Web site or "Claire Voyant," a name we have used around these parts since 1995 (and we are glad that you know who we are). And, as we stated earlier, we are not one bit ashamed of what we have written. What we ARE ashamed of is that this deplorable situation wasn't exposed sooner. No wonder the arts community struggles in this town. And, during these trying economic times, in EVERY town around the country. Then again, I wouldn't count you or this inane gossip website part of the arts or the community. Thank you for taking the time to read, and respond to, this "inane gossip website." * * * * * * Bobby Slayton, the Pitbull of Comedy, had his official Tropicana opening on Tuesday night, May 5th We are told there was a full house, including hypnotist Anthony Cools, in attendance. Slayton's shows, held in the space previously occupied by Bob Kephart's Comedy Stop, are Tuesdays through Sundays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $42.49. The room has been renamed The Bobby Slayton Room. * * * * * * 
Whoopi Goldberg 
Beyonce 
Danny Gans During Memorial Day weekend, Whoopi Goldberg will take the stage of the 1,500-seat Encore Theater (formerly the home of Danny Gans) for performances on May 22nd and 23rd at 8 p.m. Best known for her film roles in The Color Purple, Ghost, Sister Act, and Jumpin' Jack Flash, Whoopi is one of a very elite group of artists who have won a Grammy, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a Tony. She is currently one of the hosts on ABC's The View. During her act, Whoopi (real name Caryn Elaine Johnson) will share her unique, candid and often humorous observations on a wide range of subjects. Tickets at $79, $89 and $99, plus service charge and tax, are now on sale. Call (702) 770-9966. Look for Beyonce to perform in the same theater, July 30th through August 2nd. No bargain ticket prices for this one. If you want to see this lady up close and personal, tickets will set you back anywhere from $250 to $1000, taxes and fees not included. For additional information, call (702) 770-DIVA, (702) 770-9966, or (888) 320-7110. And speaking of Danny Gans, who died suddenly last Friday at the age of 52, the popular entertainer was laid to rest on Tuesday morning in a private service attended by his family and a few close friends. On Thursday, May 21st, a memorial service will be held in the theater at Encore where Gans performed his last show on Wednesday, April 29th. Due to the size of the theater, only invited guests will be permitted to attend. Although some of the details are vague (it was 30 years ago, and we ain't getting any younger), it was the late 1970s, the place was the downtown Holiday International (just north of the Plaza and now the site of Main Street Station). There was a variety revue, hosted by Steve Rossi (of Marty Allen and... fame), with Stan Stahl as musical director. Among the folks featured in this show were the comedy act of JTO & Bobby Duck, Wayne Mortensen (not sure of the spelling on this one), and the late Danny Gans. Sadly, as of last Friday, all three of these talented gentlemen have passed on. It any readers remember this musical/comedy production, we would love to hear from you. We would like to fill in the blanks. 
JTO & Bobby Duck 
Fleetwood Mac 
The Rat Pack Is Back! * * * * * * The legendary wit of Mark Twain comes to life with music and theatre in Mark Twain's Nevada at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs tomorrow, Saturday, May 9th. This lively original musical, presented by the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, is a delightfully entertaining Nevada history lesson. The 50-minute play, appropriate for ages from 5 to 105, will be performed at 10 a.m. and again at noon. The public is invited to bring blankets or folding chairs, but no pets or glass containers, please. The Rainbow Company's Artistic Director, Karen McKenney, is the playwright, choreographer and director of a cast of five adults, most of whom play several parts. Michael Button stars as Sam Clemens (Mark Twain). He is joined on stage by Michael Connolly, J. Neal, Ellis Rice and Martha Watson. Neal is also the composer and musical director. The park is located at 9200 Tule Springs Road. Admission is $6 per vehicle at the park entrance. Call (702) 229-6553 for information in advance, or (702) 229-8100 on event day. * * * * * * Late last year, Fleetwood Mac announced that, beginning in March, the band would tour in 2009. Titled Unleashed, the tour is branded as a "greatest hits" show, although they will also play album tracks such as Storms, Gold Dust Woman, and I Know I'm Not Wrong. The tour coincides with a new CD/DVD version of Rumours, which contains previously unreleased tracks and footage. On Saturday, May 30th, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Lindsey Buckingham, will take over the MGM Grand Garden Arena "This is the first time we've gone on the road without an album," said Fleetwood. "This is truly a new experience for Fleetwood Mac to go out and play songs that we believe and hope people are going to be familiar with and love." Nicks stated that in regards to a new Fleetwood Mac album, "there isn't any plan at this point...for any album. We're going to get through this tour before deciding what to do with an album." Tickets, priced at $65, $85 and $165, plus the usual taxes and fees, are available through Ticketmaster or by calling (800) 745-3000. * * * * * * They were known as The Rat Pack. Sure they could sing and dance, but that wasn't the only hook that made this group of Merry Men legendary. When Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop took to the stage, one never knew what to expect but, whatever it was, the audience knew the ride would be fun. Long associated with Las Vegas (primarily in the Copa Room at the Sands hotel and casino), these nights, in the Entertainment Capital of the World, The Rat Pack is doing their thing in the newly renamed Copa Room at the downtown Plaza Hotel. In addition to the local version of The Rat Pack Is Back!, there are traveling companies of the show that pays tribute to those party boys of decades ago. Over the next couple of weeks, folks in Illinois, Connecticut and Virginia can see what all the fuss was, and still is, about when the Rat Pack comes their way. Tomorrow (May 9th) at 3 and 8 p.m., the boys will be cutting up at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie. On May 15th at 8 p.m. and May 16th at 2 and 8 p.m., The Rat Pack is Back! will be entertaining audiences at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, and on the 28th, at 8 p.m., the troupe will be at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna (Virginia, not Austria). "Some would swear they've stepped into a time machine" raves the Los Angeles Times of the stellar casts, which features some of the finest performers in the business, including Sandy Hackett, son of the legendary Buddy Hackett, who portrays Joey Bishop in The Rat pack Is Back! * * * * * * 
Tyne Daly 
John McDaniel 
Gina Eckstine From May 12th through the 16th, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary season, presents Emmy and Tony Award-winner Tyne Daly in Songs. This will be Daly's debut at Feinstein's, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post. Tyne Daly is best known for her work on TV's Cagney and Lacey and Judging Amy, and her Tony-winning performance as Rose in the 1989 Broadway revival of Gypsy. She was also Tony-nominated for her most recent appearance on Broadway, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Rabbit Hole. Daly's show at Feinstein's, directed by David Galligan, is a collection of songs from the last century, including selections by Jule Styne, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and Cy Coleman. Accompanying Ms. Daly will be Grammy and two-time Emmy-winning composer/arranger/conductor, the talented John McDaniel (former musical director for Rosie O'Donnell, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone) and an all-star quintet. Tickets are $71.53 and $88. Call (212) 339-4095 for reservations. Feinstein's at Loews Regency is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street in Manhattan. * * * * * * A reminder about the upcoming May 17th fundraiser to aid victims of the earthquake that struck the central region of Italy on April 6th. The Sunday afternoon benefit will take place in the theater at The Orleans and will feature about 40 performers, among them, Linda Angeline, Peter Anthony, Pete Barbutti, Susan Beaubian, Michaelina Bellamy, Arian Black, Dennis Bono, Jeanne Brei, Lance Burton, Charlie Callas, Paul Campanella, Leigh Christensen, Denise Clemente, Kelly Clinton, Tommy Deering, Joan DuKore, Kathleen Dunbar, Robert Ensler, Vincent Falcone, Mark Giovi, Shecky Greene, Roy Hammock, Don Hill, Scott Hitchcock, Clint Holmes, Lorraine Hunt-Bono, Joni Illi, Ty Lemley, Sammy Ligouri, Rich Little, Mafalda, Tommy Marth, Nik Mastrangelo, Phyllis McGuire, Linda November, Gary Olds, Chuck Pacino, Babe Pier, Lena Prima, Cork Proctor, Frankie Randall, Scott Record, Sal Richards, Dr. George Ritter, Ronnie Rose, Artie Schroeck, Frankie Scinta, Sasha Semenoff, Sammy Shore, Felix Silla, Joe Sirola, Swing City Dolls, Allen Tramont, Gabriella Versace, and cast members from Tony 'n Tina's Wedding. That great humanitarian, Nelson Sardelli, will serve as host/MC. Approximately 300 people died, and more than 40,000 people have been left homeless as a result of the quake. An Affair of the Heart...To Italy with Love will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. with doors to the theater opening at noon. Tickets are priced at $35, and can be purchased in advance, or in person, at The Orleans box office. T-shirts to commemorate the fundraiser will be for sale at the event. Mr. Sardelli says that if every member of the Italian community here in Las Vegas gave just one dollar, the city could raise two hundred thousand American bucks. * * * * * * Birthday wishes to our Taurus (April 21-May 21) friends, Brenda Leonard Cowart, Babe Pier, Lucy Shropshire, Howard Jochsberger, April Archer, Aurora Miller, Nancy Archer, Wes Davis, Clint Holmes, Darcus, Grant Philipo, Peter Gordon, Jerri Spencer and Frankie Valli, who turned 75 on May 3rd. Also, happy anniversary to Whitney and Marianne Phoenix, and Eric and Wanda Dee Floyd. And speaking of birthdays, a big celebration was held at the National Arts Club in New York in honor of songwriter Ervin Drake's 90th. Music legends, including Billie Holiday (Good Morning Heartache), Frankie Laine (I Believe), Frank Sinatra (It Was a Very Good Year), and Steve Lawrence (A Room Without Windows, from What Makes Sammy Run), all had hits with Ervin Drake songs. Among the entertainers helping Drake turn 90, were former Las Vegan, Eric Michael Gillett; Sidney Myer; Tovah Feldshuh; KT Sullivan; Christine Lavin; Richard Skipper as Carol Channing; Leslie Uggams, Alan Harris; and Valerie Lemmon. Of course, Ervin's bride, Edith, shared in the festivities. And speaking of Mr. Valli...For those who were disappointed not to see Oh What a Night at the Starbright Theatre on April 4th, we suggest you act fast so as not to get shut out again. Due to last month's quickly sold out performance, and the many audience requests, the celebration and tribute to the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, returns to the Starbright, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. in Sun City Summerlin, on Saturday, May 30th, for a 7 p.m. show. A Michael Chapman and ChapQuist Entertainment production, Oh What a Night is written, staged and directed by George Solomon, and choreographed by Paul Holmquist. Tickets are $18 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $23 for visitors. To charge tickets by phone, call (702) 869-2064. For theater information, call (702) 240-1301. * * * * * * Gina Eckstine is more than a little excited about the release of her new CD, Everything I Have Is Yours. The daughter of the great jazz legend, Billy Eckstine, Gina pays tribute to her iconic father with sultry, smoky ballads, classic swing, and a touch of hip Latin, all sung by this dynamic vocalist. Gina is the youngest child of model/actress Carolle Drake and Billy Eckstine. Her career began at the age of seven, when she was invited on stage with her father during his nightclub act. Gina says, "From then on, I was hooked. I knew what I wanted to do...SING!" With family friends like the Four Tops, Quincy Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., and Sarah Vaughan, Gina's household was a constant source of inspiration and guidance. At age 13, Gina began extensive vocal training and music study. She was a student at the Ira Lee's Studio, Phil Moore's For Singers Only Workshop, and the Dick Grove School of Music. After witnessing Gina's graduation performance, Billy decided that his daughter was ready for his "College Of The Road." She joined her father in his show and traveled the world, sharing the stage with the likes of Count Basie, Sammy, and Bill Cosby. Gina also had the distinct pleasure of performing on The Tonight Show. After three years with The Billy Eckstine Show, Gina moved to California and started her own nightclub act, working exclusively for the La Costa Resort Hotel. Her show was a tremendous success and the Las Vegas connection was made. For nine years, Gina performed in all the major hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Gina still performs as an opening act for major performers in Las Vegas, most recently for comic Brad Garrett at The Mirage. Blessed with her mother's beauty and her father's talent, Gina is definitely a star on the rise! Backed by Ric Mandell on piano, Jack Daro on acoustic bass, Ric Craig on drums, Jimmy Mahlis on guitar, Mike Nelson on saxophone, and Dan Weinstein alternating on trombone and violin, Everything I Have Is Yours contains 13 tracks, including seven of Billy's beautiful songs. The CD can be found at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/ginaeckstine. By the way...Unlike some delusional character who has been claiming to be the son of Billy Eckstine, Gina is the REAL McCoy. Billy Eckstine had seven children - Guy, Ed, Ken, Ron, CC, Billy Jr., and, of course, Gina. Note that not a one of them was named Freddie. 
