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 11, 2008

Norman Kaye

Robert Goulet

Steven Brinberg as Barbra

Build it and they will come. Hopefully, that will be the case with the eNORMous NORM-a-THON, a benefit for ailing Norman Kaye, being put together by a group of hard-working and stressed friends. Norman, a founding member of the pioneer Las Vegas lounge group, The Mary Kaye Trio, suffered his second stroke a couple of months ago. He is currently in a rehabilitation facility and is anticipated to be there for some time. Unfortunately, his full Medicare benefits ran out after 20 days and, now, the co-pay costs are $128 a day (almost $900 a week). Kaye, 86, was always available to help someone in need. Now, he is the one. The response has been almost TOO good! Entertainers and musicians are heeding the call and coming forward to offer their services. In order to accommodate all of the talented people who would like to participate in this venture, it would have to be an all-day affair. We all know that can't happen. Among those scheduled to perform are Bill Acosta, Peter Anthony, Pete Barbutti, Charlie Callas, Kathleen Dunbar, Vincent Falcone, Clint Holmes, Jimmy Hopper, The Las Vegas Tenors, Jerry Lopez and The Fat City Horns, Gerry McCambridge, Bill Nolte, Sammy Shore and The Great Tomsoni & Co. The NORM-a-THON will take place on Sunday, April 20^th in The Orleans showroom, beginning at 12 noon. Hopes are to sell out the 850 seat theater. Tickets are a ridiculously low $20 and may be purchased at The Orleans box office. For more details and updates, check the Web site, www.EnormousNorm-A-Thon.com. We will have more on this event next Friday.

On the same afternoon (April 20^th) at 2 p.m., John Meren and Tom Gallagher, through their Performing Arts Society of Nevada Brown Bag Concert Series, will present Bert Anderson, Elly Brown, Laurie Caseres and Randy Hendrickson performing the music of Oscar Hammerstein, and Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Joey Singer will accompany at the piano. Songs from Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Gigi, Camelot, Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, Cinderella, Flower Drum Song and the Sound of Music will be featured. The concert will take place at the Clark County Library Theater at 1401 E. Flamingo. Tickets are $15, and can be ordered by calling (702) 658-6741 or purchased at library box office beginning at 1 p.m. the day of show.

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Nobody asked us our opinion (that never stopped us from giving it before), but, based on the latest Las Vegas Tenors show at the Las Vegas Hilton last Sunday, we think that their second CD should be Broadway In Song! We always enjoy the Tenors, no matter what they sing, but Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Teddy Davey and Mark Giovi's visit to Broadway could be expanded into a wonderful album. During their latest Hilton show, and in a nice touch, the fellows paid tribute to the late Robert Goulet by singing The Impossible Dream. Bill Fayne recalled that when Goulet and his wife, Vera, came backstage after their Hilton concert last September, Robert suggested that perhaps the quartet needed a fifth tenor to join the group. Ever the comic, it's hard to believe that only weeks later he would be gone.

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Cousin Claire has many friends who are impersonators. We know people who pay homage to Neil Diamond, Liberace, Elton John, Judy Garland, Cher, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Dean Martin, Madonna, Michael Jackson and a host of other celebrities. These entertainers come in all sizes and both sexes. Most of them are very talented and have made much of their living as tribute artists. Possibly the most unique of those we have seen is Barbra Streisand, in the guise of Steven Brinberg, an East Coast resident who gave his first Las Vegas performance last Saturday night at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. This fellow was very impressive. We especially enjoyed his duet with himself, playing both Streisand and Neil Diamond for You Don't Bring Me Flowers and his I'm Still Here number, featuring Brinberg doing the voices of Eartha Kitt, Ethel Merman, Lena Horne, Cher, Julie Andrews, Bea Arthur, Billie Holiday, Bette Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Katharine Hepburn, Carol Channing and Fran Drescher. Steven was accompanied by Dave Richardson at the piano. Not only was this Brinberg's first performance here, it was also his very first visit to Las Vegas. We spotted a couple of longtime friends, The Edwards Twins, Anthony and Eddie, at the Brinberg show. It's fun to watch a group of impersonators get together. In case you are not familiar with the Edwards Twins, who own homes in Vegas but work almost everywhere else, they have a very unique act. The identical bothers impersonate a range of celebrities, with Anthony Edwards taking on Neil Diamond, Elton John, Sonny Bono, Billy Joel and others, while his brother, Eddie Edwards, does takeoffs on Bette Midler, Cher, and, surprise, Barbra. We would like to recommend Brinberg's CD, Simply Barbra - The Duets Album. In his best Streisand voice, Brinberg is joined in song by some impressive entertainers, including Kaye Ballard, Claiborne Cary, Debbie Gravitte, Mimi Hines, Betsy Joslyn, Alix Korey, Heather MacRae, Karen Mason, Hugh Panaro, Mark Sendroff and KT Sullivan.

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Lucy Shropshire

Brett Daniels

Too Darn Hot!

Former Las Vegan Lucy Shropshire makes her second appearance at Manhattan's Metropolitan Room on Sunday, April 20^th. The cabaret is located at 34 W. 22^nd Street between 5^th and 6^th Avenues. Lucy, who was the principal singer in the Stardust's Enter the Night production and is currently touring with former Supreme, Mary Wilson, will be accompanied by David Shenton on piano and Mark Wade on drums, when she presents All Sides of Love. Shenton, who in addition to being a pianist is also a violinist and conductor, embraces every nuance that is breathed from the songstress. Under the direction of Jim Semmelman, a performer, writer and also a onetime Las Vegas resident, the 9:30 p.m. show promises excitement and surprises. Reservations can be made by calling (212) 200-0440. Discover Lucy Shropshire.

Lucy's photo by Richard Drew

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Brett Daniels might be the best magician on the planet (we don't know, as we haven't seen him yet), but we feel the title of his new show at the Sahara is self defeating. How many people would buy tickets to see Whoscigam? What is that, anyway? The counterpart to the popular Japanese muscle show, Matsuri (a great production that had a very short run at the Sahara)? Okay, here's the explanation. Whoscigam is magicshoW spelled backwards. WHOever thought this one up should be locked in a room and forced to listen to recent Wayne Newton recordings (maybe that is too cruel of a punishment, even for this crime). Rethink this one, Brett.

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Here we go again. Get out a coin, toss it in the air and see how it lands. Heads up? Heads down. Once again, it's decision time. On the same night, and practically at the same time, there are these choices to deal with...I Love a Piano, an off-Broadway musical featuring the songs of Irving Berlin, at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway (just southeast of Green Valley Ranch) beginning at 8 p.m. next Friday, April 18^th, and Too Darn Hot! The Golden Age of Broadway, featuring our Phavorite Phantom, Brent Barrett, Tina Walsh (also in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular), and Spamalot's Reva Rice, starting at 7 p.m. at the Cashman Theater, just north of downtown Las Vegas.

The off-Broadway musical, I Love A Piano, honoring America's most prolific songwriter, Irving Berlin, makes its southern Nevada debut at the Henderson Pavilion, located at 200 S. Green Valley Parkway, on Friday, April 18^th at 8 p.m. I Love A Piano spans seven decades of musical history, using 64 of Berlin's ever-lasting favorites. This quirky musical centers on the life of a piano with one sour key and the generations of singers and dancers who performed with it. Russian-born Berlin immigrated to New York with his family at five years old. A self-taught musician, he began his career as a singing waiter in Chinatown and eventually became a lyricist. He wrote the scores to more than a dozen Broadway musicals, including Annie Get Your Gun, and provided songs for dozens of Hollywood movie musicals. With a collection of more than 1,200 songs, Berlin defines the music of our country. Creators Ray Roderick and Michael Berkley capture the spirit of America in I Love A Piano. The musical celebrates the influences from the various eras through specially choreographed dance, memorable songs and decade-appropriate costumes. Tickets, ranging from $20 to $40, can be purchased online at www.HendersonLive.com or by calling the Henderson Pavilion Box Office at (702) 267-4TIX (4849).

