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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 - April 17, 2009 
Society of Seven Here's a news flash...Beginning on May 16th, the Society of Seven will, once again, have a permanent home in Las Vegas. No surprise that some clear thinking property bigwig wisely put this multi-talented group back to work, the only surprise is that it took 13 months to do it. SOS, with Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera, closed at the Flamingo one year ago (April 13th, to be exact). Why? We don't know. The last time we saw the cast of characters perform at the Strip property, it was on a Tuesday afternoon, and the 700 plus-seat showroom was full. Obviously, SOS has a fan base, as their just completed weekend at the Suncoast was a sell-out. For those three nights, the seven gentlemen - Tony Ruivivar, Bert Sagum, Hoku Low, Wayne Wakai, Vince Mendoza, Mike Laygo and Roy Venturina - were joined by special guest, third season American Idol finalist, Hawaii's own, Jasmine Trias. Next month, the Society of Seven will take over the afternoon spot in the showroom at the Stratosphere, with performances at 3 p.m., Sundays through Wednesdays, and Saturday shows at 1 and 3 p.m. In addition to the seven merry men, SOS will have a lineup of rotating guest stars join them. For the first three months of their upcoming gig, Trias will be featured. Look for one of our personal favorites, the amazing Mr. Nievera, to spend some time on stage with the Society of Seven during their run at the Stratosphere. As for Lani Misalucha, she joins Earl Turner in a show called Voices, opening in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton on Wednesday, April 22nd. 
Martin Nievera 
Earl Turner 
Brent Barrett & Angela Acosta * * * * * * As we mentioned in an earlier column, on Sunday (April 19th) at 2 p.m., Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars will take place in the Rain nightclub at the Palms Casino Resort. Hosted by The Caring Place, and presented by the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, the dance competition will feature the following celebrities, each representing a specific Las Vegas cancer-related charitable organization: City of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, with dance partner Dana Delgado (choreography by Tony Delgado), for the American Cancer Society; World Champion boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, with partner Mandy Kuhn (choreography by Eric Cyr) for The Caring Place; KLUC radio personality Chet Buchanan, with Jennifer Atlas (choreography by Tony Delgado) for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure; Zowie Bowie singer Chris Phillips, with Carrie Cone (choreography by Tony Delgado) for the Candlelighter's Childhood Cancer Foundation; radio personality Steph MacKenzie, with Lupe Martinez (choreographed by Tony Delgado), for the Speedway Children's Charities, and singer/actor Brent Barrett, with Jeanne Bavaro (choreography by Vartan Zakhariants), for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Master magician Lance Burton will serve as the master of ceremonies, while TV host Robin Leach, Channel 13 weatherman Brian Scofield, comedian Louie Anderson, female impersonator Frank Marino, and professional ballroom dancer Tony Delgado, will roast the competitors. Tina Walsh from Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular and Travis Cloer from Jersey Boys will perform while the final votes are tallied. Mrs. Nevada, Tiffany Comstock, will also be on hand as the celebrity hostess. Must be 21 years or over to attend. General Admission tickets are $50 and include the show, appetizers, one drink and gratuity. They may be purchased through Ticketmaster. To vote online (each vote costs $1, use the Web site at www.Dancingwiththelasvegasstars.com. Proceeds go directly to the charities, with your votes deciding the winner. First prize is $10,000, second and third are $5,000, and fourth, fifth and sixth are $2,500. All of the prize money will be awarded to the competing charities. Late breaking news...We have just learned that Broadway star Brent Barrett's professional partner, Jeanne Bavaro, has a clinical fracture of the 10th rib, a relatively common injury of past participants of TV's So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars. At our Friday deadline, Scott Pensivy, of S.P.O.R.T.S physical therapy, had still not been determined whether Bavaro would be healed enough to participate in the dance competition. If it is up to the very determined Ms. Bavaro, she will be on the dance floor come Sunday afternoon, come hell or high water. In the meantime, Barrett, the original star of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, performs in a sold-out concert in Annapolis, Maryland, tonight. He returns here on Saturday, one day before the fundraising event at the Palms. There is a dress rehearsal planned, with Jeanne's daughter, pro dancer Angela Acosta (Angela's father is well-known singer/impressionist, Bill Acosta), stepping in for her injured mother. Fortunately for Barrett, Jeanne and Angela have similar dance styles (thanks to the coaching of Vartan Zakhariants, owner/operator of the VZ Ballroom). There are even talks of choreographing the two women in and out of the number leaving the lifts and tricks to Angela. Says Bavaro, "This is really about raising money for six local cancer charities and not about the dance ability or technique. Opportunities like these are rare. All the other pros are currently working as ballroom teachers and dance daily. I'm kind of the ‘used to be‘ pro, so for me, I cannot remember when I have had so much fun and wanted anything so badly. I've been behind the curtain for the past 20 years. This was my chance to be in the spotlight and do what I've loved all my life." Your prayers and votes are officially hereby solicited. Please vote for Brent Barrett and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society!" Jeanne can be reached at (702) 336-8471, or Executive Director, Sylvia Wolf, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at (702) 540-5455. Photo of Brent Barrett and Angela Acosta by Brad Zucroff * * * * * * Next Thursday, April 23rd, in the Liberace Museum's Cabaret Showroom, the Las Vegas Composer's Showcase will celebrate its third anniversary! We are sure that when Keith Thompson (currently musical director for Jersey Boys at The Palazzo) and Michael Brennan (musical director for Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas) held the first showcase at Suede nightclub on Paradise Road in April of 2006, they never anticipated how popular the monthly late night (performances start at 10:30) musical program would become. This proves the old adage, "How time flies when you're having fun." The showcases are more than just fun (although they certainly are that), they are inspirational and educational. It is amazing to see (and hear) just how much hidden talent there is in this community. On Thursday, songs written by local composers The Apple Sisters, Erich Bergen, Michael Brennan, Vita Corimbi, Rylan Leo Helmuth, Christopher Lash, Richard Oberacker, Rebecca Ramsey and Keith Thompson will be presented. They will be performed by Travis Cloer, Kimmie Gatewood, Christine Hudman, Rebekka Johnson, Greg Kata, Sarah Lowe, Joan Sobel, Ali Spuck and other special guests. Instrumentation will be provided by the amazing Jim Belk, Patricia Diaz, Keith Hubacher, Don Meoli, Tyler Williams and Drew Zingg, with sound is handled by Mary McFadden. There is a $5 cover charge at the door (free with show or student ID), a cash bar (no credit cards, please), and 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 inside the now 30-year-old museum, at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer, next door to Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens Restaurant. Happy anniversary, to both the Liberace Museum and the Composers Showcase! 
Joan Sobel 
Chris Morris & Philip Fortenberry And speaking of the Liberace Museum, we were back there on Tuesday afternoon to, once again, see and hear the wonderful pianist, Philip Fortenberry, do his Liberace & Me performance (show times are at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, through the end of June). This particular afternoon had a special guest in the audience. The Las Vegas Sun's amazingly talented, not to mention award-winning, Art Director, Chris Morris, was seeing Fortenberry for the first time. At least it was his first time seeing him perform. Last October, Morris' caricature drawing of Philip Fortenberry was utilized in conjunction with a Jerry Fink story printed in the Sun. Morris used photographs to capture the likeness and personality of Fortenberry, a man he had never met until this week. Philip loved the likeness! The first time, face-to-face meeting of the two gentlemen was a site to see...two fine artists, of different but similar genres, connecting. After watching his show, Chris presented Philip with an autographed copy of the enlarged drawing, while Philip happily personalized a copy of one of his CDs for Chris. We call this "mutual admiration" at its best. * * * * * * We have lived here for more than three decades - not because we had to, but because we love this city and it is where we choose to be. Years ago, there was a group of volunteers who called themselves the Las Vegas Ambassadors. Meetings were held at the Hotel Continental, now Terrible's (what an awful name for a destination spot), at the corner of Flamingo and Paradise. The purpose of the Ambassadors was to encourage welcoming and friendly treatment of visitors to the community. Maybe it's time to re-establish the organization. Maybe it's also time to remind those who still have a job in the "hospitality" industry, just what that job entails. We recently experienced some less than hospitable treatment (or lack of treatment) at two properties. How long should it take to get a beverage, or an attendant at a slot or video machine, after turning on a light for service? In a not too busy off Strip property on a late Sunday night, we feel that 10 or 15 minutes is much too long to wait. That is what happened to us at the Suncoast recently...not once, but three times. A group of five friends were treated badly during a visit to Hooters. Not only did their "VIP" show tickets get them seats far from the stage (after being told at the box office, "You won't have to stand in line, just go to VIP") and have them split up into three groups, the "hostess" in the showroom was downright rude to the customers. Will the four who were visitors from a nearby state be anxious to return to our city following this kind of experience? Who can say. Chances are, though, that they won't be telling their friends back home about the kindness and good service they received at Hooters. In spite of what the ad campaign says about "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," that isn't true. Word of bad service can and will travel quickly. Does this community, especially in these troubled economic times, need that kind of publicity? We think not. * * * * * * If you are reading this early enough on Friday, let us give you a quick heads up on something happening this evening...it's the Community Production of The Vagina Monologues at the downtown Celebrity Theatre, 201 N. 3rd Street (across from the shuttered Lady Luck). If you miss the Friday night performance (doors open at 6 p.m., with pre-show at 6:30 and show at 7, worry not, as there are two more performances on Saturday night - one at 7:30, and the other at 11:30 (for the night owls). Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or through reservations at lasvegassym@gmail.com. V-Day Las Vegas 2009, a benefit production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues, raises funds for the Family and Child Treatment of Southern Nevada and unites the community in ending sexual violence. * * * * * * At 3 p.m., on Sunday, the Garold Gardner Scholarship Foundation will present An Afternoon of Disney at the Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 8601 Del Webb Blvd. in Summerlin. The afternoon will include music from Walt Disney's Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, The Lion King, Dumbo, and Aladdin, performed by (in alphabetical order) Michelle Barszcz, Sherry Burnett, Stormi Caprice, Dan Frank, Kelli Lacoff, Allen Merritt, Enoch Scott, Cindy Stock and Kim Watanabe. There will be performances by the Saving Grace Dancers, under the direction of Solinea Isbell. Music director/pianist, Spencer Baker, will present a special arrangement of music from Disney's Fantasia, as well as accompany the performers. Mr. Baker has played at UNLV, a number of leading churches, and for performers at the monthly Las Vegas Composers Showcase. The Scholarship Foundation, helping young dancers achieve their goals, was founded by dancer Garold Gardner in 1992. The non-profit, all volunteer organization began with several of Gradner's students at the North Las Vegas Dance Theatre Studios. Today, the foundation has students all around the United States and Canada, many of whom have gone on to study at prestigious schools, and participate in ballet companies, the Broadway stage and television. If you can't be at the Happiest Place on Earth this Sunday, the Mountain View Presbyterian Church may be the next best thing. There is no set ticket price for this musical afternoon, but a free will offering will be graciously and gratefully accepted. * * * * * * 
Neil Berg 
Bobby Dickerson 
Jack Lawrence The UNLV Performing Arts Center is proud to present Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th, as part of the New York Stage & Beyond series. Like a night of speed-dating for musical theater lovers, this revue takes the audience through a century of Broadway in just one evening. Songs such as Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific), Think of Me (Phantom of the Opera), All That Jazz (Chicago), This Is the Moment (Jekyll and Hyde), The Impossible Dream (Man of LaMancha), Old Man River (Showboat), Something's Coming (West Side Story), Seasons of Love (Rent), and more, will be performed by an ensemble of Broadway pros. Neil Berg is the composer/lyricist of the hit off-Broadway musical The Prince and the Pauper, which ran for two years at the Lambs Theater in New York City. He also is the composer for the Broadway musical, Grumpy Old Men, based on the 1993 movie classic starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret. Berg's musical, Tim and Scrooge, opened at The Queens Theater in the Park in December of 2006, and was followed by a tour, and finally a production in Austin, Texas, in 2008. Tickets to Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway are $35, $50, and $80, and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 895-ARTS (2787) or by visiting pac.unlv.edu. Student rush tickets are $13 each and available one hour prior to each event, based on availability and with valid student I.D. UNLV faculty and staff discounts also are available. A $1 facilities fee, in addition to the ticket price, is charged on all Performing Arts Center tickets. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. * * * * * * In memoriam...
The very talented and soulful Bobby Dickerson, who for the past seven years was a regular featured performer at the Rampart Casino, died last Friday after being hospitalized a few days earlier. Over the years, the self-taught pianist/singer, a New Jersey native, had the opportunity to work with a number of music legends, including Chicago's lead singer, Bill Champlin; Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel, Dionne Warwick and Edgar Winter. Dickerson spent two years at Caesars Boardwalk Regency in Atlantic City before moving to Northern Nevada in the early 1980s. He found a home in the Pompeii Lounge at Caesars Tahoe, entertaining customers in that room for almost 13 years. During a break in 1987, Dickerson headed to the southern part of the state, where he spent a month performing in the Sands Winner's Circle Lounge. In the summer of 1994, while performing for crowds in the, then, new MGM Grand's Santa Fe Lounge, Dickerson was approached by longtime fan, and the Las Vegas Hilton's VP of Marketing, Tom Willer, who asked the genial gentleman to come to work at the Paradise Road property‘s Crystal Bar Lounge. Dickerson's response was, "I'm ready to sign." Bobby entertained at the Stratosphere's Top of the World, from 1996 to 2000, after which he moved into the Round Bar at the Rampart. He remained there until his very recent illness, Concerning his talent, Bobby Dickerson told us in 1994, "God gave me a gift to share with others, and it allows me to pay my bills." Thank you for sharing that gift with us, Bobby. A memorial service was held in the Rampart's Addison Lounge on Wednesday afternoon. . Oscar-nominated songwriter, Jack Lawrence, died on March 15th, following a fall at his home in Connecticut. If the name isn't familiar, we are sure that some of his songs will be. Among the New York-born Lawrence's creations, Dinah Shore's Yes, My Darling Daughter, that made the singer an overnight star; big band singer Frank Sinatra's first solo hit, All Or Nothing At All; Rosemary Clooney's Tenderly, The Ink Spots' If I Didn't Care, and Bobby Darin's Beyond the Sea. Among the other artists who recorded Jack Lawrence songs, The Andrews Sisters, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. After he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, Jack enrolled in the First Institute of Podiatry, where he received a doctoral degree in 1932. The same year, his first song was published and he immediately decided to make a career of songwriting rather than podiatry. That song, Play, Fiddle, Play, won international fame and he became an ASCAP member in 1932, at the young age of 20. Lawrence joined the Merchant Marines during World War II, and wrote their official song, Heave Ho! My Lads, Heave Ho! in 1943, while he was a lieutenant stationed at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. Linda, a popular song written by Jack and published in 1946, took its name from the then five-year-old daughter of his attorney, Lee Eastman. Some years later, Linda Eastman would become the first wife of Beatle, Paul McCartney. With Richard Myers, Lawrence also wrote Hold My Hand, sung by Don Cornell in the 1954 Debbie Reynolds/Dick Powell film, Susan Slept Here. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Among Jack Lawrence's Broadway credits are Follow Thru (1929), in which he played the role of "Country Club Boy"; 1951's Courtin' Time (co-composer and co-lyricist; Ziegfeld Follies of 1957 (featured lyricist for Bring on the Girls and Music for Madame; 1958's Maybe Tuesday (co-producer); 1964's I Had a Ball, starring Buddy Hackett, Richard Kiley and Karen Morrow (co-composer and co-lyricist); 1981's Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (co-producer); 1982's Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (co-producer); and 1984's The Golden Age and Quilters, and 1986's So Long on Lonely Street (owner of the Jack Lawrence Theatre). He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975. Jack Lawrence would have turned 97 on April 7th. He is survived by his adopted son, Richard Lawrence. If you would like to learn more about Mr. Lawrence and his life and career, he has two books available, They All Sang My Songs (2004) and last year's Between the Sheets: The Stories Behind My Songs. And Marilyn Chambers, who went from the pretty lady on the Ivory Snow box, to the star of hard-core adult films such as 1972's Behind the Green Door, has died at 56. Chambers' 17-year-old daughter found her mothers' body on Sunday (April 12th) at her Southern California home. Marilyn Chambers, also known as Marilyn Ann Taylor, had a bit of Las Vegas history. In the 1970s, she appeared in two different book shows at the downtown Union Plaza - Mind With the Dirty Man and Last of the Red Hot Lovers. In 1979, Chambers was back onstage for a short-lived engagement in her one-woman show, Sex Surrogate, at the Jolly Trolley casino, located on the northwest corner of Sahara and the Strip. The first totally nude show on the Las Vegas Strip drew the ire of local officials as full nudity is banned in casinos with unrestricted gaming. Chambers refused to wear a g-string, saying it would "compromise the artistic integrity of her performance." In the 1980s, she and her then-husband/manager, the late Chuck Traynor (who had previously been married to another adult film star, Linda Lovelace, of Deep Throat fame), invested in The Survival Store, a gun store and shooting range at Interstate 15 and Spring Mountain Road. 
Marilyn Chambers 
Dangerous Curves * * * * * * Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) has led the AIDS Walk Las Vegas for more than 18 years. Individual Walkers and Walk Team numbers have grown significantly, sponsorships by local businesses and organizations continue to increase, and public awareness rises with every walk. Last year, more than 7,000 people walked, raising in excess of $550,000. More than 250 corporate and community teams raised 70% of the total funds collected. Teams represent some of the leading corporations and organizations in Southern Nevada, including MGM Mirage, Macy's, Focus Property Group, M.A.C Cosmetics, UNLV, Wells Fargo, Penn & Teller and many others. Today, there is newfound hope in the fight against AIDS, but there is still no cure. Some people with HIV/AIDS are living longer, thanks to new therapies. Sadly, the new treatments do not work for everyone, and HIV continues to spread at an alarming rate. They will walk until that point in time, when AFAN's services are no longer needed and the purpose no longer essential to the solution. Join the community in sponsoring a team or choose to walk yourself and help raise money for a local cause. When? This Sunday, April 19th, with a start time of 8 a.m. (set your alarms) and an ending time of noon. The AIDS Walk will start at the World Market Center, at 495 S Grand Central Pkwy., near downtown Las Vegas. * * * * * * Las Vegas based Starr Pro Productions and Rack Media/Onyx Theatre announced they have acquired the rights for the Las Vegas production of the smash off Broadway hit Naked Boys Singing, and will be holding auditions this month. "The title says it all," says Starr Pro producer Jimmy Emerson, "and it's the perfect fit for Las Vegas. In a town where people come from all around the world just to let their hair down, what better way to do it than with a fun filled night of legitimate theatre that they won't find in Boise or Baton Rouge." The original New York City review, where caution and costumes are thrown to the wind, has been running for 10 years. The outrageous musical revue features an original score of 16 songs and a cast who display their special charms as they celebrate the splendors of male nudity in comedy, song and dance. Productions of Naked Boys Singing have played in Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Rome, Sydney, and even Cape Town, South Africa. The Las Vegas presentation, which will be directed by Hank Emerson and choreographed by Brad Barnes, opens at the Onyx Theatre on June 11th for 27 scheduled performances with a possible open-ended run. The producers are seeking 8 to 10 non-equity men (21 years of age or older) who can sing, dance, act, and who have no aversion to performing totally nude. For additional casting information, contact Hank at (702) 639-1776 or e-mail to hanke1776@aol.com. * * * * * * It's the ladies of Dangerous Curves, on stage at the Clark County Flamingo Library Theater on Sunday at 2 p.m. Presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada, the ladies will be accompanied by top musicians, Jeff Johnson and Michael Gonzalez on keyboards, Keith Nelson on bass, and Gary Olds on drums. Dangerous Curves - made up of Karen Merstik-Michaels, Margaret "Gret" Menzies, and Lisa Smith - will perform songs such as Natural Woman, Old Cape Cod, Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree, Smile, You Made Me Love You, The Girl in 14G, Is This Any Way To Fall In Love, I'm Not That Girl, Cloudburst, The Girl Who Used To Be Me, and Moon River. The Dangerous Curves CD will be available for purchase at the library, with a portion of the sales going directly to the Alliance for Lupus Research, to help in finding a cure. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the library box office and hour before the show. The library is located at 1401 E. Flamingo, east of Maryland Parkway. * * * * * * 
Donald Braswell 
Julius LaRosa 
Barbara Cook From some of Donald Braswell's (he was one of the finalists on TV's America's Got Talent) many fans (mostly women), comes this...Scarlett in Florida e-mails, Donald Braswell will make guest appearances with Terry Fator at the Mirage on May 19, 20, 21, 22. I just happen to be a huge fan of Donald, and of Terry as well. Hope you will follow up and mention it here. I have seen Donald perform in concert. He is a very versatile entertainer and is so much more than just the extremely handsome opera singer we saw on AGT last season! Also I hear that AGT plans a televised concert in LA on May 30 featuring some of last season's finalists, including Donald Braswell, and other stars. Haven't seen that confirmed anywhere. We'll be waiting to read more about all this in your upcoming reports. Thanks. And Barbara, also from Florida (Hmmm. Is there a coincidence or connection here?) writes, I just wanted to let you know that Donald Braswell will be back in Las Vegas in May. He will be appearing as a guest artist on Terry Fator's show on May 19, 20, 21, and 22 in the Mirage at 8:00 at night. I would appreciate it if you would post this information, because, I am sure that Donald's fans would love to know about this. Thanks so much.
You are welcome, ladies. * * * * * * The date and the place have been set for the annual Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fundraiser Concert. This years‘ event will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 26th at the South Point (for the second year). Singer Julius LaRosa will be the special guest, with Bill Fayne's Voci Vegas popera quartet; songwriter (Here's To Life, I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up) and award-winning arranger, Artie Butler; pianist to the stars (Frank Sinatra, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, among them), Vincent Falcone; and comic Pete Barbutti also performing. Cork Proctor will once again serve as host. We will have more information on this event next Friday. And speaking of Here's To Life, it's the title of Barbara Cook's new show at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary season, Feinstein's presents the Tony Award-winning Ms. Cook, through May 2nd. The legendary lady will perform selections from the worlds of theater, swing, pop and jazz. Song selections include What A Wonderful World, Written In The Stars, I Want To Be Happy, and numbers from Cook's newest CD, Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder. The show will be featuring Lee Musiker heading an all-star quintet. And speaking of Joe Williams...
Ed Foster, who is very involved in the annual Joe Williams events, wears a number of hats in his life (including his trademark cowboy hat). One of his chapeaus should be a fedora with a press card in the hat band, due to the many photographs he has taken of stars at work on the stage. Ed currently has an exhibit of some of his work hanging at the West Charleston Library, at 6301 W. Charleston. Cleverly called Shots In the Dark, among the subjects caught by Mr. Foster‘s camera are Bill Acosta, Domenick Allen, Bob Anderson, The Amazing Johnathan, Pete Barbutti, Ruth Brown, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Kelly Clinton, Clint Holmes, Shirley Horn, Jack Jones, Cleo Laine, The Las Vegas Tenors, Bill Medley, Barak Obama, Diane Schuur, Marlena Shaw, Ben Vereen, and, of course, Joe Williams. The exhibit will be up for viewing through June 2nd. You can call (702) 507-3940 for the library hours. 
Joe Williams by Ed Foster 
Richel Kompst And speaking of Clint Holmes...We should have some good news for Clint fans very soon. * * * * * * Last Saturday night, we made a trip over to DeStefano's Old Style Las Vegas Supper Club, located on the northeast corner of Tropicana and Pecos. We went to see vocalist Diane Ellis and Joe Darro. Joe is not only is a fine singer, but plays a tasty piano as well. We got an unexpected bonus, as Doug Saleeby, who performed all around Las Vegas from 1975 to 1982, as one half of the piano-playing singing duo known as Hudson & Saleeby, and was visiting from Memphis, got up and sang a tune. We will let you know more about this place if they continue with the live music policy. * * * * * * Tomorrow night at 8 p.m., the talented Richel Kompst will perform in the theater space at the Family Music Center, located at 8125 W. Sahara, just east of Cimarron. The show, written by G.H. Lynch and Richel, is called Blame it on the Walleye...A Musical Journey Through the Neurotic Mind of a Norwegian Blonde. The performers consist of Cocho Arbe on piano, Gary Olds on drums, Steve Golden on sax, Richel's husband, Steve Kompst, on bass, and the Norwegian Blonde herself on voice...and in character(s). We are not sure what to expect of a show with this title, but we would guess it should be fun and, with Ms. Kompst's impressive resume, it should be good...and entertaining. The show runs around 75 minutes, and tickets are $10. * * * * * * Mark your calendars now, so you don't forget...On Sunday, May 17th beginning at 1 p.m., the 810-seat Orleans Theater will be the site of An Affair of the Heart...To Italy with Love, a show to raise money to aid the victims of the recent earthquake in Italy. The Las Vegas Italian Earthquake Relief Fund project is headed up by humanitarian, Nelson Sardelli. Calling himself the "Instigator/Organizer," Sardelli has put together a committee of community members, including Angelo A. Cassaro, Dominic Gentile, Vincent Ciminise, and Stefano Ribamonti, the Honorary Vice Counsel of Italy for the State of Nevada. We will provide more details and more names (of both the performers and the committee members), as we get them. Stay tuned.
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Tags: Society Of Seven Martin Nievera Earl Turner Brent Barrett Angela Acosta
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 10, 2009 
Society of Seven 
Jasmine Trias This weekend at the Suncoast, seven is definitely a lucky number. In this case, it's the amazing Society of Seven, performing in the hotel/casinos showroom, tonight through Sunday. We defy anyone to find a better variety show and a more talented group of entertainers... anywhere. From music, to comedy, to brilliant and sometimes outrageous impersonations, SOS is the tops. Macadamia nuts, leis, pineapples, grass skirts, the hula, Spam, and the Society of Seven...all are associated with Hawaii, but, quite possibly, it's the Society of Seven that leaves the most lasting impression on the public. Formed in the early ‘60s, the group was first called the Fabulous Echoes. The original cast of characters, who all sang, was made up of Tony Ruivivar (leader, guitar), Terry Lucido (keyboards), Stan Robertson (bass), Bert Saqum (vocals, percussions), Cliff Foenander (lead vocals) and Danny Ruivivar (drums, xylophone). Tony, Danny, Bert and Terry were from the Philippines, while Cliff and Stan were from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Scotland respectively. In 1964, their song, A Little Bit of Soap, was a hit. The Fabulous Echoes were hired to play in Las Vegas. They were later invited to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. In 1968, the group changed their name to Society of Seven and moved to Honolulu, where they have been a very successful act at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel for more than 40 years. In 2001, a second troupe, calling themselves Society of Seven LV (with the "LV" standing, not for Las Vegas, but for Latest Version), was formed. This group alternates with the original, allowing the original group to perform outside Hawaii while they continue the engagement in Hawaii. Today, in addition to Tony Ruivivar, the singing Las Vegas SOS members include funny man Sagum, Hoku Low (bass, trumpet), multi-instrumentalist Wayne Wakai, Mike Laygo (lead vocals), Vince Mendoza (drums, horns), and Roy Venturina (keyboards). As a unit, these gentlemen can fill a room with the music of Broadway, standards, and today's popular hits, as well as comedy as they do their unique interpretations of personalities such as Little Richard, Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Liberace, Celine Dion, Sonny and Cher, Frankie Valli, and Kenny G. Their version of The Supremes has to be seen to be believed. A Society of Seven show is a non-stop, high energy presentation of pure entertainment. For their first (but probably not their last) engagement at the Suncoast, the Society of Seven will have Jasmine Trias, Hawaii's own American Idol finalist, as their special guest. Show times for SOS and Ms. Trias are at 7:30 p.m., tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Tickets start at $19.95 plus taxes and fees. Call (702) 636-7075. We feel it only fair to warn readers that, if you haven't already made your reservations to see this show, it is very possible you won't be able to do so this time around * * * * * * We are deeply saddened to report the death of longtime friend, Billy Chapel. Billy, an award-winning ice skater/choreographer/producer, died at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas on Saturday (April 4th) following a brief illness. He was 62. Born in Dayton, Ohio, while a youngster, Billy and his family moved to Southern California, where he graduated from the Hollywood Professional School. In 1963, Billy won the National Junior Men's Champion. A year after winning the 1966 bronze medal in the United States Figure Skating Championships, Chapel turned pro. After 10 years as principal male star with the world famous Ice Capades, Billy joined the cast of the Tropicana's Folies Bergere, where he danced for two years. He then returned to the ice as the star of Ice Fantasy at the Hacienda (now the site of Mandalay Bay). In 1988, Billy and his partner, Peter Gordon, formed Chapel/Gordon Productions. Ironically, the Hacienda became the home of Chapel/Gordon's first production, Fire & Ice. In addition to Fire & Ice, the two gentlemen produced the dance revue, Seduction, for the Sahara Hotel, and Icy Hot for Laughlin. Over the years, other Chapel/Gordon clients included New York - New York, Excalibur, and MGM Grand, to name a few. In 1996, Billy and Peter were asked to return to their roots to help direct and choreograph for Ice Capades. That same year, Gordon took on the job of coaching his and Chapel's godson, Jered Guzman, in pairs figure skating. As the result of his success in the sport, Guzman became a member of the United States Figure Skating team. Gordon traveled the world for almost four years, as Jered's guardian and coach for international competitions. It was during this time that Chapel/Gordon merged with Rand Productions to ease Billy's workload while Peter was away. Up until a couple of months before he died, Chapel continued to choreograph productions with Jeb Rand. In December, while working on a show in Hong Kong, Billy broke three ribs, causing internal damage that ultimately resulted in his unexpected and untimely death. There were no services. 
Billy Chapel 
Erich Bergen 
Travis Cloer & Frankie Valli * * * * * * Erich Bergen, who currently stars as Bob Gaudio in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys at The Palazzo, did so well at his Live! concerts at the Liberace Museum, he may be back for more. Originally scheduled to do two Wednesday evening shows (Jersey Boys is dark on Wednesdays), at 7 p.m. on March 28th and again on April 8th, demand for tickets were such, that a second show at 9:30 was added on the 8th. Although he states that as a youngster, he was influenced by Michael Jackson, it was definitely Liberace who inspired Bergen's grand entrance wearing an over-the-top sequined floor-length, feather-trimmed cape. For his performance, the baby-faced Bergen presented an eclectic, to say the least, program. Backed by musicians Patricia Diaz (Jersey Boys) on piano, Drew Zingg (also from Jersey Boys) on guitar, Tyler Williams of the Frankie Moreno Band on bass, and Tony DeAugustine (Le Reve) on drums, along with Rene Ruiz (Toxic Audio), Ali Spuck (Jersey Boys) and Keely Vasquez from Barry Manilow's Hilton show, on backup vocals, Erich sang everything from Manilow's Even Now, and Marc Cohn's Walking In Memphis, to some of the 23-year-olds' originals - I Hope You Know, Wasted Time and December Without You, co-written with and performed by Travis Cloer, who portrays Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. In between, Bergen, backed by Cloer and Ruiz, performed Britney Spears, I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman (yep, that's what they did), as well as some songs that were, um, questionable in content. So much so, that we dare not mention the titles, lest we get smacked by the famed media censor, Priscilla Goodbody. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of mischief in the angelic looking Mr. Bergen. In addition to his role in Jersey Boys (both the national tour and the Vegas version), Erich also has additional theater credits, including in Pure Heaven: The Music of Kay Thompson (O'Neill Theatre Center), The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles). All the proceeds from Erich's three special performances go to benefit the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts, aiding students pursuing careers in the arts through scholarship assistance. At the most recent monthly Composers Showcase, which also takes place at the Liberace Museum, there were a number of new contributors. One of them was the talented Andrew Lippa who performed three of his own compositions. Lippa, probably best known for his musical, The Wild Party, is in Las Vegas working on Jerry Mitchell's PEEPSHOW, playing at the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino. 
Andrew Lippa 
Liberace 
Bill Nolte And speaking of the Liberace Museum (and we frequently do), three decades of glitz, glamour and scholarships will be celebrated from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15th, when the museum marks its 30th anniversary. For this special day, admission to the museum will be only 30 cents. The legendary pianist and international entertainer, Liberace, known as "Mr. Showmanship," created the museum to share his fabulous collection of pianos, rhinestone-covered cars, million dollar costumes and incredible jewelry with the public, and to fund scholarships to students studying in performing and creative arts. Over the years, more than $5 million in scholarships, donated through the Liberace Foundation and Museum admissions, have benefited 2,500 students at 120 U.S. colleges, including UNLV, the largest Liberace Scholarship recipient. The schedule is as follows... 9 a.m., Museum opens - Premiere of 30th Anniversary Liberace Museum Exhibit 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. - Entertainment by Liberace Entertainer Wayland Pickard 11:50 to noon - Performance by Jersey Boys pianist Philip Fortenberry 1 to 1:45 p.m. - "Liberace & Me" with Jersey Boys Pianist Philip Fortenberry playing Liberace's piano, covered with 40,000 Swarovski rhinestones. 1 to 2 p.m. Liberace Scholar- UNLV Jazz Studies Student Otto Ehling (pianist) 2:30 to 2:50 and 3:30 to 3:50 pm - Performance by Liberace Entertainer Wayland Pickard 4 to 5 p.m. – Celebrities arriving for red carpet ceremony 5 to 6 p.m. - Celebrity Red Carpet hosted by former Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt-Bono and her husband, singer Dennis Bono. Scheduled to walk the Red Carpet are cast members from Cirque du Soleil, Jersey Boys, Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Marie Osmond, the Supreme Mary Wilson, Clint and Kelly Clinton Holmes, Domenick Allen, former lead singer of Foreigner and Liberace Protégé, Liberace Piano Competition winners, and other dignitaries. From 7 to 9 p.m., an evening benefit fundraiser, Liberace through the Years - The Friends and the Music, will be hosted by Lorraine Hunt-Bono and Dennis Bono, in the Liberace Museum Cabaret Showroom. Among those expected to perform are Rich Little, Denise Clemente, Clint Holmes, Mary Wilson; Jersey Boys cast members, Keith Thompson, Philip Fortenberry, Travis Cloer, Rick Faugno, and Liberace Scholar, Glen Colby; Domenick Allen and his daughter, singer Cayleigh Capaldi; Kristen Hertzenberg of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular; Rebecca Spencer, formerly of Phantom; Abigail Varghese, an eight-year-old from Henderson, who won the Classical Junior division of the 2008 Liberace Piano Competition, plus other entertainers. The Liberace Museum is located at the Liberace Foundation Plaza, 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. (at Spencer). * * * * * * For those of you who said you would "try" to get over to the Clark County Flamingo Library on Monday to see Bill Nolte in performance (and you know who you are), you should have tried harder. Nolte, a Broadway veteran who was one of the principals in the Las Vegas production of The Producers last year, did his second show at the Clark County Flamingo Library Theatre for the Performing Arts Society of Nevada. Last year, Bill presented a sort of autobiographical musical called All of Me. It was very well done (his version of Sway, with an inflatable doll as a dance partner, was only one of the highlights) and very well received by the attendees. What Nolte did on Monday was called On Broadway and, not surprisingly, it featured treasures from the musical theater. Performing songs from Guys and Dolls, Man of LaMancha, Company, Jekyll and Hyde, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Cats, The Producers, On the Town and Fiddler on the Roof, Nolte charmed the afternoon audience with his vocal abilities and humor. Directed by Mark Waldrop, Bill was accompanied by Joey Singer on piano. Currently in the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof, starring Topol, it would take someone as skilled and talented as Nolte to be able to play both a crazed Nazi playwright, as he did in The Producers, and a Jewish butcher, as he is doing in Fiddler. Bravo, Bill. 
Lina Koutrakos 
Heather MacRae 
Mark Nadler And speaking of Broadway, on Sunday, we spent about six hours at Don't Tell Mama in downtown Las Vegas, enjoying some of the local (and visiting) talent. Beginning at 6 p.m., it was the RNI Productions' Cabaret Intensive Workshop‘s "graduation class" in performance. Three days worth of classes, taught by award-winning New York pros, Lina Koutrakos and Rick Jensen, culminated in an open-to-the-public concert of sorts. Showcasing what they had learned, regarding the art of song performance, were Jeanne Brei (from The Speakeasy Swingers) singing You Meet the Nicest People In Your Dreams, Elly Brown (from Jubilee!) singing Jerry Herman‘s If He Walked Into My Life, Karen Merstik-Michaels (from Dangerous Curves) doing Come Some Rainy Day, Dennis Michaels singing The Morning After (NOT the theme song from The Poseidon Adventure, but a newer, funny tune written by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler), Michael Miyazki (cabaret artist from Washington, D.C., and columnist for Cabaret Scenes magazine) doing the English version of L‘Accordianiste, doing the English version of L‘Accordianiste, Justin Olsen (from SwingBeat Entertainment) performing Ron Miller‘s For Once In My Life, Ron Squeri (also from Washington, D.C.) singing Stranger In Paradise, and Scott Watanabe (from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular) who did Harry Chapin‘s Mail Order Annie, who all took the three-day class. Instructors Koutrakos and Jensen also demonstrated their talents, Lina with a song she and Jensen wrote called Oh My My, and Rick with his beautiful self-penned In Passing Time (recorded by, among others, the late Nancy LaMott). It was Jensen who accompanied the "students" on piano. For those who might be interested, there will be Cabaret Intensive Workshops held in Los Angeles, May 29th, 30th and 31st, and in Chicago on June 5th, 6th and 7th. For additional information, contact Tim Schall at (314) 359-0785, or e-mail Tim at tjschall@sbcglobal.net. On the same night, also at Don't Tell Mama, Felice Garcia, who had been a principal singer in the now closed Folies Bergere, and the amazing young Christopher Lash, teamed to present a little Sondheim in the night, Included in their program were Invocation and Instructions To the Audience (from The Frogs), Broadway Baby, No One Is Alone, Lovely, Some People, Being Alive, and "he Little Things We Do Together. If you are in Las Vegas, or plan to be here, and you enjoy good music with lyrics that make sense and that you can understand, we recommend a visit to Don't Tell Mama. The cabaret/nightclub is located at 517 E. Fremont and is open nightly from 6 p.m. And speaking of Don't Tell Mama, if you happen to be downtown this Sunday, check out the Beauty Bar right next door to Mama's. At 8 p.m., a refreshing mix of comedy, music, spoken-word and burlesque, featuring performers seen on Comedy Central, HBO and late night television, will do their thing in Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (702) 598-1965. * * * * * * If you are in the New York area, there are a number of interesting things happening in the music world. Heather MacRae will perform at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Monday, April 13th, at 7 p.m. Heather has a lengthy history in cabaret, in addition to her roles on Broadway in Hair, Falsettos, and A Catered Affair. Songs for My Father, Heather's acclaimed tribute to her father, Gordon MacRae, enjoyed a successful run at the late Firebird Cafe and at venues throughout the country. For her upcoming engagement at the Laurie Beachman Theatre, Heather will revisit some of her musical theatre roots, with a special emphasis on Galt MacDermot's score from Hair. MacRae will be accompanied by the multi-talented Mark Nadler on piano. Mr. Nadler has performed in Las Vegas on a number of occasions. We would like to see him back here...soon. For Heather MacRae reservations, call (212) 695 6909. Also in New York, on Wednesday evening, April 15th at 7:30, it's Lucy Shropshire reprising her All Sides of Love show at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street in Manhattan. With David Shenton on piano, and Mark Wade on bass, All Sides of Love is directed by former Las Vegan, Jim Semmelman. Lucy, who has been featured in a number of revues across the country, also tours and performs with the Supreme Mary Wilson. If you haven't seen and heard this lady with the unusual name, take the opportunity to do so. There is a $20 music charge and a $15 food/drink charge. Reservations are suggested. Call (212) 206-0440. 
Lucy Shropshire 
Kelly Albright 
Vintage Joe Darro
& Diane Ellis * * * * * * From songstress Loretta Holloway comes this e-mail...
Thank you, Claire Voyant for including the press release of my upcoming Lincoln Center performances and the remembrance of our friend Doris Troy and of Skipp Pearson and his foundation. He was thrilled at the recognition you gave about his foundation and his contributions to the South Carolina music scene. Many thanks to you.
You are welcome, Ms. Holloway. * * * * * * We have heard and read nothing but wonderful things about Signature Productions, Thoroughly Modern Millie, currently at the Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center through April 25th. Described as a high-spirited romp, Thoroughly Modern Millie should have all of Las Vegas dancing the Charleston. This zany 1920s musical took Broadway by storm in 2002, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. With music by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlon (who also wrote one of Cousin Claire's favorite cabaret tunes, The Girl In 14G), the play is based on the 1967 movie of the same name, starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing, John Gavin and Beatrice Lillie. Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of Millie Dillmount, a small-town girl who goes to New York to marry for money instead of love. In this production, Millie is played by Kelly Albright. We plan to see the show on the 18th, so, by the time we share our feelings about Millie and her adventures, this version will have ended. Don't delay if you have any interest in seeing and hearing the songs and seeing this talented cast perform. There are 2 p.m. matinees tomorrow and on the 18th. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, show time is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $25, and may be ordered by phone at (702) 878-PLAY. The Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center is located at 1771 Inner Circle Drive...in Summerlin, of course. * * * * * * Neighborhood news...