Lisa Dawn Miller 
Charice And speaking of young ladies with talented fathers...Lisa Dawn Miller returns to The Metropolitan Room in New York City on May 14th. Show time for I Want To Come Back As A Song: Ron Miller, A Knight of Lyrics, is at 7:30 p.m. Lisa celebrates the music of her father, legendary songwriter, Ron Miller. While the show includes some of her father's well known standards - A Place In the Sun (with Bryan Wells), Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday (with Wells), Touch Me In the Morning (with Michael Nasser), I've Never Been To Me (with Ken Hirsch), If I Could (also with Hirsch and Marti Sharron), and Heaven Help Us All - Lisa performs mostly the never-before-heard and unpublished writings of Ron Miller, that she describes as "standards waiting to be born." Russ Kassoff serves as music director. And speaking of Ron Miller...There is a new Frank Sinatra DVD being advertised on TV these days. In the commercial promoting Live at the Meadowlands, the song that Sinatra opens with is For Once In My Life, one of the many songs written by Miller, who died in July of 2007. For Once In My Life was the late songwriter's most famous, and most recorded, song. In addition to the Stevie Wonder version, more than 200 artists, including Sinatra (alone, and with Gladys Knight), Vic Damone, Vikki Carr, Carmen McRae, Sylvia Syms, Buddy Greco, Nancy Wilson, O.C. Smith, The Temptations and Vonda Shepard, have covered the song. A version by Tony Bennett and Stevie won a Grammy Award in 2007. And in 2008, Miller's amazingly talented, now eight-year-old grandson, Oliver Richman, recorded the tune. * * * * * * Hit Man, a concert featuring David Foster & Friends, takes the stage at Mandalay Bay Events Center, tomorrow night, beginning at 8 p.m. With David Foster leading the pack, the evening will feature Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire fame; 16-year-old (she turns 17 on Sunday) Charice Pempengco; Tony Award-winner (for AIDA) singer/actress, Heather Headley; singer/songwriter/pianist, Peter Cincotti; and Grammy-nominated singer, Brian McKnight. Foster will perform some of the hits he has written or produced during his 40-year musical career. Tickets, priced from $55.50 to $134.25, plus taxes and fees, are available through the Mandalay Bay Box Office at (702) 632-7580, or TicketMaster at (702) 474-4000. * * * * * * In case you forgot, Sunday is Mother's Day. If you are a mother, plan to ever be a mother, know a mother, or had a mother, you might want to celebrate the day (or the Friday or Saturday before the day) at the Suncoast seeing Shades of Sinatra or perhaps at the South Point with M&M American Dance Theatre's Dancin' Feet. If you play your cards right, you can do both! Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday, Shades of Sinatra - with Ryan Baker, Larry Liso, Carmine Mandia and Lisa Smith - pay a loving tribute to the music and career of Frank Sinatra. The original 90-minute production, with Ned Mills on piano, Gary Olds on drums, Dick Jones on bass, Isaac Tubb on trumpet, and Steve Golden on sax, alto sax, bass clarinet and flute (hell, this guy blows!), features more than 30 Sinatra hits, as well as a handful of tunes that might be new to some audience members. In between songs and poignant stories, there is plenty of zany humor and good-natured ribbing among the cast, creating the vintage, off-the-cuff Vegas show atmosphere that is associated with Ol' Blue Eyes himself. Tickets start at $19.95 plus taxes and fees, and may be purchased at the Sun Coast Box Office or by calling (702) 636-7075. Shades shows are at 7:30 p.m. 
Shades of Sinatra 
Melinda Jackson & Michael Kessler And over at the South Point, it's M&M American Dance Theatre's Dancin' Feet, a romantic, musical comedy, featuring Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson, and a company of a dozen international artists. Dancin' Feet tells the tale of Dancinmannio and Twinkletoenia, two showbiz muses who are banished from Mt. Olympus and sent to the planet Earth after being voted off the reality TV competition show, Dancing with the Gods. In order to get their immortality back, the two muses have to bring joy and inspiration to a couple of mortals on earth. With some great songs to accompany them - including They Can't Take That Away from Me, Night and Day, Mona Lisa, and Let Yourself Go - and new musical arrangements by Keith Thompson (Musical Director of Jersey Boys), and Broadway legend, Peter Howard (Chicago, Raiders of the Lost Ark), Dancinmannio and Twinkletoenia's quest to inspire others unexpectedly teaches them something very important about joy, inspiration and love. The Las Vegas Sun called the M&M American Dance Theatre "Showstoppers!," while the New York Times described it as "An evening of fun." The Las Vegas Review-Journal, described the company's show as "Top notch entertainment," and the Journal la Suisse, Geneva noted the performances as "Imaginative and wildly humorous." The fun takes place at 7:30 p.m., this Sunday at the South Point Hotel & Casino, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $25 $20 and $15, plus applicable taxes and fees. For reservations, call (702) 797-8055, or (866) 796-7111. * * * * * * It's Ronnie Rose at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues Courtyard Restaurant, tonight and tomorrow at 10 p.m., and Monday, May 11th, at 9 p.m. Tonight, Ronnie will be accompanied by Harvey Hughes on drums, Billy T on keys, James Davis on guitar, and Chris Gordan on bass. Saturday night, it's Hughes on drums again, Tom Lipps on keys, Mark Speights on guitar, and Gordan on bass. Monday, Rose has Jess Gopen on drums, Billy T on keys, Chris Clermont on guitar, and Tommy Alvarado on sax. Check out the gentlemen. 
Ronnie Rose 
Dionne Warwick 
Paul Anka * * * * * * One person we spoke to following last weekend's event to raise money to get celebrity impersonator, Trina Johnson-Finn, out of a Suriname prison and back home to Las Vegas, described the Saturday afternoon event as "a horror." Not only was there a poor turnout for the fundraiser (we were told there were about 50 people), held at John Stuart's Legends Ranch, the "producer," one Cheryl T, was totally disorganized. The people who gave of their time and talent, outnumbered the guests. Although Mr. Stuart was welcoming and hospitable, Cheryl T was rude and condescending, acting like she was doing the performers a favor by allowing them to be a part of this. As we have mentioned before, when it comes to local benefits for a worthy cause, there are always caring people (especially entertainers) who are more than ready to pitch in and help. At the very least, those people should be shown appreciation and thanked. Apparently, neither of those things were done in this case. Also, we can think of a few reasons why this particular event didn't generate more interest. Being practical, there are so many benefits taking place - most for worthwhile causes, others questionable - that the public can't attend or financially support them all. The people putting on these fundraisers need to be able to tell the potential ticket buyers EXACTLY where the money will go and what it will be used for. There needs to be a workable, explainable plan that the public can relate to. In the case of this fundraiser, there didn't seem to be a well thought out plan. We pray for Trina's safe return home, but this didn't seem to be the solution, or even a way to make that happen. On this subject, we received this e-mail from Carolyn Hamilton Proctor, who knows Suriname, and how it operates, since she spent a couple of years there as a member of the Peace Corps. This is what Carolyn has to say regarding this unfortunate situation...
I'm concerned about how the monies from this "fund-raiser" for Trina will be distributed. As you know, Cork and I served in the Peace Corps in Suriname, so I can tell you something about the mentality of the country. My advice to anyone involved in fund-raising for this cause, is: Be VERY careful who you send money to. Do not let anyone MAIL money to anyone in Suriname. Do not send "care packages" unless it is to someone in Suriname you know and trust who can personally deliver them to her, otherwise she will never get them. In any case, packages will take weeks to get there. If Trina's husband or Suriname lawyers have opened a bank account at a legitimate Paramaribo bank like RBTT or Hakrinbank, wire transfers can be arranged (and even "instant" wire transfers can take a week or more). Nothing in Suriname moves quickly. This is a laid-back culture in a tropical climate. The capitol only has a population of about 350,000, so Trina's arrest and trial is a big news event and will sell a lot of newspapers and TV ads there. Frankly, even continued pressure from America may not make the government move to end her imprisonment in an honest and timely fashion. But we must continue to try. I was (momentarily) amused to read that Trina has lost 14 pounds while she has been in prison. Cork and I each lost 25 in the first 90 days in the Peace Corps. While I have not personally seen the conditions of Paramaribo's prison system, I can assure you that the water in Paramaribo is drinkable from the faucet, and most adults speak some English, two things Americans don't often find in foreign prisons. I believe this story will run its course in Paramaribo and I believe Trina will be let out, not sentenced to any "hard prison time." There are some sane heads in the capitol, but no one is in any hurry (this is, as I mentioned, a tropical country). As for Trina, if she's journaling, she could parlay this into a book deal or movie-of-the-week when she gets out. Today (Friday, May 8th), this story by Arny Belfor of the Associated Press appeared.