Boulder City's Red Mountain Music Company is presenting Too Darn Hot: The Golden Age of Broadway, for one night only, April 18th at 7 p.m. at Cashman Theatre (850 Las Vegas Blvd., N.). This sizzling production features the Red Mountain Choir, along with Broadway and Las Vegas Strip sensations Barrett, Rice and Walsh, as well as a 30-piece orchestra. Under the direction of Artistic Director Jeffrey Skouson and Musical Director David Skouson, the cast and orchestra will perform favorites from Gypsy, South Pacific, Oklahoma!, Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man and West Side Story, to name a few. Tickets are $15, $25 and $35 and can be purchased online at www.redmountainmusic.org, on the phone at (702) 294-0043, at the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce (465 Nevada Way). They're selling like hot cakes, so get yours today!

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Again, we are faced with a conflict of musical interests. As a reminder, this Sunday (April 13^th), it's Phantom's Nicole Pryor with two shows (1:30 and 3 p.m.) in the Wes Winters Showroom at the Liberace Museum, 1775 E. Tropicana. A $10 donation to the Liberace Foundation is requested…well worth it, for both the performance by a pro AND to support Liberace's continuing efforts in encouraging and assisting the fine arts and its artists. At the same time (2 p.m.), it's Michael Kessler, Melinda Jackson and their M&M American Dance Theatre cast performing Dancin' Feet at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. Tickets are $25 and are on sale at the Starbright box office. Call (702) 363-1341 for additional information. If that's not enough, at 3 p.m., it's C.J. Harding paying tribute to Patsy Cline at the Charleston Heights Arts Center. Tickets are $10 or $12, depending when you purchase them. The theater is located at 800 S. Brush Street (near Charleston and Decatur). Call (702) 229-6383 for additional information and reservations.

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David Loeb

Ben Vereen

Vita Corimbi

Current Las Vegan David Loeb's impressive credits include orchestrations for George Benson, Doc Severinsen and Miriam Makeba in her performance with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The musical arranger/conductor has composed music for the Disney Channel's Cycling through China along with And Thou Shalt Honor on PBS and has written for Dolly Parton on Columbia Records. Loeb has been the principal pianist with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and accompanied many artists, including Garth Brooks, Peabo Bryson, Bonnie Raitt, Nell Carter, Barry Manilow, Jennifer Holiday, Curtis Mayfield, Jewell, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Freddie Hubbard and Anita O' Day. David conducted The Philadelphia Orchestra with jazz vocalist, and now Las Vegas resident, Dee Dee Bridgewater for the Marian Anderson Award Gala honoring actor Danny Glover. Mr. Loeb has performed for the Emmy award-winning 2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, Comic Relief on HBO, and The Emmy Awards. He has served as the assistant professor of music at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is head of UNLV's Jazz department. While The Producers musical director, Keith Thompson, was preparing for his job with Jersey Boys (now up and running at Palazzo), Loeb took over for Thompson. This weekend, David Loeb will serve as musical director for Ben Vereen in Vereen's weekend appearance at the South Point Hotel/Casino.

As for Ben Vereen, he is a true triple-threat performer - singer, dancer, actor. On Broadway, he has appeared in Wicked, Fosse, the critically acclaimed, I'm Not Rappaport, Sweet Charity, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Grind, Jelly's Last Jam, A Christmas Carol, and Chicago (Ben played Billy Flynn in the Mandalay Bay version of Chicago as well). His role in Pippin earned Vereen both the prestigious Tony and the Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Clive Barnes of the New York Post stated "Ben Vereen, unquestionably one of the finest performances seen on Broadway." During the past 25 years, Ben's ever-changing cabaret-style show has won him many accolades, including that of Entertainer of the Year, Rising Star and the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) Song and Dance Star, making him the first simultaneous winner of those three awards. He has also earned a coveted spot in Las Vegas' Casino Legends Hall of Fame. Vereen is currently touring with his one man show, Vereen Sings a Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. As an actor, Ben is probably best remembered for his role as the unforgettable Chicken George in Alex Haley's groundbreaking television mini-series, Roots. Vereen's film appearances include All That Jazz, Funny Lady (Golden Globe nomination), Why Do Fools Fall in Love, the animated movie Once Upon a Forest, and The Painting which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year. He also played the lead character in Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style, and had roles in Anne Rice's Feast of All Saints, Intruders They are Among Us (Emmy nomination), The Jesse Owens Story, Ellis Island (Golden Globe Nomination), Lost in London, Salute to Liberty Special, Christmas in Washington and Faerie Tale Theatre's Puss N' Boots with Gregory Hines. His own network specials include Ben Vereen: His Roots (Seven Emmy Awards), Tenspeed and Brownshoe, You Write the Songs and Zoobilee Zoo. Vereen's television guest appearances include OZ, Touched By An Angel, Second Noah, New York Undercover, The Nanny, Star Trek - The Next Generation, The Jamie Foxx Show, Promised Land, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as well as recurring roles on Silk Stockings, Webster, J.J. Starbuck and Booker. This past spring Ben co-stared opposite Vanessa Williams in the film, And Then Came Love and opposite Ciara and Patti LaBelle in Mama I Want to Sing (the story of the late Doris Troy, a longtime Las Vegan). In June, he celebrated Eartha Kitt's 80^th birthday in concert at Carnegie Hall to multiple standing ovations. This September, he honored Martin Luther King Jr. in The Dream Concert at Radio City Music Hall and presented Outstanding Mini-series for the 2007 Emmy Awards. For Nickelodeon, Ben provided voice-overs on the show, Wonder Pets! Recently Ben guest starred on ABC's hit primetime drama Grey's Anatomy and soon after appeared on The View. Watch for Ben to guest star on an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In the meantime, catch Ben Vereen and David Loeb at Michael Gaughan's South Point Hotel, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Shows are at 7:30 p.m., tonight through this Sunday. Tickets are range from $35 to $55, plus applicable taxes and fees. Call (702) 797-8055 for reservations.

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For those who have been asking when the next Composers Showcase will take place, the answer is Wednesday, April 23^rd (that's WEDNESDAY, not the usual Tuesday). We will have more details next Friday. And for those who have been asking when Vita Corimbi would be back to perform in the showcase, the answer is not in April. Ms. Talented Talented is also Ms. Busy Busy. Vita is a cast member of Menopause the Musical at the Las Vegas Hilton, one of Killian's Angels, an accompanist for the above mentioned Las Vegas Tenors and a much sought after voiceover actress. If that weren't enough to keep her occupied, she is also a wife, mother, and daughter, caring for her own mother who is recovering from hip surgery. One would think this gal could find a few minutes a month to come and display yet another side of her talent, that of a songwriter. Instead of showing up at the Liberace Museum to entertain her adoring fans, Ms. Corimbi is going out on a short tour of Menopause. We will happily announce her next Composers Showcase performance as soon as we find out when it will occur.

And speaking of the Composers Showcase, we received an e-mail from a reader inquiring about the talented Joan Sobel, a frequent participant in the monthly showcase. The e-mail came from C.O. in Charlotte, North Carolina. He says, "I went to North Carolina School of the Arts with Joan Sobel (Eubank) and was a huge fan of her voice. Any suggestions on how I could get in touch with her? I will be in Las Vegas in the next couple of months and would love to hear her sing again." Well, Mr. O, we have good news for you. The lady with the beautiful soprano voice is a cast member in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular cast member, where she plays Madame Firmin and understudies Carlotta in the incredible opera house/theater at The Venetian. If you happen to be in Las Vegas on April 23^rd, Joan Sobel will sing a song written by Richard Oberacker, the musical director for Cirque du Soleil's Ka at the MGM Grand, at the Composers Showcase.

Joan Sobel

Bon Jovi Tribute

Randy Carlson and Cork Proctor

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Can't catch Bon Jovi at the MGM Grand Garden arena tomorrow night, or can't come up with the big bucks to do so? We have a suggestion for you. You can see Have a Nice Day - The Tribute to Jon Bon Jovi, featuring Larry Atello as Jon Bon Jovi, with Seth Yudof on guitar/vocals, Derek VanDervort-MacElwain on bass, Jazz Dimazana on keyboards/vocals, and Jim Norris on drums instead (or in addition to). Atello and company will perform two shows on Tuesday, April 15^th, starting at 10 p.m., in Roxy's Lounge at Sam's Town. In addition to his position in Have a Nice Day, Larry Atello is also a cast member of the interactive Tony 'n Tina's Wedding, now in its sixth year at the Rio.