There's more than lasagna cooking at DeStefano's restaurant...there's lots of music going on at the southeast Las Vegas bistro. Apparently, singer Diane Ellis impressed the powers-that-be at the Italian eatery, as she will now be performing there regularly on Saturday nights. With Joe Darro on piano and vocals, the twosome will entertain from 7 to 10 p.m. Wait! There's more. In addition to Diane and Joe on Saturdays, on Sunday afternoons, from 1 to 5 p.m., it's a jazzy jam session with Darro, Larry "Wild" Wrice on drums, King Bartel on sax, and Dick Straub on upright bass, followed at 6 by Bruce Westcott on piano and vocals. On Thursday nights, from 7 to 10, Westcott, Jimmy Racey and Darro play for open mic night. The owner encourages professional singers and musicians to come on down and sit in. Let's have some fun. DeStefano's Restaurant is at 3430 E. Tropicana, on the northeast corner of Pecos and Trop. To make a dinner reservation, call (702) 436-3275. Diane reports that the food is great! Their minestrone soup and shrimp scampi and calamari are yummy! And they serve the best tirimisu I've ever tasted. And...the kitchen is kosher. DeStefano's is closed on Tuesdays. And just down the street a way, at 4800 S. Eastern, it's Jazz Night at Marie Callender's, Monday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Coming up this Monday, it's the Joel Dane Trio (this is Dane's gig), with guest artist, guitarist Joe Lano. Also playing on Monday will be Joey Singer on piano (Singer has been working with Debbie Reynolds for years), Chris Gordon on bass, and Boris Shapiro on drums. This will be the third Monday for the Joel Dane Trio at Marie Callender's (the first week featured sax man, Tom Hall, and last week, it was jazz duo, The Cunninghams). The cost is a very reasonable $5 (pie not included), to offset expenses and keep jazz alive. They will also be raffling off dinners for two and other goodies. Get out there, have something to eat or drink and enjoy the music. * * * * * * 
Rebecca Luker 
Mykola Suk As long as he keeps singing (and dancing), we will keep writing about Brent Barrett and his projects. One week from today, on the 17th, Barrett and Rebecca Luker will be performing with Maryland's Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. Entitled A Broadway Romance, the 8 p.m. concert, according to press notes, "explores the universal theme of American musical theatre: two people meet and fall in love. The evening weaves together dozens of show tunes that tell the story of a tangled romance, performed by two brilliant stars of Broadway." Brent, who recently completed a two-year stint in the title role of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian, 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. Barrett received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for his work in the L.A. 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, The Producers, All My Children, Another World, and The Guiding Light. Rebecca Luker, currently on Broadway in Mary Poppins, earned Tony nominations for her performance in that Disney-Cameron Mackintosh musical, as well as Show Boat and The Music Man. She has also been seen on Broadway in Nine, The Sound of Music, The Secret Garden and The Phantom of the Opera. Luker also appeared with Michael Cerveris and Judy Kuhn in the Kennedy Center production of Stephen Sondheim's Passion. For tickets, priced $35-$44 (student tickets are $10), call (410) 263-0907, or visit www.annapolissymphony.org. The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra plays the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, located at 801 Chase Street in Annapolis. If you are in the neighborhood... In the dancing department, Brent Barrett is getting ready for the Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars fundraiser on the 19th. He, along with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, radio personalities Chet Buchanan and Steph MacKenzie, Zowie Bowie's Chris Phillips, and boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, and their professional dance partners (just like on the popular TV reality show), will compete for votes (at $1 per), with all monies going to local cancer support groups. The event will take place at Rain nightclub at the Palms, with tickets selling for $50 through Ticketmaster. We will have more about this worthwhile, and fun, event, next Friday. * * * * * * The UNLV Department of Music class presents Exploring Beethoven, an all-Beethoven concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16th in the Paul Harris Theatre of the Alta Ham Fine Arts building on the UNLV campus. The concert is free and open to the public. To set the mood, there will also be greeters in period costume and typical Viennese pastries. In addition to the students, the Exploring Beethoven program features a faculty performance of movements from the Opus 135 string quartet; professor Mykola Suk performs the popular Moonlight Sonata; and graduate student Michael Smith sings from the cycle, An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98. In addition, students will present new jazz and compositions based on Beethoven themes. * * * * * * Along Comes The Association at the Cannery Casino & Hotel, tomorrow night at 8 p.m. The popular Grammy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning band will perform their hits in the North Las Vegas property's Club. The Association, a cornerstone of American pop music, is one of the most successful bands to have come out of the ‘60s. They have sold more than 70 million records, earning them six gold and one platinum disc. Their No. 1 hits, Never My Love, Windy, and Cherish, have achieved "standard" status, receiving almost as much airplay today as they ever have. Other Association songs, including Time for Living, Along Comes Mary, and Everything That Touches You, showcase the versatility, the carefully crafted vocals and the delicately woven instrumentation that is the signature of the group. Tickets at $14.95 plus tax and fees, are on sale 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 by visiting www.cannerycasinos.com. * * * * * * Children of all ages can celebrate the joys of childhood during the 17th annual Clark County Children's Festival, at the Winchester Cultural Center and Park, 3130 S. McLeod Drive, on Saturday, April 18th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, itself, along with many activities are free, but there are minimal fees for selected activities, rides and concessions. The award-winning festival combines recreational, cultural and creative activities to entertain and educate children. In the play area, children can ride one of the ponies on the Pony-Go-Round, or enjoy the company of animals during the Roos-N-More Petting Zoo. Active kids can ride the umbrella ride, Ferris wheel, swing and train rides after they test their strength on the climbing wall. Challenges can be met on the kids' fitness play course, or with carnival games and circus workshops. Other activities include mock knight battles and the water play park. New this year is the LegoLand Area, a fun trip with a childhood toy for the whole family. During indoor and outdoor crafts workshops, children can learn how to paint and then use their skills to create a colorful ceramic tile of their own. Arts and crafts, garden book tours and skate park activities also will be available. On the outdoor stage, Winchester's own Star Catchers, a hip-hop youth dance team, and the Youth Choir, the center's resident youth vocal group, will entertain the crowd. Other performers include magic by Dixie Dooley, Razzmatazz Dance Company, Encore Dance Team, storytelling and drumming by Eric Price, Shirley Chen Dancers and the Showbiz Kidz. Food and beverages, provided by Sweet & Treats, El Jalapeno and local groups, are available for purchase. Some activities require registration, and information can be found at the front desk. Those interested in the festival can call Winchester Cultural Center at (702) 455-7340, or visit the Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks. * * * * * * 
Dangerous Curves 
Miss USA Crystle Stewart You can hear some Girl Talk!, as well as some girl-sung songs, on Sunday, April 19th, at 2 p.m., when the Performing Arts Society of Nevada presents the ladies of Dangerous Curves - Margaret "Gret" Menzies, Karen Merstik-Michaels, Lisa Smith - at the Clark County Library Theatre. Featuring the songs of yesterday and today, including some made famous by the Andrews Sisters, Judy Garland, and Linda Eder...along with a tribute to some of Broadway's greatest composers. All this and more, performed by the fabulous girls of Dangerous Curves.
And shame on us for saying that the song the women sang as guests on Kellie Wright's show a couple of weeks ago was The Days of Wine and Roses, when, in fact, it was Moon River. We must have been having an Andy Williams/Henry Mancini flashback! Tickets for Girl Talk! are $15 and may be purchased at the library box office, located at 1401 E. Flamingo, an hour before show time or call (702) 658-6741 for reservations.
* * * * * * Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, recently announced the organization has signed a two-year deal with the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to act as host hotel and venue for the celebrated annual Miss USA telecast. The 2009 competition will air live on NBC, Sunday, April 19th at the Theatre for the Performing Arts located at Planet Hollywood. "Returning to Vegas was not a difficult decision to make, Shugart said. "The great success of working together in 2008 with the collaboration from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, combined with the support of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority was so incredible, we decided to come back for the next two years. Last year's contestants had a great time in the desert seeing many of the attractions Las Vegas offers. We can't wait to show this year's delegates and our viewers more of this exciting city!" "We are delighted to welcome back the Miss Universe Organization," said Robert Earl, co-chairman of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Miss USA 2008, Crystle Stewart, who was crowned at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on April 11th of last year, has been traveling the nation as an advocate for breast and ovarian cancer awareness, education, research and legislation. She will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated viewing audience, in the U.S. alone, of more than seven million people. Each contestant will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. The show will conclude with one contestant ultimately being crowned Miss USA 2009. Along with executive producer Donald J. Trump, Phil Gurin and the Gurin Company will again produce MISS USA 2009. * * * * * * Las Vegan Elisa Fiorillo did such a good job backing up Prince on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (repeated last Tuesday night), she has been asked to join the Purple One's tour.
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Tags: Society Of Seven Jasmine Trias Billy Chapel Erich Bergen Travis Coler Frank
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 3, 2009 
Bill Nolte 
Broadway Bound Fundraiser Heee's back (but only for a moment). Bill Nolte, who portrayed the crazed German playwright, Franz Liebkind, in The Producers at Paris Las Vegas, is not just back in the city where he owns a home, but he is also returning to the stage of the Clark County Flamingo Library Theatre for a back-by-popular-demand, one-time-only performance on Monday, April 6th, at 2 p.m. In February of 2008, soon after The Producers closed, the musical veteran (Cats, Amour, Jane Eyre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol, 1776, Secret Garden, Me and My Girl, and King David) charmed the library theater audience with his All of Me tour de force revue. Presented once again by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada (that's John Meren and Tom Gallagher), this time around, Nolte will pay tribute to the Great White Way. In On Broadway, directed by Mark Waldrop (who also directed All of Me, as well as Gypsy and Pete 'n' Keely), Bill will perform songs from top musicals, including Man of La Mancha, South Pacific, Ain't Misbehavin', Smokey Joe's Café, Cats, Finian's Rainbow, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, On the Town, Jekyll & Hyde, and The Producers. Accompanied by the equally talented Joey Singer (longtime musical director for Debbie Reynolds) on piano, Nolte promises some of your all time favorites. This is the concert that Bill performed on the Seabourn Spirit in December, while cruising to Oman, Dubai and India, and will debut in New York in the fall. Lucky Las Vegans can enjoy the same experience, for much less money (only $15 a ticket) and without packing bags or getting seasick. Tickets can be purchased at the library box office, beginning at 1 p.m. the day of the performance. Call (702) 658-6741 for more information. And speaking of Bill Nolte, he is currently (through, at least, July) in the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof (book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick), playing the butcher Lazar Wolf and covering Tevye, portrayed by Topol who also starred in the 1971 film. Here is a portion of a lengthy review by Tim Dunleavy for Talkin' Broadway. After chiding Topol (who is 73, and first played the role Tevye in London in the late 1960s) for overacting and shamelessly milking the audience, Dunleavy goes on to say, "Of course, Fiddler is far from a one-man show. Mary Stout (as the Matchmaker Yente), Bill Nolte (as the butcher Lazar Wolf) and Erik Liberman (as the nerdy tailor Motel) all have great comic delivery, and they give the show a lot of warmth." In another review, the critic wrote...Topol starred as Tevye the milkman, father of five daughters, in the 1967 London production, and reprised the role in the 1971 film. While some would fear a man of 73 would be too long in the tooth to have tween and teen daughters, Topol convinces with the energy of a much younger man. The only exception is his rendition of "If I Were a Rich Man," which is slowed to a crawl. Topol must be somewhat bored with playing Tevye, for he's adding little ad-libs here and there, always in hope of getting an extra laugh. Bill Nolte is solid as the butcher who was out for Tzeitel's hand, but was denied it. He has a long scene with Topol where he could succumb to matching the man laugh for cheap laugh, but he resists. On March 23rd, Bill Nolte was one of a group of Broadway entertainers who re-created the New York musical theater scene in Seattle to help raise money for the Broadway Bound Children's Theatre. We are happy to report, through the executive director, Jim D'Asaro, that Broadway Comes to Broadway Bound, was a great success, raising more than $ 25,000 for the organization. The young artists were treated to a first hand and personal look at seven of Broadway's brightest stars - Anne Allgood, Brent Barrett, Jerry Dixon, John Treacy Egan, Philip Fortenberry, Rebecca Spencer and Nolte. They also had the opportunity to work side-by-side with them and engage in a lively talkback session prior to their wonderful performance together. Left to right in the accompanying photo: John Treacy Egan, Brent Barrett, Rebecca Spencer, Philip Fortenberry, Bill Nolte, Anne Allgood, Jerry Dixon, Jimmy Nixon (Executive Artistic Director) and Jim D'Asaro. * * * * * * On Sunday evening (April 5th), from 6 to 7ish p.m., RNI Productions Cabaret Workshop will present An Evening of New York-style Cabaret at Don't Tell Mama, under the direction of multiple MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) Award-winners, Lina Koutrakas and Rick Jensen. The approximately one-hour show will feature Jeanne Brei (from The Speakeasy Swingers), Elly Brown (from Jubilee!), Karen Merstik-Michaels (from Dangerous Curves), Dennis Michaels, Michael Miyazki (cabaret artist from Washington, D.C., and writer for Cabaret Scenes magazine), Justin Olsen (from SwingBeat Entertainment), Ron Squeri (from Washington, D.C. cabaret), and Scott Watanabe (from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular), who all took the three-day class. Don't Tell Mama Las Vegas (there is also a Don't Tell Mama in Manhattan) is located downtown at 517 E. Fremont Street (a half block east of Neonopolis and Las Vegas Blvd.). For this special event, there is a $15 cover, no minimum. Auditing slots are still available for Saturday's workshop from 2 to 5 p.m. at Fern Adair Studios. The cost is $50. Call (314) 359-0786 to register or pay at the door. 
Elly Brown 
Scott Watanabe 
David Pomeranz & Chadleen Lacdo-o Sunday night's "showcase" at Don't Tell Mama, culminates the three-day Cabaret Intensive, professional development workshop held at Fern Adair Studios in Las Vegas, focusing on the art of song performance. In addition to Lina Koutrakos and Rick Jensen, Tim Schall, is producer for the event. Between them, the teaching team of Koutrakos and Jensen are the recipients of nine MAC Awards, honoring excellence in New York cabaret, in addition to two Backstage Bistro Awards, a Village Voice Award, a LAMBDA Award and France's Le Petit Piaf Award. They have been teaching ongoing advanced performance workshops in Manhattan for more than a decade, and have guided countless performers through the creation of solo cabaret shows. Both have served on the faculty of the Cabaret Conference at Yale University, The Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Symposium, The St. Louis Cabaret Conference and together have taught three day performance intensives in Chicago, Boston, Santa Fe and Washington, DC. Jensen is one of New York's most sought after musical director/arrangers and Koutrakos added two more MAC awards to her credit in 2007, as Best Major Female Artist and Best Director. Both are dynamic performers, teachers, songwriters and recording artists who have worked in nearly every cabaret room in New York. The core of the three-day workshop focuses on performance coaching, facilitated by Koutrakos as director/performance coach and Jensen as music director/coach. Singers prepare at least five songs that are memorized and ready to work. Participants receive individualized feedback on their performance in the following areas: connection to material, physical choices, song selection, interpretation, arrangements, audience connection and internal/external focus of song. Other topics covered include constructing a show, working with your musical director, the importance of the arrangement and developing patter. The weekend culminates with the participants' showcase at Don't Tell Mama on Sunday evening. There will also be a Faculty Performance on Saturday evening April 4th featuring Koutrakos and Jensen. Both evenings are open to the public. Cost for the workshop is $650, and includes one ticket to Saturday's performance. For further information, please contact Tim Schall at (314) 721-4634, e-mail him at tjschall@sbcglobal.net, or check out http://cabaretworkshops.wordpress.com. * * * * * * The oh so talented David Pomeranz has been appointed as Celebrity Ambassador for Operation Smile. Founded in 1982 by plastic surgeon, Dr. Bill Magee and his wife Kathy, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 130,000 children around the world, and more than 21,000 in the Philippines, who are victims of facial deformities. On February 27th, 28th and March 1st, David performed three highly-successful fundraising concerts in the Philippines (in Manila, Cebu and Davao) to benefit Operation Smile. The concerts were timed in conjunction with the annual "mission" of Surgeons, Nurses, Assistants and Volunteers who came from all over the world to perform free surgeries on the poorest children suffering facial deformities brought about from Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip. While there, David was invited to observe the brilliant work of these doctors first hand and was moved by what he saw. "I was amazed at the technical perfection and artistic skill of the doctors who performed the surgeries. In only one 45-minute operation, I saw the life of a child changed forever. Operation Smile is a godsend," Pomeranz said. Pictured with Pomeranz in the accompanying photo is talented singer Chadleen Lacdo-o, who appeared as David's guest in all three concerts and was, herself, a recipient of an Operation Smile cleft palate surgery when she was four. * * * * * * Loretta Holloway, a longtime Las Vegas performer who once again, calls South Carolina home), will be guest vocalist when the Skipp Pearson Jazz Foundation presents Conversations in Swing, saluting the Big Band/Swing Music Era at Lincoln Center in New York City. The two day event is in celebration of Jazz History Month. Holloway, a native of Belton, South Carolina, recently traveled to Arlington, Virginia, with Pearson's Jazz Foundation Orchestra for the South Carolina/New Hampshire Grits and Granite Inaugural Ball and the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama. Holloway is no stranger to the Big Apple, having starred in the off-Broadway production of Mama, I Want To Sing II at the Heckscher Theatre during the summer of 1990. Conversations in Swing will take place on Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th at 2 and 4 p.m. at the Frederick P. Rose Hall/Jazz at Lincoln Center, 33 West 60th Street, 11th Floor. 
Loretta Holloway 
Doris Troy 
Skipp Pearson The creation of Mama, I Want to Sing was a family affair. The plot is loosely based on the life of Doris Troy. Troy was a singer who, after writing and recording the 1963 hit, Just One Look, spent several years in Britain before returning to her New York roots. Ms. Troy appeared in both Mama, I Want to Sing, and Mama, I Want to Sing II, as her mother, Mama Winter. Ms. Troy's sister, Vy Higginsen, is the narrator for both productions. She is also the co-producer of the show, and the co-author, along with her husband, Ken Wydro, the show's director, of the book and lyrics. Doris lived the last 14 years of her life in Las Vegas. She died on February 16th, 2004, at the age of 67. It was her friend, Doris Troy, that Loretta Holloway portrayed in Mama, I Want to Sing II. A native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, saxophonist Thales Thomas "Skipp" Pearson's has been playing jazz since the age of 14. Over the years, his amazing professional career has allowed him to share the stage with such renowned musicians as Sam Cooke, Wycliffe Gordon, Patti LaBelle, Chris Potter, Otis Redding, George Smith, Drink Smalls, Sonny Thronton, Fred Wesley, David Haynes, Ron Westray, and Wynton Marsalis, among others. Pearson's numerous professional music credits include performances throughout Europe and across the United States. In 1998, Pearson was inducted into the South Carolina State University Jazz Band Hall of Fame. In 2003 Pearson received the state of South Carolina's highest artistic honor; the distinguished Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award for individuals artistic excellence. In 2002 the South Carolina State House of Representative presented Pearson with a commendation in honor of his extraordinary contributions to the world of jazz music and to congratulate him on an outstanding career. That same year, he performed at Jazz! Carolina for the first time. Throughout his career Pearson has been the subject of several South Carolina Public TV programs, local, regional and statewide news articles, and interviewed by syndicated radio and television talk shows hosts. A career educator, Pearson has taught scores of public school children the importance, and benefits of having music in their lives. For 30 years, he served as the general music teacher, as well as, band director in Bamberg and Clarendon School Districts, building the first band programs available to children in those areas. Skipp Peterson photo by Andy Haworth * * * * * * From talented chanteuse Diane Ellis comes this information...My friends, awesome singer and pianist Joe Darro, Bruce Westcott on keys and vocals, and Jimmy Racey on drums and vocals, are playing at a very inviting restaurant called DeStefano's on the northeast corner of Tropicana and Pecos, Thursday nights starting at 7:30 p.m. I have been sitting in there and hopefully will get at least one night a week out of it. They invite singers and musicians to come on down and have some fun and do a little singing and playing, so please pass the word! Okay, Diane, we're passing the word. We just got a few more, last minute, words. Diane will also be singing at DeStefano's tomorrow night (Saturday the 4th) beginning at 7. 
Diane Ellis 
Jonathan Potenciano 
Darcus Speed * * * * * * Bugsy's at 6145 W. Sahara, that was closed for a few months, is now back up and running with entertainment provided by some of Las Vegas' favorites. This Tuesday and Wednesday (April 7th and 8th), it's Jonathan from 8 p.m. to midnight. In this venue, Jonathan will be backed by Michael G on keyboards, Larry Esparza on guitar and vocals, and Robert Shipley on drums. Originally from the Philippines, Jonathan Potenciano, a Las Vegas entertainer of more than 20 years, is probably best-known as the front man of the popular show band, Jonathan & MusicMagic. Following in the "initial" steps of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY), and others who have decided to go with a shorter, modernized version of their original name, Jonathan's band is now known as JAMM (not to be confused with Clint Holmes' and Bill Fayne's original musical, JAM, or Just Another Man). At Bugsy's, enhanced by a trio, Jonathan has the opportunity to perform classic and romantic material associated with the likes of singers Michael Buble, Al Jarreau, Frank Sinatra and Luther Vandross. For the big band JAMM-sound, Jonathan and his fellow musicians can frequently be seen and heard in the Indigo Lounge at Bally's. Also appearing at Bugsy's, from 8 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, is Darcus Speed, with Ronnie Rathers on guitar and vocals, Billy Nunn on keyboards and vocals, and Corey Mason on drums. Bugsy's is located at 6145 W. Sahara at Jones. * * * * * * Singer/harmonica player Ronnie Rose and pianist Mike Clark, with drummer Cliff Workman, invite folks to bring their dancing shoes and their appetite to the Mezza Lounge & Grill on Monday, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Monday night spot is usually occupied by Bill Fayne and Teddy Davey, both members (with Bobby Black) of the Las Vegas Tenors. In recent weeks, when the Tenors are performing at sea, out of the city, or in a main showroom (like they will be from May 1st through 3rd, when they appear at the Suncoast), It is Rose and Clark who have been entertaining the Mezza crowd. Thanks to increased business, on Tuesday, Jeanne Brei and The Speakeasy Swingers will also be back at Mezza. Located at 9460 W. Tropicana near Ft. Apache, Mezza is described as a cute, very clean place, with a good size dance floor and reasonable prices on their excellent Italian and Mediterranean food. All that, plus good live entertainment. What more could one ask? Call (702) 489-4493 for additional information. * * * * * * Another friend (we have so many, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk), Mary Marcella Schwartz of Handy Girls fame, is very excited about the fact that a movie, based on The Three Stooges, is in the works. Why should Ms. Schwartz take interest in this project? It's because, Larry Fine (real name, Louis Feinberg), the bushy-haired Stooge, was Mary's Uncle Larry. MGM has set two-time Academy Award-winner (Mystic River in 2003, and Milk in 2008) Sean Penn to play the knuckleheaded Larry. Negotiations are currently underway for Jim Carrey to play Curly Howard, born Jerome Lester Horwitz. Rumors are that Carrey is already making plans to gain 40 pounds to approximate the physical look of Curly. The Farrelly Brothers (There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, Shallow Hal) want Benicio Del Toro (Oscar-winner for Traffic) to play the eye-ball-poking, head-slapping ringleader, Harry Moses Horwitz (brother of Jerome Horwitz), better known to Stooges fans as Moe Howard.  Larry Fine  Jimmy Emerson, Kellie Wright & Rip Taylor  Gary & Julie Olds And speaking of Ms. Schwartz, she had the opportunity to present copies of The Handy Girls Can Fix It! book, conceived by herself and partner Barbara Ciarlantini, to Molly and Maggie Cerda, the two daughters of Terri and Chuck Cerda, who recently had their Las Vegas home completely redone through ABC TV's popular Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The show, featuring the Las Vegas segment, will air on May 10th. * * * * * * The Mentalist was recently named TV's Sexiest Man. What a nice honor for Las Vegas entertainer Gerry McCambridge. What? It's not Gerry McCambridge, the fellow with the show in the Night Owl Showroom at Hooters? Is there another person known as The Mentalist? Well, apparently there is. It's some guy named Simon Baker, who we hear has a very successful TV series on CBS. Gerry McCambridge, on the other hand, also has a successful show. The Menatlist is currently entertaining amazed audience members at the Hooters Hotel Casino, on Tropicana, just east of the Tropicana Hotel. Show times are at 6:30 p.m., Saturdays through Thursdays. Tickets are $36.95. For reservations, call (866) 584-6687. * * * * * * Last Sunday, at the Clark County Flamingo Library Theatre, the Performing Arts Society of Nevada Brown Bag Concerts presented Kellie Wright and some of her closest and most talented friends as they saluted the Great American Songbook, and more. Kellie Wright's friends include vocalists Cindi Lee, Carlo Driggs, Audrei Kairen and the ladies of Dangerous Curves - Lisa Smith, Gret Menzies and Karen Merstik-Michaels (who have a great blend and did a beautiful job on The Days of Wine and Roses), accompanied by musicians, Tony Branco on keyboards, Geoff Newman on bass, and Barry Farley on drums. Australian born Kellie Wright has enjoyed a career in entertainment that has spanned the globe from Australia to Japan to the U.S. She most recently performed for two years in Tony 'n Tina's Wedding at the Rio, and last year, recorded the CD for a new musical/cabaret show, Same Old Songs. Earlier in 2008, Kellie starred in Kenneth Blake's Showstoppers at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane, Washington, and returned there in September to star in Breck Wall's Bottoms Up with Rip Taylor. In June, Kellie will return to the same venue to star in Showstoppers 2, produced by Jimmy Emerson's StarrPro Productions. Wright is currently performing in a production of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center. She sings in Divas Undercover for corporate events, and performs with her fabulous jazz trio, A Touch of Blue. Kelli has been the lead vocalist for many bands, both in the U.S. and Japan, and spent two years as a featured singer in Jubilee! at Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas. She also starred as Miss Lilly in The Golden Horseshoe Revue at Disneyland. Kellie has also performed in Oliver, Cabaret, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Sweet Charity, South Pacific, and A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum. In last weekends' show, among the songs Kellie performed were Blues In the Night, Fever, Cry Me a River, Don't Rain On My Parade, Come Rain or Come Shine, It Had To Be You, a medley of I Could Write a Book/The Very Thought of You/Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, and a nice duet of Too Marvelous For Words, sung along with her talented mother in filmed footage from a 1956 TV show (ala Natalie and Nat King Cole, and Lorna Luft and her mother, Judy Garland). Driggs (formerly with Paul Revere and The Raiders) sang Fly Me to the Moon, and a duet with Kellie on Second Time Around from the musical, Same Old Songs. Cindi (a former Jubilee! cast member) sang The Look of Love, and Audrei performed Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's I Only Want Some. And speaking of Dangerous Curves (and we were), look for the ladies to be the stars of their own afternoon show, Girl Talk, presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada at the Flamingo Library on April 19th at 2. We will have more on the trio closer to their performance date. Also last Sunday afternoon (and into the night), we were actually at that Italian joint on the south end of Las Vegas Blvd. As regular Claire Voyant readers know, we no longer patronize the place, due to the all too obvious favoritism shown to "special" customers and those with deep pockets, while others are often virtually ignored. The owners seem to have forgotten their Las Vegas roots, although WE clearly remember the small, friendly neighborhood establishment, owned by a former lounge singer and her family, that used to be located on Eastern at Tropicana. Regarding the newer, larger, but not improved, place, we do give very high marks to that genial gentleman, Sean Grady, who serves as host over there a few nights a week. But we digress. The reason we even walked through the doors of the bistro, was to attend the delayed wedding reception for our friends, Gary and Julie Olds. Why was the celebration held there? Music man Gary has worked at that joint, on and off, for more than five years...sometimes as musical director. Here is the Olds wedding/reception story. When the lovebirds had their romantic wedding on a boat at Lake Mead last October 12th, they tried to get a hundred, plus, of their nearest and dearest friends onto the floating chapel. When the barge started to sink, Gary and Julie went into plan B. They shooed the overload crowd away, just keeping a few relatives (Gary's mom, Madelyn Olds, and Julie's sisters, Trinia Rhode and Carole Hazlitt), photographers, videographers and Keith Nelson around. Why Nelson? Because it was Keith, best known as one of the top bass players in these (or any other) parts, who performed the ceremony (yes, he is also a minister). Not to completely alienate their friends, Gary and Julie promised to make it all up to the disappointed mass of people. On Sunday, they did just that. The attendees at the lovely reception were first treated to a video, in real-time and exactly as recorded, of the entire ceremony. On that windy October day at the lake, the beautiful bride wore a lovely gown that she made herself, and Gary looked very handsome in his white tux (the wore the same apparel at their party.) A tasty buffet (wedding cake included) followed the film. Not surprisingly, there was lots of music involved, in both the wedding ceremony and last weekend's celebration. Of course the groom, who is a multi-talented, well-respected musician (drums and vocals and, on special occasions, a pianist), contributed his talents at both the ceremony and the reception. During the wedding, Gary serenaded his bride with Wheels of Life and People I Belong To (with personalized lyrics), while during the party, he performed The Prayer, Billy Joel's Lullaby, and the full version of Gino Vannelli's Brother to Brother, accompanying himself with his own self-produced tracks and a live drum performance. We wish the bride and groom a long and happy life together. A number of the couple's many musical friends also performed, among them (listed in alphabetical order, to be politically correct), Cocho Arbe, Paul Badia, Chris Clermont, Tommy Deering, Ronnie Fabre-Golden, Steve Golden, Jamie Grant, Chuck Hoover, Richel Kompst, Carmine Mandia, Deena Russo-March, Brian O'Shea, David Poe, and Jeannie Snow. Chris Gordon, bass player "du jour," also participated. We sat with longtime singer/pianist (and friend) Doug Taylor, who opted out of performing due to allergies. Following the after-wedding party, a totally unrelated event, a benefit to assist pianist Michael Clark with his medical bills, incurred as the result of his recent serious spinal surgery, was held at the same establishment. Many local entertainers stepped up to the plate to give their time and talent to help with this project. Some of those generous and caring souls who performed were (also listed alphabetically for the same reason as above), Sandra Benton, Regi Brown, Scott Cannady, Brad Cordle, Joey Finger, Elisa Fiorillo, Dave Hart, Serena Henry, Clint Holmes, Kelly Clinton-Holmes, Denise Najame', Ronnie Rose, Tim Scott, Darcus Speed, Gayle Steele, Tommy Steele and John Wedemeyer. * * * * * *  Gladys Knight  Terry Stokes & Michael Johns The Legendary 'Empress of Soul,' Gladys Knight, is back at The Orleans Showroom, tonight through Sunday, with shows at 8 p.m. The multi-Grammy-winner has had a deep influence on the music world throughout her five-decade career. Gladys was only four when she made her solo singing debut in a Baptist church in Atlanta. In 1952, shortly after winning a prize for her performance on the televised Ted Mack Amateur Hour, eight-year old Gladys formed The Pips, made up of her brother, sister and two cousins. With young Gladys supplying the throaty vocals, and The Pips providing impressive harmonies and graceful choreography, the group went on to achieve icon status, recording some of the most memorable songs of the '60s, '70s and '80s. Top 20 hits, including Every Beat of My Heart, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, If I Were Your Woman, I've Got To Use My Imagination, Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye), Best Thing to Ever Happen to Me, On and On, and the No. 1 smash-hit, Midnight Train to Georgia, established Gladys Knight and The Pips as the premier pop/R&B vocal ensemble in the world. In addition to recording nine solo albums over the years, Knight has also teamed up to record with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers and Patti LaBelle. In addition to her vocal talent, Knight's involvement in other creative undertakings, business adventures and humanitarian activities has been extensive and has brought her widespread honors and acclaim. In 1986, she produced and starred in the Cable Ace Award-winning Sisters in the Name of Love, an HBO special co-starring Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle. Knight recorded the title theme for the James Bond movie License to Kill in the late '80s. In 1999, she completed a starring run on Broadway in the small musical hit, Smokey Joe's Café. Knight also managed to find time to publish her autobiography entitled, Between Each Line of Pain and Glory. Tickets for her show at The Orleans start at $74.95, plus tax, and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (702) 365.7075. * * * * * * The Tropicana, former home of the almost 50-year-old Les Folies Bergere (that ended its run last Sunday), has announced some new (or, new for them) entertainment options on the horizon. First, there is the Soprano's Last Supper. The interactive dinner show could be described as a movable feast as, in Las Vegas, it has been at Krave on East Harmon, the Riviera, and is now (through April 15th) at the Greek Isles. Beginning on April 24th, the Sopranos will be serving up their Supper at the Tropicana. Then, we have Hypnosis Unleashed, starring The Bad Boys of Hypnosis, Terry Stokes and Michael Johns. The hypnotists have also racked up some mileage around the city in the past eight years - setting up shop at places such as Bourbon Street (now gone), Tuscany Suites, Stardust (now gone), the Empire Ballroom (now closed), Mandalay Bay's House of Blues and most recently at the Harmon Theater at Krave. Later this month, the twosome will move over to the Trop. The hotel/casino has fully remodeled the space adjacent to the Player's Deli, specifically for the use of these shows. Now called The Cellar, the venue will house Soprano's Last Supper, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Hypnosis Unleashed nightly at 9:30. Tickets for the Soprano's Last Supper start at $55 plus tax and fees, and for Hypnosis Unleashed, as low as $40 plus tax and fees. They are available now at the Tiffany Theater Box Office. Call the Tropicana at (702) 739-2222, for reservations. * * * * * * To help them sell tickets, we were prepared to give a last minute pitch for tomorrow night's Oh What a Night! show at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. It turns out the celebration and tribute to the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, presented by Chapquist Entertainment, is already completely sold out. For those that wanted to see the show and were unable to get tickets, dry your tears. Due to popular demand, another performance of Oh What a Night! has been scheduled at the Starbright for May 30th. That will be their fifth time at the Sun City Summerlin theater in just six months (the show was also a three-night sellout when it played the Suncoast showroom in early January). If you don't want to be shut out of the May 30th performance, we suggest making reservations as soon as possible. Call (702) 240-1301, or for credit card orders, (702) 869-2064. As usual, we will have more on this production, closer to the show date.
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Tags: Bill Nolte Broadway Bound Fundraiser Elly Brown Scott Watanabe David Pomera
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 - March 27, 2009
(Posted late, as Cousin Claire had computer problems) 
Shecky Greene 
George Solomon After a long absence from Las Vegas stages, the inimitable Shecky Greene returns. The onetime Las Vegas staple, will be performing in the Suncoast Showroom, from May 15th through the 17th. We will have more details on this engagement in early May. * * * * * * Multi-talented George Solomon is also making a return to the Las Vegas spotlight, although he hasn't been missing in action for as long as Shecky Greene has. Solomon, a dynamic one-man variety show, will do his thing at the Starbright Theatre on Saturday night (March 28th). What exactly is Mr. Solomon's thing? A little bit of everything. He can make you laugh, sing and reminisce in an all around feel good show. He performs everything from the standards of Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, to pop classics from Elvis, Neil Diamond, Bobby Darin and Tom Jones, and, his quick-witted, easy going manner often produces hilarious situations. George's appeal is far reaching, and his explosive performance can leave the crowd breathless. He manages to move everyone with heartfelt moments as well. George has performed and written for a variety of stars, including Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross, Bill Cosby, and Harry Connick Jr. Solomon has been profiled on Entertainment Tonight and CNN's Showbiz Today. Also appearing will be the cast members of Oh What a Night, a tribute to the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. The Starbright is located at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. in Sun City Summerlin. Show time is 7 p.m. All shows at the Starbright are first come, first served with no limit on the number of tickets purchased. Saving seats is prohibited. Be sure to get your tickets early so you don't miss out! Show tickets may be purchased at Desert Vista, Mountain Shadows and Pinnacle Community Centers. All ticket prices include Live Entertainment Tax. Tickets are non-refundable. 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. Tickets are $18 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $23 non-residents. Call (702) 240-1301 for reservations. * * * * * * From Michael Caprio, of Caprio Media Designs, comes this reminder...
The Second Annual Las Vegas Easter Bonnet Competition and Show will take place at the Chippendales Theatre at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 5th. Proceeds will benefit Las Vegas' Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach program and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Members of Las Vegas' hottest shows and local businesses will join forces for an afternoon of music, dance, goodwill and Easter bonnets. Modeled after New York's annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet show, the Las Vegas production will feature cast members and bonnets from such hit shows as Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Jersey Boys, Chippendales, Jubilee!, Soprano's Last Supper, and Tony n' Tina's Wedding, among others. In addition, the show will also feature bonnets and support from various local Las Vegas businesses, including Body Spa, Fidelity National Title, St. Rose Hospital, Office Max, Fun Hog Ranch, Cedar Pharmacy, Shade Tree and the Tiger Lily Flower Shop. The event is produced by Amelia Keene, who appeared in the original Broadway companies of Starlight Express and Anna Karenina, as well as New York's first annual Easter Bonnet Competition and, is directed by Tim Tucker (from the Las Vegas cast of Mamma Mia!), with Keith Thompson (musical director for the Las Vegas productions of Jersey Boys, The Producers, Hairspray and We Will Rock You) arranging the musical theme for the event. The first annual Las Vegas Easter Bonnet Competition raised nearly $10,000 for the Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach Center, which serves the Southern Nevada community by providing physical, emotional and spiritual support to those affected by HIV and AIDS. For tickets, ($25 for General Admission, and $75 for VIP, which includes special seating, celebrity visits, two complimentary drinks, and light appetizers), e-mail LVEasterBonnet@aol.com, or phone (702) 564-4224. For additional information visit LVEasterBonnet.com. 
2008 Easter Bonnet Event * * * * * * We saw two terrific shows last weekend. Both did great business and received tremendous response form the audience. Clint Holmes filled up the 500-seat Suncoast showroom all three nights of his weekend engagement. Accompanied by Bill Fayne on piano, Jeff Neiman on keyboards, Darryl Williams on bass, and Jess Gopen on drums, Clint presented a varied repertoire, from Paul Simon, Billy Joel, James Taylor and Bill Withers tunes, to a West Side Story medley and some of his originals, Conundrum, If Not Now When, Next, I Sing, and Who Will Stand. A real treat was hearing Clint's mother, 93-year-young Audrey Holmes, singing a few operatic bars with Janien Valentine (we would call the competition a tie). In a completely different type of venue, our Phavorite Phantom, Brent Barrett, with the Las Vegas Philharmonic behind him, attracted more than 1,500 people to the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at UNLV. Barrett put on a wonderful show, giving many in the audience their first chance to see him unmasked, and hear him unscripted. Based on the standing ovations Brent received, we would say the attendees got more than their money's worth. Calling his Pops presentation You and the Night and the Music, Mr. Barrett performed that song, as well as four selections from his Kander and Ebb Album, tunes by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, Cole Porter, Jimmy Webb, songs from Kiss Me Kate, an Artie Butler arrangement of Barry Manilow's Even Now, and a beautiful version of Love Makes the World Go Round, combined with Some Enchanted Evening. The handsome Brent Barrett brought out more music lovers than just about any other recent offering at UNLV. We think one of the local hotel/casinos should bring this talented Broadway star into a Las Vegas showroom on a regular basis...and he sure doesn't need a mask. 
Clint Holmes 
Brent Barrett 
Terry Little And more Brent Barrett news...
On Sunday, April 19th at 2 p.m., celebrities will show their fancy footwork for five local charities, when they compete in Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars in the Rain Nightclub at the Palms. Each of the charities will be represented by a star who will dance during the event, while supporters can purchase votes for their favorites. Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar B. Goodman, dancing for the American Cancer Society; Chet Buchanan, of KLUC radio's Morning Zoo, for Susan G. Komen for the Cure; World Champion boxer, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, for the Caring Place (The only center of its kind in Southern Nevada, providing complementary therapies such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Reiki, Meditation, Reflexology, Wellness Seminars, Support Groups and Art Therapy, not only for those journeying through cancer, but also for their family, friends and caregivers. All programs and services are provided at no charge.); singer Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie fame, for Candlelighter's Childhood Cancer Foundation; and singer/actor Barrett, dancing with Jeanne Bavaro for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, will do their best to impress judges, TV host, Robin Leach; Channel 13 weatherman, Brian Scofield; comedian, Louie Anderson; female impersonator, Frank Marino; and professional ballroom dancer, Tony Delgado. Tina Walsh from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, and Travis Cloer, from Jersey Boys, will perform while the final votes are counted. Master magician, Lance Burton, will serve master of ceremonies, and Mrs. Nevada, Tiffany Comstock, will act as hostess. Sponsors include The N9NE Group, Ch.13 KTNV and Delgado Dance Studios. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster for $50 plus applicable taxes and fees. The price includes appetizers and one drink. Attendees must be 21 years or older. The public's votes will decide the contest's winner. The 1st prize is $10,000, 2nd and 3rd are $5,000, and 4th and 5th, $2,500. All of the prize money will be awarded to the competing charities. Votes are $1 each, and can be placed during the show or via the event's Web site at www.DancingWithTheLasVegasStars.com. All proceeds will benefit the charities. See thecaringplacenv.org for info. * * * * * * We are saddened to report the death on Monday (March 24th) of Terence "Terry" Little. He was born into an acting family, The Carrickfords, who started the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. Terry started out as an actor in the 1940s and then was a production stage manager for more than 40 Broadway shows, including Mame, Applause and Wildcat. Terry fell in love with Las Vegas while touring with Li'l Abner in 1956. He moved his family here in 1971, and began his local career at The International (now the Las Vegas Hilton) as stage manager, then as director of entertainment, working with such headliners as Elvis Presley, Liberace, Bill Cosby and Ann-Margret. He retired in 1992. Terry was a member of IATSE Local #720, Actors' Equity, SAG, NAACP, and Sons and Daughters of Erin. He is survived by his wife, of 50 years, Maureen "Hoppy" Little; his five children, Kathleen (Brad) Bolotin, Sean, Patrick (Carrie), Brigid Little (Guy Griebel), and Seamus; and five grandchildren, James, Brian, Lauren, Brendan and Cooper. Visitation was Thursday, March 26th, at Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., with Reflection immediately following. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 27th, at Our Lady Las Vegas Catholic Church, 3050 Alta Drive. Burial followed at Palm Memorial Park Northwest, 6701 N. Jones Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Maureen's Hope Foundation, 6301 Mustang Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. Terry Little was 88 at the time of his passing.
* * * * * * Our friend, Broadway star Lee Roy Reams, travels to St. Louis to host the fourth annual Kevin Kline Awards ceremony on Monday (March 30th) at the Loretto-Hilton Center in Webster Groves. "St. Louis is like a second home to me," Reams said when he accepted the invitation to host this year's ceremony. In addition to his extensive Broadway credits, which include a Tony Award-nomination for his acclaimed performance as Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street, Reams has performed in nearly 20 musicals at the Muny in Forest Park. "Lee Roy personifies theater," said Muny President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis M. Reagan. "His very presence on any stage is a celebration." Reams first appeared at the Muny in 1971, when he performed with Lauren Bacall in Applause. Reams' most recent Muny performance was as Roger DeBris in The Producers, for which he received a Kevin Kline Award nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical. In addition to playing the role on Broadway, Reams also starred as Roger DeBris on the national tour (including the Fox Theatre) and in Las Vegas. Other Broadway credits include Sweet Charity, Applause, Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles and Beauty and the Beast. An accomplished director, Reams directed and choreographed the 1995 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! Directing credits at the Muny include both Hello, Dolly! and Singin' in the Rain. Tickets, which begin at $50, can be purchased by calling 314-531-7529 or by going to www.kevinklineawards.org. 
Lee Roy Reams 
Royal Irish Showband Members * * * * * * For those that have been around these parts since the 1970s (as either a local or a tourist), especially if their last name is "McSomething" or "O'Anything," they may recognize some or all of the folks in the accompanying photo. Known in Las Vegas as the Royal Irish Showband and in Ireland as The Big Eight, the group started performing here at the Stardust in 1971. Long stints at the Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood), Barbary Coast (now Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon), and other Strip venues followed. It has been a number of years since the lads and lassies played together...that is, until this last St. Patrick's Day, when six of the band members reunited at P.J. McRae's on East Flamingo on St. Patrick‘s night. The group, shown from left to right in accompanying photo, was made up of Tom Bourke on trumpet (he lives in Vancouver and teaches music to college students), Michael Keane on keyboards (he lives in Las Vegas and still plays "gigs"), Mickey O'Neill on drums (he lives in Las Vegas and, although retired, hasn't lost the beat), Mary Clifford, singer and Irish dancer (she lives in Las Vegas with her teenage daughter, Sara, an accomplished tennis player, Jimmy Conway on guitar and vocals (he lives in Las Vegas and enjoys playing music with his ex-bandmates) and D.J. Curtin, singer (ala Tom Jones) who lives in Vegas, returning to Ireland to perform throughout the year. Jimmy, Michael, D.J. and Mickey also played at the Henderson Pavilion after the St. Patrick's Day parade. * * * * * * The original musical is called Praise, and its creator and star is longtime Las Vegan, and Grammy Award-winner, Larry Hart. Although Praise is a gospel music-inspired production, it isn't all preachy and somber. With songs such as Big Hair Gets You Closer To God, there should be something enjoyable for everyone. Joining Hart will be his sister, Linda Hart, who played Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray on Broadway and sang with Bette Midler. Larry has written songs for Kenny Rogers and Ozzy Osbourne, and the Cinderella-inspired musical, Sisterella. He also was second composer on the Broadway musical adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple, and wrote the book, music and lyrics for the musical adaptation of the Oscar-winning foreign film Cinema Paradiso. Show time at the South Point is 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29th, and ticket prices are $25 and $35. For additional information, or to purchase tickets, call (702) 796-7111. 
Larry Hart 
Kato Kaelin 
Paul Campanella * * * * * * One of the country's most well-known house guests, Kato Kaelin of OJ Simpson notoriety, once again becomes a house guest. This time, however, it's a better reason and it's for fun. Through April 9th, Kaelin, who turns 49 today (March 28th), joins the cast of Tony n' Tina's Wedding at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino for two weeks. Although Tony n' Tina's has been doing good business in Las Vegas for more than seven years, first at the Rio and now at Planet Hollywood, whoever came up with the inspired idea of adding a lineup of celebrity "wedding crashers," deserves a raise...or, at the very least, a pat on the back. Since the interactive dinner show moved to the Strip, people such as Joseph R. "Joey G" Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore in The Sopranos, from 1999 to 2006); World Champion Wrestler, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tiffany, the singer known best for her hit recording of I Think We're Alone Now, and Barry Williams of The Brady Bunch, have crashed the party, bringing a new angle to the popular production. Kato currently hosts National Lampoon's Viral Videos, co-hosts Outtabounds on Fox in San Francisco, and is touring with the Weenie Manologues (the male answer to Vagina Monologues). Tony n' Tina's Wedding, satirizing an Italian-American wedding, is the second longest running show in off-Broadway history. Tony and Tina have walked down the aisle more than 2,000 times in front of more than 450,000 guests in Las Vegas, and still continues to make every wedding a one-of-a-kind event, filled with great music, laughter, food and love. Since its opening more than 20 years ago, the show has garnered rave reviews from every major national publication, including the New York Times, which called the show "Audaciously Imaginative." Glamour magazine called Tony n' Tina's Wedding "Off-Broadway's most innovative play." The all-inclusive dinner show features a full Italian buffet dinner from the executive chefs of the award-winning Spice Market Buffet, wedding cake, a celebratory champagne toast, live band, dancing and plenty of laughs. Performances are at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and are located on the Mezzanine (Mezz) level. Ticket prices to Tony n' Tina's Wedding start at $86.89, with VIP packages from $139.99 to $159.99 plus tax. Performances are Monday through Saturday at 7 p.m. The show is dark on Sundays. For tickets and information, please visit www.planethollywood.com or the box office, Monday through Saturday from noon until 7:30 p.m. For more information, you may call the box office at (702) 785-9030. * * * * * * And speaking of Tony n' Tina's, cast member Paul Campanella, the singer/actor, mentioned in a recent item on Tony ‘n Tina's Wedding, reports he is also working on his show Good Times, with producers Steve Parker and Andy Walmsley of ASIENT Entertainment. The two Brits love Paul's unique concept of Marketing and Entertainment, and are putting their creative energy behind it. Walmsley has done design work for TV's American Idol, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and America's Got Talent, while Parker has worked alongside David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and many others. Together, they are currently producing Terry Fator's new show at The Mirage. Campanella has completed a second draft of his screenplay on the life of legendary Las Vegas entertainer, good friend and mentor, Nelson Sardelli. In addition, a unique set of circumstances has brought Paul to a business venture specializing in acting training for on camera technique and improvisation, that is he is calling "The Institute of Imaginary Circumstances." He is currently prepping a selected class for a major showcase in LA in front of the head of Sony casting and a group of independent casting directors. This will take place at the Hudson Theater on April 15th. Having just completed a workshop with Shari Rhodes, who currently casts the TV shows Breaking Bad, Crash, and In Plain Sight, gave Paul's class a ringing endorsement, stating, "Paul's teaching is raising the performance levels of everyone in his class and making them more bookable." The Institute will now be open for all actors at all age levels. For info on the class, e-mail Paul at paulcampanella7@gmail.com and mention this column.