PARAMARIBO, Suriname - A Suriname promoter acknowledged trying to pass off a Las Vegas-based entertainer as six-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton at a disastrous show dubbed the "Phony Toni" concert by local media, his lawyer said Thursday. Angel Ventura told a judge he scammed people into paying up to $53 thinking they would hear the famous singer at a much-hyped show in this poor South American country more than two months ago, defense lawyer Lamure Latour told The Associated Press. "He confessed in front of the investigating judge to the charges and said that he was aware of what he was doing," Latour said. The Feb. 28 show ended abruptly after Braxton impersonator Trina Johnson-Finn hit a sour note at the beginning of the second song. She was rushed off the stage to a loud chorus of boos and a volley of trash. Prosecutors have accused Johnson-Finn, 40, of trying to pass herself off as Braxton, best known for the hit song "Un-break My Heart" and appearances on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." She has been in jail for the last two months awaiting a scheduled trial May 26 for allegedly defrauding the nearly 3,000 people who bought tickets — though she says she was an unwitting participant in the scam. Prosecutor Duncan Nanhoe said the promoter's confession does not necessarily clear Johnson-Finn. "Yes, Ventura confessed. But I don't think that his admission of guilt dismisses Johnson as a suspect," Nanhoe said. It was not immediately clear if Johnson-Finn and Ventura would be tried together. Johnson-Finn's husband, Raymond Finn, said she has augmented her 20-year singing career by impersonating various stars as a "tribute artist" and was also the victim of Ventura, who aggressively promoted her as the real Braxton without her knowledge. The show was the first time she had performed as a Braxton look-a-like, he said. Finn also alleged that Ventura, who was arrested Monday in a bar in Paramaribo, the capital of this small former Dutch colony, pilfered the box office proceeds. Finn, during a Thursday telephone interview from Washington, where he is getting U.S. politicians such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Rep. Shelley Berkley of Nevada involved in her case, said he was "ecstatic" that Ventura confessed but that Nanhoe's comments made clear his wife's ordeal in Suriname was far from over. Meanwhile, police have detained Ventura's girlfriend, Signet Sampson. Investigators said she had gone into hiding immediately after the Paramaribo concert turned into a melee. Supporters in Las Vegas have come to Johnson-Finn's defense, waging an Internet campaign on her behalf. We will keep you posted on developments in this troubling case. * * * * * * On Monday (May 11th), beginning at 6 p.m., auditions will be held for the smash hit musical comedy, Naked Boys Singing! (yep, that's what we said!). Starr Pro Productions, LLC and Rack Media/Onyx Theatre, LLC, are seeking additional performers for the Robert Schrock conceived revue. Applicants must be able to sing, dance and have no aversions to performing totally in the nude. They also must have a well-toned body and be physically fit. Age range from 18 to mid-40s. Please prepare 16 bars of an up beat popular or Broadway song and provide a head shot and resume at the time of the audition. An accompanist will be provided. You will first be asked to sing, and then learn a dance combination (Brad Barnes is choreographer). You will then be asked to disrobe. If you have any questions regarding this audition, please contact director Hank Emerson at (702) 639-1776, or you can e-mail your head shot and resume to hanke1776@aol.com. They ask that you already live in, or are planning on moving to, Las Vegas. There is pay involved. Auditions for Naked Boys Singing are at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara, just west of Maryland Parkway, in the Commercial Center. * * * * * * Look for the long-absent from Las Vegas stages, Dionne Warwick, to return to Southern Nevada for a one night only performance in October. The date is the 10th, the time is 8 p.m., and the location is, not on or near the Strip, but, at the North Las Vegas Cannery. Ticket prices have not yet been announced. We have to admit that, when we saw Warwick perform live many years ago, we were disappointed. She is/was not a performer. Yes, she sang her familiar hits, but they had all been rearranged in a comfortable-for-her mid-range, requiring no highs and no lows. There was an invisible barrier between Ms. Warwick and her audience and, except for an unexpected incident that occurred the second time we saw her, she came across as wooden and cold. When the heel of her shoe caught in a spot on the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton, Dionne walked right out of her Monolo Blahnik. She turned, walked back to her shoe, retrieved the footwear and said something like, "If I had gotten hurt, this place would be renamed the Warwick Hilton." It was the most human moment she exhibited in either of the two shows that we saw. Hopefully, age has mellowed and improved the diva. * * * * * * With more than 125 albums, 15 million records sold, and 22 Top 20 hits, Paul Anka has been one of the most influential voices in pop music since emerging as a teen idol in the 1950s. On May 8th, 9th and 10th, Anka will be bringing his incomparable sound to The Orleans Showroom. Anka always knew he wanted to be a singer and songwriter. He received his big break in 1957, when he recorded Diana. The song became one of the best-selling 45s
Tags: Danny Gans Richel Kompst Lea Salonga Manny Pacquiao Whoopi Goldberg Beyonce
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 1, 2009 
Danny Gans 
Darin Hollingsworth So much to write about...so little time. We will start with the new news first, and then move on to some of the things we didn't have room, or time, for last Friday (we hate when that happens). VERY LATE BREAKING NEWS... As we approach our Friday deadline, we have just learned that longtime Las Vegas entertainer, Danny Gans, has died. The 52-year-young Gans, eleven-time Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year, apparently passed away in his sleep, sometime early this morning. When Gans opened at the new Stratosphere (formerly known as Vegas World) in 1996, many people thought the talented impressionist was a newcomer to this city. We knew better. Before there was the Stratosphere, Rio, Mirage (where he headlined in his own theater for eight years), and ,since February, Steve Wynn's Encore, there was Nevada Palace (now the site of Cannery East) and the downtown International (now Main Street Station). Our most sincere condolences to Danny's wife of 28 years, Julie, and their three children. * * * * * * As loyal readers know, we regularly visit the Liberace Museum, supporting and enjoying things like the Composers Showcase and special performances by talented artists such as Wes Winters, Philip Fortenberry, Keith Thompson, Erich Bergen, Bruce Ewing, Nicole Pryor and Rebecca Spencer. In recent months, we had observed subtle and not so subtle things going on in the buildings on East Tropicana, i.e., a major piece of Liberace's furniture, quietly and privately, sold from the museum's collection, and the dwindling gift shop inventory, being two examples. We suspected something major was happening at the now 30-year-old tourist attraction. We could only guess what that might be. On Monday, we started getting calls (Cousin Claire has lots of spies out there), informing us of the departure of the Liberace Foundation's R. (for Richard) Darin Hollingsworth. Last May, Hollingsworth who had been the Foundation and Museum's Executive Director for two years, was named its President. According to a press release issued by the foundation, this was done "to empower the position to act as needed and in a timely manner rather than seek Board approval for every issue." In our opinion, this could have been a big mistake for the museum's future. You know what they say about "too much power in the wrong hands" being a dangerous thing. In the hands of a control freak, it is especially dangerous. From our personal observations and experiences, Mr. Hollingsworth is a control freak. He is a person who tries to get his way by intimidation. A couple of months ago, we were witness to a "confrontation" between Hollingsworth and an older woman in the museum's café. It seems the woman had been discussing concerns about the museum's operating procedure with a few people, and Mr. Hollingsworth was made aware of this. He told the senior, in no uncertain terms, "if you have questions, you come to me." Nothing wrong with that, as long as one is also permitted/allowed to discuss things with others. We go along with the theory that he (or she) who has nothing to hide, hides nothing. Is Darin Hollingsworth's "departure by mutual decision with the board" coming too late? Has the damage already been done? Is there hope for maintaining Liberace's legacy in a building in southeast Las Vegas? We don't know. Word is that, beginning next year, instead of waiting for the public to come to the museum to see all that is, or was, Liberace, the treasures will go to the public in the form of a moveable feast. If the collection does go on tour, what does this mean for the state of the current museum? That remains to be seen. We had hoped to talk to one, or some, of the foundations' board members before deadline. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. We will stay on top of this story...and we will do that by talking to whoever we want to (thank you very little). Following a story about Darin Hollingsworth and the museum severing ties, written by Kristen Peterson and published in yesterdays' Las Vegas Sun, a slew of comments from the public can now be seen online. It is apparent, by the tone of at least five of the twelve printed responses to Ms. Peterson‘s story, that Darin is leaving some wreckage strewn along his jagged career path. Here are a couple of examples (exactly as written, misspells, typos and all)... Actually, Darin Hllingsworth should be run out of town for what he did to the Liberace Museum and the Liberace Foundation. The spin that has been put on this in quite unbelievable as the truth is Mr. Hollingsworth foolishly squandered millions of dollars of the foundations money. He was brought into the Liberace Museum and Foundation by Jeff Cope as "somebody with extensive experience in fundraising and working in the non-profit sector". None of this was true, nor did any of it come to fruition. The economy may play a small role in the Liberace decline, but the majority of responsibility rests on Darin Hollingsworth's shoulders. If you do a little digging, it becomes very apparent. A consultant???? I wouldn't consult him to clean a toilet. And...
As a dedicated former employee of the Liberace Museum for over six years, who had the distinction of being fired by Mr. Hollingsworth I say "what goes around comes around." Never knowing much about Liberace until I started working at the Museum, I realized what an incredible kind gentleman he was and this instituion and his memory should never go away. Mr. Hollingsworth however should have been gone two years ago. And...
If the foundation was set up as a trust, with Mr. H. as its trustee, the beneficiaries should be able to hold him accountable for its downturn. If he was any kind of fiduciary that would still be a smart thing to do. And...
Darin Hollingsworth was a drop of poison. He was rabidly afraid of talented people- he was the kind of manager who only kept less capable people around him, for fear he would be found out as the totally incompetent person he is. The people left at the attraction are only those that cannot find work elsewhere- so they tolerated his micro-managing and outrageous behavior. The board really dropped the ball on this- the place was run into the ground by this guy, who one hopes will never have a position of management again in his life. And...
The reputation of the Liberace Museum has been tainted with the decision to sell off one of the most valuable artifacts from the collection to a private party (Liberace's prized Louis XV desk).