Jazz Diamaza, mentioned above, also is the keyboardist for a separate band called The One Hit Wonders, that performs the music of, surprise, "one hit wonders" from the past three decades. If the venue has a video screen, the group has fun with the audience on one hit wonder trivia. This band is unique in the fact that it inspires everyone in the room to think about other one hit wonders and the bands that created them. "No matter where we perform," says Jazz, "we can look out into the audience and they are all having the same conversation. They are all thinking about songs and bands that may be one hit wonders. They also are talking about the bands that have secondary hits and what qualifies as a one hit wonder." Since we haven't had the opportunity to see One Hit Wonders in action, we don't know who they include in their tribute and who they omit. We hope that our friend, the late Doris Troy who lived in Las Vegas for many years, is remembered for her big hit, Just One Look. Harry Elston, the lead singer of the Friends of Distinction, also has a residence here. Maybe the Friends hit, Grazing In the Grass, is part of the One Hit Wonders repertoire. When we have a chance to check out the act, we will let you know. See them, also appearing at Sam's Town on Tuesday the 15^th, beginning at 8 p.m.

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A belated happy birthday to Shecky Greene who turned 82 on Tuesday.

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We made our first trip out to the South Point (it should be called the WAY South Point) on Sunday to attend For the Love of Joe, the 19^th Annual Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund Concert. Comic Cork Proctor served as Master of Ceremonies, introducing performers including The Cunninghams, Pete Barbutti, Artie Butler, Marlena Shaw, and headliner Bob Anderson, in from Branson, MO, to participate in the show. Vince Falcone was Anderson's musical director. The College of Southern Nevada's 17-piece All-Star Big Band was featured, as were the CSN Jazz Singers. Randy Carlson presented a large framed reproduction of a 1999 Las Vegas Life magazine Christmas cover, featuring Joe Williams as Santa Claus, a gift to Joe's widow, Jillean Williams, from the Greenspun Media Group. It appeared that the South Point showroom was just about full, with the Four Freshmen's original lead singer/musician Bob Flanigan and his wife, Mary; Bill Acosta and wife Jeanne Bavaro; Nelson Sardelli, Susan Abbott, Peggy (Mrs. Sonny) King, Clint Holmes, Carolyn Hamilton Proctor, Martha (Mrs. Will) Jordan, and Mary Ann Barbutti among those in attendance. A tip of the hat goes to producer Ed Foster for a job well done.

What do singers Louis Armstrong, Joe Cocker, Neil Diamond, Janis Ian, Gladys Knight, Maria Muldaur, Barry Manilow, Helen Reddy, Neal Sedaka and Dionne Warwick all have in common? Artie Butler. What is an Artie Butler, you may ask? NOT a man servant in a painters smock. Artie Butler is the brilliant arranger, producer of a slew of hit songs, including What a Wonderful World, Copacabana, Midnight At the Oasis, Neither One of Us Wants To Be the First To Say Goodbye, Laughter In the Rain, Solitary Man, I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again, Even Now, Midnight Train To Georgia, You and Me Against the World and Society's Child, to name some. He can be heard playing piano on a number of albums, including the legendary opening on Joe Cocker's Feeling Alright. There are very few albums released under his own name, so Classic Broadway, issued in 1995, is a special treat. The selections are all well-known standards, mostly instrumentals superbly executed by the Hollywood Rainbow Pops and arranged and conducted by Mr. Butler. Guest vocalists on the album include Michael Dees (Try to Remember and If I Loved You), and Julie Budd (All I Ask of You). It was Artie Butler, along with Phyllis Molinary, who wrote Here's To Life, recorded by both Joe Williams and Shirley Horn. A newer Butler song, the touching I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up, has been recorded by both Nancy Wilson and 80-year-old Andy Williams. Based on just these two songs, we would love to see Artie Butler put pen to paper more often.

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Tags: Norman Kaye Steven Brinberg Lucy Shropshire Brett Daniels David Loeb Ben Ve

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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 4, 2008

Billy Eckstine

The Four Freshmen

Nicole Pryor

There are so many talented individuals living within our community. There are also many benefits that take advantage of that fact (most in a good and positive way) and use these talented folks to attract a paying audience. The generous people in our community can’t be everywhere and they can't support everything, especially when many of those things take place on the same day and, often, at the same time. We urge you to check into where your money is going and how much of it will actually reach the person or charity in need. You might be shocked to learn exactly how much comes out of every dollar donated "to cover expenses" (publicity, paying musicians, paying a producer, etc.). As for our part in this, we try to promote only those things we are sure of. If there are any "red flags," we want to warn readers of that as well.

Here is one we are sure of. The hotel/casino is donating the theater, the staff, ticket printing and all that is required to put this show together. The professional musicians are donating their time and talent, as are the entertainers. This is our suggestion...If you plan to be in the Las Vegas area on the afternoon of April 20^th, start saving your dollars (you will only need 20 of them) for an upcoming benefit. Norman Kaye, a pioneer of the Las Vegas lounge scene, is ailing. Expenses for his care are mounting and the onetime member of the legendary Mary Kaye Trio needs help. A variety NORM-a-THON hopes to raise the funds needed to cover Norman's stay in a rehabilitation facility as he recovers from a stroke. It is amazing to see the response from the entertainment community as this event comes together, especially when they know that ALL of the proceeds will go to the people who need them. Among the performers who have said YES to the NORM-a-THON, and will appear in the show, are musicians the Gary Olds Trio, Vince Falcone, Dr. George Ritter, Tommy Deering, Rick Vittallo Jr., Gus Mancuso and Jerry Lopez and the Fat City Horns (currently performing with Bette Midler at Caesars Palace). Also donating their time and talent are Charlie Callas, Sammy Shore, Pete Barbutti, Jimmy Hopper, Artie Schroeck, Linda November, Bill Nolte (The Producers), Peter Anthony, Genevieve, Nik Mastrangelo, Paul Xavier Campanella, Jeanne Brei, Robert S. Ensler, Teddy Kaye, Ronnie Rose, Frank Grata, Linda Angeline, Michaelina Bellamy, Genevieve; the fabulous Las Vegas Tenors (Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Teddy Davey and Mark Giovi); and Gerry McCambridge, The Mentalist. Nelson Sardelli will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon. As mentioned above, tickets are only $20 per person and may be purchased at The Orleans box office starting next week. Where else can you see so much talent for so little money, while helping someone in need at the same time? The answer is, NOWHERE! For additional information about Norman Kaye AND the benefit, check out this site, http://www.enormousnorm-a-thon.com/, created and lovingly put together in only a couple of days by Robert Ensler. There will be updates in next week's column.

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Readers might not believe this, unless they consider the source of the duplicity. He's at it again but, this time, with a slightly different MO. Freddie What's-His-Name now has a new strategy. Instead of calling himself Freddie Eckstine, and claiming to be the son of the late, great Billy Eckstine, Freddie House is now calling himself "Mr. B," because, to quote this phony, "he doesn't want to ride on the coattails of his father." From Eckstine's daughter, Gina Eckstine, comes her report on the latest developments in this saga. "I guess you know Freddie is on the prowl again. He has a new manager, and is now saying that I have done some sort of scam with the DNA!!! He is saying I wasn't there or something. I don't know. He must have forgotten I took his picture. I have them if you want. I'll send two. I have more. Remember I told you he ran out of the room when I got my camera out? The clinic also took his picture, for verification purposes. I continued to take some good ones of he and that wife of his. This guy is really sick." We have to agree with Gina. Wonder if they have a shot or medication to cure whatever ails Mr. House.

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Singer/actress Lorna Luft, Judy Garland's OTHER daughter, comes into the Suncoast from June 20^th through the 22^nd. It was Garland herself who stated that Lorna was the one with the voice (sorry Liza). Luft (Lorna's father was Judy's third husband, Sid Luft) is a favorite of composer Jerry Herman. Herman has practically given Lorna his beautiful song, Time Heals Everything, from Mack and Mabel. If you have never seen Lorna's one woman show, Songs My Mother Taught Me, if you were/are a fan of Garland's, or just like music, do yourselves a favor and get yourself reservations for this presentation. We have to give Terry Jenkins, Corporate Director of Entertainment for Boyd Gaming, credit for bringing this type of entertainment to the very dry cabaret desert.