* * * * * * It's Kellie Wright and Friends at the Clark County Flamingo Library this Sunday (March 29th) afternoon at 2 p.m. Presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada, Kellie and her talented pals will salute the Great American Songbook, performing standards made famous by Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and others. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the library box office an hour before show time. 
Kellie Wright 
The Apple Sisters * * * * * * It's time for the monthly Composers Showcase again. Since there wasn't one in March, there might be two in April, with the first one being on Thursday, April 2nd. As is the current routine, the showcase will take place at 10:30 p.m. (after theater) at the Liberace Museum, 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. Thursday's event will feature the songs of local composers and songwriters The Apple Sisters, Erich Bergen, Michael Brennan, Vita Corimbi, Rylan Leo Helmuth, Christopher Lash, Andrew Lippa, Bonnie Mizell, Kristopher McNeeley, Richard Oberacker, Keith Thompson, and the delightful song stylings and vocal powers of Armi Abiera, Travis Cloe, Kimmy Gatewood, Christine Hudman, Rebekka Johnson, Greg Kata, Sarah Lowe, Joan Sobel, Ali Spuck, Lisa Wilson, Melody Wilson, and other special guests. Instrumental powerhouses include, Jean Ainsley, Patricia Diaz, Mike Fouts and Tyler Williams. There is now a $5 cover charge at the door (free with show or student ID) in addition to the $5 Hors d'oeuvres buffet provided by Carluccio's and the Liberace Museum. Cash bar (no credit cards, please). The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. * * * * * * If you are one of the millions who Loved/Love Lucy, and know the dialog to all the episodes of the TV series, this should be of great interest to you. Suzanne LaRusch definitely Loves Lucy. Her uncanny tribute to Lucille Ball, put her in the top five on The Next Best Thing (Las Vegans Trent Carlini as Elvis and Sebastian Anzaldo as Frank Sinatra came in No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the reality competition). Portraying Lucy, Suzanne was 4th Runner up on The Next Best Thing (The No. 1 ABC show for eight weeks). She finished as the highest ranked woman celebrity impersonator in the nationwide search competition. "Suzanne's likeness to Lucille is uncanny," stated Madelyn Pugh Davis, original I Love Lucy co-creator and writer. "She has caught all her mannerisms, her voice, and even her appearance. It's sort of spooky!" On Friday and Saturday, April 10th and 11th, Suzanne brings her one-woman show, An Evening With Lucille Ball, to the historic Boulder Theatre at 1225 Arizona Street in Boulder City, outside of Las Vegas. An Evening With Lucille Ball is a delightful one-woman show based on the amusing lectures Lucy frequently gave throughout her career as her way of connecting with her adoring public and "giving back." Through monologues, Q&A and musical numbers, LaRusch re-creates the magic of the world's most beloved comedienne. As readers may already know, that wonderful theater is owned by Desi Arnaz Jr. and his wife, Amy (known, fondly, as Miss Amy). Friday's show is at 7 p.m., and the Saturday performance is at 4 p.m. All seats are $30. This event is expected to be a complete sell-out (if it isn't already sold-out), so don't delay on this one. Please call (702) 293-1161 for tickets. If you don't reach anyone, you can expect Miss Amy to call you back. 
Suzanne LaRusch as Lucy 
Larry Frost & JoAnn Toranto * * * * * * Spring is in the air and so, apparently, is romance. After 23 years of unwedded bliss, late night talk show host David Letterman and his longtime girlfriend, Regina Lasko, finally made it legal on March 19th. Their son Harry is five-years-old. Bruce Willis, who has been a bachelor since he and Demi Moore divorced in 2000 after 13 years and three daughters, married model/actress Emma Heming on Saturday. Willis and Heming, who is 24 years younger than her new husband, have been a couple for about a year. Then there is Harrison Ford and his love, Calista Flockhart. After seven years together, the two became engaged on Valentine's Day when the Indiana Jones star surprised his girlfriend by popping the question. And in keeping with the romance theme...On a local level, one our favorite couples, music lovers JoAnn Toranto and Larry Frost, are also engaged. The happy twosome had been together for almost three years (not counting a little break to straighten out some issues), when, the day before Valentine's Day, gallant and romantic Larry got down on one knee and proposed, presenting JoAnn with a beautiful ring. Like Harrison and Calista, JoAnn and Larry have not yet announced their wedding date. * * * * * * In our mail bag this week, came these comments...
A reader contacted us to let us know that the upcoming Swing City Dolls July performance, at the Eastside Cannery, is not on Tuesday, July 28th as we wrote in last Friday‘s column, but on Friday, July 31st. Mark your calendars. And reader (and actor) Bart Williams writes...Good to see Kevin Mc Mahon mentioned in the recent column. Also, thank you for the kind words about Ron Silver. What a talent! I first saw Ron in about 1975 in El Grande De Coca Cola, where he shared the stage with Jeff Goldblum who was playing the piano in the show. It was at the Roxy (I think) on Sunset Blvd. in L.A. About that time, we were both cast in the film Tunnelvision together. I had the pleasure of getting to know Ron Silver while he served as President of Actors Equity Association, and I was on the National Council. Ron really cared about his fellow actors and he took his responsibilities very seriously. He had great passion, great humor, and he was a very, very fine actor. I liked Ron a lot. He really will be missed. The film you mentioned in the column, Garbo Talks, is also one of my favorites. A little jewel of a movie, and Ron and Anne Bancroft are unforgettable and perfect. * * * * * * Reminder...
On Sunday, March 29th, the day before what would have been his 96th birthday, it's the first of what is anticipated to become an annual event...the Frankie Laine Birthday Toast. At 2 p.m., family, friends and lifelong fans will gather at Spaghetteria, 1953 India St. in San Diego, for an afternoon of memorable stories, video clips, music, and great food, to honor Frankie Laine. The man they called Mr. Rhythm, passed away on February 6, 2007, at the age of 93. Tickets for this event are $20 per person in advance, and $25 at the door. Send check or money order to: Frankie/JFM, 340 Andrew Ave. Encinitas, CA 92024. To pay by credit card, e-mail jfmb@cox.net (no host bar, paid guest list at the door). Seating is limited. 
Frankie Laine 
Michael Clark 
Elisa Fiorillo * * * * * * Also on Sunday, but taking place in Las Vegas, Kelly Clinton's Celebrity Spotlight presents a benefit concert for musician Michael Clark. Mike was injured in a car accident more than four years ago. Since that time, he has been in great pain. In order to be able to lead an active, productive life, Clark needed disk replacement and disk fusion. As we know, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get the medical care you need, if you have don't have excellent insurance coverage. As an independent contractor, Mike Clark was in that position. He was lucky, and blessed, to have the support and guidance of Dr. Rick Delamarter, a California orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spinal surgery. Dr. Delamarter, associated with the Spine Institute at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, took Mike in, knowing his insurance would not cover all his expenses. They knew Clark's case was very serious and chose to lower their rates to help him. His friends are now trying to raise money to help with the remaining medical bills he has incurred as the result of his recent back surgery. Singer/songwriter/recording artist, Elisa Fiorillo, direct from her Wednesday and Thursday night performances with Prince on the Jay Leno Tonight Show, will perform. Elisa will be accompanied by Joey Finger on drums, Scott Cannady on bass, and, working through his recovery, Mike Clark on keyboards. In addition to the entertainment, there will be prize drawings and both a silent and live auction. Prizes will include show tickets, art work, Stirling Club packages, and more. All of this takes place at that Italian joint on Las Vegas Blvd. So., beginning at 8:30 p.m. Donations are gladly accepted. Seating is limited so reservations are suggested. Call (702) 736-4939. If you can't attend the show, donations can be made through http://mikes-progress-fundraiser.blogspot.com/ .
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Tags: Shecky Greene George Solomon Easter Bonnet Event Clint Holmes Brent Barrett
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 - March 20, 2009 
Brent Barrett 
Vintage Folies Bergere Regular Claire Voyant readers know how fond we are of the talented Brent Barrett. We make it a point to keep the public informed on our Phavorite Phantom (he was the original star of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian), so they can go see and hear him when he's in the neighborhood. Our primary purpose is to help sell tickets and fill seats for entertaining and worthwhile programs, primarily in Las Vegas, but since we know very talented people in other parts of the world, we hope to help them also. Such is the case regarding our shameless ongoing plugs for tomorrow night's concert at UNLV, featuring Mr. Barrett backed by the 75-piece Las Vegas Philharmonic under the baton of David Itkin. We are pleased to say that, by 8 p.m. tomorrow night, when the familiar overture from Gypsy starts in UNLV's 1,832-seat Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, all (or most) of those seats will be occupied. The response to this program has been overwhelming, especially today, when the performing and visual arts are suffering through this economic turmoil. To see if tickets (priced at $25 to $65) are still available for tomorrow night's POPS Concert, You and the Night and the Music, featuring the Las Vegas Philharmonic with Brent Barrett, call (702) 895-2787. See you there! * * * * * * They bill themselves as "The Way Las Vegas Was Meant to Be." We don't think so.
It had been a few years since our last trip to the Tropicana. We think it was for the very last Casino Legends Hall of Fame induction ceremony. That year, it was Debbie Reynolds, Ben Vereen, Patti Page, Jack Jones, Tempest Storm and Sheena Easton, being recognized and honored for their years of Vegas entertainment history. Sheena Easton??? We returned there on Friday night to see the down-to-the-wire Les Folies Bergere (the almost 50 year old production ends its Las Vegas run on March 27th). Does anybody remember when Bobbie Gentry (Ode to Billie Joe) and Claudine Longet (the onetime wife of Andy Williams) were in the Folies? Although the show we saw last week wasn't horrible, it certainly wasn't as good as we remembered it. The Folies has lost its luster. Perhaps, because it is closing, the once lavish production is just being allowed to play out its end, with fewer dancers and fewer cleanup rehearsals. Many of the beautiful costumes are gone (like the ones in the accompanying Folies photo). The current principal singer, was mediocre at best (Simon Cowell would have sent her packing), and the choice of musical material did not fit the show at all. If the solo song selections aren't made up of things suitable for a French-themed revue, familiar standards would have been a better choice than some of the, we thought, too contemporary numbers. If the truth be told (and we always tell the truth), our favorite parts of the revue were the front-of-the-curtain specialty acts, the Long Twins (Bing and Jun), with their unique contortionist routines, and comic juggler, Michael Holly. Holly succeeded in "reviving" a somewhat lethargic audience, bringing them back to life with his funny, snappy and clean material. 
Michael Holly 
Rip Taylor 
Loretta Holloway Also at the Trop...Last Friday, with virtually no warning (at least to the media), it was announced that the Comedy Stop at the Trop would be ending its almost 19-year-run following Sunday night's show. So, three nights later, it was over. For years, The Comedy Stop's owner/producer, Bob Kephart, provided stage time and an audience so that established and up-and-coming comics such as Tim Allen, Lewis Black, Brett Butler, Drew Carey, Johnny Dark, Fats Johnson, Richard Lewis, Gary Muledeer, Robert Schimmel, Ray Romano, Judy Tenuta and Jimmie "JJ" Walker, could practice their craft and move from novice to headliner positions and maybe on to stardom. We were at the Comedy Stop's one year anniversary celebration, when Rip Taylor made a guest appearance, and a 20-something New York newcomer by the name of Rosie O'Donnell was on the bill. We are sure that when the Las Vegas Comedy Stop finds a new local home, the trend will continue. On a more positive note, we like the new (or at least new to us) Celebration Lounge. It is a big improvement over what used to be called the Atrium Lounge, where acts like Steve Beyer, Denise Clemente, Loretta Holloway, Hudson & Saleeby, Betty Hall Jones, Deano Noto, the duo of Doug Taylor and Bill Swick, Taylor & Taylor, Jerry Tiffe, the Treniers, and Sonny Turner, plied their trade. In those days, we referred to the performance space as, not the Atrium Lounge, but, the Atrium Shopping Plaza, as that's what the sign posted near the "stage" said, and because it was open on all sides with a shopping arcade background. The space has now been transformed into the Celebration Lounge, and is actually somewhat enclosed like a lounge should be. What we heard of the San Fernando Band on Monday, sounded very good. If we have a reason to go back to the Trop, we will plan to hang out in the lounge for a spell. What we won't do, is spend any time at, or put any money in, their embarrassingly low-payout video poker machines. Normally, when playing an IGT Double Double Bonus poker machine, a Full House pays back nine to one, or sometimes eight to one. Not at the Tropicana. Their Full Houses pay only six to one. That means, if you have five coins in, and get a Full House, instead of getting 40 or 45 credits, you only get 30. Personally, we think that stinks! The tourists may not realize this situation, but local players surely would. What it also does for Trop video poker players is give them less playing time there and a good excuse to spend their gambling money elsewhere. 
Wes Winters 
Erich Bergen 
Steven Hood * * * * * * On Monday afternoon, we went to see Wes Winters perform at the Clark County Flamingo Library Theatre. Winters' Tribute to Liberace, presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada, included guest appearances by magician/puppeteer Joseph Gabriel and his assistant/magician/wife Katalin, along with three "vintage" Vegas showgirl/dancers - Teresa Cuchman, Suzanne Jipson and Jackie McDaniel - who collectively call themselves Fine Wine (as in "Aging like..."). What we found most interesting was when Tom Gallagher, of the PASN, asked the approximately 145-member audience to raise their hands if they had seen Wes perform before. About 144 hands went up. For his devoted followers, Winters, in glittery Liberace-style costuming (including a cape for the opening), played tunes that ranged from Sabre Dance and Gershwin, to polkas, movie themes, and show tunes (with the audience waving "glow sticks" during Jerry Herman's Mame). The afternoon concert ended with Liberace's theme song, I'll Be Seeing You. The program could best be described as "Glamour in the Afternoon" (with a little "corn" tossed in). Wes Winters can be seen and heard at Envy The Steakhouse, in the Renaissance Marriott at 3400 Paradise Road, where he entertains during Sunday Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $25 plus tax and tip and includes brunch and entertainment. On March 25th, it's a Classic Las Vegas Dinner Show at Carluccio's (1775 E. Tropicana, next door to the Liberace Museum), formerly owned by Liberace, and where Wes performed for more than five years. For $38.50, all inclusive, guests get a delicious dinner and a show put on by Mr. Winters. Dinner seating is at 6:30 p.m., with the show at 8. For either or both events, call Carole Fishman at (702) 250-4506 for reservations, as seating is limited. * * * * * * Lots of things going on over at the Liberace Museum these days and some nights. Once again, the Jersey Boys musical director/conductor, Keith Thompson, will be filling in some dates in the Liberace Cabaret for Philip Fortenberry who normally plays for the afternoon crowd at the museum. While Philip takes some well deserved time off, Thompson will showcase his multiple talents as pianist/singer/songwriter at 1 p.m., March 24th, 25th, 28th and 31st, and April 1st and 4th. Tickets are $17.50 per person. Erich Bergen, who portrays Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, the Tony-winning musical doing great business at The Palazzo, will step out of his role to do his own thing, in two special performances in the Liberace Cabaret. Erich will present an evening of original music, as well as songs you know and, hopefully, love, during 7 p.m. shows on March 25th and April 8th, both on Wednesdays. General admission is $15 per person and a premium seating package is available at $50 per person. Proceeds will benefit the Liberace Museum. Seating is limited and reservations and payment in advance is required. And speaking of all things Liberace...For those that anxiously await this information every month, the next Composers Showcase will take place, late night on April 2nd. We will have the details next Friday. For those who don't know, the museum is located at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. The phone number there is (702) 798-5595. * * * * * * As we have mentioned here before, most of the entertainers in the Las Vegas community are caring and generous people. When there is a worthy cause, or someone in need, and funds are needed, especially if it involves a fellow performer, count on these people to help. Here are some recent and current examples. On April 5th, the second annual Las Vegas Easter Bonnet Competition, a fundraiser for the Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach Center, will be held in the Rio Hotel's Chippendales Theatre at 2 p.m. The event is produced by Amelia Keene, who appeared in the original Broadway companies of Starlight Express and Anna Karenina, as well as New York's first annual Easter Bonnet Competition. Last year's Easter Bonnet Competition, the first in Las Vegas, raised close to $10,000 for the Saint Therese Center, which serves the Southern Nevada community by providing physical, emotional and spiritual support to those affected by HIV and AIDS. Performers from production shows around the city are expected to participate, along with numerous local businesses. They will create outrageous and beautiful hats for the occasion. Tim Tucker directs, with music man Keith Thompson arranging the theme for the event. Tickets range from $25 to $75, and may be purchased by phoning (702) 564-4224, or e-mailing to LVEasterBonnet@aol.com. For further information,I visit LVEasterBonnet. Because no one told us beforehand, we didn't realize that last Sunday's Heart & Music concert at the Mountain View Presbyterian Church, was to raise money to help Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular cast member, Steven Hood, who is battling leukemia in a Los Angeles hospital. Mr. Hood has performed in Las Vegas productions of Man of La Mancha (Don Quixote), Fiddler On the Roof (Tevye), and A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum (Pseudolus). In Los Angeles, he appeared in a number of productions, including Minnie's Boys as Groucho Marx, a role he later reprised on the Academy Awards in a tribute to the Marx Brothers. Steven serves as vice-chair of the Actors' Equity Liaison Committee of Las Vegas. Some of his fellow Phantom cast mates - Andrew Ragone, Megan Starr-Levitt, Tina Walsh and Scott Watanabe, with musical director, William Waldrop - raised their voices in song in hopes of getting generous Las Vegans to show up at the church, listen to the music, and dig into their pockets to help the Hood family during this difficult time. As they often do, the community, especially fellow entertainers, came through - filling the Summerlin church to overflowing. Although there was no set ticket price, donations were made by the many attendees. We weren't able to be there, but, fortunately one of our spies provided his thoughts on the afternoon. Our main spy was acting coach Gerald Gordon, who we know can be critical and would never sugarcoat anything. Therefore, although we are dealing with an exceptionally long column today, we are going to run MOST of Mr. Gordon's "review." Last Sunday, five outstanding performers brought down the house - a standing room only house - with songs from a variety of sources. So many unexpected people turned out that programs had to be collected and shared with this appreciative enthusiastic audience. And well they should be enthusiastic as we were treated to some of the best singing voices Las Vegas has to offer. It was so obvious why director Harold Prince cast these people in the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit musical as all were the epitome of talented professionals loving what they do so well. It was pure joy to be part of this audience. The title of this concert, Heart & Music, was especially appropriate as it was exactly that - a heartfelt purpose and beautifully performed music. It's difficult to single out specific numbers as each seemed to have been selected for one reason or another. The group numbers, i.e. Heart and Music from A New Brain, blended the four voices making this an excellent opening and closing of the show. One of the outstanding surprises was Scott Watanabe performing the hilarious, The Life That Jack Built from Bittersuite - Songs of Experience. Actually, he handled a number of comedic entities with thorough and complete ease, plus he has a magnificent strong baritone voice which certainly helps. And speaking of strong baritone voices, handsome Andrew Ragone, starring as Raoul in PHANTOM, is everything one would expect from a leading man in theatre, films or TV. His great range was amply shown as he went from the comedic, Leading Men Don't Dance from the show of the same title, to the serious Anthem from the show Chess, to the poignant and moving duet with the talented Tina Walsh in I'd Give It All For You from Songs Fro a New World. Ms. Walsh who originated the role of Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! Las Vegas showed off her strong upper range in Vanilla Ice Cream from the lovely musical She Loves Me, sang a duet with Watanabe in the light The Recipe, also from Bittersuite, and joined the ensemble in the performance of Dear One from Kiss Of the Spider Woman. Megan Starr-Levitt brought the house down with her hilarious rendition of The Girl in 14G, by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan. Her well trained outstanding instrument seems to be at home in grand opera as well as musical theatre, as her credits include it all. Other selections were Megan's performance of Stars and the Moon from Songs For a New World, Watanabe's Anyone Can Whistle from the show of the same title, Ice Cream from Bittersuite sung by Starr-Levitt and Watanabe, and the beautiful duet from The Secret Garden, Lilly's Eyes performed by Watanabe and Ragone. For Las Vegas, that seems to have the unfair reputation of a city with no culture, that afternoon performance, with no trouble at all, made a liar of whomever started that rumor, for the performances were of the highest quality, wedding excellent talent with demanding and beautiful music. The vast and varied church audience, ranging from small children to many senor citizens, all joined in the standing ovation, richly deserved by these performers. 
Sam Port 
Carol Burnett In a couple of weeks, Sam Port, a former student of the above mentioned Gerald Gordon, will be ending his time with the Jubilee! show at Bally's in Las Vegas, after more than a year and a half (nearly 1,000 shows!). Before he moves on the next phase of his career, he will once again participate in AFAN's annual AIDS Walk, taking place on April 19th. The Jubilee! cast members are collectively trying to raise money for this organization. A bit of information about AFAN (Aid for AIDS of Nevada)....it provides support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada. Sam states that he is always hesitant about asking people to donate money, but he feel strongly about this particular cause. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated. Donations can be made at my AFAN website: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=291714&lis=0&kntae291714=CC9CA7E931484E99920DA487E85 D4698&supId=250141397 * * * * * * The boys are back! After taking a week or so off to perform as two-thirds of the Las Vegas Tenors, Bill Fayne and Teddy Davey are back at Mezza Lounge & Grill this Monday (the 23rd), for another night of music and fun. In addition to these two fine entertainers, there is an open mic so you never know who will show up to do their thing. Mezza features authentic Mediterranean and Italian cuisine for diners, along with a free glass of wine with any entrée. Show time is from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Also at Mezza, Jeanne Brei and the Speakeasy Swingers will be back on Tuesday evening, from 6 to 9 p.m. Mezza Lounge & Grill is located in Summerlin, at 9460 W. Tropicana, near Ft. Apache. For information, call (702) 489-4493. * * * * * * After seeing Robin Williams' dramatic performance in an episode of last season's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, one of our very astute regular readers stated that Williams would be nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series, and would probably win. That is exactly what happened. Now, he is once again looking into his crystal ball and predicting that 73-year-old Carol Burnett's performance on Tuesday night's episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, should earn her a nomination, and perhaps a win as well. During Burnett's lengthy show business career, the lady has received numerous awards and honors, but never for a role like this one. Carol, primarily known as a comedian, turns serious, DEADLY serious in an episode called Ballerina. Carol guest stars as "Birdie," a well-to-do former dancer/singer with dark Norma Desmond-like idiosyncrasies. Her five unhappy marriages have ended, umm, mysteriously. Let's say that "Birdie" probably won't win any Humanitarian awards, but, this year, Carol Burnett could very well wind up with an Emmy for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series. * * * * * * From letter writer Bob in Apollo Beach, Florida, comes this inquiry.
Hell-o. I am looking to contact guitarist Dmitri Callus (sic). I met him years ago when he was touring with Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons at the Newport Hotel on Miami Beach in the early 70's. He's a real treasure. Any tips on how to contact him?
Well, Bob, we were not familiar with this musician, but we knew who to go to with this one ...Las Vegans Artie Schroeck and Linda November. Mr. Schroeck, who just happened to do the arrangements for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' hits, Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You and I've Got You Under My Skin, knew who to go to as well, taking our question to Robby Robinson, Frankie Valli's conductor and close friend. Mr. Robinson informs us that Dimitri Callis (correct spelling) was the guitar player in the band in the early '70s. He says that Callis is from Baltimore and played in a band with Bill DeLoach who lives in Vegas (and who we happen to know from years ago). Mr. Robinson says that he never worked with Callis, but had met him on several occasions. "Frankie always said he was an amazing showman," says Robby. In doing some digging, Cousin Claire learned that in 2002, Dimitri was the lead guitar player for the John Lane version of Bill Haley's Comets. Callis' guitar skills are spotlighted on the band's CD, Almost Live. Prior to working with Lane, Callis was a member of the Four Seasons from 1971-73 and appeared alongside Frankie Valli on a number of TV shows of the time. Today, Dimitri lives in Las Vegas and plays guitar behind vocal impressionist, Danny Gans, in his new show at Steve Wynn's Encore. Coincidentally, Mr. DeLoach is the pianist for the same show. We hope that helps you, Bob in Apollo Beach. If we get a contact directly to Mr. Callis, we will pass it along. * * * * * * 
Don't Tell Mama in Vegas 
Clint Holmes Don't Tell Mama, the city's first real piano bar/cabaret, is finally up and running in downtown Las Vegas. Owner, Minh Pham, who operated the Manhattan club of the same name for 19 years, before heading to Nevada, had to overcome and endure all sorts of red tape/obstacles (delayed permits, remodeling problems, and more). On Monday, the 9th of March, mayor Oscar Goodman made everything official with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the cozy cabaret, located at 517 E. Fremont Street. At Don't Tell Mama, the bartenders and servers, and often, the customers, perform, making for a fun and lively atmosphere. Pianists, including Mike Dubay, Jeff Celentano, and Thom Culcasi, play and sing throughout the night and are also available to accompany scheduled guest performers, as well as visitors with some musical talent. A group of us were there last Monday night and had a great time. Culcasi, along with some of the bartenders, performed a variety of music, from tunes by Cole Porter to the works of contemporary Broadway songwriters such as Jason Robert Brown (Lisa Wilson did a great job on Brown's Stars and the Moon from his Songs For a New World). A special treat that night was hearing Diane Wisdom sing Mack Gordon and Harry Warren's At Last. Some years back, Ms. Wisdom, who now calls Dallas home, was a regular performer in Las Vegas, appearing (often with her musical partner, Jimmy Hassell) in the top rooms on the Strip. It was great to have her back at a mic in Vegas again, even for just one song. That's a big part of the enjoyment at Don't Tell Mama...you never know what lies in store. Doors open at 5 p.m., with music staring at 8. There is no food or gaming at Mama's, but there is plenty of live music and a full bar. Drinks are reasonably priced and there is no cover charge. For more information, call (702) 207-0788. * * * * * * Over at the Suncoast, it's Clint Holmes, back and performing at the hotel casino's showroom this weekend. Holmes usually has a talented guest or two join him on stage during his shows. We don't know who might show up this weekend, but you can bet they will be talented pros. Two things you can count on when you see one of Clint's shows, his longtime friend and musical director, Bill Fayne, will be at the piano, and you will be entertained. Show times for Holmes at the Suncoast, tonight through Sunday, are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $33 to $55, all inclusive, and may be purchased at the hotel or by calling (702) 636-7075. For those who have longed to see the Society of Seven back on a Vegas stage, your wish will soon be granted when the talented group of entertainers make an Easter weekend appearance at the Suncoast (their first at this property), April 10th through 12th. Paul Stone, who is also the fellow responsible for bringing a number of very entertaining variety-type shows (featuring world-famous specialty acts and magicians) into the Suncoast, gets credit for this coup as well. If you have never seen the SOS before, and you are within driving distance of the Suncoast, we say take the opportunity. If you HAVE seen this talented bunch perform, we don't have to try and sell you on Hawaii's favorites. For this engagement, the gentlemen will have American Idol finalist, Jasmine Trias, as their special guest. Ticket prices are $22 to $44. Call the same number as above, (702) 636-7075. We will tell you more about SOS in the next couple of weeks. 
Jasmine Trias 
Sammy & Altovise Davis 
Ron Silver And speaking of American Idol, Jordin Sparks, winner of the TV talent competition's sixth season, performs with multiple Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, tomorrow night at Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, at the Nevada/California border. Tickets are $44.95 and $64.95. Show time is at 8. Call (800) FUN STOP (386-7867) for reservations. * * * * * * Unfortunately, due to some severe allergy issues, we missed the F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) luncheon yesterday. We were very much looking forward to this non-meeting meeting, as Jack-of-all-forms-of-entertainment, Cork Proctor, was giving the public a second sampling of his upcoming, still a work in progress, new one man show, Classic Tales of Las Vegas. About the afternoon, the ringmaster, Nelson Sardelli, reports, "It was great! We had 140 guests...a record for the non club. There was live music and Cork was sharp, funny, informative and in command. Great stories. Funny remarks. A standing ovation. We all stayed at the Italian American Club till about 2:45 p.m. No walk outs. It is amazing what we can concoct on a shoestring." Lots of prizes and gifts were handed out during the afternoon. The F.I.O.R.E. rules! Mr. Sardelli informs that the next co-ed (that means boys AND girls) event will take place in July. The event will mark the non club's 5th anniversary. * * * * * * Sad news...Last Saturday, Altovise Davis, 65, the widow of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., died in Los Angeles after suffering what appeared to be a stroke. Altovise Davis, a onetime actress and dancer, met the Rat Pack icon at the peak of his career in 1967. They were both performing in Broadway musicals: he was playing the lead in Golden Boy and she, as Altovise Gore, was in the chorus line of High Spirits. She also appeared in the musical Sherry, the 1965 City Center revival of Guys and Dolls, and Kwamina among others. They married in 1970 and, in 1989, adopted a son, Manny. The following year, Sammy died of throat cancer at the age of 64. Altovise Davis was active in several philanthropic organizations and performed in many benefit productions, particularly for SHARE Inc., a non-profit group that raises money for disabled and abused children. She is survived by her son. Actor Ron Silver, a longtime smoker, died on Sunday, following a two-year battle with esophageal cancer. Silver, considered to be an actors' actor, won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for his role in David Mamet's original Broadway production of Speed-The-Plow. Silver, who was president of the Actors' Equity Association, from 1991 to 2000, was 62 at the time of his passing. Some of his most notable acting roles include Tunnel Vision in 1976 (his movie debut), Lovesick (1983), Eat and Run (1986), and the lead in Paul Mazursky's Oscar-nominated, Enemies: A Love Story (1989). Silver also portrayed defense attorney Alan Dershowitz in Reversal of Fortune, (1990), based on the trial of Claus von Bülow. Between 2001 and 2006, Ron Silver played presidential campaign advisor Bruno Gianelli on TV's The West Wing. One of Cousin Claire's all-time favorite movies is Garbo Talks, in which Silver plays the devoted son of Anne Bancroft. The 1984 film, directed by Sidney Lumet (who was married to both Gloria Vanderbilt, and Lena Horne's daughter, Gail Jones, although not at the same time), stars Bancroft, who was a Golden Globe nominee for her work in the film, as a terminally ill woman who asks her son, Gilbert (played by Silver), to help her fulfill her last wish: to meet the elusive Greta Garbo. Carrie Fisher, Catherine Hicks and Steven Hill are also featured, with an interesting assortment of supporting actors - including Dorothy Loudon, Harvey Fierstein, Hermione Gingold, and Broadway songwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The film's score was written by the wonderful Cy Coleman (Witchcraft, The Best Is Yet to Come, Barnum, Sweet Charity, City of Angels, The Will Rogers Follies). As for the title of the movie, in 1930, when Greta Garbo's distinctive voice was first heard on screen in Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie, it was publicized and promoted with the slogan, "Garbo Talks." One never knows when this bit of trivia might come in handy. * * * * * * 
Kevin McMahon 
Ervin Drake 
Jerry Fink Talented singer/actor Kevin McMahon, last seen here in Forever Plaid, is currently performing in the national touring company of Wicked (which we wish would come to Las Vegas). Watch for Wicked in a city near you. It's in Portland, through April 5th; Salt Lake City, from April 8th through May 3rd; Omaha, May 6th through the 31st; San Antonio, June 3rd through the 28th; Tempe, July 1st through 26th; and San Diego, July 29th through August 23rd. * * * * * * Happy birthday to our Aries friends, Steve Schiffman, Danny Calico, Marty Allen, Benny Hollman, John Encinio, Mary Flanigan, Henry Shed, Mary Schwartz, Vita Corimbi, Corky D'Fini, Ervin Drake, Wayne Newton, Tony Orlando, Jackie Brett, Jack Lawrence, Janis Ian, Barbara Ciarlantini, Grace "Bambi Jr." Moerhle, Lisa Dawn Miller, Wanda Dee Floyd, Michael Cohen, Arthur Shafman and Jerry Fink. Happy 4th anniversary to Lisa Dawn Miller and Sandy Hackett, and a happy 14th to Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders. And speaking of octogenarian Marty Allen (he turns 87 on the 23rd), his publicist, Candi Cazau, reports that the funny man and his musical bride, Karon Kate Blackwell, will be performing at the South Point in June. These two are in such demand on the entertainment circuit, it's surprising that they can find the time to work where they live (no, they don't live at the South Point, but they do live in Las Vegas). We will have more about this booking as we get closer to their engagement dates. 
John Encinio 
Swing City Dolls 
Kathleen Dunbar And speaking of John Encinio, tomorrow, at 2 p.m., Encinio and his Full House Band will be entertaining visitors to Floyd Lamb Park at 9200 Tule Springs Road. The group will perform western swing, Tex-Mex music, up-tempo tunes, Classic Rock, Country Rock, Blues, and Jazz. Always in great demand, the band has opened the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for the past 16 years. In 1999, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau asked Encinio to sing the national anthem at the second performance of the NFR in the Thomas and Mack Center. This band has appeared at many of the largest and most prestigious rodeos under the banner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Popular throughout the Southwest and Intermountain region, they have played in thousands of venues and rodeos over the years to "full house" crowds that love the music of George Strait, Bob Wills and Merle Haggard. For information, call (702) 229-6383 for more information prior to March 21, or (702) 229-8100 on event day. Admission to the park will remain the usual $6 per vehicle. Take blankets and folding chairs, but no pets or glass containers, please. * * * * * * We hope you saw ABC's Primetime - What Would You Do? on Tuesday night (March 17th) to see how guests at the Las Vegas Hash House a Go Go reacted to a polygamist husband and his three wives welcoming the newest member of their family, a 15-year-old "new bride." The crew arrived with two RVs and a truck full of sound, lighting and surveillance equipment. They worked over three nights installing hidden cameras and microphones throughout the restaurant, before spending four more nights secretly filming two different scenarios, catching the reactions of Hash House A Go Go customers on camera. The second of these filmed in Las Vegas setups, involving a "way too friendly guest," will air sometime this summer on ABC.
* * * * * * Natalie Carson, Connie Murray and Robin Vincent call themselves the Swing City Dolls. They perform '40s, '50s, and '60s swing, with a vintage look and choreography, and lively, original musical arrangements that appeal to all ages. Reminiscent of the tight harmonies of The Andrews Sisters, Natalie, Robin, and Connie present an extraordinary vocal blend, engaging performance, and a fun flirtatious style. They have been referred to as "The 1940s version of the Dreamgirls." It was more than 10 years ago that this trio started singing and dancing together. Their accomplishments include television appearances, radio broadcasts, and hundreds of live stage productions. They have performed up and down the Las Vegas Strip, opening for Lionel Richie at the Wynn Hotel and Casino, and being featured as vocalists for Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell at the Las Vegas Hilton. They have sung with numerous recording artists, among them, BJ Thomas, Leslie Gore, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr. and Lou Christie. The Dolls have received accolades from such notables as Paul Williams, Jerry Lewis, Mario Andretti, and Tony Butala of The Lettermen. The Swing City Dolls have three dates booked at the Eastside Cannery - this Sunday, March 22nd at 4 p.m., Friday, July 28th at 8 p.m., and Saturday, August 1st, also at 8 p.m. Also on Sunday, March 22nd, it's Michelle Rohl's turn in the spotlight at that Italian joint on south Las Vegas Blvd. * * * * * * Recently named the Midwest's newest and funniest female comedienne, Kathleen Dunbar will headline the Riviera Comedy Club, March 23rd through the 29th. Being a single mother has given Dunbar a sharp tongue and a sarcastic wit. Her comedy has been called sexy and sassy, but never dirty. She has performed with Bob Saget, Emo Phillips and Bob Zany. Joining in on the fun is Dave Russo who received national attention when he beat out more than 30,000 entertainers in 10 major cities to be a part of E! Entertainment Network's 10-episode series The Entertainer, starring Wayne Newton. Steve Marshall will add to the week's line-up. He has appeared on CNBC's "The Open Show," FOX's " Blind Date" and the CBS National Sunday Evening News. This multi-talented comic also wrote and directed a short film "Get the Script to Woody Allen" which won the 2003 Long Island Film Festival and was a 2003 Academy Award-nominee. Show times for the Riviera Comedy Club are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $24.99 plus tax and fee. Dinner and show combinations are available. Audience members must be at least 18 years of age. For more information call the Riviera Box Office at (702) 794-9433, or go to www.rivierahotel.com. * * * * * * 
Trent Carlini This might not be a real good sign for someone who already has some serious obstacles to overcome. We are talking about Trent Carlini and his new show, Evolution. Not only is the Elvis tribute artist dealing with the cursed Wyrick Theater as the location for his next effort, the unrealistically (especially at this time) high ticket prices of $70 to $150, now comes word that Carlini's media opening has been postponed from March 27th to April 24th. Will the fact that Trent Carlini was the $100,000 winner of ABC TV's The Next Best Thing in 2007 be enough to save him from the same fate/curse that befell Aga Boom, Martin Nievera, Ronn Lucas, Wes Winters, Mega Bubble's Fan Yang, and Tom Dane? Don't forget that those folks took their risk when times were a bit better than they are today. As we did with the other Wyrick tenants, we wish Trent Carlini good luck.
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Tags: Brent Barrett Vintage Folies Bergere UNLV Michael Holly Rip Taylor Loretta
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 - March 13, 2009 
Brent Barrett 
Rebecca Spencer Brent Barrett, who maintains a home in Las Vegas, will be racking up more frequent flier miles over the next couple of weeks. This Sunday, the 15th, the talented Mr. Barrett will be performing at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, in a program called An Evening With Brent Barrett. On Saturday, the 21st, he will perform You And the Night And the Music, a concert featuring the 75-piece Las Vegas Philharmonic. This will take place at 8 p.m. in the 1800-seat Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus. Leading off with the Philharmonic orchestra playing the overture from Gypsy, Mr. Barrett will then sing Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz's You and the Night and the Music, They Call the Wind Maria, I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Headin' For New Orleans and Come Back to Me (from Brent's The Alan Jay Lerner Album), Second Chance, Sometimes A Day Goes By, Life Is, and The Skin of Our Teeth (from Barrett's Kinder & Ebb Album), Cole Porter's You've Got That Thing, Jimmy Webb's The Moon's A Harsh Mistress, Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse's What Kind Of Fool Am I, Love Makes the World Go Round/ Some Enchanted Evening, Barry Manilow's Even Now, along with selections from The Sound of Music, Kiss Me Kate, and, of course a Phantom medley (Brent Barrett starred in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian). Tickets for You and the Night and the Music range from $25 to $65. Tickets for seniors (62+) and students (18 and under) cost $22.50 to $58.50. They are available online at www.lvphil.com, by calling (702) 895-2787, or they may be purchased at Ham Hall Box Office on the UNLV campus. Brent will have CDs available for sale after the concert. And if you happen to be in the Seattle area on Monday, March 23rd, you can see Brent Barrett (Kiss Me Kate, Grand Hotel, Chicago, South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun) in an evening of elegant cabaret to benefit the Broadway Bound Children's Theatre. In addition to Barrett, a number of other talented stars from the Broadway stage will travel to Seattle to participate in this exciting one night only performance. The roster of entertainers will include Anne Allgood (The Most Happy Fella, Parade, Sound of Music, Urinetown), Jerry Dixon (Five Guys Named Moe, Once On This Island), John Treacy Egan (When Pigs Fly, Jekyll and Hyde, Chess, The Little Mermaid), Philip Fortenberry (Vegas productions of We Will Rock You, Hairspray, Jersey Boys) and Bill Nolte (Cats, Sweeney Todd, Secret Garden, The Producers, Fiddler On the Roof). Rebecca Spencer (Call Me Madam, Phantom of the Opera, Kismet, Gypsy, Jekyll and Hyde, Sweeney Todd) will also perform. Rebecca is a relative Seattle newcomer, and the wife of Jim D'Asaro, the recently appointed Executive Director of the Broadway Bound Children's Theatre. In addition to the musical theater veterans participating in this program, there will be a special performance by Broadway Bound's young artists. Broadway Bound Children's Theatre is enjoying its twelfth season in Seattle. In 2008 the theater served more than 1,000 youth, ages 5 through 18, in the area, through participation in its productions and summer camps. 2008 represented a breakthrough year for the company, including the expansion of its South Seattle Stage program to year-round performing arts education reaching teens in south end Seattle schools - something that would not have been possible without Broadway Bound's visionary leadership and commitment to this neighborhood community; the formation of a partnership with the Seattle Public School District to create a premier performing arts center at Rainier Beach High School; and the creation of a formal strategic alliance with the Seattle Theatre Group. Complimentary beer and wine and a variety of light foods will be available before the show, starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by an elegant evening of song and surprise starting at 7 p.m. In addition, an auction, with one of the items being a chance to perform with one of the Broadway stars, will also be part of the event. Single tickets are $75 and a pair of tickets $125. Go to www.broadwaybound.org to learn more. The above mentioned Rebecca Spencer recently completed a week of guest performances with pianist Philip Fortenberry (also mentioned above) at the Liberace Museum. At night, Fortenberry serves as associate conductor/music director for Jersey Boys at The Palazzo. Three afternoons a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, through the end of June), he can be found seated at the mirrored Baldwin Grand in the cabaret theater, telling the story of how he got from Hub, Mississippi, to the bright lights of New York and Las Vegas, thanks to his outstanding musical abilities. Show times are at 1 p.m. and ticket price is $17.50. The museum is located at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. Call (702) 798-5595. And if you happen to be in Las Vegas, and the program above sounds like something you would enjoy, here is an offering a little closer to home (or where you are visiting). Heart & Music, performed by Andrew Ragone, Megan Starr-Levitt, Tina Walsh and Scott Watanabe, all cast members of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, will take place at the Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 8601 Del Webb Blvd. in Summerlin, on Sunday. With William Waldrop directing, the concert starts at 3 p.m. A free will donation is requested. * * * * * * Some years ago, a local entertainer borrowed something from a Las Vegas media type. Although the owner of the property did not know the borrower, a mutual friend assured her that she could trust the fellow, and the borrower promised to return the item the following day. The owner of the property, very reluctantly, agreed to be agreeable. We are sure you know the outcome. The property was never returned. Phone calls to the borrower (now designated as a liar and a thief), and messages left on his answering machine, were never returned. The item that was never returned was not of great monetary value, but it was important, for sentimental reasons, to the rightful owner. They say all good things come to those who wait. Well the victim waited long enough (probably about 20 years) and can now say, what goes around comes around. Last Tuesday's local KVBC-Channel 3 news, reported about a Las Vegan who got ripped off for $26,000 by a con man identified as one James Wolfe. The Las Vegan, who is out the $26,000, is Shawn Eiferman, a dude who knows how to borrow but not return. To quote from Eiferman's story to reporter Mitch Truswell, "He (Eiferman) admits he may have been naïve." Poor Mr. Eiferman goes on to say, ""I never got a text (message) from him (Wolfe); I never got an email, a return phone call - nothing on any progress." We say, "Awww. What a damn shame." So, Mr. Eiferman, how does it feel to get a taste of your own medicine? How does it feel to be taken advantage of? How does it feel to be ripped off by someone you thought you could trust? Payback is a bitch. Personally, we love it. * * * * * * 
Gerry McCambridge 
Men of X 
Cork Proctor
Starting tomorrow, Gerry McCambridge, known as The Mentalist, has a new start time for his show at Hooters Casino Hotel. As he is working on some new routines for future TV projects, and needs some more show time to perfect them, the audience is the benefactor of a longer show at a still bargain ticket price. Because Hooters is installing a new lighting and sound system in the showroom, and needs two days to do it, they gave McCambridge the last couple of days off. These are his first three consecutive days off in more than three years (he's not complaining). Gerry returns to the Night Owl stage tomorrow, Saturday March 14th, at 6:30 p.m. (the new earlier show time). McCambridge's show and chicken wings won't be the only hot thing at Hooters Casino Hotel when the new male revue, Men of X, takes over the late night spot in the Night Owl Showroom. Six sexy men strut their stuff, transforming from desirable doctors and fierce firemen to muscular mile-high captains and sexy soldiers. Men of X will impress the audience with their heart-stopping choreography. The show was created by Angela and Matt Stabile, the husband and wife team that produces X Burlesque at the Flamingo Las Vegas. "The intimate setting of the Night Owl Showroom allows the audience to get up-close and personal and interact with the hot hunks," says producer Angela Stabile. Men of X performs nightly at 9 p.m. Tickets are priced at $39.95 for General Admission and $49.95 for VIP seating (plus tax and service fees), and can be purchased by calling 1-866-LVHOOTS (584-6687) or online at www.hooterscasinohotel.com. All shows are 21 years of age and over. * * * * * * This Thursday, March 19th, it's time for the F.I.O.R.E. (standing for Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) gang to get together again. According to Nelson Sardelli, who usually knows of what he speaks, this meeting will be an irregular regular meeting. In other words, it will be a regular meeting with some irregularities. Usually limited to just gentlemen, all of whom are presidents, due to many requests, for this special program, ladies and guests will be allowed and welcome. President Cork Proctor will present a preview of his one man show, Classic Tales of Las Vegas. This will cover eras from the '40s to the '90s, told by a man who grew up here. This should be a fun and memorable gathering. Lunch and the program will take place at the Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $20 per person. If you have not done so already, please RSVP to NonClubClubFiore@aol.com (note the new e-mail address). Visit the F.I.O.R.E. site at www.nonclubclubfiore.com. * * * * * * 
Paul Campanelle & Tiffany 
Barry Williams We are hearing positive things regarding the move of Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding from the Rio, where it had been entertaining guests for almost seven years, to its new home at Planet Hollywood. Actor/singer Paul Campanella, who co-stars in the popular show, reports that the new venue at Planet Hollywood is boosting crowd counts as well as their enthusiasm. There have been more changes than just the venue. Some of the dialog has been eliminated to make the interactive dinner show run more smoothly, and something new has been added. Guest personalities have been dropping in on the wedding, creating a whole new level of energy and excitement among both the cast and audience. During their first five weeks at Planet Hollywood, Tony n' Tina has welcomed Joseph R. "Joey G" Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore in The Sopranos, from 1999 to 2006); World Champion Wrestler, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and most recently, Tiffany, the singer known best for her hit recording of I Think We're Alone Now, to the wedding. Each time a new celebrity joins the cast, a special storyline is added for their involvement in the show. For example, Tiffany performed I Think We're Alone Now as part of her portion. Starting tonight (March 13th), Barry Williams, Greg Brady from TV's The Brady Bunch, joins the talented regulars for a two week period. The show, produced Raphael Berko and Jeff Gitlin, and directed by Larry Pellegrini, runs Mondays through Saturdays, starting at 7 p.m. in The Mezzanine level of Planet Hollywood. Robert Earl, owner of PH, along with Food and Beverage Manager Jay Grisafi and his staff, have really stepped up to the plate, serving one of the best buffets in the city, specifically designed for this fun-filled Italian wedding. They also offer table service for cocktails and a glass of champagne that is included in the ticket price. The cost to attend Tony n' Tina's Wedding, dinner included, ranges from $89.99 to $140.25. Call (702) 785-5055 for reservations.
* * * * * * Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G®), the first and only FAA-approved provider of commercial weightless flights, will host its exclusive ZERO-G Weightless Experience in Las Vegas, on March 21st. The experience offered by ZERO-G is the only commercial opportunity on Earth for individuals to experience true "weightlessness" without going into space. This is the identical weightless flight experience used by NASA to train its astronauts and used by Ron Howard and Tom Hanks to film Apollo-13. Each ZERO-G mission is designed for maximum fun. The aircraft's interior is a zero gravity playroom, complete with padded floors and walls and video cameras to record the unforgettable moments. When experiencing zero gravity, guests can fly the length of an airplane cabin like superman, flip like an Olympic gymnast, pour water in the air and watch the droplets hover before their eyes, release a handful of M&M's and chase them down like a game of human Pac-Man, and enjoy 10-times more hang-time than the world's best basketball player. It's not simulated; ZERO-G replicates the same levels of weightlessness enjoyed on Mars (1/3-gravity), the moon (1/6-gravity), and zero gravity. It's an experience unlike any other! ZERO-G guests will receive pre-flight training to maximize their ZERO-G Experience, private transportation to/from McCarran International Airport, ZERO-G flight suit and patch, personal photography by a world-class photographer, post-flight re-gravitation party, weightless flight award certificate, branded ZERO-G gifts, and the chance to experience the rare and exalted state of weightlessness. Weightless flight is a rare, unique opportunity to experience the total absence of gravity. Buzz Aldrin, Martha Stewart, Joey Fatone, Tony Hawk, Professor Stephen Hawking, Billy Bush, Amy Grant, and cast members of The Apprentice and The Biggest Loser are just a few notable passengers who've flown with ZERO-G and proclaimed it to be one of the most thrilling experiences of their lives. Flights last approximately two hours and deliver 15 separate weightless experiences, each lasting about 30 seconds. This is twice the amount of weightless time achieved in a typical sub-orbital flight into space. The ZERO-G Experience is offered at a price of $4,950 per seat plus tax. For more information, or to see pictures and video of the experience, visit www.gozerog.com. This unique experience moves around the country, with upcoming dates in Washington, DC, tomorrow; in Las Vegas on March 21st (this trip is Sold Out); June 20th at Cape Canaveral. Florida; June 28th in Seattle; July 11th in San Jose, California; and back in Vegas on July 18th and September 19th. Although Cousin Claire would love to be weightless, or maybe we mean she would love to "weigh less," she will be standing firmly on the ground, waving goodbye to the approximately 35 (maximum guest capacity) brave souls who decide to participate in these adventures. * * * * * * Letters. We get letters. We get lots and lots of letters. (Thank you, Perry Como.) And some of those letters we can actually print! For example... From George S. in San Diego, who writes... I found your site searching for news on Robin Williams. Myself and four golfing buddies had planned on seeing Robin in May while in LV. I went through the same aortic valve surgery a few years ago it's a rough surgery but sure makes a difference in my golf swing now. Hope Robin's outcome will be as successful as mine. I noticed your article on Donald Braswell. We, same golf group, were in LV pertaining to upcoming golf events the weekend Donald's show was at the Hilton. The only reason we went to Donald's show was because we were staying at the Hilton. He is one of the best entertainers I've ever seen. This man is the singing voice of the future. Tired of all the same untalented crap nowadays. Most male entertainers don't sing they scream because they can't carry a tune. We thoroughly enjoyed his show. He has one of the best voices I've heard in many years. He sure knows how to work a crowd the place was packed. Looking forward to seeing him again. Like your web site and thanks for the update on Robin Williams.
You are very welcome, George.
And in response to our last week column reference to Shear Madness, the interactive whodunit that was scheduled to open at Town Square a couple of months ago, comes this information from Terrence R. Williams, the show's executive producer... The show is still looking towards a Spring opening, there is a specific date, too, but it pays to keep out of the press until all your ducks are in a row (or at least that has been my experience). As for reasons (why the opening has been delayed), everyone wants to take a guess, but the truth of the matter is that all you have to do is turn on a TV or pick up a newspaper to see that the economy is continuing to spiral downward. ANY producer looking to open a show in this economy has to do what they can to position themselves to succeed. Things turned bad in December and continued down in January. So, we decided the best course of action was to step back, regroup, and revise our business plan, marketing plan, and quite frankly, even our lease at Town Square. All of these items take time, but I am happy to report that we are back on track again.
We are happy too, Terrence, and we look forward to seeing Shear Madness when it's up and running. We will have more about the show closer to its opening date. * * * * * * The approximately 200-seat chapel at the Trinity International School, housed in the Paradise Church at 2525 Emerson in southeast Las Vegas, was about three-quarters full on Sunday afternoon for The Singing Dresser concert. The Singing Dresser is one Isaias Hiram Urrabazo, whose "day job" (that takes place mostly at night) is working as a dresser for Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. Mr. Urrabazo, a native Las Vegan and one of eight children, designs costumes and collects costume drawings from film and television, many of which were on display at the Trinity International School on East Emerson where the concert took place. Isaias' true passion is singing. When you see him on stage, as he was on Sunday, that is quite evident. With his longtime friend, Michael Paul Wineski, at the piano, Isaias and some fellow cast mates from Phantom earned a standing ovation for their almost two hour performance. Some of the highlights included Isaias' versions of As If We Never Said Goodbye (from Sunset Boulevard), No One Is Alone (from Into the Woods), Bring Him Home and I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Miserables), Billy Joel's Lullaby (danced to by Courtney Combs), Loving You (from Mame), and Green Days' Wake Me Up When September Comes. Danielle White did a beautiful interpretation of Summertime, while Ian Jon Bourg did an excellent job on If Ever I Would Leave You (from Camelot) and This Is the Moment (from Jekyll and Hyde). Jason Forbach's campy Dressing Them Up from Kiss of the Spider Woman, was an audience favorite. The program, to benefit the Gateway Gallery, ended with a Beatles medley. It was a fun and inspiring afternoon. Photo of Danielle White by Don Cadette * * * * * * 
The Lion King 
Danielle White 
Mary Wilson For those of you who have been anxiously waiting, tickets for Disney's The Lion King go on sale tomorrow. The Tony Award-winning musical opens at the Mandalay Bay Theatre, formerly the home of Mamma Mia!, on May 5th. Beginning at 7 a.m., tickets can be purchased at the hotel's Events Center Box Office (get up early or stay up late). Phone or online sales start at 10 a.m. Prices will range from $53 to $168.50, plus applicable fees. Preview performances run through May 14th. The official opening night is May 15th. * * * * * * Belated birthday wishes to the supreme Mary Wilson. Ms. Wilson, who celebrated her 65th on the March 6th, looks and sounds great and works regularly. If you have the chance to see her perform, we recommend that you take the opportunity to do so. You will hear hits from her years with The Supremes, plus more contemporary favorites. Just her version of Artie Butler's Here's To Life, or I Am Changing from Dreamgirls (based on the career history of The Supremes) is worth the price of admission. Some of the places you can see Mary perform, and the dates, include April 25th, An Evening Under the Stars in Palm Springs; May 23rd and 24th at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights (near Spokane), Washington, where Mary will share the bill with Little Anthony & The Imperials; June 23rd through 28th, tour of England; and July 4th at the Riverfront Park in North Charleston, South Carolina (with Carolina favorites, the Blue Dogs). And speaking of Little Anthony & The Imperials, on April 4th, after half a century of making music together, the group will be inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in Cleveland. With hits including Tears On My Pillow, Goin' Out of My Head, Hurt So Bad, I'm On the Outside Looking In, and Take Me Back, this just proves the theory that all good things come to those who wait. 
Little Anthony & The Imperials 
Louis Prima & Keely Smith 
Lance Burton And speaking of birthdays, Vegas lounge legend, Keely Smith, celebrated her 77th birthday on Monday (March 9th). Is there anyone who has ever visited or read about Las Vegas who doesn't know that beginning in the '50s, Louis Prima and Keely Smith, with Sam Butera, were one of the pioneer and most popular acts in this desert community? Also, good wishes go out to magic man, Lance Burton, who celebrated his 49th on Tuesday. Burton continues ongoing performances in his own theater at the Monte Carlo. The story goes, that in August of 1994, Burton signed a 13-year contract (the longest contract given to any entertainer in Las Vegas history) with the Monte Carlo Resort in Las Vegas. The 1,274-seat Lance Burton Theater was built to Burton's specifications for his show. Costing $27 million, the theater opened on June 21st, 1996. Those 13 years are almost up, so will the Monte Carlo extend Mr. Burton's contract? Only time will tell. And to a happy, happy birthday to talented songwriter (Hayes Hotel among other things), Dana Allen, who is on the road with partner, artiste Frederic Kahler (somewhere between here and there). Dana celebrated his milestone big 6-0 on Wednesday the 11th. 
Dana Allen & Frederic Kahler 
Andrew "Dice" Clay 
KT Sullivan
* * * * * * Why are we not one bit surprised that the over-confident, Mr. Yesterday's News, Andrew "Dice" Clay, was the first one axed from the Donald Trump reality show, Celebrity Apprentice. It appears that the Dice Man, who in his heyday sold out large concert arenas, met his match in Trump very early in the game. What does surprise is, though, is the fact that it looks like Randy Andy is headed back to the Las Vegas Strip. Rumor has it that he will be going into what was formerly the Sugarcane Lounge at The Palazzo. The last time that we remember Clay playing Vegas, was at the Luxor in October/November of 2005. The Blue Man Group had relocated to The Venetian, when Andrew was booked into the 1700+ seat Luxor theater for one month (prior to the short-lived production of Hairspray). Tickets were priced at almost $90 per person. Not too surprisingly, there were more empty seats than full ones (the full ones occupied mostly by men) during that engagement. How will the risqué, chauvinistic, politically incorrect comic fare this time around? The fact that it will only be a 10 day gig (beginning on March 25th), in a smaller space, might help, but $65 a ticket? If you dare, call (702) 414-9000 for information and/or reservations. We have to admit that we were surprised that American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton, was the second to hear those famous Trump words, "You're fired." And the saga continues. * * * * * * A postcard, with a real stamp and everything, from songstress KT Sullivan, informs us of her upcoming engagement, from March 24th through April 11th, in New York's famed Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel. The show, called Dancing In the Dark, featuring the songs of Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, is directed by former Las Vegas entertainer, Eric Michael Gillett (Donn Arden's Hallelujah Hollywood at the MGM Grand [now Bally's], Bill Moore and George Arnold's Bal du Moulin Rouge at the Hilton, Maynard Sloate's A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum at the Union Plaza). Todd Firth is musical director for KT, with Steve Doyle accompanying on bass. * * * * * * Things are still cooking over at the Mezza Grill & Lounge, 9640 W. Tropicana near Ft. Apache. Filling in for Bill Fayne and Teddy Davey (off doing Las Vegas Tenors business) this coming Monday will be renown keyboardist, Michael Clark, who has played with the best, including Skip Martin, former lead singer with The Dazz Band and Kool & The Gang, now performing at Texas Station on Sundays, and vocalist Ronnie Rose, who seems to be everywhere, including House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Gordon Biersch on Paradise Road, and the Stirling Club at Turnberry. Jeanne Brei and the Speakeasy Swingers will be back at Mezza on St. Patrick's Day (Tuesday the 17th). Jeanne reports that they had lots of wonderful singers and musicians stop in last Tuesday, including Gary Marshal (Donn Arden's Hallelujah Hollywood at the MGM Grand, now Bally's; the 1967 film, Camelot; Phantom of the Opera, with Michael Crawford in Los Angeles) who sang Route 66, Just in Time, and A Foggy Day. Kimberly Arnold sang All The Way and Crazy, while Cecelia Richardson performed The Rose. Larry Liso, who stopped by to plug the Shades of Sinatra show coming up at the Suncoast in May, sang Jack Lawrence's Beyond The Sea. Saxophone master, Steve Johnson from the Las Vegas Classic Jazz Band, also made an appearance. Brei tells us that things are really cooking at Mezza - both in the kitchen and in the spotlight. The establishment serves great shish kebobs and is offering a free glass of wine with each entrée. Dinner, a glass of wine, and a show. Stop by and check out the place, the food, and all of the activities. 
Larry Liso And speaking of Larry Liso, he performs at Mezza on Thursday nights from 6 to 10 p.m. Expect talented drop in guests during his stage time as well. And not too far from Mezza, in the southwest part of Las Vegas, La Madonna Mexican Restaurant, featuring Mexican Avante-Garde Cuisine and a bar, will host a Gypsy Tea tomorrow (Saturday, the 14th) from 1 to 4 p.m. For $20 per person, guests will partake of delicious teas from around the world, along with scones and Devonshire cream and lemon, finger sandwiches and sweets. In addition, Faith Ann, and other psychic readers, will go from table to table to share their skills. La Madonna is located at 6115 S. Ft. Apache near W. Patrick Lane. For the psychic tea party, please RSVP to Faith at (702) 354-5686. For additional information about La Madonna, call (702) 586-0925. Last May, Las Vegas Review-Journal restaurant maven, Heidi Knapp Rinella, gave La Madonna an "A" rating (that's a good thing). * * * * * * Reminders - It's piano man Wes Winters at the Clark County Flamingo Library at 2:30 p.m., Monday. Presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada, Winters will be doing his tribute to Liberace, with special guests magicians Joseph Gabriel and Katalin, and the "Dolly Dancers." Ticket prices are $15, and may be purchased at the library box office an hour before show time. The library is located at 1401 E. Flamingo, near Maryland Parkway. See you there. Looks like the rumors we heard about comic Bobby Slayton going into the Comedy Stop space at the Tropicana may be true. We just got a release from the Trop instructing us to remove all listings regarding the Comedy Stop, as it will close after Sunday night's show. Slayton recently closed at Hooters, making room for the above mentioned Men of X, who will now share the Night Owl Showroom with Gerry McCambridge, The Mentalist. We will have more on this next Friday.
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Tags: Brent Barrett Rebecca Spencer Gerry McCambridge Men Of X Cork Proctor Barry
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 - March 6, 2009  Rebecca Spencer & Philip Fortenberry  Robin Williams  Shear Madness If you missed piano virtuoso Philip Fortenberry with his special guest, singer/actress Rebecca Spencer, at the Liberace Museum last week, you missed something special, really special. The show opened and closed with a touch of Liberace - starting with the King of Bling's brilliant and classical version of Chopsticks, played by Philip, and ending with Rebecca's beautiful interpretation of I'll Be Seeing You, Liberace's signature closing tune. In between, the twosome performed a wonderful mix of songs, including selections from their collaborative CDs, Wide Awake and Dreaming and Fair Warning. In the musical lineup was Over the Rainbow, On My Way To You/I've Got You Under My Skin, I'm Looking For Something In Red, Amazing Grace/Hymns, Anything Can Happen (done with a Scott Joplin-feel), The Girl Who Used to Be Me, Stardust/Deep Purple, Fair Warning (based on a poem called Warning by Jenny Joseph, seen below), and Eat, Drink and Be Mary (one among a number of the songs written by clever Keith Thompson, musical director for Jersey Boys). Spotted in the very receptive audience were Dennis Bono and Lorraine Hunt-Bono, Bruce Ewing, Jason Forbach, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Lee Richey, Jerry Ritholz, and Thompson. Fortenberry is the assistant musical director for Jersey Boys at the Palazzo. Rumor has it that Rebecca and Philip are currently working on a third collaborative album. We can hardly wait. Warning, a poem by Jenny Joseph When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple. We had a busy weekend. In addition to taking in the above mentioned show last Saturday afternoon, on Sunday, we attended the matinee performance of John Guare's House of Blue Leaves at the Las Vegas Little Theatre. Directed by Walter Niejadlik, the dark comedy featured, in order of appearance, Stephen McMillan, Michael Blair, Kathleen Etor, Valerie Carpenter-Bernstein, Kate Lowenhar-Fisher, Ellen Radcliff, Kelley Goode, Daci Overby, Eliseo Otero, Steven Goldstein and Nathan Ferrier. Although we weren't crazy about Guare's story line (with "crazy" being the operative word here), we were quite impressed with the acting, especially by McMillan, Etor, Carpenter-Bernstein, Lowenhar-Fisher and Ferrier. The next production for the Las Vegas Little Theatre, from March 27th through April 12th, is Douglas Carter Beane's As Bees in Honey Drown. Call (702) 362-7996. On Sunday night, we made our first visit to the newly opened piano bar/cabaret, Don't Tell Mama. The establishment is owned by Minh Pham, who operated New York's Don't Tell Mama for almost 20 years before moving to Las Vegas. Located on Fremont Street, just east of Las Vegas Blvd. and Neonopolis, the 96-seat club should become a popular hangout for music lovers, especially music lovers who also sing. We spent more than three hours at Don't Tell Mama, listening to talented folks like Thom Culcasi, Christopher Lash, New York transplant Phillip Officer, Lisa Wilson, and a new face and voice for us, Brooke (last name unknown), performing songs including Time After Time, A Foggy Day, New York State of Mind, Manhattan, The Girl From Ipanema, Here I Am (from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), At Last, Stephen Schwartz's Meadowlark, I Am Changing (from Dreamgirls), What I Did for Love (from A Chorus Line), My Funny Valentine, I'm Not Afraid of Anything (from Songs For a New World), Night and Day, I'd Rather Be Sailing, Yesterday, I'll Remember April, Here's That Rainy Day, Stormy Weather, Hernando's Hideaway, Unchained Melody, Moving Too Fast (from The Last 5 Years), Out Here On My Own, and a lovely duet sung by Phillip and Lisa, called Who Will Love Me As I Am? (from Side Show, in which Officer appeared). Mama's is open from 8 p.m., seven nights a week. All of the wait staff and bartenders sing. The mic is open for drop in guests who have talent. There is no cover charge, and the drinks are reasonable, with "fancy" beverages like Mama's Refresher (Absolut Citron and lemonade), Play It Again Sam (Sambuca Romano and Stoli), Mama's Melons (Midori Melon Liqueur and Gray Goose), Mama's Mad Margarita (Patron Silver, Cointreau, Lime Juice and Sweet n' Sour), and Papa-tini (Crown Royal, Granny's Sour Apple and Cranberry Juice), going for $8. If you enjoy Broadway show tunes, the American songbook, pop and cabaret standards, this place could become your new hangout. The address is 517 Fremont Street, cattycorner from the El Cortez hotel. Call (702) 207-0788. We will definitely be back there. * * * * * * Late breaking news...Grammy and Academy Award-winning actor Robin Williams, who was scheduled to bring his new stand-up routine, Weapons of Self-Destruction, to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a night of pure comedy on May 25th, will postpone his one-man tour due to health issues. According to a statement from his rep, the 57-year-old actor and comedian is planning to have surgery for an aortic valve replacement. We will keep readers posted on this situation. * * * * * * In Las Vegas, mystery and magic always prevail. The mystery part involves a missing show. The interactive Shear Madness, originally scheduled to open at Town Square on Las Vegas Blvd. South in early December, didn't. Then it was announced it would open in January. Today, if you can find any reference to it at all, it indicates the Las Vegas version of Shear Madness, billed as "America's Longest Running Comedy," will debut here in the Spring...of what year, they aren't saying. Calling any of the phone numbers shown in the full-page, four-color ads running in some of the tourist publications, get answering machines. 
Siegfried & Roy 
Lou Ruvo Brain Center The magic part involves Siegfried and Roy. Last Saturday, the illusionists returned to the stage for a one-night-only special performance. The event, held at Bellagio, was to benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The center, which will treat brain disorders like those Horn now suffers, is set to open later this year in a bizarre-looking building designed by famed architect, Frank Gehry (see accompanying photo). It has been more than five years since a brutal tiger attack ended the careers of the longtime Las Vegas duo. Roy Horn, now 63, and Siegfried Fischbacher, who is 69, had been stage partners for 45 years when, on October 3rd of 2003 (Roy's 59th birthday), a Bengal tiger named Montecore sank his teeth into Horn's neck during a live performance and dragged him offstage in front of a stunned audience. As the result of the attack and a possible stroke, Roy was left partially paralyzed. After 13 years and more than 5,000 performances, Siegfried and Roy's production at The Mirage ended. During the brief charity show, the German-born showmen, responsible for one of the most successful shows in Las Vegas entertainment history, appeared on stage with Montecore, the 380-pound white tiger that mauled Roy on that fateful day in 2003. What the audience saw was a version of one of the duos' signature illusions, a slowly performed metamorphosis. Siegfried, dressed in a white robe and a mask, stood inside a cage. The cage was then covered. Seconds later, Roy, dressed in black robes with his face covered with a skeletal mask, removed the cover. In Siegfried's place was a tiger, while the white cloaked magician appeared across stage. We have had questions and comments from a number of people since last weekend's - some who saw the performance and others who didn't. Was there more to this than met the eye? Was it, in fact, really Roy on stage for that illusion? Why did the twosome wear masks to cover their faces? Siegfried and Roy - The Magic Returns, with footage of the charity performance, and interviews with the two men conducted by Elizabeth Vargas, will air tonight in a one-hour special on ABC's 20/20. Watch it, and see what YOU think. * * * * * * Here we go again. We hope that Trent Carlini, the Elvis tribute artist who was the big winner on 200-'s The Next Best Thing, has better luck at the Steve Wyrick Entertainment Complex than any of his predecessors. Since the 500-seat theater, located in the mall adjacent to Planet Hollywood, opened in early 2007, we have watched numerous talented entertainers - including ventriloquist, Ronn Lucas; Filipino superstar, singer Martin Nievera; Aga Boom, Mega Bubble Man, Fan Yang; impressionist, Tom Dane; and Liberace tribute performer, Wes Winters - come and go from the theater. Lucas was the longevity champ, managing to stick it out at the Wyrick for about five months. The "divorces" have seldom been amicable, with one of the acts threatening a lawsuit. The only success story involving the Wyrick is Defending the Caveman. Scheduled to be one of the opening acts at the Wyrick two years ago, Caveman wisely bailed before the theater was up and running. Instead of the Strip location, Kevin Burke took his one-man-show to the Golden Nugget, where it played for about a year-and-a-half, before moving to the Excalibur in December. Smart move, Mr. Burke. 
Trent Carlini 
Doug Davidson 
Jennifer Hudson * * * * * * If you are a fan of TV's The Price Is Right or The Young and the Restless, or, especially, if you are a fan of both shows, do we have a deal for you! Doug Davidson, the award-winning actor who has portrayed Paul Williams on the popular daytime soap since 1978, is hosting The Price Is Right Live! stage show at Bally's through March 14th. Davidson was nominated for his first Daytime Emmy in 2003 in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, he was honored with Soap Opera Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 1992 and 1997, and for Outstanding Hero in 1990 and 1991. In addition to hosting the Tournament of Roses Parade for six years, Davidson was the master of ceremonies for the Miss California Pageant and hosted the nighttime version of The Price is Right. He co-starred in the Judith Krantz mini-series, I'll Take Manhattan, The Initiation of Sarah, and in the feature film, Mr. Write, alongside Paul Reiser. When not working, Davidson and his wife, actress Cindy Fisher, contribute much time to various charity activities. Married since 1984, Doug and Cindy are the parents of two teenagers, 19-year-old Calyssa, and her 16-year-old brother, Caden. The Price is Right Live! is an interactive game show experience that features fan-favorite games such as "Plinko," "Cliff Hangers," "The Big Wheel," "Hole in One," and, of course, "The Showcase." Just like the classic TV show, eligible audience members, chosen at random, have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in prizes such as vacation packages, jewelry, appliances and even a new car. The audience is also treated to hilarious outtake clips from the on-air show. The live show is presented Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. in the Jubilee! Theater. Tickets are $49.50 (plus tax and service charge) and are available at the Bally's and Paris box offices, or by calling (702) 967-4567 or toll free at 1-877-374-7469. Tickets can also be purchased via www.ballyslasvegas.com. There is no age requirement for ticket holders. Contestants must be at least 21 years of age. Bally's invites you to "Come On Down" and play! * * * * * * Tickets for the Palms Casino Resort's presentation of Jennifer Hudson and Robin Thicke go on sale tomorrow (Saturday, March 7th) at 2 p.m. Academy Award winner Hudson (for her debut film role as in Dreamgirls), and Grammy winning, platinum recording artist Thicke, will co-headline at The Pearl Concert Theater as part of their five-week U.S. tour on Friday, May 1st. The tour brings together a powerhouse of two of the most distinctive and enduring voices in the current world of R&B music. World-renowned for her astonishing live vocals, this marks the first official tour for Hudson, who recently won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for her self-titled debut album. With the release of last September's single, Spotlight, Hudson landed on to Billboard's Top 200 chart, entering as No. 2, the biggest first week for a debut R&B female since November 2004, when third season American Idol winner, Fantasia Barrino's, I Believe, hit the charts. Hudson's current single, If This Isn't Love, continues to climb the charts. Robin Thicke, the award-winning artist, returned to center stage with the 2008 release, Something Else. The '70s soul and pop inspired album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, making it Thicke's highest charted album to date. The Evolution of Robin Thicke (2007) featuring the hit, Lost Without U, is on its way to double platinum status. The song held multiple positions on the Billboard charts and was the most played song on the Urban Adult Contemporary BDS. This event is presented by Andrew Hewitt and Live Nation. Tickets are $55, $75 and $85, plus any additional service fees. Please visit any Ticketmaster location, call 1-800-745-3000, visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com to purchase tickets. The Pearl Box Office is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and show time is 8 p.m. 
Robin Thicke 
Rita Rudner 
Donald Braswell * * * * * * Here is today and tonight's (March 6th) First Friday schedule from our friends at the Neon Venus Art Theatre. They have some great activities planned, beginning with a 2 p.m. Art Installation/Fashion Show (makeup starts), followed at 4 p.m. by an Art Installation Shoot (photographers and models). From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. it's the Drum Circle. A songwriter's showcase, presented by two-time Grammy- nominee, Walter Morciglio, takes place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. More music follows, with Neon Venus, Breeze, XOCH, and Shy Tree. At 11:15 p.m., the comedy troupe, Sketchofrenics, takes over. The cost for all of this is a requested $1 donation. The Neon Venus Art Theatre is located at 1404 S. 3rd St., between Utah and Imperial. * * * * * * Marsha Ross, in cooperation with the Las Vegas Jazz Society, presents Basie! Blues! & Beyond!, featuring the legendary Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra. The concert will take place on Saturday, March 7th, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Black Label Tavern, 3550 S. Decatur Blvd. A $10 contribution for the musicians would be appreciated...after all, horn players have to eat too! And speaking of the Jazz Society...Jessica Zuch, of Jazz Notes!, the newsletter of the Las Vegas Jazz Society, had some very nice things to say about Woody Woods' February 15th performance at the Summerlin Library. Zuch writes, "...the Summerlin Library Theater enthusiastically appreciated the Woody Woods Orchestra and guest performers' vibrant tribute to Black History Month. The show, 'Journey of the Drum,' explored the origins and evolution of Jazz: America's original art form. Woods artfully expressed his message by incorporating a variety of genres including music, dance, poetry, the spoken word and improvisation. Guest performers included Sophia Lelis, China Hudson, Queens of the Mystic Law, Laurence T., Melanie "Babydoll" Wallace, Sonya Randall, the Jester Hairston Singers (National Association of Negro Musicians), and the Gifford Youth Orchestra from Florida. Woody Woods began this tribute to Black History Month with a powerful original composition entitled, 'Drum Song, a dance and poem combining Jazz and Classical musical elements. This moving piece was performed using timpani drums and featured the sumptuous dancing of Sonya Randall. "Drum Song" highlighted the percussive origins of Jazz music's historic roots in African drumming. The next selection, "Here's One," an Afro-American spiritual, paid tribute to its composer, William Grant Still, one of America's most important composers. He wrote over one hundred and fifty compositions, and was the first Afro-American composer whose symphony was performed by a major American orchestra. In addition, Still was the first Afro-American to conduct a major American orchestra and have his opera performed by a major opera company. The essence of Sunday's performance was captured luminously in Woody Woods' arrangement of this piece, and featured the lead vocals of Henrietta Scott and the NANM Choir "Modonna," the program's next selection, is an original compositions by Woody Woods, reflecting the birth of Afro-Cuban rhythm, and combining two rhythms, 4/4 and 6/8. The first part of the piece featured the sensual, interpretive dancing of China Hudson who, along with the distinguished voice and spoken-word technique of Lou Jarrett, creatively expressed a poem about Modonna, African Queen of the Earth. A brilliant aspect of this piece was the dancers who brought so much to the stage and to the program! As the program continued, we found ourselves captivated by two pieces which demonstrated the importance of the Underground Railroad during the times of the slavery, "Boom By," a poem and dance composed and performed by Queen Ester (sic) of the dynamic duo, Queens of the Mystic Law, is a tribute to Harriett Tubman, an Afro-American abolitionist and humanitarian, who helped start and facilitate the 'Underground Railroad', a network of antislavery activists and safe houses. She helped many slaves escape their conditions and move to the northern part of the US and Canada. At that time, important warnings and messages about escape plans were coded through spirituals. "Canaan Land,' by Mahalia Jackson, featuring Melanie "Babydoll" Wallace and the NANM Choir, was an excellent example of a spiritual that communicated a message through code. This message talked about going up north to Canada... and to freedom. Another highlights of the event was Sophia Lelis' gorgeous singing of Quincy Jones' Miss Ciely's Blues (the award winning song from the movie 'The Color Purple'). Sophia has remarkable range and quality, couple with the ability to pull the listener into a magical place. Bass-Baritone, Laurence T., followed and rocked the audience with a rendition of "Route 66", and a moving "My Funny Valentine", in ad deep, sonorous voice reminiscent of Joe Williams. This review would not be complete without mentioning the Gifford Youth Orchestra who were featured in a rendition of Duke Ellington's classic, "In A Sentimental Mood", and "A New Day", a Woody Woods original. Additionally, the fine "Jazz Set" interlude, featuring several members of the orchestra in improvisation, created an exciting jam session atmosphere. Woods' excellent sextet included Ken Seifert/Bass, Rick Powell/Drums, Mike Fredrickson/Guitar, Joel Gibson/Trumpet and the enjoyable Frank "Jiggs" Hemsley/Tenor Sax. The concert closed with the powerful piece, "Spiritual," by W. Woods, movingly delivered by Laurence T. and Choir. At the end of the program, the whole ensemble was applauded for several minutes by a crowd who rose from their seats to cheer and scream their approval. There could be no more fitting a tribute to Black History Month than this: the Las Vegas Jazz Society has presented a unique and magnificent program to honor our country's Black History! Since graduating from UNLV's Jazz Studies program with a Master's Degree, pianist Jessica Zuch has been playing at the Wynn/Encore and at other venues around town. * * * * * * Tomorrow night, An Evening in the Catskills, featuring Rita Rudner and the Klezmer Conservatory, will provide the entertainment for a Spring Gala honoring Jim and Beverly Rogers, 2009 Champions of Freedom Award recipients. The event, sponsored by the Jewish Federation, and promising "food, dancing, community and comedy," will take place at the Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa, with a reception starting at 6:30 and dinner at 7:15. Tickets are $175 per person and may be purchased by calling (702) 732-0556, extension #233. * * * * * * Based on some recent e-mails that we received, it is apparent that Donald Braswell is a real ladies man. Braswell, a finalist in last season's America's Got Talent reality show, was a headliner in the Hilton showroom on Valentine's Day weekend. We had wondered how the America's Got Talent competitor would fare in that great big room. Our readers let us know. Not too surprisingly, most of the letters came from women. Here are a few of them... As we mentioned in an earlier column, Cherie in Denver wrote, "I was in Vegas for the Donald Braswell concert, which was outstanding! Did you see it? Why aren't there reviews of the show anywhere?" We responded to Cherie, saying that we didn't see Mr. Braswell during his Hilton showroom engagement. We also said that we hoped the singer did well in his first solo Vegas appearance, but we thought the 1,600-seat Hilton theater was a risk for a newcomer (unless, it was Michael Buble), and asked for feedback from readers on the subject. From the above mentioned Cherie, comes this additional information..."YES, Donald sold the house out! There were a few seats in the balcony open, but they had to bring in about a hundred conference chairs for the aisle (between the upper and lower room) and stage wings. The security guard said they only do that when it is sold out. Donald ROCKED the house! He was amazing! He sang us down memory lane with songs by people like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darren (sic), and an Elvis that made the audience raucous. He sings Unchained Melody like nobody else. His composition, Look at Me brings you to tears. He did Knights in White Satin in Italian! Spectacular entertainer! He is doing a PBS special on March 15th for a 5 state area and Canada. On March 21st he starts his North American concert tour "New Beginnings" in Asheville NC. Sorry you missed him." From Shelley in Connecticut, "FYI, Donald Braswell is, in my opinion, a better talent then even Michael Buble, and a more total entertainment package! I'm not dissing Michael, I like him, but Donald Braswell is a much better talent, just fact. Donald's show at the Hilton, last Sunday (2/15/2009) was sold out and most were disappointed he was only there one night. You owe it to yourself to go see Donald Braswell if comes to Las Vegas again and I am certain he will. I promise you will have a tremendously enjoyable and refreshing experience. Donald Braswell, I believe, is the best singer AGT or American Idol or even Las Vegas has ever offered!" Beverly in Idaho writes, " I attended Donald Braswell's show at the Hilton on Feb. 15, 2009. Any newcomer is taking a risk, so I don't see that as an issue. This one however seems to have paid off as the 1600 seat auditorium was almost filled to capacity. There were a few seats in the balcony. I would say as a "reader" and a "viewer" that makes a pretty huge statement all on it's own. The show was full of variety, excitement, humor and seriousness. I am sorry you didn't see it. You would have a very different view. Hopefully the next time he comes to town and he will, you will take the time to see his show. It was worth the trip from Idaho. This proved people WILL come to see him and they WILL buy his music." From Linda in Canyon Lake, Texas, "I was fortunate to be in Las Vegas Feb. 15th when Donald Braswell performed at the Las Vegas Hilton. The concert, I must say, was the best I have ever been to. Donald Braswell is a versatile singer who will steal your heart. I was impressed with his song choices, presentation of them and mostly his voice. I feel Donald Braswell is a talent that deserves to be recognize. I am hoping that he will be scheduled again in Las Vegas so that I can return and see him perform again. The best part of my entire trip to Las Vegas was seeing Donald Braswell perform on stage at the Hilton. I purchased his CD "New Chapter" after the concert and it is the most calming, soothing CD I have ever heard. It certainly is worth every penny. I plan on finding out where Donald Braswell will be performing next and will be at that concert also." Barbara in Florida has this to say, "I was wondering if you had the good fortune of attending Donald Braswell's concert the other night at the Hilton. The show was by far the best one that I have ever seen in Vegas or anywhere else. Donald has the most beautiful voice I ever heard. It is so rich and smooth and so full of emotion. Add to that the fact that he is so charismatic and charming, and you have the perfect combination for a fantastic show. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to see this fabulous entertainer in a live concert. Hopefully, the powers that be will bring him back to Vegas again and again." Judy in Cincinnati states, "Claire, I am so sorry you missed Donald Braswell's show! If the theater size was a gamble for a newcomer, this gamble paid off with him winning big! Honest, if you like Michael Buble, you'll LOVE Donald Braswell! I didn't get to attend on Feb 15, but I keep hearing glowing reports from friends who did, and every time I talk with them, they recall more details. I'm kicking myself for not being there! However, my husband and I will definitely come to Vegas for Donald's next show, with my cousin from Florida and her husband joining us for it. I hope it gets scheduled soon and wish you the good fortune of attending. Take care and be well!" And, once again, Cherie in Denver speaks her mind. "Yes Claire, Donald Braswell's show on 2/15 was sold out. He was magnificent! He ROCKED the house. I think he is the best singer I have ever heard in my life...and I've been around a long time. When he plays Vegas again (I say "when" because they HAVE to bring him back), you must go see him. He will amaze you with his range of talent. FABULOUS ENTERTAINER!" We hope the decision-makers at the Hilton are listening to their customers. We wouldn't be surprised to learn that the hotel has also gotten their fair share of Braswell fan mail.
* * * * * * From Lisa Dawn Miller, proud daughter of the late songwriter, Ron Miller, comes a note regarding last Friday's (February 25th) concert at the White House, honoring Stevie Wonder. President Obama presented Wonder with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. With the new president, the first lady, and Wonder himself in the front row, Tony Bennett performed Ron Miller's For Once In My Life. The song, sung by both Bennett and Wonder, was included on Bennett's award-winning 2006 Duets: An American Classic album. To view the White House performance, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQPjlLc5tHk. 
Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder 
Jessye Norman * * * * * * Tomorrow, March 7th, at 8 p.m., former Las Vegan, Lucy Shropshire, will be a part of Sacred Ellington, made up of excerpts from Duke Ellington's magnificent Three Sacred Concerts. The performance will take place at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue in New York city. Ellington wrote and performed one of his Three Sacred Concerts at the Cathedral in 1968. He lived nearby, and the Cathedral was a sanctuary of central importance in his life. The concert will feature famed soprano, Jessye Norman, who also organized this homage to Ellington. Also lending their talent, Mark Markham, music director and piano; Maurice Chestnut, tap dancer; Margie Gillis, dancer; The Flux Quartet, made up of Tom Chiu (violin), Conrad Harris (violin), Max Mandel (viola), and Felix Fan (cello); Sacred Voices (with a very proud Ms. Shropshire contributing), and additional artists to be announced. Lawrence Hamilton directs. Tickets were $40 per person. We say "were," because the performance is SOLD OUT. This concert is supported, in part, by the A.L. and Jennie L. Luria Foundation. Please visit www.carnegiehall.org or call CarnegieCharge at 212 247-7800 for information about other Carnegie Hall events. * * * * * * Las Vegas was well-represented at Jim Caruso's Cast Party on February 23rd. Clint Holmes and wife, Kelly Clinton, along with the very musical Bill Fayne, were quite a hit at New York's famed Birdland on Monday, February 23rd. Caruso's weekly party attracts the stars of the cabaret world, and a loyal bunch of cabaret fans, so the Vegas reps fit in very well. Clint knocked the audience out with the song 1944 from his bio-musical, Just Another Man, as well as If Not Now, When and I Sing. Kelly had the honor of doing her version of the funny Bald Headed Men in front of the songs' writer, Christine Lavin. Mrs. Holmes so charmed the crowd, including Paige Davis (seen in accompanying photo), best known as a host of the reality TV series, Trading Spaces, she was asked to do her take on Cher and Wayne Newton (who Kelly sang backup for a few years ago). This trio was a definite smash in the Big Apple. Clint returns to the Suncoast, March 20th through the 22nd. Photo of Paige Davis, Holmes and Clinton by Steve Sorokoff 
Paige Davis, Clint Holmes & Kelly Clinton 
Isaias Hiram Urrabazo 
Sherrie Maricle * * * * * * Those folks at Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular are a charitable, generous, community-minded bunch. This Sunday, from 3 to 5 p.m., Isaias Hiram Urrabazo, also known as The Singing Dresser, will head up a musical program to benefit the Gateway Gallery's scholarship fund. Gateway is a 501-c3 non-profit organization. Isaias, a member of the Phantom team, will share his magnificent voice and stories of his life as a performer, costumer and dresser to the stars. He will also present part of his outstanding collection of original costume renderings. Joining him will be Phantom cast members, Jason Forbach, Danielle White, Ian Jon Bourg, and Courtney Combs. Michael Paul Wineski will be a special guest. The program will feature pop standards and selections from Broadway musicals such as Man of La Mancha, Porgy and Bess, Camelot, Jekyll and Hyde, and Les Miserables. The event will be held at the Trinity International School, located at 2525 Emerson Avenue, east of Eastern, between Desert Inn and Flamingo. Seating is limited and reservations are suggested. A donation of $15 is appreciated. For information and to RSVP, please call (702) 255-0695. Next Sunday, March 15th, cast members Andrew Ragone, Megan Starr-Levitt, Tina Walsh, and Scott Watanabe, will present Heart & Music at the Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 8601 Del Webb Blvd. in Summerlin, on Sunday, March 15th. With William Waldrop as musical director, will perform selections from the Broadway musical theater at a 3 p.m. show. There is no set charge for the concert, but a free will donation is requested. * * * * * * Monday's Las Vegas Review-Journal consisted of only 52 pages, with eight of those pages being the Las Vegas Sun section. A number of major daily newspapers around the country have either stopped the presses...permanently, or are seeking bankruptcy protection to try and survive. Hopefully, Nevada's Largest Newspaper will fare better. * * * * * * Jeanne Brei reports that it didn't take long for the folks to find her group, The Speakeasy Swingers, at the Mezza Lounge & Grill. After just one night at the city's newest hotspot, last Sunday night, around 16 swing dancers showed up, and Tuesday night, it was singers night out. Lisa Smith, from Shades of Sinatra, sat in and sang Summertime. Lisa's husband, Ron Smith, was recently hired as swing for King Arthur in the Excalibur's Tournament of Kings. Teddy Davey, of the Las Vegas Tenors, sang Nature Boy, and did a duet with Jeanne on Just in Time, and Kimberly Arnold sang Patsy Cline's Crazy. Kimberly is the daughter of Jimmy Arnold, the original lead tenor with The Four Lads. Pianist also Ronnie Simone also stopped in. The Speakeasy Swingers will be performing at Mezza on Tuesdays this month (March 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st), from 6 to 9 p.m. The group's regular players include Charlie Shaffer on piano, Bob Sachs on bass, Gary Olds on drums, Don Hill on sax, Merv Harding on trumpet, Bobby Scann on trombone, and Brei on vocals. As Shaffer had a previous commitment last Tuesday, Ned Mills subbed for him. Bill Fayne and Davey, who usually entertain at Mezza on Monday's, are working a cruise ship this week, so singer Ronnie Rose and pianist Mike Clark will fill in for them. Larry Liso is in the spotlight on Thursdays and Fridays, with Mediterranean music on Fridays and Saturdays after 10 p.m. There is no cover or minimum at Mezza, located at 9640 W. Tropicana near Ft. Apache. Call (702) 489-4493 for other information. * * * * * * This Sunday, March 8th, the University of Nevada Las Vegas Department of Music's Jazz Studies Area and the Las Vegas Jazz Society is presenting a very special event. Sponsored by Southern Wine & Spirits, it's Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra with the UNLV Contemporary Jazz Ensemble I in a 4 p.m. concert at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theater. With New York as their home base, DIVA is an ensemble of 15 extremely talented and versatile musicians who just happen to be women, headed by swinging drummer, Sherrie Maricle. The inspiration for DIVA came from Stanley Kay, one-time manager and relief drummer for Buddy Rich. In 1990, Kay was conducting a band in which Maricle was playing the drums. Kay immediately picked up on her extraordinary talent and began to wonder if there were other women players who could perform at the same level. The search was on, and a nationwide audition of players produced the foundation for The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, a core group of musicians who performed their first concert in March of 1993. In 2006, DIVA was voted one of the best big bands in the world in both DownBeat magazine's annual Critic's and Reader's Polls. They have received critical acclaim performing in some of the world's most prestigious music venues, among them Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra (the concert was Sold Out), John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, Verizon Jazz Festival at New York's Lincoln Center, Blue Note in New York, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Hollywood Bowl for the Playboy Jazz Festival, Cinegrill in Hollywood, Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, Symphony Halls in St. Louis, Philadelphia and Cleveland, and the Apollo Theater in New York. International appearances include Le Meridien Hotel in Paris, France; Teatro de Sistina in Rome, Italy; Berlin Jazz Festival in Germany; Salzburg Music Festival in Austria; Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland; Montreal and Ottawa International Jazz Festivals in Canada; Bogota International Jazz Festival in Colombia; Jamaica Jazz Festival; Zagreb Jazz Festival in Croatia; and the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland. DIVA is a concert jazz orchestra steeped in the history of jazz but infused with the progressive harmonies of today. The band plays contemporary, mainstream big band jazz, composed and arranged by band members and renowned writers, including Tommy Newsom, Ellen Rowe, Rich Shemaria, and Scott Whitfield. DIVA's unique sound is a result of their repertoire being composed expressly for the individual personalities of the musicians themselves. What audiences can expect to hear is powerful ensemble playing and creative soloists playing with all the spontaneity, originality and finesse of the jazz masters who have preceded them. DIVA has performed with many artists, including Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Diane Schuur, DeeDee Bridgewater, Rosemary Clooney, Jack Jones, Clark Terry, Dr. Billy Taylor, Terry Gibbs, Tommy Newsom, and Randy Brecker, in both the United States and abroad. Television appearances include multiple features on CNN's Arts Break, CBS Sunday Morning, a spotlight presentation on the Kennedy Center's 25th Anniversary Special, a feature on Japanese television's NHK network, as well as various local cable programs. Music critics all over the world have praised DIVA's most recent CD, TNT - A Tommy Newsom Tribute. The band's other CDs include, Live in Concert, I Believe in You, Leave it to DIVA, and Something's Coming. Tickets to Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra with the UNLV Contemporary Jazz Ensemble I Band are $20 general admission, $15 for Jazz Society members, and $10 for UNLV students, faculty and staff. Tickets can be purchased at the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office or by calling 895-ARTS (2787).