There is an understood promise between a museum and its public against the sale of collection objects for general operating expenses. This promise exists across generations in order to prevent the financial challenges of a given time from depriving future generations of the benefits of a museum's holdings. If a museum is unable to properly care for an artifact, the artifact should be transferred to another institution with the expertise to properly care for it so that the object remains in the public trust. Standard museum best practices will allow for the sale of an artifact from the collection if that sale advances the value of a museum's permanent collection and when proceeds from the artifact sale are used only for acquisition or for direct care of collections. In this case, the desk's sale greatly diminished the value of the Liberace Museum's collection and use of proceeds remains highly uncertain. What will the Liberace Museum be selling off next? Is anyone interested in buying a one-of-kind full-length pink feathered cape?
If you are interested, you can read all of this for yourselves by going to http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/apr/30/director-waves-bye-liberace-foundation/. * * * * * * 
Susan Anton, Clint Holmes, Domenick Allen & Martin Nievera 
Earl Turner & Lani Misalucha There's a new game, and name, on the local entertainment scene. They call themselves Vocal Soup, and the musical quartet is made up of some of the top talent in this, or any other, community. Following in the footsteps of popular ensemble groups such as the Las Vegas Tenors, Dangerous Curves, Fifth Avenue, Voci Vegas, Shades of Sinatra, Voices (with Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha), Vocal Soup mixes together Domenick Allen, Susan Anton, Clint Holmes, and Martin Nievera, in what should make for some tasty soup. Vocal Soup makes its debut at the Suncoast at 8 p.m.(not the usual 7:30 start time) on Friday, June 19th, where they will perform through that Sunday, the 21st. Tickets are $33, $44, and $55, all inclusive. Call (702) 636-7075. And speaking of Voices, currently in the Shimmer Showroom (formerly called Shimmer Cabaret) at the Hilton, we think it might better be called The Earl Turner Show with special guest, Lani Misalucha. According to what we have read, the producers of Voices, Angelo Giordano and John Stuart, have had no input in the format of the show. Maybe that's what's wrong with Voices. Perhaps Giordano and Stuart should have some say-so. We think Voices needs some fine tuning. The way it plays right now, it might better be called The Earl Turner Show with special guest star, Lani Misalucha. Too much Earl. Not enough Lani. The pacing needs to be changed a bit. Just about everything that Turner does is high energy. Our favorite piece was his story-telling Grandma's Hands. As for Ms. Misalucha, she too needs to slow it down a bit. Her show-stopping number, Puccini's Nessun Dorma, comes way too early in the lineup. As a result, she has nowhere to go but down. Come on, Angelo and John, give these two talented people some advice. At $50 a ticket, the audience, and Lani and Earl, deserve better. * * * * * * Gerry McCambridge, known as The Mentalist, is on the move. On May 14th, he will perform his last show at Hooters Casino Hotel, where he has entertained crowds for the past two years. On May 15th, McCambridge will open in a newly created 300-seat showroom, adjacent to the V Theater in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile Shops. Gerry, who keeps track of such things, reports that his first show at Planet Hollywood will be his 777th performance since his move to Las Vegas. He considers this to be a sign of good luck. Since McCambridge is one of our favorite performers, we hope that is the case. Show times for The Mentalist will be at 7:30 p.m., dark on Wednesdays. Ticket prices are $39.95 for general admission, and $49.95 for VIP seating. Call (702) 932-1818 for reservations to shows starting on May 15th. 
Gerry McCambridge 
Brian Stokes Mitchell & Michael Feinstein 
Shades of Sinatra * * * * * * The New York Pops 26th Birthday Gala was an evening to celebrate. Last Monday night's gala celebrated Feinstein's at Loews Regency on its 10th anniversary and congratulated Michael Feinstein and Jonathan Tisch for their leadership of the popular nightclub. The orchestra also saluted New Amsterdam Rediscovered, a joint Dutch-American initiative celebrating the 400th anniversary of the exploration of the Hudson River. The Carnegie Hall concert was conducted by Music Director-Designate Steven Reineke, and hosted by Liz Smith. Liza Minnelli made a surprise appearance to present Feinstein with his award. Performers included Ashford & Simpson, Sara Caswell, Barbara Cook, Bob Dorough, Cheyenne Jackson, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anika Noni Rose and children from The New York Pops' education programs. The concert was sold-out, with 2,804 in the Carnegie Hall audience. The post-concert dinner dance at The Pierre was attended by 300 guests. * * * * * * The three ladies of Dangerous Curves - Margaret "Gret" Menzies Gonzalez, Karen Merstik Michaels and Lisa Smith - put on a very entertaining show at the Clark County Flamingo Library a couple of weeks ago. The trio has a nice blend as well as some strong solo voices. For us, the highlights included their versions of Moon River, Is This Any Way To Fall in Love, Children Will Listen, The Girl Who Used To Be Me (written by Las Vegans Rob Hyatt and Jerry Jones of Fifth Avenue), Faithless Love, and one of our personal favorites, The Girl In 14G (written by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan, who also wrote the new music for Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie). A number of the mentioned tunes are available on Girl Talk, the debut CD of Dangerous Curves. And speaking of Lisa Smith, she and three men in her life (yes, her husband Ron knows, and understands) - Ryan Baker, Larry Liso and Carmen Mandia - collectively known as Shades of Sinatra, will be appearing at the Suncoast next weekend, May 8th, 9th and 10th. It's a fun show of songs primarily associated with Old Blue Eyes. Tickets start at $19.95 plus tax and fees. Call (702) 636-7075. * * * * * * In last Friday's column, Felice Garcia's photo was used with no explanation of why (Cousin Claire was asleep at the wheel), so we are using it again, this time with some text to go with it. Ms. Garcia was one of the principal singers in the dwindling days of the Tropicana's Folies Bergere. When we saw her in the show a couple of weeks before its closing, we have to admit, we weren't impressed. It might have been the costuming, or the song choices, or a combination of both. One night, a few weeks ago, we unexpectedly caught Felice singing Sondheim (possibly auditioning for her next job) at the Don't Tell Mama cabaret/piano bar in downtown Las Vegas. Felice was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and very little makeup, looking much differently, and prettier, than she did on the Tropicana stage. We will look for her to show up on another stage in the city. 
Felice Garcia 
Tony Orlando 
Tony Scodwell * * * * * * Tony Orlando plays the South Point, tonight through Sunday. Weekend show times are 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45 (tax included) and can be purchased by visiting the South Point Box Office or calling (702) 797-8055. Next Sunday, May 10th, at 7:30 p.m., look for M&M (Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson) American Dance Theatre's Dancin' Feet at the South Point. Described as a Romantic Musical Comedy, Dancin' Feet tells the story of Dancinmannio and Twinkletoenia, two showbiz muses who are banished from Mt. Olympus and sent to the planet Earth because they are voted off of the reality TV competition show, Dancing with the Gods. In order to get their immortality back, the two muses have to bring joy and inspiration to two mortals on earth. Tickets start at $15. Call (800) 834-2029. * * * * * * The Charleston Heights Arts Center, located at 800 S. Brush Street (near Charleston and Decatur), offers numerous programs throughout the year. International folk dancing is offered every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Contra dancing is offered on Saturdays twice a month from 7 to 10 p.m., with group lessons at 6:30 p.m. Coming up on May 9th is a Mother's Day dinner and dance, with entertainment by The Gene White Octet, vocal harmonies by Swing Patrol and dinner provided by At Your Service Catering. The city-operated facility also invites residents and visitors to enjoy a couple of weekend events. An all-ages Jane Austen Dance will take place tomorrow, May 2nd, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. This event should appeal to Jane Austen fans, history enthusiasts, dancers, music lovers, and anyone interested in a unique cultural event. Enjoy elegant Regency-era dancing to live chamber music - like an English country dance from a Jane Austen novel - on Saturday. Evening dress is requested. The event is presented by the city of Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada Old Time Contra Dancers. In preparation for the event, English country dance lessons are being offered at the center from 6 to 8:45 p.m. today (May 1st), as well as from 1:30 to 5 p.m. tomorrow. Lessons cost $3 per person at the door. On Sunday, at 2 p.m., for adults only, a concert by the Tony Scodwell Big Band, featuring vocalist Lisa Mayer, will take place at the center. Comprised of 16 musicians, the band will include a drummer, pianist, bass player, three trombonists, and five each trumpet and saxophone players. Leader Tony Scodwell is a veteran of some of the greatest big bands - Stan Kenton, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey and Buddy Rich - as are several other group members. The concert will include music they made famous, such as The Mole, Two O'clock Jump, and That Old Black Magic. Mayer will sing many swing era favorites, like Nacio Herb Brown's Singing in the Rain, and Memphis Slim's Everyday I Have the Blues. Tickets are priced at $12 at the door for the dance, and $5 for all seats for the concert. Free parking is available at the center. For details on upcoming performances and available classes, call (702) 229-6383 for a free ArtQ brochure. You can also pick one up at the arts center, or view it online at www.lasvegasparksandrec.com. * * * * * * Lissette Salazar Napoleoni and Peter Valentino, also known as Neon Venus, invite one and all to participate in downtown's First Friday, taking place tonight. Dress in White and Pose with Us for a Pro-Arts Message. There will be an art installation at 7 p.m. (make-up starts at 5 p.m.). Artists, sculptors, painters, actors, models, dancers, etc., will join in front of the theater for a celebration of spring and summer. The group will then walk to the park in front of the Neon Venus theater. A number of them will pose as statues, to signify that the public wants more art in the parks, and more support for original creative voices from Las Vegas. Everyone is invited to join in. At 8 p.m., children from the theater‘s acting program will take to the stage to show you how far along they are with the play, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, plus some additional skits. The entire play will showcase at the Neon Venus Art Theatre the first weekend in June. At 9 p.m. tonight, there will be a preview of The Shape of Things, directed by Peter. The actors will perform a scene from the play to be showcased at the Neon Venus Theatre on Saturdays during the month of May. Don't miss the talented performers. Beginning at 9:30 p.m., Neon Venus, Rubiks Hotel, and Cloth and Canvas will perform, followed at 11:15 with an Improv show by Neon Venus students. The Neon Venus Art Theatre is located at 1404 S. 3rd Street. A donation of only $1 per person is requested. For additional information, call the theater at (702) 787-2481. * * * * * * 
Niki Scalera 
Joan Sobel (photo by Don Cadette) 
Bernadette Peters Thursday, April 23rd, marked the third anniversary of the popular Composers Showcase. As usual, there were many highlights to celebrate the occasion. Clever Keith Thompson, who oversees and hosts the festivities, did three wonderful songs from his musical mind - For You, Sixteen Bars and The Audition Lament (the last two that almost everyone in the late night audience can relate to). Broadway/Las Vegas' Niki Scalera (Hairspray, Tarzan, We Will Rock You) performed one of the songs from Buddy Sheffield and Thompson's IDAHO!, The Boys Are Never Put Out (Because I Do), and Vita Corimbi did I'm Fabulous (and she is). Joan Sobel, from Phantom, sang What Took You So Long, telling the tale of a mother whose child comes out of the closet, one of the terrific numbers from Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker's (the musical director for Cirque du Soleil's KA at the MGM Grand) clever new musical, Don't Make Me Pull This Show Over: Dispatches from the Frontlines of Parenting. We have heard a number of the story songs from this show (at the Composers Showcase, of course) and are very impressed. The "musical stories" run the gamut from funny, to profound, to touching, and cover many subjects related to child rearing. Among the show's 18 songs are This Is Still My Country, Not Me, I Don't Have The Right, I Had A Freakin' Box, Don't Make Me, I Need Sleep, Because I Said So, Do You Know, Reversal, In the End, and God Bless. On Wednesday, Don't Make Me Pull This Show Over: Dispatches from the Frontlines of Parenting, had its World Premiere at Ohio's Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, where it will run through Sunday, May 17th. Tickets are priced from $16 to $38 and may be ordered by contacting the theater at (513) 421-3555. The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati is located at 1127 Vine St. Show times are on Sundays at 2 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. If you are in the Cincinnati area... * * * * * * Tonight, at 8, it's Lea Salonga at UNLV, as the 2008-2009 New York Stage & Beyond season winds down. A Tony winner for her role in Miss Saigon, Salonga also had starring roles in Broadway's Les Miserables, and was the singing voice of Aladdin's Princess Jasmine and Mulan, in the animated film of the same name. And, what will YOU be doing exactly one year from tonight? We know what we will be doing, God willing. We will be spending the evening at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall, watching that Broadway Baby, the winsome Bernadette Peters. We had some knowledge about the possibilities of her coming here some months ago, but we promised not to leak the info. Well, Mr. Henley, the reason we are mentioning it now is because Ms. Peters has the date listed on her Web site. We are excited by the prospect of seeing her on a Las Vegas stage again. One of our fondest memories, and one of the best shows we ever saw here, was Bernadette and Peter Allen co-headlining at the Desert Inn in August of 1989. Peters is one of the most critically-acclaimed Broadway performers, having received nominations for seven Tony Awards (she won two), and eight Drama Desk Awards (she won three). Four of the Broadway cast albums on which she has starred have won Grammy Awards. Frank Rich of the New York Times said, "As an actress, singer, comedienne and all-around warming presence, Bernadette Peters has no peer in the musical theater..." Mark your calendars. Tickets for the 2009-2010 season are not yet on sale, but there are probably still tickets available for tonight's Lea Salonga show. Ticket prices are from $35 to $80. Call (800) 895-2787, or go to the UNLV Box Office to purchase. And speaking of UNLV...