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Michael Kessler & Melinda Jackson

C.J. Harding

Marlena Shaw

September 20^th, will mark the 60^th anniversary of the Four Freshmen's founding. One of the most influential vocal groups of the 1950s, The Freshmen pioneered a new style of close-harmony vocals that set the stage for bands like the Beach Boys, Spanky & Our Gang, the Hi-Los, Manhattan Transfer and numerous others. In 1948, Hal Kratzsch and brothers Ross and Don Barbour formed a barbershop quartet called Hal's Harmonizers at Butler University's Arthur Jordan Conservatory. The band also featured Marvin Pruitt. Later that year, the group switched to a more jazz-oriented repertoire and the quartet was renamed the Toppers. Soon thereafter, Pruitt left the group and was replaced with Ross and Don's cousin, Bob Flanigan. Over the years, the Freshmen had a string of hits, including It's a Blue World, Graduation Day, In This Whole Wide World and Love Turns Winter to Spring. Still recording and still performing (with the second generation of musicians), the pioneer group placed No. 1 in the Best Vocal Group category for the 2007 Jazz Times Readers poll. On May 10^th, the two surviving members of the original quartet, Bob Flanigan and Ross Barbour, will receive honorary doctorate degrees from Indiana's Butler University at Indianapolis. The widows of Don Barbour (who died in 1961) and Hal Kratzsch (who passed away in 1970) will accept the honor on behalf of their late husbands. Flanigan, who turns 82 on August 22nd, has been a Las Vegas resident since the 1970s.

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We hate when this happens...multiple things we, and others, would like to see, all happening on the same day and, pretty much, at the same time. For example...on Sunday, April 13^th, there are three terrific events competing for an audience. Not fair. We would like to see all three shows!

Here's the schedule. Beginning at 1:30 p.m. (with a second show following at 3), Nicole Pryor, currently a cast member in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian, will perform in the Wes Winters Showroom at the Liberace Museum. Nicole appears as part of the Second Sunday (of each month) Cabaret Series. Call the Liberace Museum, (702) 798-5595, for additional details. Starting at 2 (on the same Sunday afternoon), are the talented, recent Vegas transplants, dancers Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson. The partners, on stage and at home, will perform with an 11 member cast in Dancin' Feet, A Musical Fairy Tale, at the Starbright Theater in Sun City Summerlin. The Las Vegas Sun called M&M and their American Dance Theatre, "Showstoppers." Tickets are $25. For reservations and more information, call (702) 363-1341 or (702) 240-1301 or (702) 966-1410. THEN (whew), at 3 p.m., it's C.J. Harding in her Tribute to Patsy Cline at the Charleston Heights Arts Center. With quotes like these - "The crowd is stunned. This is incredible. C.J. Harding looks and sounds just like Patsy Cline," The Tampa Tribune, Florida, and "C.J. Harding's faithful re-creation of Patsy Cline kept everyone spellbound," Silver Springs Theme Park, Florida - a trip to Charleston Heights seems like no risk at all. Go. Enjoy a nice afternoon. For reservations, call (702) 229-6383. You can also buy tickets at the door the day of the show...if there are any left.

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Some reminders...Tomorrow night, it's New York cabaret star, Steven Brinberg in his role as Barbra Streisand. Brinberg not only looks like the diva, he sounds like her as well (no lip-synching for Steven). You can see (and hear) Brinberg in his first Las Vegas performance when he takes to the stage at the Starbright Theater in Summerlin, beginning at 7.

Later that night, Domenick Allen and his wife Leigh Zimmerman are in the spotlight for a gala fundraiser (see details below). This Sunday, the 6^th, also offers a couple of interesting entertainment options. Thanks to the set times, music lovers can do both (a round of Musical Chairs, if you will).

Domenick Allen & Leigh Zimmerman

Fay McKay

Kathie Lee Gifford

At 2 p.m., it's For the Love of Joe, The Joe Williams Scholarship Fund Concert in the showroom at the South Point. Among those scheduled to perform, singing/impressionist, Bob Anderson, in from Branson; Marlena Shaw; The Cunninghams; composer/arranger Artie Butler (Here's To Life); Pete Barbutti and others. Comic Cork Proctor will emcee. Legendary jazz and blues singer Joe Williams was a Las Vegas resident for many years. He died in 1999. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased by calling (702) 797-8055.

At 6 p.m., head for the Las Vegas Hilton and the Fabulous Las Vegas Tenors. The Tenors - Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Teddy Davey and Mark Giovi - will present Broadway in Song! The program will contain many of the Tenor's audiences favorites, plus a selection of hits from the musical theater. Tickets are from $29.95 to $39.95 (plus tax & service charge). There are also some special priced, two for $20, Balcony tickets. To take advantage of this great offer, use code LVT when calling the Las Vegas Hilton Box Office at (702) 732-5755.

* * * * * *

Here is one of those worthy causes we mentioned earlier. The Valencia Ballroom at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, located on Rampart in the northwest part of our expanding city, will be the site of a grand fundraiser to benefit the Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain. The Fourth Annual Reach for the Stars Gala will start with 6:30 cocktails followed by dinner, a live and silent auction, and entertainment. The entertainment portion of the evening begins at 9:30 with Leigh Zimmerman (Ulla in The Producers at Paris Las Vegas) serving as Mistress of Ceremonies for the event, and her husband, multi-talented singer/actor/musician, Domenick Allen, performing. Tickets are $175 per person. Get out your party clothes (no tank tops and flip-flops, please) for this one.

* * * * * *

We have just gotten word that singer/comedian Fay McKay passed away early this morning. She suffered a stroke about a month ago and had been hospitalized ever since. McKay, who was 77, had been an entertainment staple in Las Vegas for many years, first in a revue at the Top of the Landmark (now a parking lot across from the Convention Center) called Tower Suites, and then as a featured act in the production show, Casino de Paris, at the Dunes (now the site of Bellagio). In the mid-1980s, McKay was the star of a revue called Bloopers. That one played at the Marina (located on the corner of Tropicana and the Strip, where the MGM Grand now sits). Best known for her version of The Twelve Daze of Christmas (a clever musical number involving a little too much imbibing of alcoholic beverages), Faye was a frequent guest on TV variety shows such as those hosted by Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas. It was while appearing on Griffin's show that McKay was spotted by Liberace. He was so taken with the entertainer, he sought her out in Las Vegas and invited her to join his traveling show as a special guest. She toured around the world with Mr. Showmanship, performing in places such as the London Palladium. A memorial service for Fay McKay will be announced at a later date.

Coincidentally, like Fay McKay, Domenick Allen also got a career boost from Mr. Showmanship. Allen toured with Liberace, sharing the same stage with him for about three years. For those that don‘t know, Liberace had a great eye (and ear) for talent, introducing many "new" people, like Barbra Streisand, Denise Clemente, puppeteer Barclay Shaw and many others, to an international audience. Even after his death in 1987, Liberace continues to present opportunities for hopeful entertainers through his foundation, supported primarily through the Las Vegas museum, located at East Tropicana and Spencer.

* * * * * *

Look for Roseanne Barr, currently performing at the Sahara (show times at 9:30 p.m., Saturdays through Wednesdays) to guest on this Wednesday night's Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Craig Ferguson airs on CBS, following David Letterman.

* * * * * *

Sheeeee's baaack! After eight years off the airwaves as a regular personality, Kathie Me Gifford (sorry David Pomeranz) returns to TV as the new face on NBC's Today. Recently expanded from three hours to four, the popular morning show will use Ms. Gifford during the final hour. Hopefully, the former Live with Regis and (fill in the blank) co-host has learned something from her past and will not make the same mistakes this time around. If she does, the cast and crew of the show may be entitled to hazard pay. The public does not want to hear about every breath and move that, now grown son, Cody makes. Puleeez!

* * * * * *

The Gold Coast Hotel and Casino will host a Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend from Thursday, April 10^th, through Sunday the 13^th. The four-day event will feature a classic car show, a tradeshow selling a variety of vintage jewelry, clothing and memorabilia; artwork and a Burlesque competition. Now in its eleventh year at the Gold Coast, the event is expected to draw nearly 18,000 people. The Viva Las Vegas Shifters Car Show (located in the northeast parking lot) is on Saturday, April 12^th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tradeshow will be held in the Gold Coast's California Ballroom. Both events are open to the public. Come dressed in Vintage and Rockabilly-style attire.