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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 - February 27, 2009 
Michael Troy Wieser 
Eric Marientha 
Frankie Laine at 90 Local model and friend to many, Michael Troy Wieser, died on Wednesday, February 25th. He was only 27. Michael was one of 12 children adopted by Richard and Sheila Wieser. He attended schools in La Crescent, Minnesota, graduating in 1999. Michael was a standout athlete in football, basketball and baseball. He was named Tribune Coulee Region Player of the Year in basketball. He accepted an athletic scholarship to the North Dakota State University to play football for the Bison where he was named Division II All-America. He moved to Las Vegas after graduating from NDSU in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration. While he was a student at NDSU, Michael was diagnosed with Wilson's Disease. Wilson's Disease is a genetic disorder that is fatal unless detected and treated before serious illness from copper poisoning develops. Wilson's Disease affects approximately one in 30,000 people worldwide. The rare, genetic defect causes excessive copper accumulation in the liver or brain. When his condition worsened recently, it was determined that Michael's only hope was a liver transplant. Three transplant centers had denied him access to consideration, based on a complex policy which denies transplants based on 'non-compliance' with maintaining treatment over the years. Michaels 'non-compliance' was the result of not having medical insurance, a problem shared by too many in this country. About a week ago, Michael was airlifted from Las Vegas' Spring Valley Hospital to the famed Mayo Clinic Transplant Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Sadly, he died before a suitable donor could be found. In addition to his parents, Michael is survived by his 11 siblings and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, March 2, at La Crescent Crucifixion Church in La Crescent with Father Havel officiating. Burial will be at Crucifixion Cemetery immediately following. Family and friends may call on Sunday, March 1, at Crucifixion Church in La Crescent from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Schumacher – Kish and the McCormick Funeral Homes will be assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family to be shared among organizations and charities dear to Michael's heart. A benefit account, to assist the family with final medical and funeral expenses, has been set up in Michael Troy Wieser's name at Merchants Bank, 316 Main Street, La Crescent, MN 55947. A private memorial service will be held in Las Vegas this weekend. A public fundraiser will be announced soon. When we get the details, we will pass the information along to our readers. Our sympathies go out to Michael's family and friends. * * * * * * If you are reading this early enough, tonight at 7:30, the UNLV Department of Music, Jazz Studies Area, in recognition of Black History Month, presents the 2009 Invitational Jazz Festival, featuring the UNLV Jazz Faculty with special guests, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and Joe LaBarbera on drums. Tomorrow night, Saturday, February 28th, at 7:30 p.m., it's the UNLV Jazz Concert, featuring the UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, with Eric Marienthal on saxophone, vocalist Marlena Shaw, and the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Band. These programs, co-sponsored by the Las Vegas Jazz Society, will be held in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theater. For ticket information, call the UNLV Performing Arts Center at (702) 895-2787. * * * * * * Two years after the death of Frankie Laine, and the day before what would have been his 96th birthday, the first of what is hoped to become an annual event, will take place in San Diego on March 29th. A Frankie Laine Birthday Toast, presenting an afternoon of video clips, music, sharing memorable stories, and great food (there will be a no host bar), will honor Mr. Rhythm at Spaghetteria, 1953 India Street in San Diego. With hits such as Jezebel, That Lucky Old Sun, I Believe, Moonlight Gambler, Mule Train, That's My Desire, and the themes from films and television such as High Noon, Blazing Saddles and Rawhide to his credit, Laine was one of the top recording artists of his generation. The gathering of family, friends and fans (of which he had millions) will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost is $20 per person in advance, and $25 at the door. Seating is limited. Please RSVP by March 20th. Check or money order may be sent to: Frankie/JFM, 340 Andrew Ave. Encinitas, CA 92024. To charge by credit card, e-mail to jfmb@cox.net. The paid guest list will be at the door. * * * * * * Among those scheduled to perform at the newly opened, Don't Tell Mama club for this weekend are Joey Singer, Jenifer Kruskamp, Phillip Officer, Kelly Booth, Christopher Lash, and Lisa Wilson. Some of the personalities who have been and will be part of the entertainment lineup include, Thom Culcasi, Chani, Mike Dubay, Bianca, Lloyd Ziel, Jeff Celentano, Rique Rose and Colette Hawley. As we get the upcoming talent schedule, we will pass the information along to readers. We have some suggestions for the club's owner, Minh Pham...We would love to see Vita Corimbi and Davy Nathan and Keith Thompson do their thing at Don't Tell Mama. The 96-seat cabaret/piano bar is located at 517 Fremont Street, about one block east of Neonopolis. An official grand opening, with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman cutting the ribbon, will take place on March 9th. We bad! A red-faced Claire Voyant apologizes for using the wrong photo for Jenifer Kruskamp in last Friday's column. For those that know Jenifer, and noticed how much she had changed, she didn't. The photo identified as Jenifer was, in fact, someone else. Hopefully, this week's accompanying picture really is the talented singer/actress. We are oh so sorry, Jenifer. 
THE REAL Jenifer Kruskamp 
Kristen Hertzenberg * * * * * * There were a few participants in Thursday night's Composers Showcase that were added to the program after last Friday's column deadline. Since we feel all of these talented people should be acknowledged for their creativity and skill, we credit them now. Songwriters, some who perform their own material, included The Apple Sisters, Kye Brackett (from Ultimate Manilow), Michael Brennan, Rylan Leo Helmuth, Christopher Lash, Jeff Leibow, Richard Oberacker, Keith Thompson, Mark Wherry and Ashton Zyer. Vocalists were Brooks Asher, Travis Cloer, David Demato, Jason Forbach, Kimmy Gatewood, Kristen Hertzenberg (in her first time back in the showcase since the birth of her first baby, three months ago), Christine Hudman, Rebekka Johnson, TeeJay Jones, Greg Kata, Melody Leibow, Sarah Lowe, Joan Sobel, Rebecca Spencer and Danielle White. Musicians included Jim Belk, Angela Chan, Patricia Diaz, Philip Fortenberry, Jeff Johnson, Ian Martin, Jeremy Meronuck, Danny Miranda, Aaron Ramsey, Rebecca Ramsey, Geri Thompson, Moonlight Tran, Ron Walters, Fred Watstein and Zandra Zuppan. Unfortunately, Jersey Boy Erich Bergen, who was scheduled to participate, was taken ill earlier in the day and did not attend. The evening's selections ran the gamut of musical subjects, from songs about the Statue of Liberty, parenting and lost love, to songs about dirty words, and pudding (yes, pudding). One never knows what to expect at these monthly programs, except maybe the unexpected. And speaking of Rebecca Spencer (the former Madame Giry in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian), the talented lady, who currently calls Seattle home, will wind up her too brief guest spot with pianist extraordinaire, Philip Fortenberry, in the Cabaret at the Liberace Museum, tomorrow at 1 p.m. Tickets are $17.50. The Liberace Museum, where the Composers Showcase is also held, is located at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. For additional information, call (702) 798-5595. 
Rebecca Spencer 
Gerald Gordon Grads * * * * * * Last Saturday afternoon, a small group of invited guests had the opportunity to see the work of drama coach, Gerald Gordon's, latest "graduating class." These eight people, selected from more than 80 who sought entrée into Gordon, did an amazing job of getting inside their characters and bringing them to life. The fact that all but two of the actors had never in front of an audience before, and these performances were the result of only six weeks of study, made the afternoon even more impressive. Jeffrey Bentz, Jennifer Brown, Josh Costell (who flew in from Toledo, Ohio, with his parents to attend the classes), Cody Deal, Autumn Hernandez (who drove in from St. George, Utah, twice a week for six weeks), Justin Hopkins, Michael Spadoni (who also served as stage manager and played piano for one of the scenes), and Jackie Stryker, performed scenes from David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Neil Simon's California Suite, Streamers, The Rainmaker, Ordinary People, The Vagina Monologues, In the Boom Boom Room, Boy's Life, Frankie & Johnny in the Clare De Lune, Echoes, Key Exchange and Loose Ends. Costell and Spadoni had some limited previous acting experience, but the others never had anything before this class. Former students helped behind the scenes, with Nathan Ferrier handling the camera work and Luke Jones acting as host. George Photias did the lights and sound. Shown in the accompanying photo are (back row, from left to right), Billy Gomez, Sandy Griffin (who were unable to participate in the showcase), Cody, Autumn and Jeff, (middle row, from left to right), Jackie, Gerald Gordon and Jennifer, and (front row, from left to right), Justin, Josh and Michael. And speaking of actors and acting, we have to mention Sunday night's Academy Awards ceremony. Were we the only ones who felt something was missing? We would have liked to see film clips showing the Best Actors and Actresses, and Best Supporting Actors and Actresses, in the roles for which they were nominated. We loved Hugh Jackman and all of the musical numbers. We also liked seeing past Oscar winners announcing the nominees and presenting awards. Halle Berry, Marion Cottillard, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren (who, at 74, seems to have discovered the Fountain of Youth), Shirley MacLaine, all former Best Actress winners, presented the Best Actress award to Kate Winslet for her role in The Reader. Former Best Actor winners, Adrien Brody (a onetime student of the above mentioned Gerald Gordon), Robert DeNiro, Michael Douglas, Anthony Hopkins, and Ben Kingsly, presented this year‘s Best Actor award to Sean Penn for his role as the leading character in Milk. Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn, Angelica Huston, Eva Marie Saint and Tilda Swinton, presented Penelope Cruz her Best Supporting Actress award for Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and the late Heath Ledger's Oscar, for his role in The Dark Night, was presented to his family by former Best Supporting Actor winners, Alan Arkin, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Joel Grey, Kevin Kline and Christopher Walken. Then there was Eddie Murphy, presenting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to occasional Las Vegas resident, Jerry Lewis. We have to say, that Lewis probably did his finest turn on stage as he gave his acceptance speech. For a few minutes (thankfully, he kept is brief), Lewis acted somewhat humble...with "acted" being the operative word. Lewis, who helped found the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the early 1950s, has served as the organization's national chairman since 1952. The 82-year-old is best known for the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, which has raised more than 2 billion dollars since 1966. While the Oscar ceremonies were going on inside the Kodak Theater, a number of protestors, many in wheelchairs, gathered outside to protest the award. A spokeswoman for the group of disability advocates said Lewis "trades on the dignity of people with disabilities" in order to raise money and offers "pity, not progress." Lewis offers an inaccurate view of the disabled as "half a person," said the spokeswoman, Janine Bertram Kemp. Kemp stated that the protests were held in hopes of further educating the public. 
2009 Oscar Winners 
Jerry Lewis Protestors * * * * * * Award-winning jazz performer, Diana Krall, is scheduled to perform in the 2,500-seat Pearl concert venue at the Palms on Saturday, August 8th. We mention it this early because tickets go on sale at noon tomorrow (February 28th). Krall is known for applying an artistic perspective and modern twist to a classic era of jazz, encompassing the talents of artists such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. The Canadian-born singer/pianist began playing classical piano at age four. After attending Berklee College of Music, Diana continued development in Los Angeles, working with artists such as Ray Brown and Jimmy Rowles. She has also collaborated with contemporary artists such as Vince Gill, Celine Dion, Ray Charles, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Cole and Willie Nelson. Krall's debut album was released in 1993 and, in 1999, she received a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album for When I Look in Your Eyes, which was the first jazz album to be nominated in 25 years. She was nominated again in 2002 for Live in Paris. In 2004, she released The Girl in the Other Room, which focused on her own songwriting and featured six tunes co-written with her husband, Elvis Costello. Her tenth album, From This Moment On, was made in 2006 while she was expecting her first child. The Very Best of Diana Krall, released in 2007, expressed Krall's personal and artistic perspective on contemporary and classic tunes like I've Got You Under My Skin, Tom Waits' The Heart of Saturday Night, Only the Lonely, and an interpretation of You Go to My Head. Diana Krall begins the world tour for her newest album, Quiet Nights, in March. Tickets for this 8 p.m. event, presented by Andrew Hewitt and Live Nation, are $59, $89 and $104, plus any additional service fees, and may be purchased through any Ticketmaster location or at the Pearl box office, which is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily. 
Diana Krall 
Taylor Swift 
Hudson & Saleeby Also, tomorrow, tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. for Taylor Swift's Fearless Tour, coming to the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 23rd. Appearing with Swift is American Idol's Kellie Pickler. For information and/or to purchase, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7580, or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. * * * * * * If you happen to be in a Tennessee area or zip code during March, and you remember Hudson and Saleeby from their years performing in Las Vegas (or don't), you can check out the piano playing/singing duo at a couple of places over the next few weeks. Christopher Hudson and Doug Saleeby will entertain customers at Southland Park's Juke Joint in West Memphis, March 6th and 7th, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., March 11th, 17th, 18th and 25th, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. (a little later on St. Paddy's Day, the 17th). On the 2nd and 16th, from 9 to midnight, and March 10th and 24th, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., the duo will perform at Dan McGuinness Pub at 4698 Spottswood near Perkins. Tell them that Cousin Claire sent you. And, if you are in New York, and we know some of you are, let us once again recommend the musical husband and wife team of Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano. The talented twosome open their Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams show at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3rd, and continue through the 15th. In their first extended joint engagement at New York's Metropolitan Room, Comstock and Fasano, joined by Sean Smith on bass, celebrate the inspiration, strength and wit of our unique American songs - by Laura Nyro, Cole Porter, Vernon Duke, Leonard Cohen, George and Ira Gershwin, Stephen Sondheim, Harry Warren, Paul Simon, Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields, Oscar Brown Jr. and others - to move us through the changing times we're living in. Show times are Friday and Saturday, March 6th and 7th at 9:45 p.m., Sunday, March 8th at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, March 13th and 14th at 9:45 p.m., and Sunday, March 15th at 7 p.m. For those that don't know, the Metropolitan Room is located at 34 West 22nd Street in Manhattan. For reservations, call (212) 206-0440.
Eric and Barbara's photo by James Smith * * * * * * 
Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano 
Harry Goldson Jeanne Brei and The Speakeasy Swingers have found a new home. They will be performing at Mezza Lounge & Grill on Sunday, March 1st, and then again on Tuesdays in March ( the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st), from 6 to 9 p.m. The lineup of musicians includes Charlie Shaffer on piano, Bob Sachs on bass, Gary Olds on drums, Don Hill on sax, Merv Harding on trumpet, Bobby Scann on trombone, and Brei on vocals. The group will perform popular swinging standards and feature special guests sitting in. There is no cover or minimum. Just show up at Mezza, 9640 W. Tropicana west of Ft. Apache, and settle in for a good time. Bill Fayne and Teddy Davey continue at the city's latest hotspot on Mondays, with Larry Liso on Thursdays and Fridays, and Mediterranean music on Fridays and Saturdays after 10 p.m. Phone (702) 489-4493 for other information. * * * * * * Birthday greetings go out to Pisces celebrants Candi Cazau, Joey Pero, Harry Goldson, James Lee Reeves (Milo Tremley), Brent Barrett, Cherry Wainer, Betty (Mrs. Guy) Mitchell, Lance Burton, Marlon Jackson, Carole Hassell, Al Jarreau, Margaret Kurtz, and Don Cadette. And happy anniversary to James and Amber Reeves who are celebrating their 7th. 
James Lee Reeves 
John Quinones * * * * * * From Tony Arias, one of God's cutest creations, comes this e-mail...
Most of us are feeling the grips of this tough economy or at least know of someone who is, and some of us are very thankful for having a job, home, food, and a little ching in our pockets. Regardless of what your financial or employment situation is, this may be a good time to give thanks, praise, prayers for encouragement, and direction for yourself, friends and family. All of us need our spirits lifted once in awhile and sometimes friends, loved ones, and family are not there to hug and share with. On Monday, March 2nd, at 7:30 pm, the Metropolitan Community Church of Las Vegas is a having a Labor Night service. This special service is designed to lift spirits with scripture, music, prayer, and praise. There will be clergy and lay ministers available for individual prayer and words of spiritual encouragement. The NewSong band and singers will provide contemporary up-beat praise and prayerful music. Entertainer Arias, who serves as the church's music coordinator, also invites one and all to join them for one of the regular worship services. The weekly schedule includes that on Sunday at 9 a.m. with the Joyful Morning service featuring the MCC-LV Choir, and at 11 a.m. for the NewSong service featuring the New Song Band/Singers. On Saturday, the Rainbow service takes place at 5:30 p.m. The Metropolitan Community Church of Las Vegas is located at 1140 Almond Tree Lane. They can be reached by calling (702) 369-4380. * * * * * * ABC Primetime series, What Would You Do?, hosted by John Quinones, recently spent four days filming at Las Vegas' Hash House A Go Go. The crew arrived at the restaurant on February 1st, with two RVs and a truck full of sound, lighting and surveillance equipment. They worked through three nights, installing hidden cameras and microphones throughout the establishment. For four days and nights, the crew secretly filmed two different scenarios, catching the reactions of Hash House A Go Go customers on camera. The first and most controversial of the two scenarios involved a polygamist family dining in the restaurant. The family consisted of actors portraying a man and his four wives dressed in full 19th century-style clothing and hairstyles. The newest member of the family was a 15 year-old wife who discussed loudly about being forced to join the family at such a young age. Several customers reacted to the situation, making for some great television. The second scenario involved an actor portraying a "way too friendly customer." The actor interacted with actual customers making friends and sometimes enemies, sharing food and even getting some of the other customers to pay his bill. Primetime's What Would You Do? airs on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. The show sets up public scenarios and films the reactions of people on hidden cameras. Hash House A Go Go Las Vegas, famous for its unusual décor and enormous portions, will be featured prominently in the show, along with the highly involved customers. The expected air date for this segment of the show is in mid-March. A number of celebrity-types are Hash House A Go Go fans. The Today show's Al Roker stops in whenever he is in Las Vegas. TV's Dr. Phil McGraw and wife Robin, Martha Stewart, and Hell's Kitchen contestant, Louis Petrozza, have also visited the restaurant. Comic Bobby Slayton, who closes his two year run at Hooters on March 8th, was a recent patron at the unique and fun dining place. The restaurant is located at 6800 West Sahara. For reservations or inquiries, please call (702) 804-4646.
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Tags: Michael Troy Wieser Eric Marientha Frankie Laine Jenifer Kruskamp Kristen H
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 - February 20, 2009
Jenifer Kruskamp 
Phillip Officer 
Bob Anderson All good things come to those who wait. Well we have waited long enough for a real New York-style piano bar/cabaret in Las Vegas. After more than a year, dealing with building permits, contractors, licenses and the rest of the red tape involved in getting a business off the ground, Don't Tell Mama has finally opened downtown. Located at 517 Fremont Street, just east of Neonopolis, the 96-seat club is owned by Minh Pham, who, with his family, operated the famed New York cabaret of the same name for almost 20 years. The Las Vegas establishment opened quietly on Wednesday night. Happy hour begins at 6 p.m., with entertainment starting at 8. Next week's lineup of talent at Don't Tell Mama includes, on Monday, Thom Culcasi, Jenifer (that's how she spells her name) Kruskamp, and Chani; Tuesday, Mike Dubay, Kruskamp, and Bianca; Wednesday, Joey Singer, Jenifer, and Phillip Officer; Thursday, Dubay, Jenifer, Officer, and Lloyd Ziel; and next Friday, Jeff Celentano, Jenifer, Rique (that's how he spells his name) Rose, and Colette Hawley. The official opening, with a ribbon cutting by Las Vegas mayor, Oscar Goodman, will take place on March 9th. Jenifer Kruskamp, who moved here from New York a few months ago, is well-known in the East Coast cabaret circles, and is a MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) and Nightlife Award-winner. For more details about Don't Tell Mama, please call (702) 207-0788. * * * * * * OOOPS and mea culpa. Two sharp readers, entertainment writer/publicist Frank H. Lieberman, and show biz maven, Grant Philipo, both pointed out the same mistake in the week's column. The Mirage theater where Terry Fator now makes his home, was formerly the Danny Gans showroom. It is Cirque du Soleil's Love that now occupies the former space where Siegfried and Roy plied their trade. Since, Mr. Lieberman was once the publicist for the two magicians, he knows of what he speaks. Mr. Philipo, on the other hand, is just plain smart. Thanks for enlightening Cousin Claire, gentlemen. By the way, we have never been in ANY of the performance spaces at The Mirage. Why? Apparently, we haven't been at this game long enough (more than 30 years), and we don't work hard enough (then why are we so busy?), to warrant invites to any of the Mirage shows. And to think, we knew Danny Gans when he was performing in a small Steve Rossi produced revue at the downtown International (now Main Street Station). And so it goes. And speaking of e-mail, we got one from Cherie in Denver, who writes, "I was in Vegas for the Donald Braswell concert, which was outstanding! Did you see it? Why aren't there reviews of the show anywhere?" No, Cherie, we didn't see Mr. Braswell (one of last seasons finalists on America's Got Talent) during his Hilton showroom engagement. We hope the singer did well in his first solo Vegas appearance. Personally, we thought the 1,600-seat theater was a risk for a newcomer (unless, you are Michael Buble). Readers? * * * * * * If there were any empty seat in the Cannery's Club on Friday night, we didn't see them. Singer/impressionist, Bob Anderson, who has been living and working in Branson for the past five years, was royally welcomed back to the city he called home for many years. Backed by Vince Falcone at the piano, Vinnie's brother Marc Falcone on keyboard, Tim Pratt on drums, Jack Cenna on percussion, and Bob Sachs on upright bass, Anderson sang some gems in his own voice, including a couple of our favorites that we don't hear very often, Jimmy Webb's Didn't We, and Stevie Wonder's You and I, before going into some of his popular vocal and lookalike impressions. We especially liked the carbons of Johnny Mathis singing Over the Weekend, Ray Charles doing Georgia, Andy Williams' The Days of Wine and Roses, and Neil Diamond's September Morn. Of course, Bob‘s take on Tony Bennett always generates great audience response...as it did the night we saw the show. Among the local supporters who showed up on Friday night to welcome Bob back, we spotted Domenick Allen and his Mrs., Leigh Zimmerman; Clint Holmes and his bride, Kelly Clinton, new grandpa, Bill Fayne; Earl Turner, who we hear is heading back to Laughlin for a gig at Harrah‘s; and looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the day before his birthday, journalist/artist, Norm Johnson. 
Earl Turner 
Nathan Ferrier 
Charlene Sher * * * * * * Although Las Vegas Review-Journal theater critic Anthony Del Valle gave the Las Vegas Little Theatre's House of Blue Leaves, John Guare's 1971 dark comedy, a lukewarm rating (a D+), he did have some very nice things to say about our friend, actor Nathan Ferrier. Not only does the tough-as-nails critic make Ferrier and his friends and family feel proud, it also brings great joy to Nathan's acting coach, the equally tough, Gerald Gordon. It's hard to say which of the two gentlemen, Del Valle or Gordon, expect more from community theater actors but, in this case, it's probably a tossup. In the R-J's Tuesday (February 17th) edition, Del Valle wrote, "Las Vegas Little Theatre's "House of Blue Leaves" reminded me of an important rule in play-going: Don't give up hope until you see the second act." He goes on to say,"...it does contain two brief, genuine performances. (Michael) Blair makes the son an angry, obsessed psycho, and he's remarkable for his ability to get us to laugh at his farcical character while getting us to care. Nathan Ferrier makes the most out of a quick appearance as a Hollywood hotshot. He plays the kind of guy who knows all the right people and loves to say "Love ya." Ferrier gets inside the one-note role, so that we never catch him going for an effect. Blair and Ferrier demonstrate how this show should be acted -- with an exaggerated but solidly grounded reality base. If only (Walter) Niejadlik had been able to infuse the other characters with that sort of earnestness and fever! We might have, then, been moved by the poignant ending. But how can we be moved by anything when in lieu of relationships, this production is stuffed with jokes?" The show continues through March 1st, with performances at 8 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays; and 2 p.m. Sundays. The Las Vegas Little Theatre is located at 3920 Schiff Drive, off of Valley View, just south of Spring Mountain. Tickets are $19-$22. For additional information, call (702) 362-7996. On the 18th, in Mr. Del Valle's review of Theatre in the Valley's production of Crimes of the Heart (which garnered an A grade), directed by Jim Williams, the R-J critic cited Anthony Farmer, another of Gerald Gordon's former students, for his fine work, stating "(Mr. Farmer) renders a believable lawyer friend, whose down-home naiveté and wholesomeness feels genuine." Theater-lovers can see this production of Crimes of the Heart tomorrow (the 21st), at a 2 p.m. matinee, or at 7 p.m., at the Henderson Convention Center, located at 200 S. Water Street. Tickets are a very reasonable $10. Call (702) 558-7275. Yesterday, the Las Vegas Sun's Joe Brown reviewed The Diary of Anne Frank, directed by Robert Brewer and presented at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre by the Nevada Conservatory Theatre. Brown writes, "The ensemble cast is believable and even-handed, with particularly touching turns by Charlene Sher as Anne's nerve-racked mother..." Surprise. Ms. Sher is also one of Mr. Gordon's former students. The Diary of Anne Frank continues through the weekend, with performances at 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $30. For more information, call (702) 895-3535. Congratulations on work well done, Gerald Gordon. * * * * * * Rebecca Spencer, who portrayed Madame Giry in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular for almost two years, returns to our city to join pianist Philip Fortenberry, in his Liberace & Me show in the 75-seat cabaret at the Liberace Museum, for three special performances, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24th, Wednesday the 25th and Saturday, the 28th. Among the show's offerings will be selections from Spencer and Fortenberry's musical collaborations on her albums, Wide Awake and Dreaming and Fair Warning (the CDs will be available for purchase at the museum). With continued acknowledgment and respect for Liberace's musical influences, they will also share stories behind some of the musical selections, as well as from their personal and professional experiences. Musical numbers include standards such as I've Got You Under My Skin, Stardust, Deep Purple, as well as novelty songs and some original compositions. Tickets for Liberace & Me are $17.50. To purchase tickets, call 798-5595, x14. Advance reservations are suggested. The Liberace Museum is located at 1775 E. Tropicana Avenue at Spencer. Museum hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, from noon to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays. 
Rebecca Spencer & Philip Fortenberry 
Kristen Hertzenberg 
Vita Corimbi And speaking of Rebecca Spencer and the Liberace Museum, she will be one of the performers in this month's Composers Showcase. The night is Thursday, the 26th. The time is 10:30 p.m. (after theater). And the talented folks contributing their original material are local composers and songwriters The Apple Sisters, Erich Bergen, Kye Brackett, Michael Brennan, Travis Cloer, Wayne Green, Rylan Leo Helmuth, Christopher Lash, Jeff Leibow, Richard Oberacker , Keith Thompson, Mark Wherry and Ashton Zyer. Performing the works will be Brooks Asher, Kimmy Gatewood, Kristen Hertzenberg, Rebekka Johnson, TeeJay Jones, Sarah Lowe, Stephan Price, the above mentioned Ms. Spencer, and other special guests. Musicians playing will be Jim Belk, Angela Chan, Patricia Diaz, Philip Fortenberry, Jeff Johnson, Jeremy Meronuck, Danny Miranda, Rebecca Ramsey, Geri Thompson, Moonlight Tran, and Fred Watstein. Audience members (not performers or their guests) are now charged $5 to see and hear some of the best talent in this city. If you choose to partake of the late night hors d'oeuvres buffet, provided by Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens Restaurant, that will be an additional $5 per person (not per table) for everybody. As usual, a cash bar is available. At $5 or $10, this is an amazing entertainment bargain. The focus of The Composers Showcase is to unite the Las Vegas theater community and reveal the creative spirit that abounds in all of them. The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. And speaking of the Composers Showcase, the talented Vita Corimbi, a frequent participant in the showcase (with her clever and mostly humorous originals) has been named Assistant Musical Director for PEEPSHOW, Jerry Mitchell's revue scheduled to open at Planet Hollywood in April. In addition, Corimbi currently serves as vocal coach for Menopause the Musical (where she played "Earth Mother" in the Hilton's production). A native of Las Vegas, Vita is a gifted and award winning performer, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She has been music director for Tony ‘n Tina's Wedding, performs with the all-girl group, Killian's Angels, and has worked with Tom Jones, Wayne Newton and Krashtop Willie. Vita is a sought after voiceover and jingle artist with national and international credits. She has received three Emmy Awards for performance and music composition. She is the creator of a myriad of original comedy characters that have been showcased in numerous television events, most notably the one-liner spewing, blonde, buxom lounge lizard and Las Vegas ambassadress, Bunny LaShay, a corporate, cabaret and drag queen icon. * * * * * * 
Michaelina Bellamy & Nelson Sardelli 
Don & Gloria Hill 
Norman & Barbara Kaye On Wednesday, February 18th, the Las Vegas Tribune carried this story...
The F.I.O.R.E. Celebrates Its 4th Valentine's Party
For almost five years now, the Las Vegas Tribune has been writing about and covering the antics of the Non Club Club F.I.O.R.E. It has been a fun ride. If there is a better "non club" club, a better purposeless organization or a more fun group of people out there, we haven't found it. The membership of this most unorthodox group is made up of folks from all walks of life: doctors, entertainers, lawyers, politicians, businessmen, policemen (retired and still active), musicians, retired members of our armed forces, community leaders and some folks in the Secret Witness program, albeit we are not sure nor can we prove it. For five years we have witnessed their inexplicable growth, their monthly meetings and the fun events when wives and girlfriends are welcome and the upscale side of this organization comes into view. We have witnessed great Christmas parties, club anniversaries and other parties that are second to none. Live music is provided by professional Las Vegas musicians, most of them presidents of the club (did we mention that every member is a president from the moment they join F.I.O.R.E.?); first class entertainment is provided by many entertainers who, again, are presidents, as well as by some of the female Las Vegas entertainers who have been attending all the club's major events. We hear there are rumors of a female branch of the F.I.O.R.E. being formed: The FIORETTES. We can't wait! Last Friday, at the Italian American Club, the F.I.O.R.E. celebrated in grand style its 4th Valentine's party. The general consensus? It was the best event so far. F.I.O.R.E. meetings are held monthly, often with special guests. Comedian Cork Proctor is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the March 12 meeting. For more information about this organization please go to: http://www.nonclubclubfiore.com. We have it on good authority, this get-together was a smashing success. About 100 folks came out for a pre-Valentine's Day celebration. Among those spotted at the fun-filled party were Nelson Sardelli, Norman Kaye and his wife, Barbara, Don and Gloria Hill, Linda November and Artie Schroeck, George and Bella Meese, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Silla, Michaelina Bellamy, Kid Cary and Sophie, Jim Marsh, Lou Toomin and daughter Jennifer, Peggy (Mrs. Sonny) King, Allen Tramont, Joel Dane, Andrea Gross (who provided many of the door prizes), and Las Vegas Tribune publisher Rolando Larraz. Providing music for performing and dancing was The Gary Olds Trio, featuring Olds on drums, Chuck Hoover on keyboards, and Danny DeMorales on bass. Also joining the trio for some numbers was Dr. George Ritter, playing sax. Although he was unable to attend because he was working (wonderful words to hear, these days), entertainer/president Paul Campanella provided the sound equipment for the evening. It was great to see Norman and Barbara Kaye in attendance at the event. Not only were they present, they were even dancing! Readers may remember that, last April, F.I.O.R.E. held a very successful fundraiser at The Orleans, lovingly called the Enormous Norm-a-Thon, with ALL of the more than $20,000 in proceeds going to help Norman (of the legendary Mary Kaye Trio) with his rehabilitation and home care in his recovery from a serious illness. Late breaking news...According to one of the F.I.O.R.E. presidents, there is a possibility that the March 12th meeting will be open to First Ladies, as well as presidents. This only occurs a few times a year, and only for very special occasions - such as Valentine's Day, Christmas and when the speaker is Cork Proctor. Mr. Proctor, who has been a Las Vegan since Nevada became a state, will present some of his one-man show, Cork Proctor‘s Classic Tales of Las Vegas. We will keep you posted on this one. * * * * * * 
Bart Williams, Sharon McNight & Beverly Washburn 
Louie Bellson 
Danny Gokey For those who saw Sharon McNight do her Red Hot Mama tribute to Sophie Tucker at the Starbright Theatre last September, they only saw a small portion of her talent. On Valentine's Day, Ms. McNight showed a number of other sides to her versatile entertainment skills. This time around, the show was called Gone, But Not Forgotten. and paid homage to a number of the great ladies of show business. With Joan Edgar at the piano (Ms. Edgar worked with famed female impressionist, the late Charles Pierce, for many years), Sharon McNight performed songs attributed to a variety of famous legends of the past, including Pearl Bailey (Tired from Variety Girl), Judy Canova (Wabash Blues), Patsy Cline (Sweet Dreams/I Fall to Pieces), Bette Davis (They're Either Too Young or Too Old), Betty Hutton (Rumble, Rumble, Rumble), Madeline Kahn (I'm Tired from Blazing Saddles), Eartha Kitt (I Want To Be Evil), Ethel Merman (Some People from Gypsy), Martha Raye (Ol' Man River), Sophie Tucker (The Man I Love), and Ethel Waters (Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone). Sharon gave a hint of Judy Garland singing Over the Rainbow, before launching into a very clever approximately six minute synopsis of the Wizard of Oz (where Sharon played all of the characters). In addition to the songs, McNight gave a short bit of interesting history on each of the ladies. The performer closed her one woman show with a piece of special material called Bacon, written by Mary Liz McNamara. Animal rights activists would have loved this one. Among the audience members, we spotted actor Bart Williams (who played "Nicely Nicely Johnson" in the Las Vegas production of Guys and Dolls, starring Jack Jones, Maureen McGovern and Frank Gorshin at the Desert Inn), and his friend, former ‘50s and ‘60s child actress, Beverly Washburn (with credits in the memorable films, Shane, The Greatest Show On Earth and Old Yeller, among others).
Accompanying photo by Don Cadette. In an odd coincidence (if there are such things), in her description of singer Pearl Bailey, Sharon McNight spoke of Bailey's 38-year marriage to drummer Louie Bellson. No one in the audience was probably aware that Mr. Bellson had passed away earlier that day at the age of 84. A big band and jazz drummer, Bellson was a master musician who performed with such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and his late wife, Pearl Bailey. Bellson died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications of Parkinson's disease following a broken hip in November. Bellson's career spanned more than six decades. He performed on more than 200 albums with jazz greats including Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Oscar Peterson, Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong. It was through Ellington that he met Bailey, the great singer and Broadway performer. They married in 1952. When she died in 1990 at age 72, Bellson told the Philadelphia Daily News that "I just lost my best friend." Tentative plans are for a Los Angeles area funeral, followed by funeral and burial in Moline, Illinois, his boyhood home. Details will be announced. Condolences can be sent to Louie's surviving wife, Francine, at Mrs. Louie Bellson, c/o Remo, Inc., 28101 Industry Drive, Valencia, CA 91355. Contributions in his memory can be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church and mailed to Mrs. Bellson at the address above. * * * * * * We are once again into the competitive days and nights of American Idol. Now in its eighth season, it might be interesting to remind folks of the winners and runner-ups of Idol's past seasons, and to ask, "Where are they now?" The first season (2002) saw Kelly Clarkson named winner, with Justin Guarini in second place. Second season (2003), Ruben Studdard won, while Clay Aiken came in at No. 2. In 2004's third season, Fantasia Barrino was the winner, with Diana DeGarmo in second spot. In the fourth season (2005), Carrie Underwood was declared the winner, with Bo Bice earning the second spot. In 2006, the season five winner was Taylor Hicks. Katharine McPhee was No. 2. Season six (2007) named Jordin Sparks the winner, with Blake Lewis in second place. Last year, season seven saw David Cook in first place, and David Archuleta in second. As Idol history has proven, it isn't always the winner, or even the runner-up, that makes the most headway after the competition ends. Some of the top players seem to fade from sight (and memory) within a short time, while some, who didn't score as high do pretty well for themselves. Jennifer Hudson, who came in at No. 7 in the third season of American Idol, went on to earn a Best Oscar for her role in the film, Dreamgirls. A number of Idol competitors have gone on to play Broadway, among them, Aiken in Spamalot, Barrino in The Color Purple, Frenchie Davis (who was disqualified before she had the chance to show her real stuff), in Rent), DeGarmo in Hairspray, Tamyra Gray in Bombay Dreams and Rent, Hicks as "Teen Angel" in Grease, and Constantine Maroulis in The Wedding Singer, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Rock of Ages. In April, McPhee will be seen in an episode of the CBS hit series, CSI:NY. In 2007, the pretty brunette played herself in an episode of TV's Ugly Betty, and appeared in the movie, The House Bunny. So far, in the still very early stages of season eight, our favorite is Danny Gokey. His version of Hero, earned Gokey entrée into the club of a dozen finalists. Three more trios will be added over as many weeks, before the show gets down to the real elimination process. American Idol airs on FOX, usually on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. * * * * * * Once again, Masters of Illusion (airing in Las Vegas on My Network TV, KVMY-21, Monday nights), featured a number of prestidigitators with ties to Southern Nevada. Among the illusionists performing feats of magic this week were, Arian Black, Ed Alonzo, Jeff McBride and Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh. A new face to us was 15-year-old, Kyle Eschen, who we think has quite a bright future ahead of him. With his unique, funny, clever patter, and low-key delivery (not as low-key as comic Steven Wright, thank you), Kyle is a real crowd pleaser. We look forward to seeing more of this young man...maybe even in a Vegas show. 
Arian Black 
Larry Liso 
Ari Dane * * * * * * The Performing Arts Society of Nevada is presenting Love Songs and More at the Clark County Flamingo Library, 1401 E. Flamingo, 2 p.m. on Sunday (February 22nd). Vocalists, Bert Anderson, Laurie Caceres, Dolly Coulter and Randy Hendrickson, will perform hit songs from Broadway and film. Tickets are $15 and may be ordered by calling (702) 658-6741, or purchased at the library box office one hour before show time. * * * * * * It's former Las Vegas Tenor, Mark Giovi, at the Starbright in Sun City Summerlin on Sunday, March 1st. Calling his presentation, This is My Life, Giovi will offer a variety of material - from pop to classical. Tickets are $15 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $19 for those who travel to the area. Show time at the Starbright is at 3 p.m. The theater is located at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. (three miles west of Rampart, off Lake Mead). Call (702) 240-1301. * * * * * * These entertainers must be doing something right, because the suits keep bringing them back...
Bill Fayne and Teddy Davey continue to Rock the House at the Mezza Lounge & Grill, Mondays from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Bill and Teddy, both members of the popular Las Vegas Tenors, perform all types of music during the evening. The mic is also open to other professionals, so you never know who may drop in to sing a tune or two. Mezza is offering a free glass of house wine with any authentic Mediterranean or Italian entrée, to customers there for Bill and Teddy's Wacky Adventure. Shades of Sinatra member, Larry Liso, entertains at Mezza on Thursdays and Fridays, from 6 to 10 p.m. Larry promises great jazz standards, dance music and guest singers during his Thursday and Friday shows. Mezza Lounge & Grill is located in Summerlin, at 9460 W. Tropicana, just west of Ft. Apache. Call (702) 489-4493. And Carmine Mandia, also a Shades of Sinatra member, sings for YOUR supper at Piero's, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, from 7 to 10:30. Singing friends join Carmine at the mic. The restaurant is located at 355 Convention Center Drive, between the Las Vegas Strip and Paradise. Call (702) 369-2305. Singer/musician Ronnie Rose returns to the House of Blues Courtyard Restaurant (at Mandalay Bay), next Friday and Saturday, February 27th and 28th, from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Joining Rose is Keith Nelson on bass, Harvey Hughes on drums, Chris Claremont playing guitar, and Tom Lipps on keys. * * * * * * Former Las Vegas entertainer, Ari Dane, informs that he has a new CD on the market. Called Venice Sci-Fi, the project (two-and-a-half years in the making) was inspired by his Southern California neighborhood. You can read all about it and listen to audio clips by clicking on this Link http://aridane.biz/news.html. Venice Sci-Fi is available through CD Baby.