Congratulations to the UNLV Department of Music Liberace Scholarship Jazz Quartet - Otto Ehling, piano; Paul Ringenbach, drums; Julian Tanaka, saxophone/clarinet; and Scott Teeple, bass - for their winning performance in the Combo Division Competition at the prestigious 47th Annual Reno Jazz Festival this past Saturday, April 24th. The Liberace Scholarship Jazz Quartet, made up of different members, also took first place in last years competition. This year, they competed against 20 combos from some of the top music programs in the Western Region. Tanaka won the "Outstanding College Performer," and Ehling was awarded the distinction of the "Outstanding College Rhythm Section Performer" out of 24 colleges and universities from California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Nevada.
Shown in the accompanying photo, from left to right: Otto Ehling, Julian Tanaka, Scott Teeple and Paul Ringenbach. 
Liberace Scholarship Jazz Quartet * * * * * * If you were watching Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday night, when Melissa Rivers was sent packing, you can see that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Shame on Melissa and her mother, Joan Rivers (who, these days, looks like Cat Woman), for their very unbecoming behavior. It's a competition, Melissa, not a war. When Donald Trump announced that she was fired, the younger Ms. Rivers had a meltdown, calling her competitors "whores" and dropping the f-bomb numerous times. As for Mama Rivers, who stormed out of the building when her little girl was ousted, other than as a pitchwoman for her jewelry line on QVC, at age 76, her career is pretty much over. For that bratty, spoiled daughter of hers, this display of bad sportsmanship, and the potty mouth rant, just proves that neither of these broads are team players. What a mess! 
Melissa & Joan Rivers 
Julianne Hough 
Natalie Cole And speaking of reality shows, Matt "With the Hat" Giraud is the latest singer to be bumped from American Idol, and the beautiful and talented Julianne Hough along with her country singer boyfriend, Chuck Wicks, are the latest casualties on Dancing With the Stars. For those that don't already know this, Julianne, a two-time winner on the popular reality series, attended the prestigious Las Vegas Academy of International Studies Performing & Visual Arts high school. Julianne says she won't return for the ninth season of DWTS. Hough's self-titled debut album reached the top of Billboard's country album chart last year. FYI...The award-winning recording artist, Ne Yo, is also a former Las Vegas Academy student. * * * * * * Singer Natalie Cole made a guest appearance on Idol last week. She is supposed to launch the grand opening of M Resort's new Entertainment Piazza, but we are not sure on what date. On Natalie's official site, it indicates the performance will take place on May 9th. On M Resort's site, in two different places, it lists two different dates - May 23rd and May 28th. We are pretty sure that the Grammy-winning Ms. Cole will only be appearing on ONE of those dates. You might want to check with the hotel to find out which information is correct. Tickets range from $68.25 to $105 and may be purchased through ticketmaster. Call M at (702) 797-1000. * * * * * * Many readers may be surprised to know that Bea Arthur, who died on Saturday at the age of 86, actually appeared here at the Tropicana in 2005. Arthur was probably best known for her roles in three successful, long-running television series, All in the Family and Maude, in which she played the outspoken Maude Findlay, and The Golden Girls Dorothy Zbornak. Her show business start really began in the theater, with roles in 1954's The Threepenny Opera, Fiddler On the Roof, and Mame, where her role as Vera Charles, opposite Angela Lansbury, earned Bea a Tony Award. She later re-created the character in the movie, which starred Lucille Ball as Mame. Arthur also appeared in the Oscar-nominated Lovers and Other Strangers, and in Mel Brooks' History of the World - Part 1. She was one of the stars of the 1994 Emmy-nominated Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl, in which her tour de force performance of Man In The Moon (from Mame) was a showstopper. She was the winner of a Comedy Ace Award for her appearance in the FOX TV series, Malcolm In The Middle. Bea and Emmy-winning writer, arranger, composer, musician Billy Goldenberg (his Broadway credits include shows such as An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May, 110 In The Shade, An Evening With Diana Ross, and Ballroom), created Bea Arthur On Broadway: Just Between Friends. Following a 23-city tour, in 2002 the show opened at the Booth Theatre in New York where it ran in a limited engagement and was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Special Theatrical Event. In August of 2005, accompanied by her longtime friend, An Evening With Bea Arthur and Billy Goldenberg was presented in the Tropicana's Tiffany Theatre. In the special one-performance only show, the legendary actress/comedian shared observations, stories and music, as she reminisced about friends and milestones from her more than 50-year show business career in a 90-minute, sometimes bawdy, autobiographical act. We had the pleasure of seeing how a pro like Bea Arthur worked the crowd. We're glad we were there for the experience. 
Bea Arthur 
Leigh Zimmerman 
Steve Schiffman * * * * * * The talented and beautiful Leigh Zimmerman, who last performed in Las Vegas as Ulla in The Producers, heads to London where she will star as Velma in Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End. The singer/dancer/actress will be re-visiting a role she played eight years ago. Her opening night is June 1st, and she closes on July 11th. Co-starring in the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical will be Jerry Springer, making his stage debut as Billy Flynn. Leigh is married to the uber-talented Domenick Allen (mentioned earlier in this column), and is the mother of the amazing performer, little Miss Cayleigh Capaldi. * * * * * * If you missed the April 12th edition of 60 Minutes, with Charlie Rose interviewing casino mogul Steve Wynn, our friend, former Las Vegan Steve Schiffman, informed us that we could view the entire interview via the Internet. If you have any interest in this city, and we assume that you wouldn't be reading this column if you didn't, we urge you to check it out by going to the CBS Web site, clicking on 60 Minutes and scrolling down to the April 12th date and the Casino Mogul Steve Wynn's Midas Touch, The Man Who Helped Reinvent Las Vegas story. As for Mr. Schiffman, over a period of years, he was involved in the PR/Marketing departments of the Golden Nugget, Desert Inn (now the site of Wynn Las Vegas), Bally's and Debbie Reynolds (now known as the Greek Isles) properties. He is now retired and living in Arizona. It is too bad that there aren't more Schiffman-types still plying their trade in Las Vegas. This man knew how to handle the public and the media, a skill that is sadly lacking today. Other than veteran marketing maven Jim Seagrave, currently VP of Marketing and Advertising with Boyd Gaming, we can't think of anyone else who appears to understand the game. (See the PEEPSHOW item elsewhere in this column.) * * * * * * Since we live in Las Vegas, we don't know if this is only a local phenomenon, but this is a city of constant benefits...usually for a good cause. Maybe because we have so many talented people in the community, the majority of the fundraisers involve performers donating their time and skills to help those in need. Here are a few upcoming examples... 