* * * * * *

Wanda Dee

Sandy & Lisa Miller Hackett

Buddy & Lezlie Anders Greco

Birthday greetings (late or early) to Aries celebrants, Havanna Gallagher (daughter of actor and onetime Las Vegan Michael Bravo), musician Corky D'Fini, songwriter Ervin Drake (Good Morning Heartache, I Believe, It Was a Very Good Year), Tony Orlando, Wayne Newton, PR lady Jackie Brett, composer Jack Lawrence (Tenderly, Beyond the Sea, All Or Nothing At All), singer/songwriter Janis Ian (At Seventeen, Society's Child), Handy Lady Barbara Ciarlantini, Lisa Dawn Miller, former vocalist for The KLF Wanda Dee (short for Deeva), Michael Cohen, Arthur Shafman (who represents, among others, Mark Nadler, KT Sullivan, Christine Andreas, Julie Budd, Heather McRae, Barbara Brussell, Andrea Marcovicci and C.J. Harding, mentioned above), April Goldson, John Kaye and Las Vegas Sun writer Jerry Fink.

Celebrating anniversaries during the same period are Sandy Hackett and Lisa Dawn Miller Hackett (their third) and Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders Greco (number 13 for the musical twosome).

* * * * * *

This one should be a sell out. On Friday, May 23^rd, Mandalay Bay will present David Foster & Friends. We should all have friends like those of songwriter/producer David Foster. Performing in this one-night-only concert, held at the Events Center, are Babyface, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Peter Cetera, Josh Groban and American Idol's Katharine McPhee. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Call (702) 632-7580 or (702) 474-4000 for more information.

Michael Buble

* * * * * *

While many were celebrating with corned beef and cabbage, followed by green beer, our friend Lee Roy Reams (Roger DeBris in the Paris Las Vegas presentation of Mel Brooks' The Producers) and cabaret artist Karen Mason spent St. Patrick's Day in New York, performing the music of Jerry Herman as part of the American Musicals Project. The AMP is a fantastic program that brings American Musicals to 7^th and 8^th graders in an interesting and informative way. Lee Roy hosted, directed and performed in the concert titled Hello Jerry! - The Works of Jerry Herman. The evening featured funny, sad and romantic songs from a number of Herman musicals, including Hello, Dolly!, Mame and La Cage aux Folles.

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Tags: Billy Eckstine The Four Freshmen Nicole Pryor Michael Kessler Melinda Jacks

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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 - March 28, 2008

Lani Misalucha

Martin Nievera

Steven Brinberg

We have to wonder what the folks at the Flamingo are thinking...or if they are thinking at all. On Tuesday, we attended the Society of Seven show, featuring the lovely Lani Misalucha and one of our favorite entertainers, Martin Nievera. In case you hadn't heard, this Flamingo engagement will end on April 13^th. The big question is WHY? The room was full for the 3 p.m. show and, talking to security guards and people who work in the theater, we were told this is typical. In the approximately five years that SOS has been working in Las Vegas, they have played in as many venues - the Las Vegas Hilton, Golden Nugget, Aladdin, Bally's and, for the next couple of weeks, the Flamingo. The group is obviously doing something right. Tony Ruivivar and Bert Sagum have been with SOS since its inception, more than 40 years ago (the two men were embryos when the group started), with Roy Guerzo, Mike Laygo, Hoku Low, Vince Mendoza and Wayne Wakai coming on board in ensuing years. (In April of 2006, Gary Bautista, longtime lead vocalist, died following a stroke.) SOS is a true variety show, featuring many styles of music, comedy sketches and celebrity impersonations. Among the personalities who get the SOS treatment are Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Dionne Warwick and Britney Spears, all done by Lani. Martin and the rest of the fellows take shots at Sammy Davis Jr., Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Little Richard, Josh Groban and others. A Broadway segment includes tributes to Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Chicago, Man of La Mancha, Jekyll & Hyde and The Lion King, complete with animal puppets to rival those created by Tony-winning Costume Designer/Director Julie Taymor. One of the funniest moments in the revue is a takeoff on The Supremes (we hope Las Vegas resident Mary Wilson has seen this number). Lani Misalucha's version of Puccini's Nessum Dorma is a showstopper. We urge those who seek real talent, performing the type of show that resulted in Las Vegas earning the title of Entertainment Capital of the World, to see the Society of Seven with Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera before April 13^th (although we anticipate that some smart hotel bigwig will snag the group and bring them back to Vegas in the fall). Matinees for SOS are at 3 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays. Call (800) 221-7299 for reservations. Hurry, hurry. (There are discount coupons for locals in the Friday Review-Journal's Neon section.)

Will magician Nathan Burton, who takes over the theater after the departure of SOS, do as well at the Flamingo as the Hawaiian/Filipino group has done? We doubt it. No disrespect to Mr. Burton, but an afternoon magic show is not unique to Las Vegas. In fact, you can see one right down the street at the Tropicana, where Dirk Arthur and his livestock perform at 2 and 4 p.m., Saturdays through Thursdays. A little time should tell if we are right on this one.

* * * * * *

Michael Chapman and ChapQuist Entertainment present the Las Vegas debut of Simply Barbra! starring Steven Brinberg. Well-known in other parts of the country, the New York-based Brinberg will make his first Las Vegas appearance on Saturday, April 5^th, at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. Steven's amazing talent takes impression to the highest level, as he not only creates the look and persona of Barbra Streisand, he uses his own voice to deliver amazing vocals! This unique musical-comedy event has toured worldwide to sold-out crowds and rave reviews. Barbra's lifelong friend, conductor and composer Marvin Hamlisch, has paid Brinberg the greatest compliment, appearing with him and prestigious orchestras, including the National Symphony (at the Kennedy Center). Steven has performed at Carnegie Hall, Stephen Sondheim's birthday concert at the Library of Congress, and on Broadway in the concert version of Funny Girl with Whoopi Goldberg. Simply Barbra! is simply a show not to be missed! Showtime is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 for Sun City residents, and $20 for non-residents. Call (702) 240-1301 or (702) 869-2064 for additional information. Please visit www.CHAPQUIST.com for more information.

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Here's a handful of friendly reminders...

Tonight and tomorrow (March 28^th and 29^th), it's Carmine Mandia & Friends at Piero's (355 Convention Center Drive) from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mandia is a part of the Shades of Sinatra show and also performs a tribute to the late, great Bobby Darin. Call Piero‘s at (702) 369-2305 for additional information.

Carmine Mandia

Jimmy Hopper

Las Vegas Tenors

The unique and talented Jimmy Hopper performs his Journey of the Heart concert in the Suncoast showroom tonight (March 28^th), Saturday and Sunday. Show times are at 7:30 p.m., with tickets ranging in price from $22 to $55. Call (702) 636-7075 or (877) 636-7111 for reservations.

You can catch the fabulous Las Vegas Tenors at the Hilton next weekend, on April 6^th. The talented quartet - Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Teddy Davey and Mark Giovi - will perform Broadway music as well as fan favorites for their fifth appearance in the Las Vegas Hilton‘s 1600-seat theater. Show time is at 6 p.m. Call (702) 732-5755 or (800) 222-5361 for reservations.

For the Love of Joe, a concert benefiting the Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund, takes place on Sunday, April 6^th at the South Point. Among those appearing on the bill are Bob Anderson, Marlena Shaw, Pete Barbutti, Artie Butler, Vince Falcone, Tom Ferguson and Cork Proctor. Joe Williams established this event about 20 years ago. The College of Southern Nevada music program reaps the rewards of this annual event. Tickets are $40 for the 2 p.m. show. Call (702) 797-8055 for reservations.

Song and dance men, Gary Oakes and Lou Garcia, perform their All New Revue at the Clark County Library on East Flamingo, Sunday (March 30^th) at 2 p.m. Tickets for the show - featuring music from Broadway and popular standards - are $15. Call the Performing Arts Society of Nevada at (702) 658-6741 for tickets. They are also available the day of the show, beginning at 1 p.m., at the library box office.

* * * * * *

From good guy Jerry Fink's recent Las Vegas Sun column comes this item...Checked in with Mary Schwartz - cousin of the late Larry Fine, the curly haired member of the Three Stooges - and found she and Barbara Ciarlantini will re-release a children's book they created, The Handy Girls Can Fix It! More than 30 years ago, she and Ciarlantini owned a painting and paperhanging company called Handy Girls and wrote a weekly column for local papers that answered how-to questions. Out of their experiences came the book, which is aimed at building self-esteem in girls by teaching them how to fix things. Look for it at handygirls.com and other online stores.