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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 - February 13, 2009 
An Evening at La Cage Cast 
Larry Edwards Friday the 13th has long been associated with bad luck. For the cast of the Riviera's An Evening at La Cage, it was Monday the 9th that proved to be most unlucky. What was one of the longest running shows on the Las Vegas Strip ended very suddenly. Although the performers in the female impersonator revue knew that the show's producer, Norbert Aleman, was in talks with the Riv bosses, they had no idea that their long run would end this way, yet another casualty of the terrible economic condition. An Evening at La Cage, that opened at the Riviera in 1985, played its last performance on Monday night. After the curtain came down, Aleman told the nine member cast that they had just done their final show on that stage (at least for now). No warning. No hints of impending doom. No two weeks notice or ads stating, "Last chance to see La Cage..." Just BANG! and it's over. That's gratitude after almost a quarter of a century. With Frank Marino as its star for just about the entire run, the revue featured a talented cast - including the funny Jimmy Emerson, Frank's understudy, and Madonna's Big Sister, Tammy Spraynette, Wynonna (in La Cage for 20 years); Brent Allen as Judy Garland and Bette Midler (13 years); Steven Wayne as Celine Dion and Cher (8 years); Ryan Zink as Reba McEntire and Paris Hilton (5 years); Derrick Barry as Britney Spears (3 years); original opening show cast member Chris Woods as Diana Ross and Whitney Houston, (24 years); Kenneth Blake as Dolly Parton and Madonna, and performing What Makes a Man a Man? (8 years); Sammy Gonzales as Liza Minnelli (6 years); Lane Lassiter as Michael Jackson (21 years); Danielle Danner, line captain and dancer (8 years); and additional dancers, Angelina Russo, Sara Beck, Dionna Phillips, and Sophie Columber. La Cage joins a list of disappearing shows. Hairspray, Avenue Q, The Producers, Spamalot, and Hats!, all just a memory. More recent closings include Mamma Mia!, Stomp Out Loud, Ronn Lucas, and now An Evening at La Cage. Also scheduled to end within the next couple of months, Menopause the Musical, The Scintas Laugh Out Loud, and the Tropicana‘s almost 50-year production, Le Folies Bergere. We have to wonder...what, or who, next? As for what lies ahead for the La Cage cast, we hear from a reliable source (that would be Frank Marino) that within the next couple of months, he will have a new version of the show up and running somewhere in the city. When we learn what the other fellows are doing or planning, we will pass the information along. We know from past experience, it's hard to keep a good man down, even if he is wearing a Bob Mackie gown and Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo stilettos. And, still, on the subject of La Cage...Larry Edwards (who is best known for his portrayals of Tina Turner and Patti LaBelle) wishes the cast of La Cage well. Edwards states that he had the best 15 years in his career, as a performer on the stage at the Riviera. Proud Larry, also known as "Hot Chocolate," credits and thanks the revue for giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent, resulting in movie roles and guest spots on a number of national TV shows. "La Cage will be truly missed on the Strip," says Edwards. The Scintas, who have been performing in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton since 2007, will end their Laugh Out Loud run on March 14th. Since their move from Buffalo, New York, this is the variety performers' second go-round at the Hilton. Future plans call for the Scintas to tour around the country and also work on their upcoming syndicated television show. For more than two decades, Frankie, Joey and Chrissi Scinta, along with adopted brother, Pete O'Donnell, have been entertaining audiences around the country. To see the quartet before their Hilton departure, show times are Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. The show is dark on Sundays and Thursdays. Tickets are $39.95-$64.99 (plus tax and fees), and can be purchased at the Las Vegas Hilton box office, or by calling (702) 732-5755 or (800) 222-5361. 
The Scintas 
Queen Emily Baloney 
Kenny Mazlow And speaking of the Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret...Look for one of the competitors on last season's America's Got Talent, a lady who was known as Queen Emily during her appearances on the "reality" TV show, to join the cast of soon-to close Menopause the Musical. Regular Claire Voyant readers may recall us mentioning Queen Emily (among a few of the names that she goes by) in previous columns. On September 26th, we wrote...Queen Emily, has created much of her "overnight sensation" tale used on the "reality" show. The REAL reality is that "life did not get in the way of her dreams," as stated on Emily's AGT bio. That piece of creative writing goes on to say, "Raising her daughters as a single mother meant Emily's musical aspirations had to be put on hold. When she turned 40, Emily experienced an epiphany and realized that it was time to stop dreaming and start acting, which led her to the America's Got Talent auditions." That's not quite true. Emily's story turns out to be a bunch of baloney. As a matter of fact, the lady's REAL, and very appropriate name, is Emily Baloney (could we make this up?). She has been working as an entertainer/singer for some time. We hear (but cannot verify) that Queen Emily has appeared on Showtime at the Apollo on more than one occasion. We know for a fact that in Northern California, where Miss Emily lives, she won the grand prize in the Gimme the Mike competition, held at Great America's Paramount Theater. According to the Internet, Miss (full of) Baloney's interests are "Commercial, Live Event, Movies, Music, Stage, TV." She is quoted as saying "I've been singing since the age of seven. I'm a principle (sic) cast member in Steve Silvers Beach Blanket Babylon, singing acting, and theatre is just what i (sic) do" We were rooting for Queen Emily until we learned about her lies. At this point, we would hate to see her reap a windfall ($1 million and a job in Las Vegas) as the result of her false claims. As regular America's Got Talent watchers know, it was insurance-selling opera singer Neal E. Boyd who won the big prize. In an interesting footnote, Skye Dee Miles, who has been in Menopause for most of its Vegas engagement (and will be in the cast of a Northern Nevada production of the show), and the Queen (real name Emily Baloney, who sometimes uses the name Emily David) were both cast members of San Francisco's popular, long running (almost 35 years) Beach Blanket Babylon, although not at the same time. Former Las Vegas production show singer/actor, Kenny Mazlow (Ice Fantasy at the Hacienda, Lido de Paris at the Stardust, and Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon at the Sands), has been associated with BBB since 1988 - first as a performer in the Las Vegas version, then as a member of the San Francisco company and, after the 1995 death of Steve Silver, the musical comedy revue's artistic director, choreographer and writer. And speaking of the Hilton and America's Got Talent, like AGT winner, ventriloquist/singer/ impressionist Terry Fator, the fourth place winner of the 2008 season of the talent competition, Texas-born tenor Donald Braswell, will also get his big Las Vegas break at the Hilton. Although Braswell appeared with AGT's Top 10 finalists at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in October, this time he is scheduled to headline in the Hilton showroom this Sunday night. For tickets and further information, call (702) 732-5755 or (800) 222-5361. Fator starts his long-term headlining engagement in the Terry Fator Theatre (formerly the home of Siegfried and Roy, followed by Danny Gans) at The Mirage tomorrow night. Call (7020 792-7777 for Fator reservations. 
Donald Braswell 
Elisa Fiorillo * * * * * * Apparently, Bill Fayne & Friends did well enough at Summerlin's Mezza Lounge & Grill last Monday, that the establishment is bringing back the music-makers for another go-round, this Monday (the 16th) from 6 to around 9:30 p.m. In addition to fellow Las Vegas Tenor member, Teddy Davey, Fayne's drop-in friends from last week included his longtime friend, Clint Holmes; Mrs. Clint Holmes, Kelly Clinton; Voci Vegas member, Mollie Tennant; Gayle and Tommy Steele; Elisa Fiorillo; Larry Liso, Jeanne Brei, and Vince Falcone. On Monday, Teddy will be back to join Bill in the spotlight. In addition, Pat Caddick, Clint, Gayle and Tommy, along with other surprise guests are expected to lend their talent. And speaking of Larry Liso, the Shades of Sinatra member is also headlining at Mezza Lounge & Grill. Larry takes his turn at the mic, performing jazz tunes, standards and dance music, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. Liso has lots of talented friends, so attendees can expect to see and hear some of them join him in song. Mezza Lounge & Grill is located at 9460 West Tropicana, just west of Ft. Apache. As a bonus, Mezza is offering 20% off on food and drink during the performance times mentioned above. Sounds like a win, win deal to us. Call (702) 489-4493. * * * * * * Claire Voyant reader, Jack from Lady Lake, Florida, wonders what became of entertainer Dusty Barron who used to perform at the downtown Plaza. Jack would like to hear Barron again. Anybody out there know what became of Mr. Barron? * * * * * * Valentine's Day and Night weekend reminders...Singing impressionist Bob Anderson (whose show at last count, had only had a handful of seats left) is in The Club at the North Las Vegas Cannery tonight and tomorrow night, (702) 507-5757; talented cabaret artist Sharon McNight plays the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin on Saturday night at 7, (702) 869-2064; Billy Joel is at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, (702) 891-7777; and Richard Marx performs at Aliante Station, (702) 547-5300. If you dare to bare, you can attend Golden Rainbow's 4th Annual Naked Hearts event at Krave on Harmon, adjacent to Planet Hollywood. Doors open at 11 p.m. Billed as "Vegas' Hottest, Sexiest Dance Club!" (that's with an !), entertainment will be provided by the casts of American Storm, Chippendales, Jubilee!, Le Reve and Studio 54. Admission is $20 for Las Vegas residents (with Nevada drivers license), and $40 for visitors. For additional information, call (702) 384-2899. If you don't already have your tickets to see Crystal Gayle this weekend at the South Point, and you wanted to, you are out of luck. All three shows are completely sold out. * * * * * * We are very puzzled by the way our local PBS station decides what, and what not, to air on Channel 10. For example, although she was a frequent Vegas headliner for many years, Mitzi Gaynor's PBS special, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years, has not been shown here. Ms. Gaynor starred in a number of films, including There's No Business Like Show Business and South Pacific. The PBS program has aired all around the country, including numerous times in Reno during the month of December, but has not, and is not, scheduled to be seen in Las Vegas. Why? For those that want to see the 120-minute show, it is now available on DVD. Although we were not able to get a logical explanation for this Mitzi Gaynor faux pas from a Channel 10 representative, we DO know why Daddy & Papa - Johnny Symons' 2002 one hour multi-award-winning and nominated film (including an Emmy Award nomination as Best Documentary, and official selection for the Sundance Film Festival) about gay parenting, specifically gay fathers - was never aired here. The powers-that-be (it's THEM again), along with the Clark County School District Board of Trustees (who serve as the federal licensees of Channel 10 and provide financial support for activities directly serving K-12 classrooms, and whose building program is providing land and construction of the Virtual high school portion of the new $37.5 million Educational Technology Campus), arbitrarily decided that this highly acclaimed film was not suitable or appropriate for Las Vegans to see. Would we make this up? If things like this upset you as much as they do us, we suggest you let Vegas PBS know how you feel. One strong way to do that is by not blindly or naively contributing financial support to a PUBLIC (not private) Broadcasting Service that employs this kind of unwanted and unneeded censorship. * * * * * * 
The Producers, Keeping It Gay in Long Beach 
Lee Roy Reams & Dody Goodman Hey, you folks in Southern California (and we know you are out there), this weekend is your last chance to see Mel Brooks' multiple award winning The Producers at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton in Long Beach. Presented by Musical Theatre West, this production stars Michael Kostroff as Max Bialystock, Larry Raben as Leo Bloom, and David Engel as Roger DeBris. The show runs tonight through Sunday, February 15th. Tickets range from $25 to $52. Call (562) 856-1999 for show times and reservations. And speaking of The Producers, in the year since The Producers closed at Paris Las Vegas, our friend, the talented Broadway star Lee Roy Reams, who played Roger DeBris in the Las Vegas production, has not let any grass grow under his dancing feet. In a difficult time for the entertainment community, with shows closing in New York, Reams has managed to stay comfortably busy. In addition to directing Leslie Uggams in Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly!, and working with Carol Lawrence at the Martin Theatre at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, Reams took part in Tony-nominated (for 1990's Those Were the Days and 1992's Crazy for You) Bruce Adler's Florida memorial service. The actor/singer/dancer died in July at the age of 63. Lee Roy also participated when the famed Friar's Club honored singer/dancer/actress MIchele Lee. In October, Lee Roy was one of seven people who shared their memories of his friend and neighbor, the late Dody Goodman, during an evening ceremony at St. Peter's Church on Lexington in New York City. Miss Goodman's career spanned more than 75 years: she began as a teen-aged ballet dancer, and became a popular Broadway, Off-Broadway, cabaret, radio, television, and film performer, remaining active in show business until she was in her 90s. Also memorializing Goodman were Mitch Douglas, George S. Irving, Richard Skipper, Linda Amiel Burns, Terri White (who lived and performed in Las Vegas a number of years ago), and KT Sullivan (who, along with Mark Nadler, has appeared in Las Vegas a number of times). Miss Goodman's never-before-seen film, which was based on her book, Women, Women, Women!, was shown. A reception followed. In early December, famed cabaret performer Jamie DeRoy and her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie DeRoy & Friends, performed at the New York's Metropolitan Room. Joining Jamie was the acclaimed a cappella group, The Accidentals; Broadway veteran, Loni Ackerman; Clio Award-winning singer/ songwriter, David Buskin; the incomparable Julie Budd; legendary singer/songwriter, Jake Holmes; the twin brother singing duo, Will and Anthony Nunziata; dazzling magician and audience favorite, Oz Pearlman; and our pal, performer Lee Roy Reams. Award-winning director, Barry Kleinbort, directed, and Lanny Meyers served as musical director. On January 15th, the Key West Pops presented Lee Roy Reams and Friends: The Sound of Rodgers and Hammerstein, at the San Carlos Institute. The program included 50 songs from five musical comedies - Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Carousel, The Sound of Music and The King and I. Song-and-dance-man Reams has appeared with the Pops every year since its inception. On February 2nd, Reams, along with Chita Rivera, Brian Stokes Mitchell (who appeared last season as part of UNLV's New York Stage & Beyond series), Donna Murphy, David Engel, Mark Waldrop (who directed Bill Nolte's All of Me show in Las Vegas), Cady Huffman, Keith Carradine and a host of favorites, was part of a star-studded night at the Drama League's Gala. Each year, The Drama League's one-night-only gala concert boasts an incredible roster of Broadway's biggest and brightest stars, performing favorite songs from theater seasons past and present. The musical revue is the highlight of The Drama League's annual benefit at Rockefeller Center's breathtaking Rainbow Room. Directed by Johanna McKeon and Roger Danforth, and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Huffman, A Musical Celebration of Broadway was written by Stephen Cole, and featured musical direction by David Krane. In addition to honoring Broadway producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, the gala also celebrated the 25th Anniversary of The Drama League Directors Project, the nation's leading career development program for early and mid-career theatre directors. * * * * * * During her last weekend's engagement at the South Point, the ever-young, effervescent Charo, did excellent business, selling out both her Friday and Saturday night shows and earning multiple standing ovations. The Cuchi Cuchi girl was accompanied by a four piece band and enhanced by four dancers. We were told by friends who attended the show on Saturday that the one weak spot in the evening came when, near the end of her production, Charo made the mistake of introducing a very minor local personality. Since most people in the audience had no idea who this man was (or didn't care) the room was deafeningly silent. The rule should be, if it isn't a big enough name, or the credits aren't impressive enough, forget calling attention to the person or people, and for goodness sake, DON'T get them up on stage where the non-recognition becomes even more apparent and more embarrassing - for all concerned. 
Charo 
Faith Hill & Neil Diamond 
Nancy O'Dell * * * * * * The Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive (near Spring Mountain and Valley View), is presenting John Guare's House of Blue Leaves, tonight through March 1st in their Mainstage theater. Directed by Walter Niejadlik, the play tells the story of Artie Shaughnessy, an aspiring songwriter who lives in New York with his wife, Bananas. His girlfriend won't cook for him until they get married. His son has a grudge against the Pope. Today could be Artie's big break, as a childhood friend and Hollywood producer drops in for a visit along with three nuns desperate to see the Pope on his visit to New York. Funny, tragic, and touching, the House of Blue Leaves offers a look at the ordinary in an interesting way. The cast is made up of Stephen McMillan as Artie, Kathleen Etor as Bunny; Valerie Berstein as Bananas; Michael Blair as Ronnie; Corrina Stroller as Kate Lowenhar-Fisher; Ellen Radcliff, Kelley Goode and Daci Overby as nuns; Nathan Ferrier as Billy; Steve Goldstein as the Man in White, and Eliseo Otero as MP. Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 for general admission, and $19 for students and seniors. Call (702) 702–362-7996. * * * * * * As part of last weekend's Grammy Awards, Neil Diamond was recognized as MusiCares Person of the Year, not only for his half-century body of music, but also for his philanthropy, which included donating concert merchandise sales last fall to relief efforts for Texas areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike. With his mother, children and grandchildren in attendance, Diamond listened as what he called "my little musical creations" were interpreted for 2,200 people at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The tribute to the 68-year-old included a galaxy of stars singing Diamond-penned tunes. Among the performers were Jennifer Hudson (Holly Holy), Coldplay (I'm a Believer), the Jonas Brothers (Forever in Blue Jeans), Tim McGraw (Hello Again), Kid Rock (Thank the Lord for the Night Time), Los Volcanes, a Tejano group from south Texas (Red Red Wine), British singer Adele (Cracklin' Rosie), Chris Cornell (Kentucky Woman), Raul Malo (Solitary Man), Eric Benet (Heartlight, from the movie E.T.), and Cassandra Wilson with trumpeter Terance Blanchard (September Morn). Diamond slow-danced with Faith Hill during their duet on You Don't Bring Me Flowers, and got the crowd on its feet for America, keeping them there for a sing-along finale to Sweet Caroline. In a nod to Diamond's sparkly duds of the '70s, talk show host, and former Las Vegan, Jimmy Kimmel, told him he was "one of the few Jews who looks good in sequins." We were in the audience on July 4th weekend in 1976 when Neil Diamond launched the Aladdin's (now Planet Hollywood) new 7,500-seat Theater for the Performing Arts. In spite of three sold out shows, Diamond stated he would not perform in Las Vegas again. It took some years, but Mr. Song Sung Blue changed his mind (or maybe it was the huge settlement that was granted to his former wife at the time of their divorce), and has worked here numerous times in recent years. If you missed those appearances, or don't have pockets deep enough to afford the real deal, you can see the next best thing in the form of Jay White's America's Neil Diamond Tribute show at the Riviera. Call (702) 794-9433 for reservations. When he isn't touring with the real Diamond, Las Vegas resident, King Errisson, Neil's longtime (since 1976) percussionist can sometimes be found sitting in with White. And on the subject of the Grammys, R&B singer, Ne-Yo, who attended both Rancho High School and the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts (Can you imagine what their school cheer sounds like?), won two of the six Grammys that he was nominated for. Miss Independent, from his Year of the Gentleman album, earned Ne-Yo (real name Shaffer Smith) the Best Male R&B Vocal Solo award, as well as Best R&B Song. * * * * * * Competitors for Dancing With the Stars eighth season have been announced. They include rapper, Lil' Kim; Denise Richards, best known as the former wife of actor Charlie Sheen; Steve-O, star of Jackass; rodeo star Ty Murray and his wife, singer Jewel; country singer Chuck Wicks, who will partner with his girlfriend, professional dancer and onetime Las Vegan, Julianne Hough; singer Belinda Carlisle, founding member of The Go-Go's; Access Hollywood co-host, Nancy O'Dell; NFL Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor; 17-year-old gymnast, Shawn Johnson; Sex and the City's, Gilles Marini; Apple computer's co-founder, Steve Wozniak; and actor/comedian David Alan Grier. The biggest surprise of all is not who IS competing this season, but who ISN'T. After the likes of folks such as Wayne Newton, Penn Jillette and Toni Braxton, all with Vegas connections at one time, other than Julianne Hough, there is no local representation this season. Marie Osmond can't be counted, as she competed prior to her becoming a Strip headliner, and brother Donny, who was rumored to be competing, is not (at least for this time around). The first episode of Dancing With the Stars new season will air, March 9th on ABC. * * * * * * The Las Vegas Jazz Society celebrates Black History Month with a concert featuring the Woody Woods Orchestra. Journey of the Drum is a musical exploration of the evolution of America's original art form - jazz. In addition to Woods, guest performers, using music, dance and the spoken word, will include Sophia Lelis, Ronnie Rose, China Hudson, Melanie 'Baby Doll' Wallace, the Jester Hairston Singers (NANM), Sonya & Angela Randall, the Gifford Youth Orchestra, all the way from Florida. There will also be some surprises. This ‘don‘t miss' presentation will take place on Sunday, February 15th, at 2 p.m. at the Summerlin Library Theater, 1771 Inner Circle Drive (exit Summerlin Parkway at Town Center and go north to Inner Circle Drive). Tickets are $10 for Jazz Society members, and $15 for the general public. * * * * * * In the years since the Tropicana Cinemas opened at 3330 E. Tropicana (just west of Pecos), the business has gone through many changes. There have been numerous owners, theater names (Dollar Cinema, Paradise 6, etc.), and film types shown on the multi-screens (there are four auditoriums, ranging in size from an intimate 60-seater, to the largest at around 400 seats). The theater had been closed for a number of months but we are pleased to let readers (both locals and tourists) that the establishment has recently reopened, under new ownership and new management. The place, now part of the Regency Theaters chain, has been cleaned up and there are lots of new things in place. New manager, Darrell Calvert, informs us that there are already new projectors, new screens, new carpeting, and digital sound installed. New seating is also on the agenda. Most movies are $3 a person...reasonable enough to see your old favorites and some cinema classics on a large screen, rather than on a small home TV via DVDs or video tape. Other interesting things are in store at the theater, including a Wednesday night series for insomniacs. Among the films scheduled are Monty Python and the Holy Grail (March 4th), A Clockwork Orange (March 11th), Robocop (March 18th), The Godfather (March 25th), The Goonies (April 1st, no fooling), Spaceballs (April 8th), Raiders of the Lost Ark (April 15th), Ghostbusters (April 22nd), Psycho (April 29th), The Warriors (May 6th), Moulin Rouge (May 13th), The Big Lebowski (May 20th), and Labyrinth (May 27th). All shows start at 7:30. And here's a bonus. If pinball machines are of interest to you, the Pinball Hall of Fame is located just a few doors down from the movie theater. * * * * * * Pianist Spencer Baker will have a have a performance coming up, next Saturday, the 21st, at the Desert Spring United Methodist Church. Baker will be working with the Desert Spring Arts Chamber Orchestra, where he will perform Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto (all three movements), Op. 37 in C minor. The orchestra will play Copland's Outdoor Overture, and Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. The music starts at 7:30 p.m. There is no set charge to attend, just a free will offering. The church is located at 120 N. Pavilion Center Drive in Summerlin. For additional information, call (702) 256-5933. * * * * * * 
Il Divo 
Molly Bee It's never too soon to plan a night out with four handsome gentlemen, so mark your calendar for July 17th when An Evening with Il Divo comes in to Mandaly Bay. Il Divo (Italian for "star" or "celebrity"), a multinational operatic pop vocal group, was put together by American Idol's Simon Cowell. The quartet - made up of singers Urs Bühler, Sebastien Izambard, Carlos Marin and David Miller - are signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at 10. Call (800) 745-3000. * * * * * * On February 7th, former teen country star Molly Bee died of complications following a stroke. Miss Bee (real name Molly Beachboard), like comic Garry Shandling, mentioned in last week's column, and Cousin Claire, spent part of her youth in Tucson. In fact, it was in Southern Arizona that Molly began her singing career. She shot to fame at the age of 13 with the 1952 novelty hit, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. In the 1960s, Ms. Bee performed on Las Vegas stages numerous times. She was also a favorite on Bob Hope USO tours. Molly Bee had been in failing health for several months. She was 69 at the time of her death. And speaking of Tucson, The Broadway Tenors will join the TSO Pops! series at the Tucson Music Hall, tonight and tomorrow at 7:30, and on Sunday at 2 p.m. Albert-George Schram is guest conductor for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Three of Broadway's leading men - Brent Barrett, Brian Lane Green and Kevin Spirtas - will perform the best-loved songs of Broadway and pop, including the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Frank Loesser, Frank Wildhorn and the Beatles, just to name a few. These award-winning performers have worked extensively in theater, film, and television, and with major symphony orchestras around the world. Barrett starred opposite Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun, won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for his portrayal of Billy Flynn, the smooth lawyer from Chicago-The Musical, and recently played the leading role in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. He also has a dozen recordings to his credit as well film and TV credits. Green is a Tony Award-nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as "Spacepunk" in Starmites. He made his Broadway debut as Huck Finn in Big River, has appeared on numerous prime time TV shows, and is known as Alan Brand on Days of Our Lives, Sam Fowler on Another World, and Brian Bodine on All My Children. Spirtas landed his first professional job on Broadway when he was just 18 and, in 2003, made a huge ripple in the Broadway community when he was selected over hundreds of actors to be Hugh Jackman's standby in the smash hit musical, The Boy from Oz. In 1996, Kevin received a Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award (Best Actor) for the role of Nick Brenner in Chuck Ranberg's critically acclaimed comedy, End of the World Party. Among his TV and film roles are Friends, the daytime drama Days of Our Lives and the feature Apt Pupil. To purchase single tickets or for subscription information, call the TSO Box Office at (520) 882-8585. * * * * * * Condolences go out to Las Vegas pianist/arranger Greg Bosler on the February 1st death of his wife, Saundra Bosler. "Sam," as she was called by her family and friends, had been a Southern Nevada resident since 1968. She was an avid golfer and a supporter of animal rights. In addition to her husband, Sam is survived by two daughters, Tammie, Heidi, and son Jeremy (she was preceded in death by her son, Christopher), and two granddaughters, Abigail and Olivia. Funeral services were held in Las Vegas yesterday. Donations in Saundra's name may be made to Nevada-SPCA or the Animal Rescue Foundation.
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Tags: Evening At Las Cage Cast Larry Edwards The Scintas Queen Emily Baloney Kenn
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 - February 6, 2009 
Nelson Sardelli & Friend 
David Engel as Roger DeBris 
David Burnham Once again, it's time for the F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) annual Valentine gathering. This year's event will take place next Friday, the 13th. Although Friday the 13th has long been associated with bad luck, the group's founding president (EVERYONE is a president in this group), Nelson Sardelli, promises there will be no snow on that day (the December get-together took place on the 17th, the day of the big Vegas snow). What makes this get-together different than most of the other F.I.O.R.E. non-club meetings? The ladies can attend. Equal opportunity meetings take place at Christmas time, Valentine's Day (or close to it), and on or around the non-clubs anniversary, with the ladies being presented roses and chocolates. (Those F.I.O.R.E. boys sure know how to treat a girl!) The Valentine's Day celebration will be held at the Italian American Club at 2333 E. Sahara. Doors will open at 6:31 p.m., the dinner buffet will be at 7:03, and the party will last until 10:32 (would we make this stuff up?). Dress is "elegant casual" (no tank tops or flip-flops, please). There will be live music, entertainment, dancing and lots of gifts. Cost is $30 per person. Widows of former presidents are the guests of F.I.O.R.E. If you would like to attend, please RSVP, at your earliest convenience, to nsardelli@aol.com or conradvillella@cox.net. The accompanying photo shows Mr. Sardelli (and friend) on their way to the Italian American Club. * * * * * * As of last Friday, there was still an outgoing message when calling the Caylix Jazz Supper Club on West Sahara, although our spies have told us that the place is empty and out of business. If, in fact, it is closed, we say good riddance to bad rubbish...the rubbish being the club's owner, Regina Edwards. In the approximately six months that Edwards ran the club (pretty much into the ground), she managed to leave people who made the mistake of thinking that she was honest, holding worthless checks or never bothered to pay them at all. Edwards was/is an equal opportunity scam artist, cheating both employees (specifically entertainers) and customers. In one case, Edwards agreed to replace the bum check that she gave a customer, only if said customer would sign a Paid in Full slip. Even though the customer WASN'T paid in full, she agreed to sign it in order to get SOME of her money back. If a restaurant doesn't have catsup or any greens to make a salad on hand, that should give a hint of what, and who, you are dealing with. Unfortunately, for some folks, the clues came too late. For those that think our public bashing of this woman helped close her up, we would like to think that were the case, and would be happy to take the credit. The truth of the matter is that it was Ms. Edwards poor business practices that really did her in. We have been told Regina Edwards is going into business in Atlanta. Citizens of Georgia, you have been warned. * * * * * * Musical Theatre West is presenting The Producers at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through February 15th. There is at least one familiar face to Las Vegans in this Long Beach production. Larry Raben, who played Leo Bloom in the Vegas production of The Producers, re-creates the same role for Musical Theatre West. David Engel, portrays the flamboyant Roger DeBris (played for most of the Tony Award-winning show's local run by Lee Roy Reams). Michael Kostroff is Max Bialystock. If you are in the Southern California area, and want to see a fun-filled, music-filled romp, call (562) 856-1999 for show times and tickets. Use the code Cast 09 to purchase tickets for only $20. And speaking of The Producers, it was Keith Thompson who conducted the orchestra during the show's run at Paris Las Vegas. Thompson, who is now the musical director and conductor for Jersey Boys at The Palazzo, has been sitting (and standing, and playing, and singing) in the Liberace Cabaret for the occasionally absent Philip Fortenberry (including Philip's two weeks at the Kennedy Center with the Andrew Lloyd Webber tribute concert). In addition to the February 10th and 11th dates mentioned here earlier, on Valentine's Day, Saturday the 14th, Fortenberry will be judging a piano competition, so Thompson will, once again, take over at that beautiful mirror-covered Baldwin. You can't go wrong seeing either one, or both, of these talented musicians at work. Show times are at 1 p.m. and tickets are $17.50. The Liberace Museum is located at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. Sympathies go out to singer/actor Bill Nolte (Franz Liebkind in The Producers, and currently touring in Fiddler on the Roof) on the loss of his mother. * * * * * * We were busy last weekend, enjoying a couple of dandy musical offerings. On Saturday night, we were at UNLV where we saw Defying Gravity - The Music of Stephen Schwartz as part of the New York Stage & Beyond series. The New York performers were Julia Murney, David Burnham, and Farah Alvin on vocals, and Mark Hartman on piano. Hartman was ably assisted by Las Vegas musicians, Joe Lano on guitar, Chris Davis on bass, and Joel Richman on drums. Gordon Greenberg directed the production. The cast performed Stephen Schwartz songs from musicals such as Pippin, Wicked, The Baker's Wife, The Magic Show, Pocahontas, Children of Eden, and Godspell, among others. The unfortunate thing is that there wasn't a bigger audience to see and enjoy all this talent. Whether it's the current economy or lack of recognizable names that are responsible for the small crowds in the 1832-seat Artemus Ham Concert Hall, we worry that it may cause the university to discontinue these great programs. That would be a shame. 
Domenick Allen, Leigh Zimmerman & Cayleigh Capaldi 
Bella Rumore 
Frankie Laine On Super Bowl Sunday night, it was The Las Vegas Tenors in the Suncoast Showroom. Vocals were provided by Bill Fayne, Teddy Davey and Bobby Black, with special guest, nine-year-old Cayleigh Capaldi performing Stephen Sondheim's Children Will Listen from Into the Woods. The singers were backed up by Jeff Neiman on piano (with Fayne and Domenick Allen taking over for some numbers), Davy Nathan on keyboards, Keith Nelson on bass, and Adam Shendal on drums. The gentlemen were enhanced by the ladies of Bella Rumore, with Lisa Viscuglia and Nina DiGregorio playing electric violins, Hanna Suk on viola, and Dena Perrico on cello. Kim De Libero accompanied on harp. Capaldi family photo by Jeanne Bavaro Here is an interesting (we think) fact. One of the songs performed by tenor Bill Fayne was Ervin Drake's beautiful I Believe. In 1953, that moving tune, sung by the late Frankie Laine, was No. 1 in the United Kingdom for 18 weeks. On Thanksgiving weekend of 2000, Laine, who was 86 at the time, sang that very song on the same stage at the Suncoast. Beginning in the late 1940s, Frankie Laine had performed in Las Vegas in every decade, with his last appearance at the end of 2000. Today, February 6th, it is exactly two years ago that Old Leather Lungs died at the age of 93. And speaking of tenors Bill Fayne and Teddy Davey, the twosome will be performing live (which is much better than the alternative) this Monday, the 9th, at Summerlin's Mezza Lounge and Grill, 9460 Tropicana, west of Fort Apache. Calling the program Bill Fayne and Friends, Davey will be the featured guest performer. More than likely, there will be other interesting friends stopping by to sit in and play or sing a tune or two. From 6 to 9:30 p.m. you can have dinner, a drink, and enjoy the gang as they present music (great standards, jazz and perhaps even an aria) and the fun of Bill & Teddy's Wacky Adventure. For additional information, call 489-4493. And speaking of classy/classical entertainment, the Clarion Synthesis in Concert, featuring D. Gause on clarinet and piano, and F. Gerard Errante on clarinet. Don't miss this exciting preview of their upcoming European tour, complete with two world premieres. The duo specializes in presenting a wide variety of textures generated from an artful combining of clarinets, keyboards, and electronics. This concert will contain unique and innovative works that will be presented in a relaxed, informal setting. The music is inventive and fresh and at the same time, appealing and accessible. The musical event takes place on Sunday, February 8th at 3 p.m. at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 8603 Del Webb Boulevard (Sun City Summerlin). For further information, call (702) 341-7800. Although there is no set ticket price, a donation is graciously accepted (that's a hint, folks). 
D. Gause & F. Gerard Errante 
Wes Winters 
Jimmy Wilkins On February 15th, Wes Winters begins an open-ended Sunday afternoon gig at the upscale ENVY Steakhouse and Lounge in the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, located at 3400 S. Paradise. Enjoy the piano stylings of Winters, who spent almost five years performing at the Liberace Museum, while partaking in a delightful champagne brunch, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The sophisticated and convenient, ENVY offers the perfect mix of upscale ambiance, comfort and, now, the music of Wes Winters. For more information, call (702) 784-5716. Wes Winters photo by Mary Millard And more music news...Tomorrow, from 2 to 5 p.m., the Las Vegas Jazz Society presents the Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra at the Black Label Tavern, 3550 S. Decatur Blvd. There is a $10 cover charge. On Sunday, Liberace's Music in the Museum series presents a Classical Music Concert featuring the Mechta Trio. The museum hours on Sundays are from noon to 4 p.m. Shows are at 1:30 and 3 p.m. "Mechta" means dream in Russian, the language that brought the talented young ladies, who make up the Mechta Trio, together. They present striking and deeply emotional music written for this genre from all classical style periods in an exciting and moving interpretation. Maria (Masha) Pisarenko, who was born in Siberia, is a 2008 Liberace Piano Competition Finalist. She traveled to Moscow to compete in the first Tchaikovsky Youth Competition, and attended the Central Music School of Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory where she graduated in 1997. She later studied at the Russian Academy of Music where she earned her Bachelor/Master of Music degrees, and was a second place winner in the International Piano Competition held by the Frederick Chopin International Organization in Rome in 1996, and in the International Piano Competition in memory of Sviatoslav Richter Paris in 1997. Masha is currently working on her Master of Music Degree at UNLV, while actively performing and teaching. Dr. Laraine Kaizer-Viazovtsev was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1976. She earned her Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Music Degrees in violin performance from Bradley University in Peoria, where she studied with Marcia Henry. At Indiana University in Bloomington, she studied with Mauricio Fuks, and at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, with Kurt Sassmannshaus. In 2004, Laraine launched a visual arts career with her paintings (they can be viewed at www.larainespainting.com). Laraine is currently a violinist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and a free lance 'strolling' violinist. Elena Kapustina graduated from the Belarus State Conservatory in 1989 with a diploma as Cellist, Chamber Music Performer, and Pedagogue. She is a former member of the opera-Philharmonic Society Orchestra of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and performed with the Plovdiv National Opera Theater Orchestra for 10 years, touring Europe, Asia, and the United States. Elena is currently a member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra. She teaches cello and piano, and is a very valuable addition to the Youth Camerata Orchestra. * * * * * * If you want to share a wedding dinner with Tony n' Tina anytime soon, you won't be doing it at the Rio. After seven years at the Rio, beginning tonight, the interactive party moves into space at Planet Hollywood. Show times for Tony n' Tina's Wedding are Mondays through Saturdays at 7 p.m. Prices start at $89.99. For reservations, call (702) 785-5055. 
Tony n' Tina's Wedding 
Ritchie Valens 
Menopause the Musical * * * * * * If you are of a certain age (mostly old), particular milestones remind you just how quickly time flies by. For example, it has been 50 years since three young musicians, Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin Holley), Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela), and The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson Jr.) died in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa. Called "The Day the Music Died," February 3, 1959, ended the lives of a trio of rising stars of rock and roll. At the time of their deaths, Valens was only 17, Holly was 22, and The Big Bopper was 28. * * * * * * With not much time to spare, on Tuesday, we finally got over to the Hilton to see Menopause the Musical. The cast we saw (subject to change) consisted of Paige O'Hara as the Soap Star, Skye Dee Miles as the Professional Woman, Cheryl Spencer as Earth Mother, and Annette Verdolino as the Iowa Housewife. All played their roles excellently, and the audience (not surprisingly, mostly women), had a great time, even joining the performers on stage at the end of the show. If one can use the number of people in the cozy Shimmer Cabaret as a barometer, it sure didn't look like a worldwide, national, or even local, recession was in progress. On an early in the week night, one would expect a light crowd. That wasn't the case on Tuesday. It brings up the question...why is the show closing? It would be pretty fair to assume that most of the audience members would have had no other reason to be at the Hilton, if not to see this show. Who makes these decisions, anyway? The show will close its three year run on April 5th. If you are a woman who has, is, or will be, experiencing the joy of hot flashes, or a man living with one of those females, see Menopause. There is a possibility that the show will find another home in Las Vegas, but why take that chance. Call (702) 732-5755 for show times and reservations. And speaking of decision makers, what are the Paris Las Vegas powers-that-be thinking by keeping their Le Theatre des Arts dark and empty? It has been a year since The Producers closed. We have no idea how many people the show played to on a nightly basis, but if it was only attracting 400 or 500 people a night, that was 400 or 500 more people who are spending time and money (on food, drink and gaming) at the place than there are these nights. * * * * * * TV's weekly Masters of Illusion continues to feature Las Vegas-connected magicians on the hour long reality show. On last Monday's show, Jeff McBride (last at Palace Station in Vegas), Kalin and Jinger (Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh), and Amazing Johnathan, currently performing at the Harmon Theater at Krave, were among those featured. And on the subject of illusionists and television, it is once again Magic Week (at least for four nights, anyway) on CBS's Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. With introductions provided by Neil Patrick Harris, Monday's show featured the Monte Carlo's Lance Burton; Tuesday's, Jason Randal; Wednesday's, Jason Hudy; and Thursday's, Ed Alonzo (The Geeky Guy with the Glasses, also known as The Misfit of Magic, who used to perform regularly in Las Vegas) sharing the hour with comic Garry Shandling. (Alonzo was also a guest on The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet on Thursday.) It has been some time since Shandling has been seen regularly on TV. Cousin Claire and Mr. Shandling have much in common. They were both born in Chicago and grew up in Tucson. They both had cystic fibrosis touch their family (Garry's older brother died from the disease). They both eventually moved to Southern California, although not together. They both write - Shandling, award-winning comedy material, and Cousin Claire, Letters to the Editor. And Gary Shandling had a successful TV series that ran from 1986 to 1990. Cousin Claire didn't. And speaking of magic...The Mentalist (how does he do it???), Gerry McCambridge, will present his 700th Las Vegas show this Wednesday, February 11th. Performing in the Nite Owl Showroom at Hooters since June of 2007, McCambridge continues to mystify and entertain audiences six nights a week (7 p.m., every night but Friday). Even skeptics (including Cousin Claire) are amazed at what takes place in that off-Strip performance space. We highly recommend this reasonably priced show. For reservations, call (866) 584-6687. And on the subject of Hooters...Word is that The Pitbull of Comedy, Bobby Slayton, who currently shares the showroom with McCambridge, will depart the property in mid-March. 
Ed Alonzo 
Garry Shandling 
Gerry McCambridge * * * * * * There is always something interesting going on at Neon Vegas. This weekend is no exception.
On First Friday (that's today), beginning at 7 p.m., volunteers will pose as mannequins, as well as doing their make-up to fit the part. They will carry signs stating why the arts are important to them. The Sketchofrenics Improv and Sketch Comedy troupe will perform at 8 p.m. The Neon Venus band plays at 8:45 p.m., followed by Sinco at 9:30 p.m. and Rubik's Hotel at 10:30 p.m. Guest visual artist, Brenna Curry, is someone with vision in multiple mediums. Brenna is presently displaying her very "standoutish" paintings that explode with vibrant colors and flow. These paintings are on metal, and range in size from 28×18 to 57×37. The artist resides in Phoenix where she got her inspiration for these works. There is also a photo exhibit, with works by Leyla Downes and Michelle Schissler. The public is invited to party at the Neon Vegas Art Theatre, 1404 S. 3rd St. at Imperial. A $1 donation is suggested. * * * * * * Las Vegas resident, comic/impressionist Babe Pier's brother, Roland "Rollie" Pier, was recently inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville. Also inducted at the same time were Gene Tunney, Larry Boardman, "Tiger" Ted Lowry, Bernie Reynolds and Lou Bogash Jr. Rollie, makes his home in New London, Connecticut, has been a school teacher, a coach for the semi-pro Vagabonds baseball team, a boxer and a boxing trainer. Pier admits that he wasn't the best fighter. What he was, was determined. His strength of mind as a trainer of pugilists such as Brian Macy, is part of what led to his recent induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Pier said that he felt the other inductees) were far above his abilities as a boxer. "I fought a lot of fights and lost most of them," he stated. "To be truthful, I'm kind of surprised that I was selected. I spent three quarters of my life doing this. I was never great, but I made myself go fight people all over." These days, Pier, 78, spends his time training the next wave of boxers, such as Beth Geary, at the Whaling City Boxing Club. Despite all that he's done, and the work he does in the community, Pier shies away from the spotlight. His wife, Yvette, who has been with him through it all, said the retired school teacher simply loves the sport of boxing. "He's very happy, he's very modest," she said. "He's not a windbag, like, 'I did this,' or 'I did that.' That's not him. I'm very proud. What he's done was not for pay. He did it voluntarily." Rollie's brother, Babe, who also has been known to punch the bag on occasion, was in Connecticut for the induction ceremony. 
Bobby Slayton 
"Rollie" Pier 
Elton John * * * * * * Pick up a newspaper or tune into the news and you wind up worried about EVERYTHING! Gasoline and grocery prices are rising. Real estate is falling. You could get sick eating tomatoes or peanut butter...or is it cilantro or jalapenos? No one seems quite sure. High unemployment rates, poor and inadequate health care and, in our state (the state of confusion), a governor that is an embarrassment...on many counts. So what's the good news? One of our not-so-guilty pleasures, Hash House a Go Go's announcement that their favorite garnish, rosemary, an ingredient used in many of the unique restaurants' dishes, is actually GOOD FOR YOU. Wow! According to a recent USDA study, many popular herbs are a great source of natural antioxidants, beating out berries, fruits and vegetables. In fact, research shows that the seasoning rosemary can help prevent, not only cancer but also age-related skin damage. The report goes on to state that the two key ingredients in rosemary, caffeic and rosemarinic acids, are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that help protect the body's cells from damage by free radicals. "The rosemary has always been Hash House A Go Go's signature garnish on every one of our dishes," said Hash House's owner, Jim Rees. The fact that it is now being reported as a health benefit is a great asset to diners. Has House dishes that utilize the herb as an ingredient include the restaurant's signature dish, the Sage Fried Chicken and Bacon Waffle Tower, as well Roasted Chicken Hash, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Fired Chicken Benedict, Slow-Cooked Bar B'Que Pork Ribs, Black Skillet Chicken, Pan-Seared Chicken, Roasted Butternut Squash, Big O' Chicken Pot Pie, Grilled Chicken and Brie Sandwich, Kids Fried Chick, and the Fried Chicken and Eggs dishes. If you are not familiar with Hash House a Go Go, the establishments (the original is in San Diego) bring farm fresh food with a funky, modern twist to the masses. The popular restaurant puts its own unique spin on dining, making it an experience like no other. Hash House A Go Go is about having a good time - sophistication with no pretension. The restaurant serves lunch daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Hash House A Go Go serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, Mondays through Saturdays. They are open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is located at 6800 West Sahara Avenue. For reservations or inquiries, please call (702) 804-4646 or visit www.hashhouseagogo.com. * * * * * * Elton John will wind up his long-running Red Piano show in the Caesars Palace Colosseum on April 22nd. When he opened five years ago (yep, it's really five years), the plan was to do 75 performances and then move on. Obviously, the Rocket Man decided to hang around a little longer. When he ends his run in two more months (to tour with Billy Joel?), Elton will have performed almost 250 shows in that Celine Dion-created space. Bette Midler and Cher will continue on in the Colosseum, with no other acts announced to fill in for the departing Mr. John.