Trina Johnson-Finn 
Jeanne Bavaro, Brent Barrett & Angela Acosta You may have read or heard about the unbelievable plight of Las Vegas entertainer, Trina Johnson-Finn. Trina is an entertainer who has sung back-up with the likes of Barbra Streisand and MC Hammer and has appeared on Oprah. She also works in the celebrity tribute industry, performing as several different iconic singers. In February, Trina was hired to impersonate Toni Braxton for a "private party" in Suriname, South America. She went on stage and was booed and had things thrown at her. She had to be rushed off-stage. As it turned out, the client was a scam artist, one Angel Ventura from Trinidad, who had promoted Trina as the real Toni Braxton. He skipped town with all the box office proceeds before Trina took to the stage. Authorities took Trina and her husband, Raymond Finn, a by-stander, into custody and charged them with fraud and swindling. Raymond spent two weeks in jail and was then released, while Trina is still there. Tomorrow, beginning at noon, John Stuart is turning over his Legends Ranch for a benefit to help raise a defense fund for Trina Johnson-Finn. There will be all kinds of entertainment and food, beginning at noon and lasting until around 8 p.m. The Legends Ranch is located at 8213 Rancho Destino, near Blue Diamond and Windmill. Admission price ranges from $10 to VIP treatment at $40. Some new names have been added to the list of entertainers who will perform at the May 17th fundraiser to aid victims of the earthquake that struck the central region of Italy on April 6th. The Sunday afternoon benefit will feature a plethora of performers, including Peter Anthony, Pete Barbutti, Michaelina Bellamy, Dennis Bono, Jeanne Brei, Lance Burton, Charlie Callas, Paul Campanella, Denise Clemente, Kelly Clinton, Kathleen Dunbar, Robert Ensler, Mark Giovi, Shecky Greene, Don Hill, Clint Holmes, Lorraine Hunt-Bono, Joni Illi, Rich Little, Mafalda, Nik Mastrangelo, Linda November, Babe Pier, Carme Pitrello, Lena Prima, Cork Proctor, Frankie Randall, Sal Richards, Ronnie Rose, Artie Schroeck, Frankie Scinta, Sammy Shore, Felix Silla, Joe Sirola, Allen Tramont, and Gabriella Versace. Nelson Sardelli will serve as host/MC. About 300 people died, and more than 40,000 people have been left homeless, as a result of the quake. An Affair of the Heart...To Italy with Love will take place from 1 to 4: p.m. in The Orleans showroom on Sunday, May 17th. Doors will open at noon and tickets can be purchased in advance, or in person, at the Orleans box office. Tickets are $35. On Sunday (May 3rd) at 1 p.m., a group of singers from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular will join eight UNLV students in a concert to be held at the Community Lutheran Church, 3720 E Tropicana Ave. just west of Sandhill. The afternoon vocal concert will raise money for students to attend the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS). There is no set admission price but organizers are requesting a free will offering. Checks can be written directly to the American Institute of Musical Studies, and all donations are tax-deductible. The study program will take place in Graz, Austria, this summer, from July 6th through August 16th. The AIMS Summer Vocal Institute, the oldest and most well known of all summer vocal programs, offers a unique experience in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. AIMS features an international faculty from Europe and America who are experienced teachers and performers. The primary focus of this comprehensive summer course is on personal advancement in technical, language and dramatic areas, and the development of a professional approach to a career in music. AIMS is dedicated to providing training that bridges the transition between education and a career in music. Phantom cast members, Joan Sobel, Megan Starr-Levitt, Marc Cedric Smith and Stephen Price, will be singing in the hopes of bringing attention to these students and their efforts to advance their musical education. Sobel participated in AIMS when she was in college, and is thrilled to be helping our local UNLV Vocal Students make it to this incredible institute. The UNLV students who are participating are Nathan Van Arsdale, Edwin Cotton, Sheronda McKee, Amanda Mura, Maureen Seymour, Michael Smith, Valeria Ore, and Isabella Ivy. For more information, please call (702) 245-0992. And at the same facility next Friday (May 8th) at 7 p.m., singers from the Anthem Performing Arts Community will offer a One Night Only concert, Stroll Down Memory Lane, a collection of Broadway songs from shows including Annie Get Your Gun, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Anything Goes, Porgy and Bess, West Side Story, and Jekyll & Hyde, along with American standards originally made popular by singers such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Nat King Cole, Bette Midler, Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, and others. Featured in the concert are singers Chuck Simmons, Carol Joyce, George Gingerelli, Jan George and Gail Beckman. Admission is $12 per person. The program will benefit Family Promise of Las Vegas, a community-wide program that supports homeless families on their journey to a stable future. Tickets are available at the Community Lutheran Bookstore. For more information, call (702) 458-2241. We are sure readers will want to know how the April 19th Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars competition/fundraiser turned out. The good news is that Brent Barrett's original partner, Jeanne Bavaro, who was injured during earlier rehearsals, was well enough to take her place at his side on the dance floor. That, of course, means that Bavaro's lovely and talented daughter, Angela Acosta, did not get the opportunity to go into the game for her mother. Both of these ladies grew very fond of Mr. Barrett during the preparation for this event that raised money, through admission prices to the competition/exhibition at the Palms, as well as the revenue generated from the $1 per vote charges. The top money earner (based on the number of votes at a buck per) and, as a result, the winner, was boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and partner, Mandy Kuhn. First runner-up was radio personality, Chet Buchanan, and his partner, Jennifer Atlas, and second runner-up was our favorite couple, Barrett and Bavaro (sounds like a personal injury law firm). Chris Phillips, of Zowie Bowie fame, and his partner Carrie Cone; radio gal Steph MacKenzie and her partner, Lupe Martinez; and Las Vegas Mayor, and good sport, Oscar Goodman and his partner, Dana Delgado, brought up the rear. The real winners, though, were the cancer-related charities that benefited from all of this hard work, sweat, and an injury or two. As for young Angela Acosta, if Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars becomes an annual event (and we won't be surprised if it does), expect to see her in an upcoming competition. * * * * * * As promised/threatened in last week's column, in spite of the PR company's reluctance to provide us with the information ("because it's a topless show"), here are the names of Jerry Mitchell's PEEPSHOW cast: Mel B ( former Spice Girl, Melanie Brown), Kelly Monaco, Nick Kenkel, Albert Blaise Cattafi, Cheaza, Olivia Cipolla, Keltie Colleen, Jason Davies, Kristin DeCesare, Lena Giroux, Renay Wright Herter, Monica Klus, Emily Loftiss, Allie Meixner, Stoyan Metchkarov, Marielys Molina, Leah O'Donnell, Carolyn Pace, Tara Palsha, Jessica Press, Jackie Seiden, Josh Strickland (singer, Broadway's Tarzan, American Idol), Timber, Jennifer Quinlan, Katie Webber, Adar Wellington and Kaci Wilson. The all-girl band is made up of Susan Draus, Musical Director and keyboards; Vita Corimbi, Associate Musical Director; Jill Warren, guitar; Dixie Dawkins, sax; Jennifer York, bass, and Nan Fortier, drums. We will tell you more about these folks over the next few weeks, as they bring lengthy and very impressive credits to this show. * * * * * * Lesley Gore, the singer behind such iconic 1960s hits as It's My Party and You Don't Own Me, will debut at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York, from May 5th through 9th. With Louis St. Louis as musical director, in addition to her legendary songs, Gore will offer new
interpretations of modern classics by The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Laura Nyro and John Lennon. She will also present pop/jazz standards by George Gershwin and Michel Legrand. 
Lesley Gore 
The Lion King * * * * * * Preview performances for the long awaited Las Vegas production of The Lion King begin on Tuesday (May 5th) and run through May 14th. The Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning musical is based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name. Music is by Elton John and Tim Rice. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in cleverly designed animal costumes, as well as giant, hollow puppets. The musical has been playing on Broadway since October 15th, 1997. It is now Broadway's ninth longest-running show in history. Time magazine called The Lion King, "Awe-inspiring! A gorgeous gasp-inducing spectacle!", while Newsweek declared the production "a landmark event in entertainment." The New York Times said, "There is simply nothing else like it." Preview performance show times are Monday through Sunday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. The show is dark on May 12th, with the official opening night taking place on May 15th with a 7 p.m. curtain. Beginning on May 16th, shows are at 8 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 and 8 p.m. Dark on Fridays. Tickets are priced from $53 to $168.50, all inclusive. They are available for purchase through the hotel's Lion King Box Office, or through ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. * * * * * * Reminders...On Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., it's pianist Wes Winters at ENVY The Steakhouse, in the Renaissance at 3400 Paradise Road. Winters provides the music portion for the Mimosas & Music brunch. For only $25 per person, you get wine and cheese tasting, unlimited sparkling wine, Mimosas, fruit smoothies and a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar. Appetizers include fresh fruit and berries, smoked salmon with tomatoes, red onions and capers and Envy's signature fruit and granola parfaits. There also are serving stations with omelets, Belgian waffles and seafood. All of that AND Wes Winters! Reservations can be made by calling (702) 784-5716 or by visiting www.envysteakhouse.com. Richel Kompst repeats her Blame It On the Walleye - A Musical Journey Through the Neurotic Mind of a Norwegian Blonde, tonight at 7. This time, backed by The Nightcrawlers band, the multi-talented Richel does her thing at the Reed Whipple Theater, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Tickets are only $7. Call (702) 229-6211. Check her out.
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Tags: Danny Gans Darin Hollingsworth Susan Anton Clint Holmes Domenick Allen Mart
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 24, 2009 
Freddie Roman, Leslie Uggams & Lee Roy Reams 
Charlie Shaffer On April 20th, the very talented and funny Lee Roy Reams (last in Vegas as Roger DeBris in The Producers), was honored with the Friars Club Thespian Award. Many friends and colleagues gathered at the famed New York club to pay homage to the Tony-nominated Broadway star. Among those in attendance were comic Freddie Roman, too long away from the stages of Las Vegas; Cady Huffman of The Will Rogers Follies, and Tony-winner for her role as Ulla in The Producers; Lauren Bacall, with whom Reams worked in Applause, Woman of the Year, Cactus Flower; Leslie Uggams, who Reams has directed in Hello, Dolly!, Hallelujah, Baby!, Jerry's Girls, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ervin Drake's Her First Roman; Oscar-winner Patricia Neal, The Children‘s Hour, A Roomful of Roses, The Miracle Worker; Jim Dale, Me and My Girl, Threepenny Opera, Barnum; Robert Cuccioli, Jekyll & Hyde, Les Miserables, On the Twentieth Century; Tammy Grimes, Candide, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, California Suite, 42nd Street; Lewis J. Stadlen, Minnie's Boys, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum, The Sunshine Boys, The Producers; Brad Oscar, who was also in The Producers, playing Max Bialystock, both on Broadway and in Las Vegas, as well as in Spamalot, On the Town, Jekyll & Hyde; Penny Fuller, who also appeared in Applause, as well as Oh, Kay!, Barefoot in the Park, Cabaret, and No Strings; Beth Fowler, of Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, Bells Are Ringing, Boy From Oz, Baby, and Inherit the Wind fame; Christine Pedi, from Funny Girl and Little Me; Conrad John Schuck, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, and best remembered as Sgt. Charles Enright in the Rock Hudson, Susan St. James and Nancy Walker-starring TV series, McMillan and Wife. In addition to his Tony Award-nominated role as Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street, and his portrayal of Duane Fox in Applause, Reams has also appeared on Broadway in Sweet Charity, Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles and Beauty and the Beast. He has also performed in nearly 20 musicals at Missouri's Muny (The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis), including his 1971 appearance there with Bacall in Applause. Lee Roy's most recent Muny performance was as Roger De Bris in The Producers, for which the actor received a Kevin Kline Award nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical. In addition to playing the role on Broadway and in Las Vegas, Reams also starred as Roger De Bris on the national tour. Mr. Reams directed and choreographed the 1995 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! Other directing credits at the Muny include both Hello, Dolly! and Singin' in the Rain. FYI...The Muny is an outdoor musical amphitheater, located in the Forest Park section of St. Louis. The theater seats 11,000 people. The Muny completed its 90th annual season in the summer of 2008.