Jerry Fink

Gerry McCambridge

Gordie Brown

* * * * * *

Congratulations to Gerry McCambridge, voted No. 2 as the Best Magician in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's 27^th Annual Best of Las Vegas Readers Poll. Calling himself "The Mentalist," McCambridge beat out David Copperfield, Penn & Teller and many others with names more familiar to the general public. Cousin Claire knows it can be a risky thing to tout an act to someone. We have no concerns, though, when it comes to recommending The Mentalist. No one who has gone to see Gerry's unique act has ever come away disappointed. Instead they come away amazed and thoroughly entertained. We received this e-mail from a friend who went to see Gerry McCambridge at our suggestion.

I would like to thank you for suggesting we see "THE MENTALIST," aka Gerry McCambridge, the other evening. As my guest, I took an old friend from college, Fern Mackour, on her last night in Vegas. The full house at Hooters went wild as each new and amazing feat was unveiled. This was my second trip to see this performer and that he is. Having seen him before, I thought that maybe this time, with added insight, I would be able to figure out some of the remarkable feats he would do. We both came away totally entertained and totally mystified by all he did, as was the rest of the audience who loved him. Fern's comment to me was that he doesn't do enough as we could have stayed another hour watching him absolutely thrill and bewilder his audience. If it's all tricks, and I guess it probably is, he has the finest "show" on the Strip. If it isn't all "tricks" and he really is a mentalist (whatever that means), the United States Government should get a hold of him as he could be our most effective way of getting peace and security in the world. Simply, we loved the show and again, I want to thank you for making it possible for us to be privileged to see him. I want to go back again!

Gerald Gordon
Oh yes, it was magician Lance Burton who came in first in the Reader's Poll.

* * * * * *

Another one of our favorites, the talented comic/singer/impressionist Gordie Brown, opens at the V Theater in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile Shops on Monday, March 31^st. Gordie, who recently closed out a one year plus gig at The Venetian, will do10 p.m. shows at the V Theater, every night but Sunday. It was in 1987 that Gordie made his first plane trip, flying to Las Vegas to pursue his dream...and his idol, Paul Anka. Brown was determined to meet Anka. It took some time but it finally happened, resulting in a friendship and Brown becoming Anka's opening act during a Canadian tour. It was during that '87 trip to Las Vegas that Brown gave a videotape of his act to Bonnie Saxe, mother of Melinda Saxe, then known as The First Lady of Magic. Seven months later, Bonnie called Gordie to join fellow impressionist Babe Pier and juggler Anthony Gatto as one of the specialty acts in Melinda‘s new production. In the years since, Gordie has opened for Louie Anderson at Bally's, toured with Barry Manilow during 1995, and worked with Jay Leno, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, The Righteous Brothers and Jerry Seinfeld. He also performed in Dick Foster's productions of Spellbound, at both the Landmark and Harrah's in Las Vegas. He spent a few years in Los Angeles doing stand-up comedy. He made his national television debut on A&E's Evening at the Improv. That was followed by a job co-hosting NBC's Friday Night Videos, a starring role on PAX TV's Twice in a Lifetime, and several appearances on Hollywood Squares. Gordie also wrote and recorded the theme song for the Emmy Award-winning animated TV series, Life With Louie, created by Louie Anderson. Gordie is a much sought after act for corporate events, having performed for Ford, General Motors, Pepsi, Porsche and Toyota among others. During the two years of his One-man, Many-voices show at Harrah's in Reno, Gordie earned numerous awards including the Reno Gazette Journal's Best Casino Show for both 2002 and 2003, Nevada Magazine's Best New Show/Best Entertainer for 2002 and Best Entertainer/Best Comedian for 2003. The Sacramento Bee named Gordie Entertainer of the Year in 2002. During the past few years, the clever entertainer has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman as part of Impressionist Week, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and EXTRA! What audiences get when they see Gordie Brown is a very entertaining, high-energy show by a warm and gracious talented performer anxious to please. Gordie takes on approximately 60 personalities per show. In the acting and comic category, he covers a wide variety of entertainers including All in the Family's "Archie and Edith Bunker," Jim Carrey, Johnny Carson, Tom Cruise, Billy Crystal, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Henry Fonda, Michael J. Fox, Katharine Hepburn, Dustin Hoffman, Jay Leno, Christopher Lloyd, Jack Nicholson, Garry Shandling, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jimmy Stewart, Christopher Walken and John Wayne. From the world of music, there are Gordie's original parodies of songs made famous by Louis Armstrong, Garth Brooks, James Brown, Johnny Cash, Tracy Chapman, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sammy Davis Jr., Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, M.C. Hammer, Julio Iglesias, Chris Isaak, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Elton John, Tom Jones (with an assist from Fantasy Island's "Tattoo"), Annie Lennox, Gordon Lightfoot, Meat Loaf, Dean Martin, Alanis Morissette, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Randy Travis (whose lips don't move when he sings), Vanilla Ice, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, and even American Idol reject, William "She Bangs" Hung. There are also takes on the contemporary musical groups Barenaked Ladies, Green Day, Matchbox 20, 4 Non Blondes and award-winning Santana. Even Ted Koppel and Mike Tyson turn up in appropriate, and not so appropriate, spots. If he is up to it, you might even hear Gordie's impressions of Joe Cocker and Jerry Seinfeld, voices he considers the most difficult for him to duplicate. With Gordie's expressive, malleable face, and a few simple props, not only do you get the sound of the performers, you also get an uncanny physical resemblance with many of his characterizations. What audience members WON'T get is the "typical" impersonators portrayal of familiar stars doing all too familiar lines. You can expect the unexpected when you see Gordie Brown. Since he considers himself first and foremost a comic, and he writes all of his own material, prepare yourself for something a bit different and definitely off the wall. Although he steers clear of heavy political topics, he does keep up on the latest news, incorporating it into his act. It also isn't unusual for him to throw in some surprise material. Brown has been successfully earning his living as an impressionist since he was old enough to work. Before becoming a vocal impressionist, the Montreal, Canada-native created another kind of impression. As a political cartoonist with the Ottawa Sunday Herald, Brown's impressions were done on paper with pen and ink. It was during those days that he entertained his co-workers with jokes done in the voices of well-known celebrities. His fellow workers thought he was good enough to compete so they entered him in a local talent competition. They were right. Gordie Brown took first place in the contest. In a strange twist of events, as the result of Brown's working with Bonnie Saxe more than 20 years ago, he became very close friends with Bonnie's son, David Saxe. In fact, David was best man at Brown's wedding. David is the producer at the V Theater so, once again, two decades later, Gordie will be working with a member of the Saxe family. "We are very excited to have Gordie Brown at the V Theater," says David Saxe. "He is by far the most entertaining and electrifying one man show on the Las Vegas Strip."

In addition to the Gordie Brown Show, the V Theater is currently home to V-The Ultimate Variety Show, Toxic Audio, Gregory Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, and Stripper 101. The venue recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, including state-of-the-art seating and a brand new stage. Tickets start at $59.00 plus taxes and fees for adults. For reservations, call the V Theater Box Office at (702) 932-1818 or purchase tickets online at www.varietytheater.com.

* * * * * *

One of Vegas's biggest openings in recent months (no, not Bette Midler or Jersey Boys opening on April 4^th) takes place on March 31^st. That would be Donald Trump's latest venture and his first foray into the local scene. The 64-story Trump International Hotel & Tower, located a stones throw from rival Steve Wynn's place (hopefully, there will be no stone throwing), will not have a casino but will offer both non-residential and residential condominiums. We hear that, due to the overwhelming sellers response to Trump's first tower, stated to be the tallest residential building in the city, plans are already underway for a second identical tower right next to the first one.