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Tags: Elton John Bette Midler Celine Dion Cher
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 - January 30, 2009
Keith Thompson 
Michael Cagle 
Gordie Brown As usual, the most recent Composers Showcase was wonderful. The January edition took place late last night (the festivities start at 10:30 p.m., as the songwriters and performers come after their last shows on the Strip). Each and every month, new surprises await. One never knows what they will see and hear. The music always has two things in common...it is all original and it is all created by people living and/or working (mostly in the city's large production shows) in Las Vegas. Styles vary, covering everything from Broadway musical theater-type and humorous, to classical and spiritual, and just about anything in between. For almost two years (the showcase will celebrate its third anniversary in April), the event, the baby of Keith Thompson and Michael Brennan, has been held in the Cabaret Showroom at the Liberace Museum. Although, the museum hours usually end at 5 p.m. (4 p.m. on Sundays), one night a month, the crew comes back to reopen the museum for the people who so look forward to the opportunity to see and hear what's new. For the new year, there has been one change, there is now a $5 admission charge for audience members (of course performers are exempt from that charge). Not sure how this charge would be received by the regulars, Darin Hollingsworth was delighted with the response. Not only did the audience members willingly pay the $5, many generously gave more. Why not? It's a small price to pay for what might be the best show in town, and the money goes to help support the Liberace Foundation (none of the performers are paid for their work). The hors d'oeuvres buffet remains at $5 per person. And speaking of Keith Thompson, we have some corrections ...one (or two) that involve Mr. Thompson. Yes, dear readers, on occasion Cousin Claire goofs (although, unlike some people, she admits it). First, let's clear up the Thompson MISinformation. Once again, Keith will be filling in for pianist extraordinaire, Philip Fortenberry, in the Liberace Cabaret at the museum honoring "The King of Bling." Fortenberry, associate conductor for Jersey Boys, is the current afternoon attraction, usually sitting and playing Liberace's mirror-covered Baldwin at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. In his absence, Thompson will provide the daytime entertainment. Keith's Celebrate Me Home combines music with the story of his journey from a small town in Alabama, not Arkansas as we wrote last Friday (precariously close to the world famous Boll Weevil Monument), to the bright lights of Broadway and Las Vegas, all while paying homage to Liberace. You can see and hear Keith Thompson at 1 p.m. tomorrow, January 31st, and again in February, on Tuesday, the 10th, and Wednesday, the 11th. For those who love music, we highly recommend that they see both of these uniquely talented gentlemen if they have the opportunity. Admission is $17.50 per person and reservations are recommended. As mentioned above, the museum is located at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. Call (702) 798-5595, extension 14. And, it turns out that the downtown Neonopolis movie theater is still open and showing films. Sorry for any confusion (mostly ours). * * * * * * More on the subject of the proposed downtown Mob Museum, which we are very much against. From reader Bart Williams comes this e-mail... Some time ago, when I heard about the idea of a Museum honoring the "Gangster" connection in Las Vegas, I was appalled. Yes indeed, the "mob" has had a long history in the creation and development of the city of Las Vegas. But to build any kind of edifice or public museum, especially one using taxpayer funds, is just not a GOOD thing to do. Why in the world would anyone want to glorify or pay homage to any group of individuals who functioned as criminals? We are not talking about "Robin-hood" here. These were, for the most part, pretty evil people. In my own time, I have met individuals who were part of the Mafia. Yes, they can be charming to meet, and kind to their mothers, and they might help finance a worthy charity. But they are NOT to be revered as historic "Heroes". If you really know the history of Las Vegas, you know that the "Mob" took great pains to lay-low and never let their presence be seen by the authorities or the customers. Ever since the silent film days, they have made entertaining movies about these people. That is no reason to glorify them in real life. Please, Las Vegas, do not take one more step down the slippery slope of bad taste and the dumbing-down of America. There are "Bad Guys" and there are "Good Guys". Make the right choice. And on the subject of reader e-mail...In response to our observations about the shrinking Las Vegas Review-Journal, Cousin Claire received a nice e-note from Carol Cling, the "Movie Maven" working under the R-J banner. Ms. Cling writes... Thanks for the nice shout-out regarding Shooting Stars, which I'm still writing. It appears every Monday, online, in the Review-Journal's Vegas Voice blog, so please look for it there every Monday (http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/vegasvoice/). Thanks! You are welcome, Carol. We are happy to pass along the information to those who thought you were MIA. As for what once was a fairly substantial newspaper, R-J Lite is now down to the size and scope of that paper's onetime Classified section. We assume that one of the reasons for the diminishing size of "Nevada's Largest Newspaper" (it WAS, but is it still?), is the Internet and sites such as eBay and Craig's List. Apparently, in an "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" way of thinking, the paper has moved Ms. Cling's movie reviews and Shooting Stars column (providing information about film and commercial work being done in and around the Southern Nevada area), along with some other things that used to be found on the pages of the R-J, to your indispensable desktop (or laptop) computer. We are glad that the knowledgeable Ms. Cling is still writing, but we would like to see her in print more often. Note: Exactly one year ago, the Review-Journal's Friday Neon section (an insert covering local entertainment, music, theater, dining, etc.) contained 60 pages. Today's issue is down to 44. * * * * * * To say that Las Vegas "Ballad Belter" Michael Cagle is excited, would be putting it mildly. Cagle reports that tomorrow, he will be in Los Angeles for the final preliminary rounds of the upcoming season of America's Got Talent. Cagle submitted his resume/bio, along with two performance videos, resulting in an audition. He received a congratulatory call last week, stating that he was in the final round, and to be ready for "the cameras to be rolling." If this potion goes well, Michael will be on Season 4 of the popular reality talent competition. He reports that he is "stoked and scared, and excited and humbled." We will be rooting for you, Michael.
* * * * * * Hello, Gordie. Well hello, Gordie. It's so nice to have you back where you belong (with apologies to Dolly, and a thank you to Jerry Herman). On Thursday, the talented Gordie Brown returns to the Golden Nugget. For two years, from 2004 to 2006, Gordie entertained audiences in the 400-seat Golden Nugget showroom. This time around, things, and the hotel casino, are a bit different from when the talented comic/impressionists last played there. While he was busy doing other things, the property underwent extensive physical changes (the swimming pool area is amazing). Mr. Brown has made a wide sweep, playing on lots of stages since his departure from the upscale downtown property. Gordie spent 16 months in the 740-seat showroom at The Venetian, where he was accompanied by a group of talented live musicians. That was followed by four-and-a-half months at the V Theater, located in a shopping mall adjacent to Planet Hollywood, where Brown worked to prerecorded tracks (Gordie needs real living, breathing, playing, well-trained musicians who can follow his often unplanned improvisation and lead, not the other way around). For the past six months, Mr. Brown has been the opening act for Celine Dion's 2008-2009 Taking Chances World Tour. Now, he gets to unpack his bags and spend time at home, enjoying his family and entertaining audiences in Las Vegas. When he opens on February 5th, it will be in the 600-seat Gordie Brown Showroom. When he opens on February 5th, it will be in the redone, renamed 600-seat Gordie Brown Showroom. Accompanying Brown for his upcoming Golden Nugget long-term engagement will be Davy Nathan on piano, Keith Nelson on bass, Adam Shendal on drums, Mike Gonzalez on keyboards, and Steve Swinford on guitar. Show times will be, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with ticket prices ranging from $39.95 to $99.95 for VIP front-row seating and a meet and greet with the star. For additional information and reservations to see the entertainer that award-winning musician Quincy Jones describes as "remarkable," call (702) 386-8100. * * * * * * The Saturday Afternoon Jazz Conversations Concert Series presents Ronnie Rose and the legendary Vince Falcone Quartet. You don't want to miss the opportunity to hear this celebrated group, featuring Vince Falcone on piano, Chris Gordon on bass, Tim Pratt on drums, with special guests, sax players Tommy Alvarado and Dave Stanbaugh, Michael Ray Tyler on trumpet, and Dave Hart on chromatic harmonica. This concert will take place tomorrow, January 31st, from 2 to 5 p.m., at the Black Label Bar & Lounge, 3550 S. Decatur. There is a $10 door charge. For additional information, call (702) 832-2222. * * * * * * 
Cayleigh Capaldi 
Richard Marx 
Bob Anderson And it's the Las Vegas Tenors - Bobby Black, Teddy Davey and Bill Fayne - at the Suncoast this weekend. The three talented gentlemen will be joined by a very special guest, show- stealer, Cayleigh Capaldi. Since many of you have heard, seen and know about Bill, Bobby and Teddy, we will devote this paragraph to Miss Capaldi. At nine-years-young, this little lady is a show business veteran, having made her stage debut at the ripe old age of five months. The fact that both of her parents are professional entertainers - her mother is singer/dancer/ actress, Leigh Zimmerman (Ulla in Mel Brooks' The Producers, late of Paris Las Vegas) and her father is singer/musician/actor, Domenick Allen (onetime co-headliner with Liberace, former member of the rock band, Foreigner, and costar with Helen Reddy in Broadway's Blood Brothers) - may have something to do with that early appearance, but it is Cayleigh's ability and comfort in front of an audience that keeps her, and will keep her, in the spotlight for as long as she wants to be there. Since she studies voice and ballet, is very interested in playing guitar and piano (much like her daddy, who will accompany Cayleigh on piano for this engagement), and enjoys being in the recording studio and singing on worldwide concert tours with her father, and is equally at home on film and television soundstages with her mother, we have a feeling we will be seeing and hearing Miss Capaldi for a long time. She made her Las Vegas showroom debut in 2007 when she was invited to appear with the Las Vegas Tenors in their Christmas Spectacular at the Las Vegas Hilton. Last month, she and her father charmed an audience when they performed Daddy's Little Girl/Toyland/Ordinary Miracles together as part of a Holiday Celebration presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada. When she isn't in school, studying to learn more about being a well-rounded entertainer, or on a stage somewhere, Cayleigh's greatest joy is playing with and performing for her new puppy, Budda, a 10-week-old "Goldendoodle." The Las Vegas Tenors show times are at 7:30 p.m., tonight through Sunday. Tickets start at $19.95, plus taxes and fees. Call (702) 365-7075. * * * * * * Condolences to veteran Las Vegas musician/conductor, Jimmy Mulidore, on the loss of his mother. * * * * * * It's almost February...not too early to start planning for Valentine's Day with your sweetie. There are some interesting choices from which entertainment fans can choose...
At the new Aliante Station in North Las Vegas, it's Richard Marx who will sing for lovers.
With his debut single, Don't Mean Nothing, and self-titled debut album, Richard Marx kicked off his career as a solo artist in 1987. Over the next three years, he became the first male solo artist to have his first seven singles reach the top five on Billboard's Singles chart, including the No. 1 hits, Hold On to the Nights, Satisfied, and the worldwide classic, Right Here Waiting. He remained a fixture on pop and adult contemporary radio for years, selling more than 30 million records, even as he emerged as a top producer working with some of the biggest names in the music business, including *NSYNC, Keith Urban, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Vince Gill, LeAnn Rimes, 98°, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers, Sarah Brightman, and SHeDAISY. More recently, Marx has written and produced records for Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Chris Botti, Michael Bolton, Hugh Jackman, and Sissel. In February 2004, Richard won the Song of the Year Grammy for Dance With My Father, which he wrote with the late Luther Vandross. More recently, Better Life, a song written by Richard and Keith Urban that was included on Keith's latest CD, the triple platinum Be Here, was the biggest hit single from the CD. The song spent six consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Country Singles chart. Richard is currently working on his next CD, the follow up to 2004's My Own Best Enemy, which contained the hits When You're Gone and Ready to Fly. Tickets for Richard Marx in Concert, on February 14th, start at $29.95. For reservations, call (702) 547-5300. Also in North Las Vegas, it's former local resident, Bob Anderson who returns to Las Vegas for 8 p.m. performances at the Cannery Casino Hotel on both February 13th and Valentine's Day. Anderson was last seen here at the South Point, where he headlined the annual For the Love of Joe, the Joe Williams Music Scholarship Concert last April. Billed as "America's Greatest Singing Impressionist," Anderson currently makes his home in Branson, Missouri, where he performs at Branson's only supper club, Club 57 in Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre. Bob is considered "The Best" by many of the stars that he duplicates. Tom Jones says, "The reason Bob Anderson is the best at what he does, is because he actually sings as well as the person he is doing!" Tony Bennett says, "He gets me so close, I have to change my act. He is the best!" Sammy Davis Jr. said, "Bob is the most accurate impressionist I have ever heard." Anderson has appeared on more than 100 national TV shows, including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, to The Late Show with David Letterman. Among Bob's credits are 14 appearances on The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. In January of the new millennium, the Las Vegas Review Journal asked its readers to name their all-time favorite performers of the last 50 years. Bob Anderson came in at number 12, smack in between Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles. In 2002, Anderson was inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. If you haven't seen Mr. Anderson at work, for only $10 per person, this is a great opportunity to do so. If you are already a fan and familiar with his talent, we are sure you will want to see him again in The Club's intimate cabaret configuration. This is a 21 and over show at the North Las Vegas Cannery. Call the Cannery at (702) 507-5757. 
Sharon McNight 
Billy Joel 
Brian Evans And, back by popular demand, it's Sharon McNight at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. After becoming ill the day of her originally scheduled performance last May, and having to cancel her show, it was in September that Ms. McNight brought her long awaited Sophie Tucker tribute, Red Hot Mama!, to the Starbright. This time around, Michael Chapman and ChapQuist Entertainment will present McNight in Gone, But Not Forgotten, a Valentine to some of the unforgettable ladies of music and comedy. In her unique style, San Francisco's Entertainer of the Year winner and Tony-nominated (for Broadway's Starmites), Sharon McNight lovingly and laughingly pays homage to women such as Pearl Bailey, Judy Canova, Patsy Cline, Bette Davis, Betty Hutton, Madeline Kahn, Ethel Merman, Martha Raye and Ethel Waters. In this show, Sharon will also perform her unique, delightful and popular interpretation of the characters from The Wizard of Oz. This should be a Don't Miss presentation. Tickets are $18 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $23 for others. The Starbright Theatre is located at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. (about three-and-a-half miles west of Rampart off Lake Mead). For general information, call (702) 240-1301. For more information about this particular show, and for credit card orders, call (702) 869-2064. Remember, show times are at 7 p.m. And, as we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, The Piano Man, Billy Joel, will perform in concert in the MGM Grand Arena on Valentine's Day. Tickets are available at all MGM Grand box offices, via mgmgrand.com, or by calling (702) 474- 4000. We hear that when Elton John winds up his gig at Caesars Palace in mid-February, he and Joel will be teaming up for concert dates beginning in early March, and possibly even do an album together. We will keep you posted on this. Or, how about dinner and dancing with Brian Evans in the Fiesta Showroom at Harrah's in Laughlin? Described as "one of the next relevant crooners of this generation," Evans will be featured in shows at 7 p.m., February 13th through 15th. According to his press, Evans has opened for legendary artists such as Dionne Warwick, Lou Rawls, Frankie Valli and comedian, Jay Leno. It goes on to say that he has been covered in People Magazine, USA Today, and Grammy Magazine. About 10 years ago, a very young Mr. Evans was singing in the lounge at the Desert Inn (now buried under Wynn Las Vegas). According to an item in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Evans also performs at Trump International in Las Vegas. Who knew? Laughlin dinner show prices, with Mr. Evans and his band performing, are $65 on February 13th and 15th, and $75 on Valentine's Day, the 14th. For reservations, call (702) 298-8510. * * * * * * 
Lance Burton 
Fielding West 
Ronn Lucas TV or not TV. In this case it's TV. Monday, February 2nd, will see Las Vegas' own, Lance Burton, on CBS's Late Late Show, as Craig Ferguson once again presents Magic Week.
While on last Monday's Masters of Illusion, along with Vegas-connected Jason Byrne and Kevin James, it was Fielding West in the spotlight. West performed his very funny "Bob the Bird" routine (small children, the squeamish and PETA supporters might want to cover their eyes for this one). We missed the broadcast, as we were dining alfresco at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas. Following a wonderful meal, accompanied by a spectacular view of the dancing Bellagio fountains, we headed across the Strip to see the Chinese New Year decorated lobby and conservatory. We stopped to listen to pianist Whitney Phoenix, who has been performing in the Petrossian Bar & Lounge at Bellagio for ten years. Musician Bruce Zarka (formerly with Louis Prima and later The Goofers) returns to his piano in the Baccarat Lounge on Monday, following some time off for abdominal surgery and a short recovery. * * * * * * Wondering where ventriloquist Ronn Lucas is and what he has been up to? We are here to let you know. Following a long run at the Rio, and a spell at both the Steve Wyrick Theater and the Excalibur, Ronn's puppet sidekicks, Buffalo Billy and Scorch, started getting restless. Time for a change...at least for a while. So, off the crew went to London where Lucas played "Buttons" in Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre for six weeks (ending January 18th).
The most magical fairytale of them all was told live on stage at New Wimbledon. Renowned for its high quality pantomimes, this Cinderella dazzled and delighted audience with its sumptuous sets, amazing costumes and one of the biggest, freshest pantomime casts in the country. The production earned Mr. Lucas excellent reviews, including these...
From The Stage comes this critique..."And Ronn Lucas as Buttons is a simply brilliant ventriloquist. Scorch the Dragon and Buffalo Billy are his usual side-kicks, but a dad called Stuart was a signable stand-in "dummy" on press night." From Croydon Today, "As if all that wasn't enough, world class American ventriloquist Ronn Lucas is a Buttons with a twist - a pet teenage dragon called Scorch. The puppet looks so alive and Lucas's artistry is incredible: you never see his lips so much as quiver. He brings on another puppet for the ballroom scene and instead of the song sheet he gives us a comedy routine using a volunteer from the audience which is hilarious." The IndieLondon said, "The surprise of the evening was Ronn Lucas, an American ventriloquist, who played Buttons and was a sheer delight. He had two dummys (sic) - a dragon and a raucous cowboy - whom he manipulated brilliantly and was extremely funny in the character delineations without resorting to silly gags or smut. He culminated his performance by attaching a dummy's mouth to a member of the audience and turning him into an inanimate dummy, with whom he carried on a surrealistic conversation; a brilliant act and one I would welcome seeing again." We will let readers know where the brilliant Mr. Lucas' non-moving lips can be seen next.
* * * * * *
Due to the illness of Tim Searcy, last Sunday's musical program, Four Guys In Search of a Song, put on by the Performing Arts Center of Nevada and held at the Clark County Flamingo Library, might have been called Three Guys and a Gal in Search of a Song. Joining Tony Arias, Bruce Ewing and Lloyd Ziel (with Michael Dubay on piano), and filling in for the ailing Mr. Searcy, was Marque Munday. The onetime Rockette, who came to Las Vegas as part of the Great Radio City Spectacular, starring the world famous New York City Rockettes, at the Flamingo, decided to make this city her home after the show ended its five year run here. Marque has comfortably moved into her second career as a singer of pop and smooth jazz music. She has also performed impersonations of Donna Summer and Diana Ross in various tribute shows around the country. These days (and nights), in addition to her work locally, Marque is a member of the touring group, Radiance, presenting a tribute to the Ladies of Motown and R&B. The accompanying photo of the ladies in Radiance shows, from left to right, Wendy Edmead, Marque, Yolanda Tharrington and Crystal Robinson. 
Radiance 
Tom & Dick Smothers 
Henry Prendes * * * * * * Tom (the Yo-Yo Man) and Dick Smothers bring their tried and true comedy/music act into The Orleans for the weekend. The Smothers Brothers supposed rivalry, with Tommy claiming that "Mom always liked Dickie best," has served them well. With successful television shows, numerous albums, and live performances around the country, the twosome have been stars for more than 50 years, making them the longest-lived comedy team in history. Show times are at 8 p.m., tonight through Sunday. Tickets start at $38.50. For reservations, call (702) 365-7075. * * * * * * A new ballet, Transit(ion) II: Dancing on the Edge of a Dream, by Margot Mink Colbert, will have two performances tomorrow ( Saturday, January 31st), in Studio 1 of the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building on the UNLV campus. The first performance is at 2 in the afternoon and the second at 8 p.m. The ballet takes a choreographic journey, inspired by the artistic contributions of the Jewish immigrants to American culture in the first decades of the 20th century. From New York's lower East Side sweat shops, to the Broadway stage and Hollywood, the ballet tours the trajectory of the early life of author Anzia Yezierska, dubbed by the press as the "Sweatshop Cinderella." With music by Aaron Copland, George Gershwin and others, along with a company of professional dancers from New York City and Las Vegas, Transit(ion) II, the second in a trilogy, is narrated by Indranee Clarke. Among the dancers are Sophie Devore, Theresa Duhon, Dolly Kelepecz, Tamara Lohrenz, Billy Blanken, and Margot Mink Colbert. General admission is $12, with students, seniors and military at $8. Call the UNLV Performing Arts Box Office at (702) 895-ARTS (2787) for tickets. For additional information, contact the UNLV Dance Office at (702) 895-3827. * * * * * * Community Theater presents 3,000 Miles Off Broadway at the Starbright Theatre, tonight and tomorrow night at 7, and on Sunday at 2 p.m. That's right, folks, Broadway comes to the Sun City Summerlin Starbright. Some favorite scenes from Broadway and beyond will be presented. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll be delighted. Tickets are only $8, a real bargain by Broadway, or any, standards. The is directed by Gary Sessa, Theater Facilitator for the Clark County School District. All shows at the Starbright are first come, first served with no limit on the number of tickets purchased. Saving seats is prohibited. Show tickets may be purchased at Desert Vista, Mountain Shadows and Pinnacle. All ticket prices include Live Entertainment Tax. Tickets are non-refundable. This show is open to anyone, 12 and over. All ticket sales are check or cash (exact change required). No credit cards accepted. For up-to-date news on Starbright Theatre shows, call (702) 240-1301, or for more information, call Elaine Ruda at (702) 838-3849. * * * * * * This Sunday marks the third anniversary of Las Vegas Metro Sgt. Henry Prendes' death. Prendes, 37, was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call in the Valley. Prior to his untimely death, Sgt. Prendes and his wife, Dawn, had the desire to start a camp for under privileged youth. Now, three years later, that dream is becoming a reality. Through the generosity of the citizens of Southern Nevada to the "Henry's Place Foundation," Mrs. Prendes has purchased a 14-acre parcel of land in the foothills west of Cedar City, Utah. That location will become a permanent home for Henry's Place. One way that "Henry's Place Foundation" is raising money is through the Annual Henry Prendes Charity Golf Classic. The tournament will be held at Angel Park Golf Club on Friday, March 27th. Proceeds from this event will be used to build cabins at the new camp facility and also lend support to send needy children to camp through "Henry's Place Foundation." Thanks to past participants, more than $7,000 in camp scholarships was donated to send students from the Las Vegas Valley to Young Life camps. Young Life (www.younglife.org) reaches out to more than one million middle school, high school and college students around the world each year in friendship and faith. Founded in 1941, Young Life is a non-denominational Christian ministry committed to making a positive difference in the lives of kids through the friendship and influence of caring adults. Sgt. and Mrs. Prendes, the parents of two daughters, believed in the idea that through service we truly test the character of a person's heart. Mrs. Prendes continues that mission through "Henry's Place Foundation." For more information on "Henry's Place Foundation," to make a donation or to participate in the 3rd Annual Henry Prendes Charity Golf Classic, please visit www.henrysplace.org.
Have a question about Las Vegas? Want to make a comment (be nice, now)?
If so, drop an e-mail and ask. Click Here
Cousin Claire will do her best to find the answer for you.
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Tags: Keith Thompson Michael Cage Gordie Brown Cayleight Capaldi Richard Marx Bob
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 - January 23, 2009
Keith Thompson 
Frederic Kahler 
Cork Proctor In Thursday's Las Vegas Review-Journal, the rarely tactful, occasionally accurate guy with the eye patch, did it once again. The sentence under the Scene and Heard section of the column read, "Candi Cazau, the director of publicity for the Orleans and Suncoast showrooms, was let go Wednesday." That's it. That's all he wrote. And this man is supposed to be a reporter? In the first place, Ms. Cazau is not, and was not, the director of publicity. Her title was Manager of Media Relations for the Orleans and Suncoast Showrooms, something this joker could have found out if he had bothered to check. A real journalist might have also mentioned that a large number of Boyd Gaming employees (maybe as many as 70, we are still checking) were "let go" this week. We understand, from a reliable source, that Cazau had received an excellent employee review just last week, so this was quite unexpected. Sadly, due to the state of the current economy, this three-weeks-shy-of-10-year-employee, is only one of hundreds of locals to lose their jobs, through no fault of their own. We can only hope that, one day, the diminishing R-J realizes and acknowledges what an inept and incompetent employee they have in their midst. We look forward to reading somewhere, or hearing, that he has been "let go." * * * * * * Okay, all you "in crowd" folks asking about the January Composers Showcase. It will take place on Thursday, the 29th, same time (10:30 p.m.) and same station (the Cabaret Showroom in the Liberace Museum at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer). Beginning this month, there is one change...audience members (not performers or their guests) will now be charged $5 for the privilege of seeing and enjoying some of the best talent in this city. If you choose to partake of the late night hors d'oeuvres buffet, provided by Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens Restaurant, that will be an additional $5 per person (not per table) for everybody. As usual, a cash bar is available. Trust us (have we ever lied to you?), even at $5 or $10, this is still an amazing entertainment bargain. Scheduled for this Thursday are local songwriter/composers Jason Andino, Erich Bergen, Travis Cloer, Rylan Leo Helmuth, Clint Holmes, Jeff Leibow, Keith Thompson and Mark Wherry. Singing the original material, Kelli Andino, Mike Backes, David Demato, Bonnie Frasier, Sarah Lowe, Nicole Pryor, Andrew Ragone, Arsenia Soto, Ali Spuck, Colin Trahan and Scott Watanabe. Musicians lending their talent and support include Patricia Diaz, Keith Hubacher, Don Meoli, Danny Miranda, Davy Nathan and Laurence Sobel. For those that don't already know, the Composers Showcase is an entertainment forum giving local composers, lyricists and songwriters the opportunity to present original material to a supportive audience in an informal cabaret-style setting. The showcase is hosted by Keith Thompson (conductor of Jersey Boys at The Palazzo) and Michael Brennan (conductor of Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas). The focus of The Composers Showcase is to unite the Las Vegas theater community and reveal the creative spirit that abounds in all of them. The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. Once again, Keith Thompson, will fill in for pianist Philip Fortenberry in the Cabaret Showroom at the Liberace Museum. Fortenberry, with a number of recordings to his credit, is associate conductor for Jersey Boys at The Palazzo. Thompson took over the beautiful Liberace Baldwin for two weeks early last month, while Fortenberry was in Washington, D.C., performing in an Andrew Lloyd Webber tribute concert at the Kennedy Center. Keith's Celebrate Me Home performance combines music with the story of his journey from a small town in Arkansas (not too far from the famed Boll Weevil Monument), to the bright lights of Broadway and Las Vegas. This time around, with less emphasis on the holiday season, Thompson will once again sing, and charm the audience with songs and stories from his life and career, all the while paying homage to Liberace. You can see and hear Keith Thompson on Wednesday, January 28th, Saturday the 31st, and Tuesday, February 10th, Wednesday, the 11th, and Saturday, the 14th (Valentine's Day). For those who love music, we highly recommend that they see both of these talented gentlemen if they have the opportunity. Performance times are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. Admission is $17.50 per person. As mentioned above, the museum is located at 1775 E. Tropicana at Spencer. Call (702) 798-5595 for reservations. And speaking of the Composers Showcase...Artiste/songwriter (The House at the End of Snow Street), Frederic Kahler, who with his partner, Dana Allen (Hayes Hotel) left Las Vegas for North Carolina a few months ago, created quite a stir in the Carolinas on Tuesday. The caption for the accompanying photo, taken by John Coutlakis for the Ashville Citizen-Times, read, "Fredrick [sic] Kahler of Asheville arrives at an inauguration gala for President Barak Obama at the Orange Peel. The party featured food, drink, music, and a replay of events in Washington D.C. on two large screens." Mr. Kahler, wearing his winter beard, describes his unique ensemble thusly, "I'd purchased the African bracelets in the French Quarter in New Orleans; the Lurex turtleneck from the famous flea market in Paris, France; the Obama tee from MoveOn.org. The beads are my own. My fragrance: Coco by Chanel." We think the fashion conscious first lady, Michelle Obama, has nothing on our Frederic. Frederic and Dana were both frequent creative contributors at the monthly showcases. They are missed. * * * * * * We got some interesting comments from readers following our last Friday's rant on the idea of creating a Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. We couldn't disagree more with the Happiest Mayor in the World, Oscar Goodman, who is very much behind this project. In a city that is cutting teacher's salaries due to the current economy, Oscar Mayor wants to spend (as in waste) millions on this ridiculous concept. Here is one response, from Henderson resident, Karan Feder...
I'd like to agree with your recent comments concerning the dismal representation of Las Vegas's iconic entertainment community in the form of a historical museum/attraction/venue.
This is a topic that I have been thinking deeply about lately and in fact, I have begun work on a
program whose mission is to acquire, preserve and maintain a permanent Las Vegas Entertainment Costume Collection. The mission of the Las Vegas Entertainment Costume Collection will be to provide students, educators, scholars and industry personnel with a direct resource where the study of Las Vegas Entertainment Costume is encouraged and supported.
The program would collect costume and accessories as utilized within the city's entertainment industry. Examples from various sources including theatre production shows, film, television, casino uniform costume, cabaret performances and etc. will be represented in the collection.
As I consider you to be an vital component within the Las Vegas entertainment community, I would greatly value your expertise regarding such a program.
We would DEFINITELY like to see costumes preserved and displayed as an important part of a museum honoring the history of Las Vegas entertainment. And, from a Southern California reader...
Do keep me posted if you hear of a better-themed museum being planned. Something more along the lines of the Glittering Age of Vegas. True the mob was around, but it was the Stars that made it Glitter. * * * * * * 
Mintinguett 
Wes Winters 
Larry Liso On Sunday, we were busy, busy, busy, "All the livelong day" (a line written by Stephen Schwartz for Studs Terkel's Working, the musical). In the early afternoon, about 50 invited industry insiders attended an event held in the, soon-to-open to the public, Las Vegas Séance space located in the Liberace Plaza. The reason for the gathering? Longtime Las Vegan, Cork Proctor, was previewing and videotaping (by Kenny Laursen of Aladdin Productions) his one man entertaining/historical look at the city he has called home since 1940 (taking occasional breaks to work elsewhere, travel, and serve a year in Surinam with the Peace Corps). The idea was to present the concept, along with portions of the show, to a group of professionals (we crashed the party) and solicit their comments and/or suggestions on what to change, what to expand on, and what to leave alone. Folks such as producer Bill Moore; comic Kelly McDonald and his wife Ann; entertainers John and Pam Thompson, of The Great Tomsoni and Company, with their pup, Grace (they rarely leave home without her); comic/magician Fielding West; choreographer Rene De Haven; musician Toni Sandoval (back in Las Vegas after years away); Cam Usher (retired from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority); Mel Larson ("onetime director of everything at Circus Circus," according to Proctor) and wife Marilyn; veteran performer Betty Bunch; Renee Hale, president of Always Creative events services; Rick White, director of marketing at the Hilton; former president of American Federation of Musicians Union (local 369) Mark Massagli; Joyce Marshall Moore, archivist for UNLV; photographer Ed Foster; and Tommy Russell, who, in 1959 Reno, gave Proctor his first job as a drummer, were among those asked to fill out questionnaires after the performance, evaluating the presentation. Cork Proctor's Classic Tales of Las Vegas was directed by performing and visual artist Mistinguett, who, between 1982 and 2006, choreographed and designed costumes for producer Greg Thompson's production shows, while Jac "Mundane the Grate" Hayden served as assistant to Mr. Proctor and acted as host and emcee. The overflow crowd (the space is designed to accommodate about 35 people), most of whom Cork has known for between 30 and 50 years, was very responsive. This is a new and different type of act for a man who is known primarily as a standup comic. It is almost entirely scripted, and made up of Vegas stories accumulated over almost 60 years. We can't think of anyone else, with this much local history, who is better equipped to pull this off.
Performance photo of Cork Proctor by Ed Foster. In the evening, we were at the Suncoast to see and hear entertainer Wes Winters. After spending almost five years as a performance artist in the Liberace Plaza - at both Carluccio's restaurant and in the Cabaret at the Liberace Museum where his Musical Tribute to Liberace became a locals and tourists' favorite - it is not surprising that Winters has a very devoted following. Many of those fans showed up at the Suncoast last weekend, some on all three nights, to cheer on the Kansas native. A self-taught musician, Winters sang, played piano, guitar and the accordion for this showroom engagement. The program offered a variety of material, from Tony Orlando and Dawn's Knock Three Times, Simon & Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence, Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode, Ron Miller's For Once In My Life, Rick Nelson's Hello, Mary Lou, the piano version of 1917's Johnson Rag (lyrics by songwriter Jack Lawrence were added in 1940), Barry Manilow's Can't Smile Without You, to Bette Midler's Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, After You've Gone, Ray Price's Crazy Arms, and a beautiful medley of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. Husband and wife magic team, Joseph Gabriel and Katalin, were special guests, performing some impressive illusions. A highlight of the evening presents Gabriel working a Liberace look-alike puppet who "plays" piano and joins Winters in a clever duet of Irving Berlin's, You're Just In Love. It's hard to tell who had a better time, the audience or Winters himself. We'll call it a draw.
Wes Winters photo by Randy Soard And speaking of the Las Vegas Séance, expect the spot to be officially open around Valentine's Day. The business is the brainchild of entrepreneurial Robert Allen, owner of the very successful Haunted Vegas and Vegas Mob Tours. For tour info, call (866) 218-4935. * * * * * * So many choices. So little time. Once again, we have a Las Vegas weekend with too many fun and interesting things taking place on the same days and nights. Here are some samples...
At the Starbright Theatre, tomorrow night (January 24th) at 7 p.m., it's The Keatings - A Father and Son Musical Experience. The Keatings take audiences on a musical journey that spans numerous genres, including opera, Broadway, and pop music. Audiences are consistently captivated by the unique combination of powerful voices from father, Ken, and his 16-year-old son, Josh. Ken Keating is an accomplished vocalist and pianist and has worked extensively with critically acclaimed groups such as the William Hall Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops. He has performed at such places as the Hollywood Bowl and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and has worked with celebrities such as Carol Burnett and Hal Linden. Josh Keating has been singing all of his life, and by the age of 11, he was already performing on stage in Las Vegas. Recently, Josh was invited to perform as a special guest at a Vegas charity event called An Evening With Tony Bennett and the Stars. Tickets are $10 for Sun City Summerlin residents and $12 for non-residents. The Starbright is located at Thomas Ryan Blvd. All shows are first come, first served with no limit on the number of tickets purchased. Show tickets may be purchased at Desert Vista, Mountain Shadows and Pinnacle. All ticket prices include Live Entertainment Tax. Tickets are non-refundable. Most 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. If you are reading this in time, it's Larry Liso, live at Summerlin's Mezza Lounge and Grill, 9460 West Tropicana, tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. Liso, a member of Shades of Sinatra (along with Ryan Baker, Carmine Mandia and Lisa Smith), goes solo tonight, performing great jazz standards, dance music and originals. For additional information, call (702) 489-4493. 
Jason Forbach 
Tony Arias & Lloyd Ziel Tomorrow (Saturday, January 24th), singer/actor Jason Forbach steps away from his role in The Venetian's Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular (where he is in the ensemble and understudies the roles of Raoul and Reyer) to perform music from his new debut solo recording, A New Leading Man. The concert, to benefit Family Promise of Las Vegas, will take place at 2 p.m. in the Clark County Flamingo Library Theater at 1401 E. Flamingo. Jason, a native of Kansas, will present songs from the "new school" of theatrical composers and unconventional leading men in modern musical theater. Among the songwriters whose works are featured, Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World, Parade, Urban Cowboy, 13); Craig Carnelia (Working, Is There Life After High School, and with Marvin Hamlisch, Sweet Smell of Success); Adam Guettel, the son of Mary Rodgers and grandson of Richard Rodgers (Floyd Collins, Light in the Piazza); John Bucchino (the song Grateful, It's Only Life, The Catered Affair); William Finn (Falsettos, A New Brain, Elegies, Infinite Joy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee); Duncan Sheik (The Nightingale, Light In the Piazza) and others. The concert, led by musical director William Waldrop, assistant conductor of Phantom, will also feature fellow cast mates with choreography provided by Courtney Combs. Admission is $20 per person, with $10 of each ticket price going directly to Family Promise of Las Vegas whose goal is to help homeless families get off the street and back into a residence. Concert goers will receive a free copy Jason Forbach's new CD, as well as promotional ticket offers to Phantom. Additional pledges to Family Promise can be made at the theater or online. To purchase A New Leading Man go to www.jasonforbach.com or other online music retailers. Contact Bruce Ewing at (702) 245-0992, or go to www.FamilyPromiseLVTickets.com for concert tickets or additional information. Also, at the same venue on Sunday, the Performing Arts Society of Nevada will present Four Guys In Search of a Song at the Clark County Flamingo Library Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo, on Sunday at 2 p.m. It will be music, music, music, music when these four talented vocal artists come to sing their hearts out, accompanied by the magical fingers of pianist Mike Dubay. Join Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular's cast member, Bruce Ewing, along with Tony Arias, Tim Searcy and Lloyd Ziel, as they launch 2009 with a musical bang! Tickets are a reasonable $15 a person. For reservations, call (702) 658-6741, or purchase tickets an hour before the show at the library box office. 
The Mechta Trio 
Eddie Money 
George Daly (Vintage) The county's Winchester Cultural Center, at 3130 S. McLeod Drive, will host The Mechta Trio tomorrow at 2 p.m. This classy chamber ensemble is made up of violinist Laraine Kaizer-Viazovtsev, cellist Elena Kapustina, and pianist Maria Pisarenko. The extraordinary trio will perform works by Rachmaninov, Dvorak, Shchedrin and other greats. Tickets are $10 ($7 for seniors) and are available at the center's front desk. Call (702) 455-7340 for additional information. And, don't forget Desi Arnaz Jr. and Mary Crosby in Love Letters, playing tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the historical 380-seat Boulder Theatre, at 1225 Arizona Street in the lovely city by the dam. Tickets are $40, with proceeds going to benefit the nonprofit Boulder City Ballet Company, run by Desi's wife, Amy Arnaz (known around Boulder City as "Miss Amy"). This is expected to be a sell out, so call for reservations. The number is (702) 293-1161. Paul Stone, who in recent months has presented a variety show and magic show at the Suncoast, this weekend has The Bootleg Sixties Show, starring The Overtures. The tribute band salutes classic sounds of the 1960s, originated by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Animals, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Searchers, The Hollies, The Who, The Everly Brothers and Manfred Mann (how did HE get in here?). The show plays at 7:30 p.m., through Sunday. Tickets range from $33 to $55, and may be reserved by calling the Suncoast box office at (702) 636-7075. We all know that the dollar ain't worth today what it used to be a few years ago. So we wonder about money in general...including Eddie Money. At almost 60, will audience members, especially diehard Money fans, recognize the once familiar voice that had hits with Take Me Home Tonight, Two Tickets to Paradise, and Baby Hold On? It depends what you read. Money's most recent recording, Wanna Go Back, is a compilation of songs from the '60s when Money was first getting his start in the music industry. In conjunction with the album release, he partnered with De La Montanya Winery to produce Wanna Go Back!, a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. All of the gross proceeds will be donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation. Eddie's daughter, Jesse Money, recently appeared on the MTV reality series Rock the Cradle. The twosome also appeared together on an episode of TV's Don't Forget the Lyrics!, hosted by Wayne Brady (Brady appears in his own show at The Venetian), which aired last month. Eddie Money will perform in the 650-seat Railhead at Boulder Station tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $25, $35, $45 and $55, plus tax and applicable fees. All ages welcome (under 21 must be accompanied by an adult). Call (702) 547-5300 for reservations. * * * * * * One of our readers, Jim H., is trying to locate an old friend and former Ice Capades performer, George Daly. He is hoping a reader may be able to help. Jim says that in 2000 and 2005, Ice Capades held very successful reunions in Las Vegas, attracting between 700 and 800 former Capades participants. Daly was not present at either event and Jim could not find anyone who had seen him in recent years. If you have any knowledge of George Daly, please let Cousin Claire know and she will pass it on to Jim H. Incidentally, Jim reports that the next reunion will take place sometime next year and will be a cruise. * * * * * * 
Stephen Schwartz 
Brent Barrett 
Kevin Spirtas The UNLV Performing Arts Center presents Defying Gravity: The Music of Stephen Schwartz at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 31st, as part of the New York Stage & Beyond Series. Stephen Schwartz, who will not be in the revue, is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer who has won three Grammy Awards, four Academy Awards, and is a nine-time Tony Award nominee. The program includes songs from Schwartz's Wicked, Pocahontas, Godspell, and Pippin sung by veteran Broadway performers Julia Murney (Wicked, The Wild Party), David Burnham (Wicked, Light in the Piazza), and Farah Alvin (Grease, Saturday Night Fever). The production is directed by Gordon Greenberg (Happy Days: The Musical). Tickets to Defying Gravity, performed in the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, are $40, $55, and $85 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office, by calling (702) 895-ARTS (2787), or by visiting pac.unlv.edu. Student rush tickets are $13 each and available one hour prior to each event, based on availability and with valid student I.D. UNLV faculty and staff discounts also are available. A $1 facilities fee, in addition to the ticket price, is charged on all Performing Arts Center tickets. A $2 service charge and a $1 facilities fee applies to phone orders. Internet orders are also charged handling fees. No refunds on ticket purchases. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. And speaking of UNLV, it's not too early to make reservations for the Saturday, March 21st Pops III concert, with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and featuring our Phavorite Phantom, Brent Barrett. Those who saw Mr. Barrett perform with Reva Rice and Tina Walsh in Too Darn Hot!, a benefit for Boulder City's Red Mountain Music Company at the Cashman Theatre, have been anxiously awaiting the talented singer/actor's return to a local stage. Here is their, and your, chance! In You and the Night and the Music, one of the songs that Barrett will sing (arranged by the amazing Philip Fortenberry and orchestrated by the talented Jimmy Lockett), audience members can also look forward to hearing Brent do numbers from his (John) Kander and (Fred) Ebb and Alan Jay Lerner albums, as well as Cole Porter, Jimmy Webb, Barry Manilow and Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse favorites. Plan to spend some time with musical theater's Brent Barrett (star of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Kiss Me Kate, Grand Hotel, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and West Side Story, among others). Performed in the Artemus Ham Concert Hall at UNLV, beginning at 8 p.m., tickets range from $25 to $65, and may be purchased by calling the box office at (702) 895-2787. Before his appearance with the Las Vegas Philharmonic in March, Brent Barrett will appear as one-third of The Broadway Tenors when they perform in Pennsylvania at the Scranton Cultural Center on February 6th, and the Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre on February 7th. From February 13th through 15th, the trio, made up of George Dvorsky, Kevin Spirtas and Barrett, will perform at the Tucson Music Hall accompanied by the Arizona city's Symphony Orchestra. (Spirtas, who portrayed "Corny Collins" in the Luxor's production of Hairspray, also performed his one man show, Night and Days, in Las Vegas, at both the Charleston Heights Arts Center and the Starbright Theater in Sun City Summerlin. He also was in Broadway Curtain Calls at the Starbright.) And also speaking of UNLV, the College of Fine Arts and the Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery present You See: The Early Years of the UC Davis Studio Art Faculty, featuring the works of Robert Arneson, Roy De Forest, Manuel Neri, Wayne Thiebaud and William T. Wiley. The exhibit will run through February 21st. at the Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery, in the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building on the campus. You See: the Early Years of the UC Davis Art Faculty was curated by Renny Pritikin, Director of the Richard L. Nelson Gallery & The Fine Arts Collection, University of California, Davis. This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Gallery hours are Mondays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Sundays and Holidays. An exhibit catalog is available. For further information, call (702) 895-3893, or check http://donnabeamgallery.unlv.edu/. * * * * * * Happy birthday to Aquarians Wyntergrace Williams, Neil Diamond, Jim Seagrave, Terry Jenkins, Walter Mason, Eve Quillin, Doug Saleeby, Elliot Krane, Ray Jarvis, Nino Frediani, Arian Black, Ashleigh Hackett, Jim Semmelman, Ron Andrews, Nancy Lee Parker Andrews, John Meren, Joe Krathwohl, Norm Johnson, Cindy Raft, Dacoda Collins, Martin Nievera, Natalie Cole, Bobby Dickerson, Maurice Hines Sr., Eddie Foy III, Joey Zarzecki, Sean Grady, and Eddie and Anthony Edwards. Also, belated wishes to Las Vegan Felix Silla (best known as "Cousin Itt" on TV's The Addams Family, "Twiki" on Buck Rogers, and "Ewok Retah" in Return of the Jedi) who celebrated on January 11th. And happy anniversary to Jimmy and Sheri Hopper. 