Photo of Roman, Uggams and Reams by Linda Lenzi. * * * * * * If you are reading this early enough on Friday, you may want to make a trip to Boulder City to see Charlie's Angels. No, not THAT Charlie, and not those angels. In this case, the Charlie is Charlie Shaffer, a musical staple around these parts for many years. The piano player/singer is celebrating a half century of music making, and he wants you to attend the party. As for the angels, they aren't Kelly, Kris and Sabrina, they are some of Shaffer's talented Boulder City friends, Phil Marcus Esser, Nancy Porter, Laura Shaffer, Alyson Tobler, Francyl Gawryn, Susan Slykerman, Justin Keough, Marta Thompson, and Greg Langley, who will join him in song. Charlie's Angels, produced by Esser and Porter, will perform this evening, beginning at 7 (doors open at 6:30). The location is at St. Andrew Parish Hall, 1399 San Felipe in Boulder City. Tickets for the cabaret-style seating venue, are $20. Proceeds will benefit the city by the dam's Emergency Aid, and may be purchased at Plaza Realty, 581 Hotel Plaza, also in Boulder City (a short drive from Las Vegas). For additional information, call (702) 293-2440. * * * * * * On Saturday, we spent much of the day and night traveling (we consider it traveling, when we drive from the southeast part of the city, to the northwest). Our first stop (other than to ask for directions) was at the Summerlin Library & Performing Arts Center (who in the world invented roundabouts?). It took 90-minutes to make the 31 mile (that includes getting lost and more lost) trip from our neighborhood to that part of the city. We barely made it to our seat for the curtain of the matinee performance of Signature Production's Thoroughly Modern Millie. We are very glad that we didn't miss this one. Outstanding performances were delivered by all, with special mention going to Kelly Albright, as Millie Dillmount (Kelly has been emoting for Signature Productions since she was 10 years old), Kellie Wright, as Mrs. Meers, and Tai Lewis as Muzzy Van Hossmere. Wish we had the time and space to acknowledge the other fine actor/singer/dancers. If you can, and if you have any interest in musical theater, we suggest you see the production for yourself. Millie, directed by Leslie Fotheringham, plays through tomorrow, with show times tonight and tomorrow at 7:30. Tickets range in price from $15 for children over the age of three, to $25. The theater is located at 1771 Inner Circle Drive. Call (702) 878-PLAY (7529) for reservations and/or information. 
Tai Lewis & Kelly Albright 
Richel Kompst 
Rob Evan Our evening stop was at the Family Music Center on West Sahara at Cimarron, where we saw the talented Richel Kompst perform in her own show. Calling this offering Blame It On the Walleye...A Musical Journey Through the Neurotic Mind of a Norwegian Blonde, some might describe it as a one-woman show. We choose to call it a five-woman show, thanks to Richel's ability to take on other characters such as her own Aunt Olga, and do parodies of Doris Day (singing Darling Doris Day, to the melody of Whatever Will Be, Will Be/Que Sera, Sera), Ann-Margaret (Bye, Bye Thirty, sung to the tune of, well, you know), and Barbra Streisand (declaring in song, There's a Show For Me). It takes someone with strong acting, comedy and musical skills to pull off something like this, and Ms. Kompst possesses those skills. The fact that she was a cast member of San Francisco's Beach Blanket Babylon, as well as Forbidden Broadway, Forbidden Hollywood and, most recently, Forbidden Vegas. Backed by Cocho Arbe on piano, Richel's husband Steve Kompst on bass (he also served as musical director), Gary Olds on drums, and Steve Golden on sax, Richel performed songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Hoagy Carmichael, Richard Maltby and David Shire, Annie Ross and Wardell Gray, as well as some parodies of familiar tunes, including Blame It On the Gol Darned Walleye, sung to the melody of Blame It On the Bossa Nova, and Rawhide's Rollin' Rollin' Rollin', turned into a fishing-inspired song with lyrics like Trollin' Trollin‘ Trollin'. A personal favorite of ours was comedienne Anita Renfroe's self-penned Total Momsense (the day in the life of a mom, sung to the tune of the William Tell Overture). Since earning her B.F.A. in Music and Theater at Carnegie Mellon, she has had the good fortune of playing some of musical theater's most entertaining leading ladies, including Roxy Hart in Chicago, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Rose in Song of Singapore, and Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress. Richel understudied the role of Cosette in the second national company of Les Miserables, and appeared in many incarnations of And What, Give Up Show Biz?. At the Tamarind Theatre in Los Angeles, Richel originated the role of The Girlfriend in All That He Was. If you missed her show last weekend, you can see it at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 871 N. Las Vegas Blvd., at 7 p.m. on Friday May 8th. For tickets, call (702) 229-6211. Richel admits that her favorite role to date is that of mommy to her two children, Oliver and Abigayle.
We spotted a number of entertainers in the audience (some that we hadn't seen in ages), among them, Michelle Rohl, Kathy Walker, Judy "AJ" Thomas, and Robin Bond and his family. Good to see those folks again.
* * * * * * Reminder...
It's Neil Berg's 100 Year of Broadway in the Artemus Ham Concert Hall at UNLV tomorrow night. With Neil Berg on piano and conducting, Roger Cohen on drums, John Lang on bass, and Dan Walker on keyboards, vocalists Steve Blanchard (Chess, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum), Carter Calvert (Sunday In the Park With George, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues); Rob Evan (Dance of the Vampire, seen here in UNLV's 2005, Jekyll and Hyde: The Concert), Rita Harvey (Fiddler On the Roof, Phantom of the Opera); and Danny Zolli (Chess), will sing songs from old and new Broadway favorites. Showtime is at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $80. Call (702) 895-2787 for reservations. Lots of musical things going on at the UNLV campus.
It's Tony-winner Lea Salonga at UNLV on , Friday, May 1st. Salonga, who won her Tony for her role in Miss Saigon, performs in the Artemus Ham Concert Hall as part of the New York Stage & Beyond series. Tickets are priced from $35 to $80. Call (702) 895-2787 to order.
Note that instead of the usual Saturday performance, this one takes place on Friday. 
Lea Salonga 
Patrick Ryan Sullivan 
Elton John The Nevada Conservatory Theatre will present the classic musical, The Music Man, from May 1st through the 10th in the Judy Bayley Theatre on the UNLV campus. Directed by Michael Barakiva and choreographed by Broadway's Mimi Quillin, the production features musical theater veterans Patrick Ryan Sullivan as Harold Hill and Teri Bibb as Marian Paroo. A hit Broadway musical in 1957, and an equally successful Hollywood film in 1962, Meredith Willson‘s The Music Man is about a glib traveling salesman, "Professor" Harold Hill, who descends upon the town of River City, IA, in the weeks just prior to the Fourth of July celebration of 1912. Persuading the populace that the youth of River City is in great danger of being corrupted by the presence of a new pool table, Hill convinces them that their only hope for salvation is the organization of a boy's band, with himself as a leader. Naturally, this will require the parents to shell out good money for band instruments and uniforms, and, in exchange, Hill promises to teach the kids how to make music by utilizing his revolutionary "Think System." There's only one problem: Harold Hill is an out-and-out con artist, who doesn't know one note from another. Even so, he manages to win over everybody in town except local librarian/music teacher Marian Paroo and thick-eared Mayor Shinn. Barakiva graduated from the directing program at The Juilliard School, and has worked as a professional director developing new work and staging classical texts. In New York City, he directed Save The World: A Superhero Adventure Play by Chris Kipiniak; Then, written and performed by the MCC Youth Company, The Women by Clare Boothe Luce, and The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. Quillin received a B.F.A. from the Boston Conservatory of Music. A native New Yorker, her initial dance training was at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School, The Joffrey School and Harkness House. Her career took her to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet and Chamber Dancer Theatre directed by William Carter. Quillin moved into the musical theater world under the leadership of Lee Theodore and The American Dance Machine touring the US and Europe. She performed in and assisted Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon on the Broadway revival of Sweet Charity, starring Debbie Allen. Other Broadway credits include the original company of Ragtime and Ain't Broadway Grand. Sullivan has appeared in the Broadway productions of Beauty and the Beast, as Gaston; and Titanic, as Barrett and Farrell. He performed in the revival of 42nd Street, as Julian Marsh, after appearing in the critically acclaimed national tour of the smash musical. Recently, Patrick played several parts in Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's Auntie Mame, starring Charles Bush, and participated in New York Musical Theatre Festival's inaugural season playing D.B. Norton in Meet John Doe. Bibb has played the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera more than 1,000 times on Broadway and with the national tour, singing for both former presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush at command performances at the White House. earning a Helen Hayes Award nomination and a Carbonell Award along the way. She also was on Broadway in the revival of She Loves Me, where she stood by for and played the role of Amalia. Regionally, she played the title role in Fanny opposite the late José Ferrer at the Paper Mill Playhouse, and starred in the world premiere of Songs from the Tall Grass at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Others in the cast include Christopher Lash, Lisa Wilson, Brooks Asher, Taylor Hanes, John Slocum, Ed Cotton, Stu Smith, Tony Blosser, Ryan Fonville, Sherri Brewer, Almog Agron, Logan Linehan, Chase Daniels, Maxime Chaltiel, Gail Romero, Phoenix Toliver, Anna Carothers, Christine de Chavez, Ann Vizzaccero, Jaime Puckett, Marilyn Oster Kaufman, and Val Kolar. Performances are May 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th at 8 p.m., and May 3rd and 10th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20-$30 and are on sale at the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more. Performing Arts Center Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The box office may be reached by calling (702) 895-ARTS (2787). And still speaking of UNLV...A jazz concert, featuring Jazz Band I & II, directed by David Loeb and Bruce Paulson, will take place in the Artemus Ham Concert Hall, this Sunday, April 26th, at 7:30 p.m. Don't miss this one, as it will be Paulson's last concert before he retires to New Zealand. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors, 62 and older, and may be purchased at the UNLV Box Office. Call (702) 895-2787 for additional information. * * * * * * Well, if you planned to see Elton John during his long run (he has been performing The Red Piano show since February of 2004) in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and haven't done so, you are out of luck. On Wednesday, after five years, and more than 200 shows, the Rocket Man called it a night on the Las Vegas Strip...at least for now (if Celine Dion can threaten a return, so can Elton). Among his future plans, Sir Elton is scheduled to tour the United States, Canada and Europe, beginning on May 2nd. In case you don't already know this (and we're sure that you do), the multi-Grammy-winning singer/composer's list of hits include Candle in the Wind, Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Rocket Man, Bennie and the Jets, Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, Sad Songs, and Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me. If you missed the Vegas production, perhaps you can catch Elton on tour...maybe even with Billy Joel sharing the bill. * * * * * * It's Pride Week in Mobile, Alabama, and tonight, Sharon McNight is the opening headliner for Carnival. This is a return engagement for Sharon, who was also the headliner for the 2008 Pride Week celebration. For her Mobile show, Ms. McNight will perform her Songs to Offend Almost Everyone for an expected crowd of 5,000. (For those who won't be in or around Alabama this evening, Songs to Offend Almost Everyone is available on both CD and DVD.