Donald Trump

Jimmy Kimmel

Panic at the Disco

* * * * * *

Jimmy Kimmel's Tuesday night show was almost 100% Vegas. Guests included Roseanne Barr (currently at the Sahara, Saturdays through Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.); magician Penn Jillette (who performs with his silent partner, Teller, in their own showroom at the Rio), straight from being booted off Dancing With the Stars earlier in the evening ); and the musical group Panic At the Disco (formed right here in Vegas by Summerlin teens during their junior high school days). It might be noted that talk show host/comic Jimmy Kimmel was also raised in Las Vegas. As for Panic At the Disco, its current band members are Brendon Urie (vocals, guitar and keyboards), Ryan Ross (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Jon Walker (bass guitar, vocals) and Spencer Smith (drums and percussion). Bass player Brent Wilson was with the group during 2005 and 2006. Their debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, reached No. 13 on the charts, and has sold more than 2.2 million copies since its September 2005 release. The band's second album, Pretty Odd, was released on Tuesday. And speaking of Roseanne, watch for her appearance on Craig Ferguson's CBS show, next Friday (April 4^th).

* * * * * *

Tomorrow night, it's the Lamont Patterson Big Band Memorial Dance, featuring the Gene White Orchestra. For more than 15 years, Lamont Patterson was a Las Vegas-based jazz and entertainment columnist. In addition to his love for jazz, Patterson was a big band fan, as well as a fan and friend of Frank Sinatra. Before his death in 1997, Lamont established a trust fund to be used for a music scholarship at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He also made financial provisions for an annual free big band dance. The idea was to keep musicians working and the public listening and dancing. For many years, the event took place in a ballroom at the Stardust. The hotel/casino is gone, but the melody lingers on. The 2008 edition of the popular concert/dance will occur at the East Las Vegas Senior Center, located at 250 N. Eastern Avenue (north of Charleston, on the corner of Stewart). Admission is free, but space is limited (adults only, please). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with live music provided from 7 to 10. For additional information, call (702) 229-1515.

* * * * * *

Are you a musician who likes to travel? Have a passport and no plans from early September through early December? We are posting this information that was passed on to us by entertainer Laurence T.

I need musicians ASAP! I need a jazz pianist, bass and sax. I have a three month gig starting September 5^th in Beijing, China. Please help me. I need to move on this quickly because of airline tickets, and the Olympics! Please send this across Musicland.

Signed,

Loni Clark at LoniClark2002@yahoo.com

* * * * * *

Boyd Gaming's Jim Seagrave, Vice President of Advertising for Coast Casinos, is a very proud poppa. His daughter, Jillian Seagrave (called "Jill" by her family and friends), who works in finance by day, has not given up her love for music. Jill graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where she appeared as "Ado Annie" in Oklahoma!, "Sandy" in Grease, "Shprintze" in Fiddler On The Roof, and "Helena" in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Her Gorman classmates voted Jill "Most Likely To Become Famous." She attended Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, where she performed the lead in Cinderella, played "Constance Neville" in She Stoops To Conquer, and was "The Narrator" in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Since graduating from St. Mary's, Jill has performed in San Francisco Bay Area theatrical productions of Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Bye Bye Birdie, Hair and Beauty and the Beast. Ms. Seagrave's most recent role was as "Polly" in The Cocoanuts at the Contra Costa Civic Theatre in El Cerrito.

Jill Seagrave

Ronn Lucas

Nancy LaMott

When you think of hit Broadway musicals, it's easy to forget something like The Cocoanuts, which played New York's Lyric Theatre for eight months in 1925 and '26. That's because, more than an Irving Berlin musical with a book by George S. Kaufman (not too shabby, as pedigrees go), it was first and foremost a Marx Brothers vehicle, the one that became their first feature film. So for a community theater to stage it as they might any other musical takes some chutzpah, but the folks at El Cerrito's Contra Costa Civic Theatre had so much fun doing Animal Crackers in 2006, they decided to reunite their own Marx Brothers. One report stated, "The young lovers are more interesting than usual in a comedy like this, mainly because Jillian Seagrave has such a sunny voice and demeanor and such grace while dancing as the ingenue, ‘Polly.' Benjamin Scott has some upright charm as true love "Bob," and Nan Ayers does the flustered Margaret Dumont shtick proud as stuffy ‘Mrs. Potter.' The ballroom-style dances between ‘Bob' and ‘Polly' are also delightful, as is the Groucho character's exaggerated tango with ‘Mrs. Potter.'" Ken Bullock, of The Berkeley Planet, wrote "The cast - about 20 in all - brings their own various talents into the mix, with particularly good performances by R. Martin Newton as desk clerk ‘Jamisen‘ and Nan Ayers in the Margaret Dumont role of ‘Mrs. Potter,' as well as first rate romantic ingenues (Benjamin Scott and especially Jillian Seagrave, who do Berlin's big hit, Always..." As a side note, many musicologists consider Always to be Irving Berlin's best song. Jill is Jim and Jan Seagrave's younger daughter. Their older daughter, and Jill's sister, Elizabeth, is also musical. In fact, a few years ago, the Seagrave Sisters recorded a CD.

* * * * * *

Our favorite ventriloquist, Ronn Lucas, has made a lateral move from the Atrium showroom at the Luxor to the Thunder From Down Under Showroom at its next door neighbor property, the Excalibur. Since Ronn's show is appealing to youngsters as well as adults (most kids will not appreciate the technical requirements of a skilled ventriloquist), the family-friendly Castle on the Corner is probably a better fit for "The Man Who Can Make Anything Talk." Show times for Ronn Lucas are 3 p.m., Saturdays through Mondays. Call (702) 597-7600 for reservations.

* * * * * *

For fans of the late Nancy LaMott, we have this information...In today's music industry, where many artists go from fresh to forgotten in a matter of months, LaMott is a true phenomenon. On March 11^th, her latest release, Ask Me Again, entered the Billboard Jazz Chart at No. 12. This accomplishment is made even more remarkable by the fact that this marks LaMott's chart debut, and comes more than 12 years after her untimely death from Uterine Cancer in 1995. Having worked her way up from the cabarets and piano bars of New York City, San Francisco, and Atlantic City, to Tavern on the Green, the Algonquin, Good Morning America, and LIVE! with Regis and Kathie Lee, Nancy was poised for stardom as her life drew to a premature close. Sadly, she was never able to experience the fruition of her years of work. However, she is one of those rare artists whose captivating presence never fades, and never has this been seen more clearly than right now. Motivated by a promise made to Nancy shortly before she passed away that the whole world would hear her sing, Producer/Songwriter David Friedman has worked tirelessly to give Nancy's music the attention it deserves. The now-charting Ask Me Again is the most recent product of this promise. The two CD set includes 21 previously unreleased songs, in simple, no-frills arrangements showcasing Nancy's unmatched vocal performances, accompanied by her longtime accompanist/arranger Christopher Marlowe. Also new for LaMott lovers is I'll Be Here With You, the first-ever DVD of Nancy's live performances. During her all to brief career, as well as in the years since her death, Nancy LaMott captured the attention of celebrities, fellow artists, and fans across around the world. Championed, then and now, by Kathie Lee Gifford, Lucie Arnaz, Michael Feinstein, David Zippel, Michel LeGrand, David Friedman and many others, it is not too surprising that Nancy LaMott would land on the Billboard Jazz Chart more than a decade after her passing.

* * * * * *

Happy belated birthday wishes to former Las Vegan, Steve Schiffman. During the years he lived in this city, Schiffman served as a PR man for a number of hotels, including the Golden Nugget, Bally's, Desert Inn and the Debbie Reynolds Hotel (now the Greek Isles). He was terrific at his job. If he wasn't able to take the call from a media-type, or didn't immediately have the answer to a question, he would always get back to the inquiring mind, and in a timely manner. There weren't (aren't) many in this community like our longtime friend, Mr. Schiffman. He currently makes his home in Arizona where, we hear, he might be working on a book about his life in the fast lane. He should have plenty of interesting tales to tell. We look forward to owning an autographed copy.

* * * * * *

In case you aren't keeping track, this week's column mentions a number of our "favorites" (Gordie Brown, Ronn Lucas, Gerry McCambridge, Martin Nievera, Jim Seagrave, Steve Schiffman and Jerry Fink ). See, we can be NICE when the situation presents itself...or perhaps it's just a case of Spring Fever. As for the rest of you (and you know who you are), Cousin Claire is watching and listening.