Felix Silla 
Liz Renay NY Exhibit 
Liz Renay Exhibit Guests * * * * * * We ran out of room, time and steam two weeks ago (January 9th), but since the Deitch Projects and the Burlesque Hall of Fame presentation, How To Attract Men, a retrospective exhibit of the works and life of Liz Renay, runs through the end of this month, we can expand on the subject of Mz. Liz. No one could have created this character, except Liz herself. To say that she was unique would be an understatement. Even at 80, she was still most concerned about her image. The makeup. The hair (she wore wigs). The cleavage. It all had to be just so, and to Liz's satisfaction. We remember during one of her hospital stays, when we inquired if she wanted us to let a male friend know she was a patient, she said absolutely NOT. Even in declining health, she had to maintain that Liz image, and NO man would see her looking anything but her best. Local fan and friend, Grant Philipo, made the trip to New York to take in all things Liz, as well as other sights of the region. He took many, many photos...too many for us to use, but we are including a few this week. Grant feels, and rightly so, that Liz herself was the instigator of all of this publicity and media interest, two years after her death, but says the credit goes to Scott Ewalt (who is doing a book on Liz Renay and has plans for a film about her life as well). "He (Scott) was the one who really organized all of it! He was Liz's friend for many years and, fortunately, is my friend as well. Dixie Evans, from the Burlesque Museum, and Luke Littell and Laura Herbert, with the museum and Miss Exotic World, purchased most of Liz's belongings when she passed and have held onto them. Scott and I went through trunks of her press, photos, etc. Then Scott also sought out any of her available paintings and he and Luke and Laura with The Burlesque Hall of Fame, bought the two owned by Liz's publisher (the late Lyle Stewart) widow. Not cheaply either! They have compiled all her paintings they could get a hold of for this showing (some are for sale), and many of her personal items on display, including some on custom painted mannequins, in cases and displayed on the walls. A portion of the gallery walls will be papered with Liz's monthly, "To Do" lists that used to hang inside her front door as reminders. Believe me, they weren't all simple things. For instance, "Start a New Religion!" Trust me, I know Liz has guided everyone involved to do her up right! She never threw anything away, because she knew if she had owned it or used it, people would someday want to see it. She must have had thousands of pairs of used eye-lashes and wigs, from her early days to the time of her death. She constantly wrote down and kept every idea she ever had. Its hard to believe she was so aware of her fame and the desire she had created for people to want to know more about her. She even used to write articles to help women improve everything in their lives (including the importance of feminine hygiene!), and instructed them on how to attract men." Philipo reports that he took pictures at Coney Island, only to find out that it will all be torn down to be replaced for a casino. The only building that will be spared from the wrecking ball will be the original home of Nathan's Famous Frankfurters, a Coney Island landmark since 1916. That's progress. Yesterday, January 22nd, the list of Oscar nominees was announced. It comes as no surprise that the late Heath Ledger was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role as "The Joker" in The Dark Knight. Is it merely a coincidence that the announcement came on the one year anniversary of the young (he was only 28) star's death? We think not. Yesterday was also the second anniversary of the above mentioned Liz Renay's passing. Grant Philipo made the pilgrimage to her grave site, located at Bunkers Eden Vale Memorial Park, 1216 Las Vegas Blvd. North, where he cleaned up the headstone and left some lovely flowers behind. 
Heath Ledger 
Wyntergrace Williams To avoid confusion, we might point out that the "Bambi" referred to in the January 9th column on the Liz Renay exhibit, is "Bambi the Mermaid", not either of longtime Las Vegans, Bambi Jr., (Natalie Need a Nightie at the Union Plaza, Minsky's Burlesque at the Hacienda, Crazy Girls at the Riviera, and the UNLV Rebel's most popular poster girl), or her mother, Bambi Sr. (author Dori Kotzan). The mother and daughter (whose real name is Grace Moerhle Coronel), currently live in Connecticut. Grace is now married to Marc Coronel. They have a son, 4-year-old, Mace, who joins teenagers Wyntergrace and Montel (lovingly called Gootch by his family), Grace's children by former husband, Montel Williams. And speaking of Wyntergrace Williams (mentioned in the above Aquarian birthday list), this is a young lady of principles. The 14-year-old has asked the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine to help her spread the word about vegetarian diets. Three years ago, Ms. Williams changed to a vegetarian diet out of compassion for animals and for health concerns. She persuaded her mother to join her, and now she wants to make sure students across the country have access to healthful vegetarian foods. Wyntergrace attends a middle school in Greenwich, Conn. She loves her school, but noticed it needed more vegetarian options in the lunch line. Realizing that many other students were also looking for healthier cafeteria meals, she started a petition to get healthful foods in her school. The petition said, "Whether we choose them out of compassion for animals, or because of concerns about health or the environment, we all benefit from having plant-based meals available. We want to work with our cafeteria to make these new healthful offerings a success." The school was not hard to convince. PCRM is now working with the food service managers to test and implement new vegan meal options. Eager to help all students find healthier foods at school, this bright young lady is now working with PCRM to create a national petition that students across the country can sign to gain support for more vegetarian options. You go, girl!
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Tags: Keith Thompson Frederic Kahler Cork Proctor
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 - January 16, 2009  Tropicana's Folies Bergere  "Oscar Mayor"  Bob Mackie It's like imploding another legendary hotel. The Tropicana Hotel's classic revue, Les Folies Bergere, will end its nearly half-century run on March 28th. The 80-member cast and crew were notified of the major entertainment change on Wednesday, with the news being made public yesterday. The famed production will continue its regular performance schedule for the remainder of the engagement. An import direct from Paris, the Folies Bergere opened in Las Vegas on December 24th, 1959, under, then, Entertainment Director, Lou Walters, former owner of New York's Latin Quarter nightclub, and father of TV host/news correspondent Barbara Walters. The show has entertained audiences from around the world through almost a half century. "Folies Bergere enjoyed an amazing and unprecedented run on the Las Vegas Strip," said Ron Thacker, Tropicana Las Vegas President. "We are extremely proud to have been part of such an iconic Las Vegas production and offer a sincere thank you to the cast, crew and support staff for their many years of excellence." The property is currently in discussion with prominent producers and will announce its plans for the 850-seat Tiffany Theater within the next few weeks. The closing of the Folies means that Bally's Jubilee! is the sole survivor of the lavish production shows of old Vegas. Tickets for the Folies Bergere begin as low as $35, plus tax and surcharge, and are available at the Tropicana Box Office or by calling (702) 739-2411. See it while you can.
We have also learned that Polly Esther's Nightclub, which opened at the Stratosphere in early 2007, has closed up shop. The first Polly Esther's opened in New York City in 1991 and has since expanded to San Francisco, Boca Raton, Princeton, Chicago, Washington D.C., Denver, Philadelphia, Miami's South Beach, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, San Jose, Portland, Seattle and Montreal. And both The Scintas and Menopause the Musical will be gone from the Hilton by early April. The Scintas - a musical comedy/variety act featuring siblings Frankie, Joe and Chrissi Scinta, and "adopted family member," Peter O'Donnell - will be the first to depart the property, on March 14th. After relocating to Las Vegas, the East Coast imports opened in the NiteClub at the Hilton, moving to the main showroom at the Rio in 2001. After five years at the Rio, the Scintas moved into the Sahara showroom for a one year run, from May of 2006 to May of 2007. In September, 2007, the entertainers returned to the Hilton with their new Laugh Out Loud show. There has been some talk about a Scinta reality TV show, but no information about a new performance space for them in Las Vegas. Menopause is a musical revue about four women who connect at a lingerie sale in Bloomingdale's. The ladies share some things in common - memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, hormones, and not enough sex, among them. The fun show uses parodies and pop songs of the 1960s and '70s to celebrate life after 40. In recent months, the version at the Hilton (opened in March of 2004), has been disappearing a piece at a time. The double cast was cut some months ago, live musicians were replaced with prerecorded tracks, and the number of weekly performances has dwindled down to a precious few. The ending of shows like these seems like a damned if you do, damned if you don't issue. If this is a money saving effort on the part of the hotel, what about the customer who is looking for good, affordable entertainment without the word Cirque in its title? What will take the place of these two revues? No one is saying at this time. The current economy (or lack of it) has everyone quite nervous these days. Is the answer to give the consumer less? Fewer choices? When Planet Hollywood's Robert Earl was questioned about the decision to open a new production (Jerry Mitchell's PEEPSHOW) during these challenging times, he stated (maybe not in exactly these words), that if Vegas doesn't offer people new reasons to come here and interesting things to do, they will stay home. No one wants that, do they? * * * * * * He calls himself the "Happiest Mayor On Earth." Why wouldn't he be? Las Vegas mayor, Oscar B. Goodman, heads up a city that always has a party going on someplace within its boundaries. Often our Oscar is in attendance at those parties, many times with a glass of Bombay gin in his hand (maybe that B. between our esteemed leader's first and last name stands for Bombay). The onetime mob defense attorney (Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal and Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, both deceased, were former clients of Oscar's) is, or was, actually a spokesperson for Bombay Sapphire. We know Oscar likes show business and theatrics. We have seen the Oscar bobble-heads and we know he has earned acting credits in some films. We find that somewhat amusing. Yet, we have questioned some of his decisions - like giving unearned "titles" to people who don't deserve and haven't earned them, and not making some arrangements to bring the documentary, Lost Vegas: The Lounge Era, to the city for the masses to see. The late Tim Onosko, and his wife Beth Abrohams' film, shown once during CineVeags 2005, would have been a natural for downtown's Neonopolis movie theater (now closed), but letters to Mayor Goodman about this subject went unanswered. Goodman is now on a crusade of sorts to get a Mob Museum into the community. Just what we need (NOT!). This project is estimated to cost $50 million. Yes, we said $50 MILLION. The plan is to use federal grants and/or taxpayers money to fund this museum while, at the same time, county school teachers are expected to take a six percent cut in their salaries. To us, this seems ludicrous! We don't want to change the Happiest Mayor on Earth into Oscar the Grouch by saying that we hate the idea of devoting a building to the mob, especially when the funds could be put to much better use...but we hate the idea. For those interested in the mob's Vegas history, we recommend Robert Allen's Vegas Mob Tour, a two and a half hour bus ride that shows and reveals the sordid history of our city. Instead of a building paying homage to the bad guys, even if they were instrumental in developing Vegas, why not a museum honoring the positive side of what really made us unique and glamorous - the entertainers and entertainment? Since the Casino Legends Hall of Fame disappeared from the Tropicana, other than an occasional exhibit at UNLV, there is no place in the city or county that honors the real legends. As we have mentioned more than once, we consider, for the most part, those "tributes" on the sidewalks along the Strip to be nothing more than a very expensive (now $20,000 a square) embarrassing joke. Even for the people who deserve the recognition, their names on a sidewalk hardly tells, or shows, the story. Let's bring back the costumes and/or drawings by the likes of Jose Luis Vinas, Pete Menefee, Bob Mackie, and Michael Darrin among others. How about a section to honor the pioneer entertainment writers and P.R. folks, the ones who really got the word about this place in the desert - Joe Delaney, Forrest Duke, Pete Mikla, Ralph Pearl, Sig Sakowicz, Jim Seagrave, Mark Tan and Bill Willard, to name some? Frankie Laine, who, although he headlined in Vegas in every decade from the 1940s to the year 2000, has never been given the credit he earned and deserved for his Vegas contributions during his lifetime. Let's do it now. How about Johnny Carson, Abbe Lane, The Treniers, Andy Williams (the first headliner at Caesars Palace in 1966), The Mary Kaye Trio, Dean Martin, Bob Newhart, Freddie Bell, Don Rickles, Wayne Newton, Robert Goulet, Totie Fields, Anthony Newley, Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Juliet Prowse, Shecky Greene, Sammy Davis Jr., Lola Falana, Liberace (yes, we know he already has his own museum), Buddy Hackett, Siegfried and Roy, Frank Sinatra, Ann-Margret, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme and many, many others? How about Elvis??? These people brought pleasure and joy to this city over many decades. They deserve a museum and should be honored and remembered with a museum, rather than the hoods, and their weapons, and bullet-riddled and blood-stained pin-striped suits and automobiles. We would like your opinions...even if you disagree with our thinking.  Jim Seagrave  Frankie Laine (1949)  George Jones * * * * * * On last Monday night's show, the new television series, Masters of Illusion, produced by Gay Blackstone, the widow of Harry Balckstone Jr., featured a number of Las Vegas regulars, Jason Byrne, Dan Sperry (Dick Feeney's World's Greatest Magic Show, last at the Greek Isles), and Kevin James with Antonio Hoyos. James, not TV's King of Queens star, really got the most face time during the hour, with four of his illusions ( the bowling ball trick, the rose, the egg-laying chicken and the snow fall) being presented. In its debut (January 5th), Masters of Illusion presented a number of other illusionists with Vegas history - Jeff McBride (late of Palace Station), the Amazing Johnathan (Harmon Theater at Krave), and Scarlett (V Theatre). Gay Blackstone was her husband's co-star and chief onstage assistant throughout his career. * * * * * * George Jones, who was recently honored at the Kennedy Center, along with choreographer Twyla Tharp, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry of The Who, actor Morgan Freeman and Barbra Streisand, comes into the Silverton on January 23rd and 24th. The multiple award-winning country music singer has had 14 No. 1 hits during his career, including White Lightning, Walk Through This World With Me, Golden Ring, and He Stopped Loving You Today. Jones is best known for his distinctive voice and phrasing, as well as for his marriage to his singing partner, Tammy Wynette (the third of his four wives). If no one has made a movie about the life of George Jones, they should. There is quite a story to tell. Until then, see him at the Silverton. Show times are at 8 p.m., with tickets priced at $35 plus taxes and fees. For reservations, call toll free (866) 722-4619. Attendees must be 21 or older. * * * * * * The Las Vegas Black Historical Society, in association with Flowers & Flowers Entertainment and the Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce, present the Las Vegas Obama Inaugural Ball. This historical event, a celebration of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, will take place January 20th in the Triple Crown Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Cocktails and conversation will begin at 6 p.m., with a sit-down, buffet-style dinner from 7:30 until 9 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Phil Flowers, his band A Tough Act to Follow, recording artist/performer Freda Payne, and vocalist Genevieve. Tickets are $44, $55, and $75. Sponsorship packages are available for corporate partners. To obtain information regarding sponsorship, contact Katherine Duncan at (702) 646-2551. For ticket information, please call (702) 463-3026.  Loretta Holloway  Frankie Avalon & Bobby Rydell  Reba McEntire And at about the same time, in another part of the country, former Las Vegas entertainer, Loretta Holloway, will be featured in another similar celebration. The Democratic Parties of South Carolina and New Hampshire will jointly celebrate the historic inauguration of President-elect, Obama, and Vice-President elect, Joe Biden, with a Grits and Granite Inaugural Ball, to be held on Tuesday, January 20th, from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., at the Fort Myer Officer's Club in Arlington, Virginia. Citizens of South Carolina and New Hampshire, along with Americans from across the United States, will come together to celebrate the inauguration of the first American of African descent to be elected as our national Commander-in-Chief. Attending guests will be treated to four hours of star-studded live entertainment provided by the legendary Skipp Pearson, South Carolina's official "Ambassador of Jazz ," along with a host of master musicians, including trumpeters, Dick Goodwin and Fred Wesley, clarinetist, Pete Neighbour, percussionist, Sonny Thornton, and saxophonist, Shellie Thomas. Vocal performers are Ms. Holloway, on-air personality, Tre' Tailor, and Lorie Rivers. Among those expected to attend are the Honorable James. E. Clyburn, Congressman-elect from South Carolina's 6th District, and Democratic Majority Whip; Representative John Spratt, Congressman from South Carolina's 5th District; the Honorable John Lynch, Governor of the state of New Hampshire; United States Senator, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and South Carolina Education Superintendent, Jim Rex, in addition to other local, regional, national and international leaders from the South Carolina and New Hampshire civic and business communities. Interesting to note that the inauguration of Barack Obamatakes place the day after Martin Luther King Day. How said that Mr. King did not live to see this historical event. He had a dream. * * * * * * This weekend, it's former teen idols, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell performing together at The Orleans. In the 1950s, these two teen idols from the same South Philadelphia neighborhood ruled rock and roll and, today, more than 50 years later, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell continue to be an overwhelming concert success. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Avalon was the country's reigning teen singing idol. De De Dinah was his first Top 10 song. From there, it was an unprecedented run of hits, starting with his first No. 1 single in 1959 entitled, Venus. It sold more than a million copies in less than one week. In 1957, Frankie made a transition from singer to actor and, along with Annette Funicello, reinvented himself as a clean-cut, pretty-boy surfer in a widely successful batch of Beach Party movies that got him through the '60s. Bobby Rydell has earned a reputation as a classic performer and a superb singer. He has proven himself to be an outstanding drummer, an agile dancer, and a fine actor, with an unsurpassed gift for comedy. His memorable movie roles include Bye, Bye Birdie and West Side Story. Bobby's million selling hits include Volare, Wild One, We Got Love, Swingin' School, Kissin' Time and Forget Him. During his career, Rydell has sold more than 25 million records. Show times for Avalon and Rydell are at 8 p.m., tonight through Sunday. Tickets start at $39.95 plus taxes. Call (702) 365-7075. Also at The Orleans, in the Arena, it's that saucy redhead, Reba McEntire, tomorrow night. McEntire was the most successful female recording artist in country music during the 1980s and 1990s, scoring 22 No. 1 hits and releasing five gold albums, six platinum albums, two double-platinum albums, four triple-platinum albums, a quadruple-platinum album, and a quintuple-platinum album, for certified album sales of 33.5 million over a 20-year period. While still recording, Reba expanded her activities to include TV, where she starred in her long-running situation comedy, Reba. Appearing at the Orleans Arena with Reba will be actress/comic Melissa Peterman (Peterman played "Barbara Jean" on the Reba show). Reba and Melissa will perform tomorrow, the 17th, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $60 and $75. For reservations, call (702) 284-7777. In 2006, there was talk that Reba would be signing a two-year exclusive contract with the Las Vegas Hilton. We don't know what happened there but, these days, she seems to be playing musical chairs, appearing a couple of times at the Hilton, as well as in the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, Nevada, and now at The Orleans. Confusing, eh? * * * * * *  Mary Wilson & Larry Atello  The Jackson 5  Ray Dennis Steckler When actor/musician Larry Atello was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, he used to sit cross-legged on his bedroom floor watching his Diana Ross and The Supremes albums spin on his little Show 'n Tell record player. Larry says he was particularly intrigued by the Farewell album, which was their last live performance at The Frontier Hotel on January 14th, 1970 (at 11:54 p.m. to be exact) Using a Statue of Liberty replica as a "microphone," the youngster used to "sing" into it and dream of being a singer in Las Vegas. Today, Atello lives in Las Vegas and sings into a REAL mic, both in his Have a Nice Day Bon Jovi tribute band, and as a cast member of the Rio's Tony 'n Tina's Wedding. He could never have imagined that one day, the Supreme Mary Wilson would be coming to see him perform. That's exactly what happened last Friday night. "Having someone whose picture has been on my walls ALL of my life call me up and say she'd like to come see the show!," says Atello. "Talk about a surreal experience." Larry goes on to say, "Mary Wilson could not have been more gracious. She enjoyed the show and told me 'that you work hard and you ARE the party here!' She also said that I was "versatile" as a singer, when my company manager asked her what she thought of my performance." The moral of the story? Dream and DREAM BIG!!!!!! Larry sends along a photo from a night he will never forget. Who says dreams don't come true. And speaking of Mary Wilson, Motown (Tamla), the record label that launched the careers of Diana Ross and The Supremes (and Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, The Temptations, Mary Wells, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Spinners, The Marvelettes and Gladys Knight and The Pips among others), celebrated its 50th year on January 12th. It's hard to believe, but Berry Gordy started Motown with an $800 loan from family members. Not a bad investment. * * * * * * Rebel filmmaker Ray Dennis Steckler, writer/director/star of one of the most wonderfully bad movies of all time, The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?, passed away in Las Vegas on January 7th at the age of 70. We last saw Mr. Steckler, an unofficial member of the Ed Wood school of directing, in July of 2006. The occasion was the Grindhouse Film Festival at the Tropicana Cinemas on East Trop and Pecos in Las Vegas. Presented by Eric Caidin and Brian Quinn of Hollywood Book and Poster, the featured films on that hot summer night were director/producer Steckler's The Thrill Killers (1964) with Liz Renay, Carolyn Brandt, and the director himself, using the name of "Cash Flagg" to play Mort "Mad Dog" Click in the film. The second festival feature was Ted V. Mikels' The Astro-Zombies (1968), starring Wendell Corey and John Carradine. Among Steckler's other films was 1979's The Hollywood Strangler Meets the Skid Row Strangler, with "The Duke of Las Vegas," entertainment writer Forrest Duke; TV host, Jim "The Vegas Vampire" Parker, and Jim's then wife, P.J. Parker, in small roles. Steckler, Brandt, Mikels and Renay, all Las Vegas residents, were present at the festival, posing for photos, signing autographs and meeting their fans. Among the fans, we recognized actor Bart Williams (Anything Goes and Top Banana at the downtown Plaza, and Guys and Dolls at the Desert Inn, now Wynn in Las Vegas), and composer John Buonomo in the crowd. Services were held in Las Vegas. Our sincere sympathies go out to Mr. Stecklers' family.  Liz Renay & John Buonomo  Entertainment Pioneers * * * * * * Angel Gloria Hill (she and her collection of angels were recently featured in a recent Las Vegas Review-Journal story), musician Don Hill's bride of 15 years, e-mailed Cousin Claire a photo that she took at Carme Pitrello's recent 75th birthday party. There is a combined total of 287 years of professional show business history in the five men pictured. Pictured from left to right - comic magician, Fielding West (35 years); comic impressionist, Babe Pier (59 years); singer/comic, Carme (55 years); Judy Coco (who isn't an entertainer, per say, but has worked with them for lots of years); sax man, Don Hill (73 years, including 50 with The Treniers); and songwriter/arranger/musician, Artie Schroeck (65 years, beginning at age five). We're impressed. * * * * * * The Snoop Sisters? Dame Edna's mother and aunts? We're not sure. What we are sure of is that these four dames are out to change the world, or change your minds. Their names are Agnes, Edna, Maud and Pearl, and collectively they are known as LACE (Ladies Auxiliary for Cultural Enrichment) Grannies. The award-winning "ladies" have shown up, expectedly and unexpectedly, on foot, or riding electric mobility scooters, in parades, at fundraising events, visiting patients in hospitals, and other interesting places. They have their own unique take on just about everything, including safe sex and voting. Watch for these gals in a neighborhood near you.  LACE Grannies  Britney Spears  Charo * * * * * * Britney Spears brings her Circus to the MGM Grand Arena on February 24th. With the Pussycat Dolls as her opening act, expect to see the, hopefully, now in control and in shape Ms. Spears perform not only Circus and Womanizer from her latest CD, but older favorites as well. And it's another hot blonde, the one and only Charo, coming into the South Point for shows on February 5th and 6th. Belated birthday wishes to the forever young "Cuchi Cuchi" girl who celebrated her natal day yesterday, January 15th. * * * * * * On January 29th, it's the Winter Wonderland Dance, with music provided by Nobody Famous and the Infamous Horns, at the Italian American Super Club. You can showoff your skills in all styles of dancing, or even take a lesson via Robert Baumann of Dance Charisma. Doors open at 6 p.m., with lessons from 6:30 to 7:30 and open dancing from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets at the door are $12 for singles and $20 for couples. Save a couple of bucks by purchasing them in advance at $10 for singles and $18 for couples. Dinner is available in the Sorrento Room, from 5 to 9 p.m. Ticket prices do not include dinner. For advanced reservations, call (702) 220-6325. The Italian American Club is located at 2333 E. Sahara (corner of Sahara and Eastern). There is easy access and plenty of free parking.
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Tags: Oscar Goodman Folies Bergere Bob Mackie
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 - January 9, 2009 
Railroad Pass Hotel Casino (12/17/2008) 
Larry Taylor 
Jack Lawrence For those who feel that Claire Voyant delights in flushing out and exposing the rats in the entertainment business, she doesn't. She would be delighted if musicians, actors and other performers did not have to deal with these liars, cheaters and con artists. We don't even feel this is OUR job, but SOMEONE has to do it. Certain folks need to come with Warning Labels. Publications such as Backstage, Variety and the locally run Callback (or whatever it is known as today) should feel an obligation to alert their readers (primarily those in show business) of land mines in their paths to fame. Apparently they don't, so we will continue to name names of the rotten apples and/or phonies (like, in alphabetical order, "Troy Adams" of COLABO.BIZ, Jerry Allen, Regina Edwards and Robyn Spencer, for example) in our midst. To these folks we say...Get out of here. Get lost. Or get honest Stop preying on the innocent, vulnerable talented artists in the business called Show. If you don't, you can expect to find your names here again and again. And, by the way, we would much rather use our space to promote and inform readers about GOOD, caring people, and the fine, and often overlooked, wonderful talent offerings available in Las Vegas (and New York, and San Francisco, and Chicago, and Los Angeles and elsewhere. By the way, if these snakes make things right and/or change their MO (Method of Operation), we will happily give credit where it is due. Then there is the other kind of story, the kind that we prefer to print, like this one...
For those that view Las Vegas as a city without a heart and soul, here is something to prove otherwise (there are eight million stories in...oops, wrong show). Many people pass by the Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino at 2800 S. Boulder Highway while on their way to or from Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, traveling between Vegas and Boulder City, or heading off the highway to Laughlin, without giving the property much thought. Well, here's something to think about the next time you spot the Railroad Pass sign in the hills of Henderson. The day (and night) of Southern Nevada's "Big Snow of 2008" (December 17, to be exact) the Railroad Pass served as a haven, a Safe House if you will, for travelers who became stranded in the vicinity. Whether it was due to the icy roads or stalled vehicles, many people unexpectedly found themselves inside the Railroad Pass. The hotel/casino, owned by MGM Mirage, proved to be a godsend for those people. Couples, families, individuals, and even a few four-legged furry creatures, all became welcome guests at the Railroad Pass. Longtime hotel man, Curt Thompson, who serves as the property's Director of Operations, calls it "a night to remember." Thompson, who has been a Southern Nevadan since the late 1960s, tells us they had a packed house, with every square foot occupied by a stranded motorist. All of the hotel rooms were filled, and restaurant booths were used as makeshift beds (the domestic animals and their owners were given a separate space to sleep). Thanks to very unusual, for Southern Nevada, weather conditions, hotel employees were unable to come to, or leave from, their workplace. With the roads closed, and traffic between Vegas and Boulder City literally at a standstill, many of the hotel and casino workers were stuck (and we mean that only in a descriptive way) at the property for 28 hours. Yet everyone managed to make the best of an unplanned situation. And if you think it never snows in the desert, the double tanker Chevron truck, shown in the accompanying photo, was stuck in the entrance to the Railroad Pass' in something white and cold that looked and felt an awful lot like snow. We have to wonder why this rescue/good Samaritan story never made it into our daily newspaper. A bit of history about the above mentioned property - Established in 1931, the Railroad Pass holds the oldest acting gaming license in Southern Nevada. During the years, 1931 to 1935, that Boulder Dam (now called Hoover Dam) was being built, the brand new Railroad Pass was the place for the workers to go - for food, gambling, and even to get paid (their salaries were kept in a still in existence safe at the property). There was even a bordello on site. What there wasn't, was a liquor license (so you had to get drunk elsewhere). Today, things have changed considerably (liquor is legal and available, the ladies of the night are not). The hotel has 120 rooms and suites, with rates starting at a more than reasonable $39 a night. There are three restaurants, the Box Car Buffet, the 24-hour Iron Rail Café, and the Conductor's Room, serving dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. There is also a lounge offering a variety of musical entertainment. On Tuesday evenings, personable DJ Larry Taylor continues to host Ballroom Dancing at the Railroad Pass. From 6 to 10, for $10 per person, guests can show off their dancing skills (lessons are available from 6 to 7) and cool off with one included beverage. Call (702) 294-5000 or (800) 654-0877 for additional information or room reservations. And speaking our daily newspaper, anyone beside us notice the diminishing size of the Las Vegas Review-Journal? We are not referring to the dimensions of the pages, we are talking about the number of pages. Many of the things we used to look forward to, like Carol Cling's Shooting Stars, the Image magazine, and some other special features, have all but disappeared. We were unhappy when the comic pages bumped the lovable loser, Tom Wilson's Ziggy, to put in the one-square, unfunny and often unreadable, Argyle Sweater (what were they thinking???). They still tout themselves as "Nevada's Largest Newspaper" (it probably still is) but, in spite of the dwindling content, the R-J has seen fit to raise the price of the weekday editions to 75 cents. These days, Nevada's Largest Newspaper might better be described as R-J Lite. When the Jumble puzzle disappears, we will stop reading that paper altogether. * * * * * * Okay, you music lovers (and we know a lot of our readers are), here is a new book that you might want to add to your collection. It's called Between the Sheets...and, no, it isn't a "how to" book. Although the teaser advertises, "Get someone you love Between the Sheets," the sheets being referred to are not bed linens, but sheets of music. Subtitled "The Stories Behind My Songs," the author is Jack Lawrence. You say you don't know the music of Jack Lawrence? We'll bet you do. He is the man who wrote, among hundreds of other songs, Tenderly, the English lyrics to Beyond the Sea, Hold My Hand (sung by Don Cornell in the 1954 film, Susan Slept Here, starring Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds), All Or Nothing At All, If I Didn't Care (the first major hit for The Ink Spots and also recorded by The Mills Brothers), and I Had a Ball (from the musical of the same name, that starred Richard Kiley, Karen Morrow and Buddy Hackett). This is Mr. Lawrence's second book, the first one being They All Sang My Songs. And they all DID sing his songs), from Dinah Shore, Pearl Bailey, Kay Starr, the Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney and Diana Krall, to Pat Boone, Bing Crosby, Billy Eckstine, Fats Domino, Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra. Instrumental versions of Jack's songs were done by Glenn Miller, Al Hirt, Count Basie and Lawrence Welk, and Jack Lawrence creations were featured in both Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan. We read the songwriter's first book, published in 2004, and found it to be very revealing, both about Mr. Lawrence's life and the people he knew and associated with (many folks will find the segment on Buddy Hackett especially interesting). The soft cover, large format (dimensions 8.5" x 11") Between the Sheets contains 240 pages, many of them featuring color and black and white photos, the lyrics to 56 of Mr. Lawrence's songs, as well as a sheet music section of 20 songs written by the author. The new book is available for $29. 95, plus shipping and handling. While supplies last, with each book purchased, buyers will also get They All Sang My Songs, Volume 2, a compilation CD of 24 original recordings, with songs written by Jack Lawrence and performed by the artists that made them famous. Published by Jarick Productions PO Box 1002, Georgetown, CT 06829-1002 USA. Order form can be found at www.jacklawrencesongwriter.com. * * * * * * 
Liz Renay 
Natalie Cole 
Roslyn Kind & Neil Sedaka Yesterday morning, regular Claire Voyant reader, Grant Philipo, flew to New York City so he could be there today (January 9th) for the "Big Extravaganza Opening" of the Liz Renay Retrospective at Deitch Projects, 76 Grand Street (in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan). The exhibition, called Liz Renay - How To Attract Men, will run through January 31st. Deitch gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. (for today's opening, hours are 6 to 9 p.m.). We will have more about this exhibit, and Liz Renay next Friday. For more information about the Deitch Projects showing, call (212) 343-7300. In conjunction with the exhibit, on Sunday, January 11th, at Santos Party House (100 Lafayette Street & Walker) Deitch Projects and the Burlesque Hall of Fame present I Love Me!, a tribute show to the beautiful artist Liz Renay. The show is produced by Julie Atlas Muz and the World Famous *Bob*, starring Dirty Martini, Jo Boobs, Paula the Swedish Housewife, Bambi, Bunny Love, Dr. Lukki, Little Brooklyn. There will be an installation by Sequinette and musical selections by Scott Ewalt. Doors open at 8 p.m., show is at 9 p.m. and a Liz Look-A-Like contest will begin at 10. The cost is $5 admission. * * * * * * The Unforgettable Natalie Cole headlines at the Star of the Desert Arena at the Primm Valley Resorts next Friday, January 16th. Tickets to see the eight time Grammy Award winning performer range from $38.45 to $60.45. Primm is located on the California/Nevada border, about 40 miles from downtown Las Vegas. Call the box office at (702) 382-4388 or (702) 382-1212, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The box office is closed on Sundays and Mondays, except on event days. * * * * * * In November, Roslyn Kind, performed two weekend shows in The Club at the Cannery in North Las Vegas. On New Year's Eve, the talented and gracious entertainer performed for the party crowd at the Catalina Bar & Grill Jazz Club on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles. To the delight of the audience, Roslyn's longtime friend, composer and performer Neil Sedaka, who was in the audience, joined her on stage and in a song or two. The twosome were so well received, "we hope to see them on stage together in the future," says her agent, Jackie Stander. And speaking of Ms. Kind, she celebrates her birthday today (January 9th). We join her friends and fans in wishing her a happy, healthy and busy year. (Thanks to Ms. Stander for both the accompanying photo and the head's up on the birth date.) 
Mitzi Gaynor 
Tony Martin & Cyd Charisse 
Cynthia Meryl And speaking of Ms. Stander, she reports that she has Mitzi Gaynor's new show, Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins, celebrating its world premiere tomorrow (January 10th) at San Francisco's Herbst Theater. Fresh on the heels of attracting a new generation of fans with her acclaimed PBS musical documentary, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years, a nationwide tour is being launched, with announced stops at the Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora, California, on March 22nd, the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California on March 23rd, and the Parker Playhouse in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on April 8th. Additional cities will be announced shortly, hopefully one of those cities being Las Vegas.
Mitzi will bring her incomparable brand of showmanship back to the stage in this new theatrical production, a glittering multimedia, one woman tour-de-force of music and memories from her show-stopping life and career. Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins reunites the Golden Globe nominee with the original creative team behind her acclaimed television specials and concert performances - world renowned fashion icon, Bob Mackie, director/choreographer Tony Charmoli and musical arrangers Dick DeBenedictis and Bill Dyer. For the first time, Mitzi shares personal stories, moving reminiscences and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from her life and remarkable show business career, including those of starring in such classic motion pictures as There's No Business Like Show Business, Les Girls, The Joker is Wild, and the making of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. Along with a seven-piece orchestra led by musical director/pianist Ed Czach, Mitzi will perform a virtual songfest of signature musical hits from her film, television and nightclub catalog. The performer will reprise one of her fondly remembered television and nightclub characterizations, "The Hipsy-Pipsy Gypsy", in addition to performing a diverse slate of song selections from John Kander and Fred Ebb, Leon Redbone, Irving Berlin and Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Mitzi will also present new material from the recent Tony-winning Broadway hit The Drowsy Chaperone - all set to brand-new staging and choreography by Mr. Charmoli. This new production, scripted by Ms. Gaynor and conceived and constructed by producers Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda, will also feature video footage culled from her television, concert and film work in an all new up-to-date setting. Stander & Associates also has Tony Martin in San Francisco this weekend. The 96-year-old (his birthday is on Christmas) Oakland-native performs at 7 p.m. tonight and again tomorrow in the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. Tickets are $50. For reservations call (866) 468-3399. * * * * * * Tony-winning composer, musical director, vocal arranger and musician Don Pippin is so enthusiastic about a new musical work he recently previewed, he is sponsoring a public performance at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 12th. The show, called Midnight Madness, is a modern day musical fable is based on William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. (We might note that a number of very successful Broadway productions - Kiss Me Kate, The Boys From Syracuse and West Side Story - were inspired by the Bard.) Put on by the New Jersey Youth Theatre, the 45-minute presentation will be performed at The Lambs Club at 3 West 51st Street in New York. For reservations, call (908) 233-3200. Seating is limited, so act quickly. The New Jersey Youth Theatre is one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed non-profit, youth theatre companies in the country. They produce professional-level theatrical productions, musicals and plays, comprised primarily of aspiring young talent, presented in premiere venues across the state. Founded in 1991, NJYT, formerly Westfield Young Artists' Cooperative Theatre (WYACT), has produced more than 32 main-stage productions. The summer programs alone have served more than 70,000 patrons from New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and more than 1,100 talented young performers from the State of New Jersey. Under the direction of Artistic and Stage Director, Cynthia Meryl (a thirty year veteran of Broadway, theater and television), and a select team of theater-arts professionals, NJYT provides young (eight to 18), aspiring performing artists the highest quality, theatre-arts training in drama, musical theater, voice, tap, ballet, jazz and performance experience. The young artists, participate in an intensive rehearsal and performance process, learning both the artistic and technical standards, as well as the complexities of developing and performing Broadway-quality productions. Each summer, this free experience is offered to approximately 75 to 100 of New Jersey's most talented young performers, musicians and technicians who aspire to enter the professional arena. Many New Jersey Youth Theatre alumni have gone on to successful Broadway, regional theatre, film and television careers. To participate in the summer production program, young performers and musicians must go through a highly competitive audition process. The auditions, open statewide, are held in March/April each year at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Among the musicals that NJYT has produced since 1998 are, Carousel, 1776, Ragtime, Guys and Dolls, Anything Goes, West Side Story, South Pacific, Once On This Island, Brigadoon, and Oliver! And speaking of talented young people and top-notch performances...Las Vegas has its very own award-winning teaching institute for young people, it's the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing & Visual Arts, located in downtown Vegas. In recent years, the Academy has put on amazingly professional productions of Cats, Miss Saigon, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sweeney Todd, The Elephant Man, Beauty & The Beast and Little Women, often being the first high school in the country to be given permission to do so. Coming up in the next few months are productions of The Wiz, You Can't Take It With You and Bang, Bang You're Dead. For more information on The Academy, call (702) 799-7800. * * * * * * 
Al Roker 
Don Novello, Victoria Jackson & Joe Piscopo Could NBC's Today show weatherman/anchor, Al Roker, be reading Claire Voyant (we know that some Today show employees do)? How else would the New Yorker know about Las Vegas' Hash House a Go Go? Roker, who was in Vegas this week to cover the Consumer Electronics Show for Today, made a trip to the West Sahara restaurant where he and his producer, Jackie Olensky, had breakfast. You haven't had breakfast until you have had a Hash House breakfast. If the truth be known, Today show hosts and crew members have been at Hash House during previous visits to the city. Obviously, these folks know a good thing when they taste it. So do Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Martha Stewart, and Bjork. 'N Sync's Joey Fatone, also dined at the unique establishment this week. The Vegas Hash House a Go Go is located at 6800 W. Sahara. Their phone number is (702) 804-4646. The only other Has House is in San Diego. * * * * * * Longtime Las Vegas musician, Gary Olds, heads off to the Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana, where he will play drums for one leg of the Saturday Night Live Reunion Tour. The Boyd Gaming property will play host to Joe Piscopo, Victoria Jackson, and Don Novello as "Father Guido Sarducci," when the veteran SNL performers take to the stage in the Delta Event Center tomorrow night. * * * * * * On his Monday night show, TV personality Craig Ferguson announced that he had just gotten married. Ever the prankster, we figured it was the setup for a joke. Apparently, it wasn't. Ferguson, who frequently appears in Vegas (Tropicana, The Orleans, MGM Grand), married Megan Wallace-Cunningham, an art dealer from Vermont in a ceremony at her parents farm.. 
Craig & Megan Wallace-Cunningham Ferguson 
Rick, Brandon, Paul & George
* * * * * * If we had had this information at the time, we would have provided it, so, it is with sincere apologies that we belatedly give photo credit to pro Don Cadette who took the Oh, What a Night! photo we used last Friday, and the Shades of Sinatra shot that we used a couple of weeks ago and have used a few times before that. Mr. Cadette has credits up the wazoo, in some movie roles, as a musician and as a photographer. In Hollywood, the Massachusetts-native was a drummer on Aaron Spelling's top TV series, The Love Boat, for 10 seasons. One day, Spelling asked Cadette if he had a camera with him. When he responded "yes," Cadette was launched on a new career. In Addition to Love Boat, Don became a photographer for Diagnosis Murder, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Murder She Wrote, Perry Mason Mysteries, The Dom DeLuise Show, 3rd Rock From the Sun and, for 10 seasons, The Roseanne Show. Over the years, Cadette has photographed the likes of Ann Miller, Della Reese, Van Johnson, Cab Calloway, Carol Channing, Ernest and Tova Borgnine, Red Buttons, George Burns, Hugh Hefner, Joan Collins, Michael Landon, Tony Curtis, Oprah Winfrey, Angela Lansbury, Gavin MacLeod, Debbie Reynolds, Ginger Rogers, Tom Selleck, Bruce Willis, Patrick Swayze, Dick Van Dyke, Whoopi Goldberg, Shelley Winters, Forrest Tucker, Gordon MacRae, Tammy Faye Bakker, Los Angeles Mayors Tom Bradley and Richard Riordan, Elizabeth Dole, Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and England's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Since moving to Las Vegas 10 years ago, Don has photographed many of the city's performers and also teaches seniors the joy of photography. And if the name Cadette is familiar, but you are associating it with a lady, it could be because Don's wife, Jeannie Lyons Cadette, has lots of credits as a singer/dancer for 45 years - 1957's Pajama Game at the Riviera; Our Young Generation, working with Johnny Mathis for three years; The Establishment, opening for stars such as Don Knotts, Andy Griffith, Liberace, Woody Allen, Edie Adams and Jerry Van Dyke at Caesars Palace; and appearing with The Mills Brothers, Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach, Anthony Newley, Mac Davis, Roger Miller, Henry Mancini, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Bassey, Roger Miller, Phyllis Diller, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Lennon Sisters and Frank Gorshin - still shows up on a stage every now and then. Her last gig was as part of the Encore Follies that played to a full house at the Winchester Cultural Center in Las Vegas. Jeannie also performs with the local Silver Belles. The Cadettes have resided in Las Vegas for 10 years. And speaking of Oh, What a Night!, we enjoyed the show at the Suncoast very much. The only thing that Oh, What a Night! has in common with the blockbuster, Tony-winning Jersey Boys, is that both revolve around Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Whereas Jersey Boys (which in spite of the current frightening economic conditions, continues to do dandy business at The Palazzo) combines the group's music with the sometimes troubled rise to fame of the boys from Newark, Frankie, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi, and Tommy DeVito (who makes his home in Las Vegas). In Oh, What a Night!, Brandon Albright, Rick Morgan, Paul Holmquist and George Solomon sing, dance and joke their way through the music made famous by the quartet from New Jersey.
The accompanying photo, taken during an Oh, What a Night! performance last weekend, is also the handiwork of Don Cadette. * * * * * *  Greg, Kathy & Bill Walker * * * * * * We just learned of the January 4th death of entertainer Greg Walker. A member of The Walkers, we first saw Greg perform at the old Holiday Casino, where he and his siblings, Kathy Walker and Bill Walker, were a featured act in a number of Rocky Sennes productions. They were favorites of ours. Born in Chicago, Greg was raised in Pennsylvania, moving to New York City in the late 1960s to join a comedic harmonica band, the Harmonica Rascals. With that group, he performed around the world where he entertained U.S. troops on USO tours of Vietnam. He left the Rascals in 1971 to attend Ohio's Findlay College. In 1972, Greg teamed with his brother and sister to form The Walkers, a musical-comedy act featuring the trio doing celebrity impressions. The Walkers made their first Las Vegas appearance with The Mickey Finn Show at the Landmark Hotel in 1974. In 1977, Greg, Kathy and Bill Walker were signed by Sennes to star in his variety review at the Holiday Casino (now Harrah's). During their 11-year run there, the family act made repeated national television appearances on Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, the Joan Rivers Show, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, among them. The threesome appeared in Legends in Concert at the Imperial Palace during 1988 and then went on to do convention shows across the country, and concert appearances in Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Europe and Australia. They traveled the world together, doing their act on cruise ships in recent years. The Walkers' last long-running engagement was in Robbie Howard's Stars of The Strip at the Lady Luck Hotel. For the last five years, Greg entertained as Elvis in the Dealertainer Pit of the Imperial Palace. Greg, who was 57, is survived by his daughter, Brittany Walker, his parents, Dr. James H. and Shirley Walker; brother, Pastor Bill Walker (Stephanie Webb-Walker); sister, Kathy Walker-Koch (Dave Koch); niece, Savannah Reeves; and his ex-wife, Dina Powell. There will be a celebration of Greg's life at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 10th, at Trinity Life Center, 1000 E. St. Louis Ave. in Las Vegas. Our deepest sympathies to his family.
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