They love Sharon McNight in Mobile. They love her in Las Vegas as well. Watch for Sharon to make another back-by-popular-demand appearance at the Starbright Theare in Sun City Summerlin.
And speaking of the Starbright in Summerlin...The Sun City Summerlin MusicMakers Chorale is calling their May 1st through 3rd presentation By the Sea...as in "By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea. You and I, you and I, Oh how happy we'll be..." The spring show is under the direction of acclaimed musicians Ryan Duff and Spencer Baker, who are also, once more, accompanying the singers. The group promises an energetic performance of vocalists, dancers and instrumentalists, doing fun arrangements of familiar, favorite tunes. Audience members will feel as if they have been to sea, thanks to songs like Sea Cruise, Aquarius, Shenandoah and Candle on the Water. Get out your water wings and head for the Sun City Summerlin's Starbright Theatre at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. (take Lake Mead, west of Rampart, into the hills). Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Doors open 30-minutes prior to performance. Tickets are a reasonable $8. Call (702) 243-2953, 255-0972, or 256-3829, for tickets and additional information. * * * * * * 
Earthquake Damage in Italy 
Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano A benefit for victims of the April 6th earthquake in Italy will take place in the theater at The Orleans on the afternoon of Sunday, May 17th. The talent-filled show will run from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with doors to the 800 plus-seat theater opening at noon. Called An Affair of the Heart...To Italy With Love, the fundraiser is headed up by that great humanitarian, Nelson Sardelli, who will also serve as host/MC. Sardelli has armed himself with a team of hardworking volunteers, as well as honorary chairmen - Stefano Ripamonti (whose name was misspelled in this column last week), Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy for the State of Nevada; co-chairmen Angelo A. Cassaro, Dominic Gentile, and treasurer Vincent Ciminise, President of the Bank of Las Vegas. This event is sponsored by the Augustus Society of Las Vegas, The Orleans Hotel & Casino, and the Town Center Lounge II. A 12-piece orchestra, under the direction of Vincent Falcone and featuring Gary Olds on drums, will support a lineup of top national and local entertainers. Among those scheduled to appear are legendary comic Shecky Greene, Lance Burton, Charlie Callas, Babe Pier, Clint and Kelly Clinton Holmes, Cork Proctor, Peter Anthony, and Carme. We will provide more names in upcoming columns. Rebuilding the central Italian region of Abruzzo after the devastating earthquake is expected to cost about $15.9 billion. At least 294 people were killed, and some 40,000 people were left homeless. The disaster struck in the midst of Italy's worst recession since World War II. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased at The Orleans Box Office. Tax deductible contributions may also be made to the Las Vegas Italian Earthquake Relief Fund, Account No. 304007411, at the Bank of Las Vegas, 6001 S. Decatur, Suite P, Las Vegas, NV 89118. * * * * * * New York-based Eric Comstock and his wife, Barbara Fasano, return to Café Sabarsky next Thursday, April 30th, with a newly added show, the following Thursday, May 7th. There will be a 7 p.m. prix-fixe dinner, followed by a 9 p.m. concert. Comstock and Fasano bring their unique combination of wit and sensuality to the cabaret at Café Sabarsky. Romance and its modern complications are explored in an evening featuring the créme of American and European song: Kurt Weill, Frederick Hollander, Frank Loesser, Charles Strouse, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Charles Trenet, Joan Baez, Tom Jobim, and others. Stephen Holden, of The New York Times, writes, "Meet the new fun couple on the cabaret block. Mr. Comstock and Ms. Fasano are turning the neighborhood into a hotbed of pleasure." Café Sabarsky (Neue Galerie) is located at 1048 Fifth Avenue at 86th Street. For reservations, call (212) 628-6200, ext. 485.
* * * * * * Cast members, stage crew folks, musicians, and everyone connected with Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, are a bit uneasy since a big meeting after last Thursday night's show. According to our spies, union talks are scheduled in attempts to lower salaries across the board. Although Phantom continues to do business, they claim to be losing money. Hopefully, they will come to some kind of meeting of the minds to keep the show up and running for more years. We will keep you posted on this one. * * * * * * 
Vintage Folies Bergere Program 
Felice Garcia 
Bally's Jubilee! Within just a few weeks, we saw the tail end of the Tropicana's almost 50-year-old Folies Bergere, Donn Arden's Jubilee! at Bally's, and Jerry Mitchell's brand new PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood. Out with the old. In with the new. That's how we see the Folies Bergere, late of the Tropicana, vs. PEEPSHOW, the new production at Planet Hollywood. Somewhere in between is Donn Arden's Jubilee! Still a spectacle, after all these years, Jubilee! offers talented singers and dancers, beautiful costumes, good music, entertaining specialty acts (the night we saw the show, they were juggler, Rejean St. Jules; aerial silk artist, Vitale Tomanov; and Duo Design, a hand-balancing act featuring Jaroslaw Marciniak and Dariusz Wronski, from Warsaw, Poland), and over-the-top sets, one involving the sinking of the Titanic and another featuring Samson and Delilah and the destruction of a temple. Jubilee! is the last survivor of the historical and traditional Las Vegas production shows, yet it still manages to look fresh. It's worth a trip to Bally's to see the type of entertainment that made this city the Entertainment Capitol of the World. Unfortunately, when we saw the Folies a few weeks before it ended its almost half-century run, the show looked old and tired. Gone were many of the cast members. Gone were many of the once glorious costumes. For those who only saw the show in its last few months of life, sadly, they never saw the real Folies Bergere. Our thanks to Las Vegas historian, Grant Philipo, for providing us with the 1975 Folies program shown in the accompanying photo. We enjoyed PEEPSHOW when we saw it last week. It's very contemporary, while still adding a touch of burlesque. We will go into more details about the show itself in upcoming columns. What we Will share with readers this week is something that we have never encountered in our almost 33 years of living in Las Vegas. We are old enough to get plenty of mail with an AARP return address, which indicates that we are no babe in the woods. After all these years, we sometimes think we have heard it all. We haven't. This one has us scratching our heads and rolling our eyes. We saw Jerry Mitchell's PEEPSHOW a week and a half ago, but didn't have the time or space (or energy) to write about it last Friday, so we will share some thoughts about PEEPSHOW now...AFTER we share this "we thought we had heard it all" bit of stuff. Since there were no programs available, and we like to give credit where credit is due, we contacted the PR (that stands for PUBLIC Relations) company that handles PEEPSHOW. When we asked for the list of cast members, we were told that they weren't giving out their names because, "It's a topless show." Using this kind of logic, that means that over the past half-century of Las Vegas production shows (Lido de Paris, Folies Bergere, Casino de Paris, Enter the Night, and everything Donn Arden), the Stardust's Aki would have been The Unknown Showgirl for the 21st Century, while Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, Barclay Shaw, the Jolly Jovers, Fay McKay, Charlie Frye & Company and other principals and specialty acts, would have all been nameless. Then, of course, there are, as Gale Baker called them in her book, the Neon Queens (many who worked topless), with names spelled out and photos in barely-there costumes. Some of the most famous women in Las Vegas would have never been identified in photo captions, or anyplace else for that matter. Could we make this stuff up? With no help from the PR company, but in a short private conversation that we had with Jerry Mitchell, we learned that the good-looking fellow with the great voice (Notice how most of the male entertainment writers don't even mention the men in the show?) is one Josh Strickland. Josh, who was a onetime American Idol competitor, had the lead role in the Broadway musical, Tarzan. The Disney production ran for 14 months with Josh as Tarzan. Isn't this something that the ticket buying public should know? We also learned that Jerry Mitchell used to come here with his parents when he was just a kid. He remembers seeing a Donn Arden show and being mesmerized. His first job in Vegas was as a dancer in an industrial show held at (drum roll please)...The Aladdin. The old Aladdin has morphed into what is now Planet Hollywood, the home of PEEPSHOW, Mitchell's first local production. We say "first," because Mr. Mitchell told us that he already has his next show spinning around in his head. He is a nice man and very excited to be a part of the Las Vegas entertainment scene. We wish him much success. You can see PEEPSHOW, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., and Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets, priced $65-$100, are available by phoning (702) 474-4000, or by visiting Ticketmaster.com. For further information visit LasVegasPeepShow. 
Josh Strickland 
David Archuleta * * * * * * Please note...The May 15th performance of Travis Tritt at the Henderson Pavilion has been cancelled. * * * * * * Hollywood Records recording artist and Disney Channel star, 16-year-old Demi Lovato, announced her first headline tour, featuring special guest David Archuleta. Lovato played Mitchie Torres in the Disney Channel original movie, Camp Rock, and she plays Sonny Monroe in Disney's Sonny With a Chance. She is also a solo music artist, and released her debut album, Don't Forget, last September. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 89,000 copies in the first week. As for Archuleta, at 10-years-old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other TV singing appearances. At 12, he became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2. In 2007, when he was 16, David became one of the youngest finalists on the seventh season of American Idol. He finished as the runner-up to winner David Cook (we gave our votes to Archuleta), receiving 44 percent of more than 97 million votes. Last August, Archuleta released Crush, the first single from his self-titled debut album. The album, released in November 2008, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. As of March 2009, the album has sold more than 665,000 copies in the United States. The 43-city Summer Tour 2009, produced by AEG Live, will launch on June 21st in Hartford, Connecticut, with a show at the Orleans Arena scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 18th. Tickets, priced at $39.50 and $49.50, inclusive of tax and fees, go on sale tomorrow and can be purchased at the Orleans Arena Box Office by calling (702) 284-7777.
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