Tags: Society Of Seven Lani Misalucha Martin Nievera Mike Laygo Hoku Low Roy Guez

0 comments View Entry

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

Bryan Lefeber

Joe Williams by Merryl Jaye

Cork Proctor

The most recent edition of the Composers Showcase offered quite a unique night. Thanks to Las Vegas Sun newcomer, Joe Brown, and his extensive coverage of the February showcase, the Wes Winters Showroom at the Liberace Museum was filled to overflowing on Tuesday. This month's show got started a little later than the usual 10:30 (after theater) launch. Why? Because a brief south-Strip blackout (affecting Mandalay Bay, the Luxor and Excalibur) resulted in Mandalay Bay's Mamma Mia! starting a bit late. Since a number of the cast members were scheduled to perform, the showcase didn't begin until almost 11. No one complained. The night's offerings were quite varied, thanks to the amazing talent pool of songwriters and vocalists that call this city home (at least for now). For Cousin Claire, the real highlights of the late night/early morning presentations were three Keith Thompson contributions - a song used in the first Las Vegas Easter Bonnet Competition (this is an annual AIDS fundraiser in New York), and two tunes from God Lives In Glass - City of Walls, sung by Joan Sobel and Bruce Ewing (both from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular), with violinist Rebecca Ramsey (Spamalot), cellist Moonlight Tran (Las Vegas Philharmonic, late of The Producers) and pianist Philip Fortenberry (Jersey Boys), and Heaven, Hell or Puberty, sung by Bryan Lefeber, from Spamalot. The other incredible presentation was an instrumental called Under a New Sun, written by Rebecca Ramsey. This beautiful piece of music featured Ramsey on violin, Fortenberry on piano and Tran on cello. The audience gave this one a well-earned standing ovation. Incidentally, Ms. Ramsey has a CD called The Stone Sanctuary, Silhouettes of Zion available. It can be purchased online through CD Baby.

As for Joe Brown, the journalist relocated to Vegas at the end of December after departing the San Francisco Chronicle, where he was the Sunday Entertainment Editor. Prior to his stint in the City by the Bay, Brown was with the Washington Post. We plan to keep an eye on this fellow.

* * * * * *

For the first time, in almost 20 years, the Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fundraiser was unable to find a hosting hotel where they could hold their 2007 event. Fear not, the event has found a new home at the South Point Hotel Casino Spa. The event was created in 1989 and named after the legendary baritone, Joe Williams, who died in 1999 at the age of 81. This year's For the Love of Joe concert will take place on Sunday, April 6^th at 2 p.m. The (usually) annual gala is designed to raise money to assist music students at the College of Southern Nevada in reaching their educational goals. Featured on this year's concert will be Bob Anderson, one of the world's most accomplished singing impressionists. Anderson currently lives and performs in Branson, Missouri. Legendary blues singer Marlena Shaw will also share the stage, along with composer Artie Butler (who, with Phyllis Molinary, wrote the beautiful Here's To Life, a song recoded by Joe Williams), jazz duo The Cunninghams, singer Freddie House, and Pete Barbutti will bring his brilliant comedic gifts to the stage in a special starring appearance. The CSN Vocal Jazz Ensemble will represent the College, with many scholarship recipients performing. Accompanying this amazing group of talented singers and comedians is the 17-piece CSN All-Star Jazz Band, conducted by Tom Ferguson and Vincent Falcone. The entire event will be hosted by Master of Ceremonies and long-time Las Vegas comedian Cork Proctor. Among the entertainers from Las Vegas and around the world who have donated time, talent, and money by performing in previous Fundraiser Concerts, The Four Freshmen, Robert Goulet, Jack Jones, Clint Holmes, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carl Fontana, Ruth Brown, Bill Acosta, Frankie Randall, Buddy Greco, Jimmy Wilkins, Gary Marshal and Roz Ryan. Joe continued to be an advocate for music education, and performed in many Fundraiser Concerts, until his untimely death in 1999. We miss Joe terribly, but his legacy and the Fundraiser Concerts live on. Since the Fund's inception, over $135,000 has been raised, and the Fund has assisted over 400 CSN students by providing tuition waivers for music classes. Tickets are $40, and may be reserved by contacting the South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa box office at (702) 797-8055.

* * * * * *

Gerald Gordon, and his students, has done it once again. Gordon, in case you have never read this column before (perish the thought), is a much sought after drama/acting coach. Quite the taskmaster (he probably won't like that word), not only does he eliminate many more applicants than he accepts for his classes, he works the ones who pass his stringent tests until they bleed - well, maybe not BLEED, but he requires more of them than they require of themselves. The results? Another outstanding Actors Showcase last Sunday, the signing of a number of the talented thespians, and a group of people feeling very proud of their accomplishments...and deservedly so. Participating in the latest showcase, were beginner and returning students, Daniel Beraducci, Elly Brown, Josh Costell, Anthony Drissi, Ja Elam, Nathan Ferrier, "Blu" Griffith, Kenny Harlow, James Lake, Ni-Ko Prasad, Forest Rall, Ciarra Siller, J.D. Smith, Brad Stein, Danny Vigil and Fhretscya Youmans. Since we don't want to show any favoritism (and don't want to be criticized by anyone for not saying enough about them), we will be politically correct and say that everyone did an excellent job...including the hardworking Mr. Gordon, who counts Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody among his former students, is a transplanted Los Angeles resident. He has made his home in Las Vegas for the past 10 years. Maybe someday, like Brody, one or more of Gordon's local hopefuls will stand on a stage somewhere and give an Oscar, Emmy or Tony acceptance speech. Break a leg, folks!

Elly Brown

Mike Cardella Jr.

Mary Kaye Trio

And speaking of Mr. Gordon, one of his former students, Mike Cardella Jr., was in the audience last Sunday. When it was his turn to be part of Gordon's showcase some months ago, Cardella blew the audience away with a very dramatic scene. We were sitting next to Mike's mother, the late comic Pudgy!, who was mesmerized by her son's outstanding acting ability. She, like others who saw his performance, was in tears. This young man wants to follow in the path of his incredibly talented and funny mother. In that vein, Mike just graduated from Second City in February, going through all five levels during this past year. He also drives from Vegas to Southern California every week to take classes at Improv Olympics in Los Angeles. In addition, almost every Monday night, Mike performs with different improv troupes at the Onyx Theater (located inside The Rack at the Commercial Center on East Sahara). Cardella says that he is trying to get as much stage time as possible, in hopes to "one day finally make a buck doing it." With his genetic comedy/improv roots, we think that is in the cards.

* * * * * *

About 15 concerned and caring individuals got together last Tuesday to start the wheels in motion for an event to raise money to assist veteran Las Vegas lounge entertainer Norman Kaye. Norman, who with his late sister Mary Kaye and Frankie Ross, made up the internationally known Mary Kaye Trio, is in a rehabilitation facility trying to recover from a stroke. Beginning on Sunday, when Medicare stops paying the total cost for Norman's stay in rehab, his wife, Barbara, will have to come up with $128 a day to keep him in the facility. Kaye needs a lot of physical therapy and will need to spend a lot more time away from home. A decorated military veteran, Kaye should be eligible for care in a veterans hospital. Unfortunately, the Boulder City, Nevada, hospital has no beds available, so, for now, the family is buying time. Thanks to the generosity of some kind citizens, in just a short time, Nelson Sardelli and Rick Vittallo have collected about $4000. So far, the local organization that is supposed to be there for ailing entertainers in the community has not come forward to offer help. The plan by the volunteers is to have a variety show featuring a number of headliners, along with an auction of celebrity memorabilia, artwork, show tickets, and other interesting items. The need is for a theater or theater space to hold the fundraiser, with an aimed for date of April 27^th. A second planning meeting will take place on Monday. We would welcome any and all assistance. Contact Nsardelli@aol.com.

We have just been told that another show business veteran, Fay McKay, is also ailing. A singer and comic, McKay is probably best remembered for her boozy Twelve Daze of Christmas parody. Like, Norman Kaye, Fay is also hospitalized as the result of a stroke. We will provide more details when we get them.

* * * * * *

A mention of that forever-young redhead in an earlier column prompted this question from a reader in San Francisco...

We went right to the source for this answer. Ms. Storm, who celebrated her 80^th birthday
on February 29^th (she is an honest-to-goodness Leap Year baby), will appear as part of the Exotic World events to be held at the Palms, June 12^th, 13^th and 14^th. We will have more details on this as we get closer to the dates. In the meantime, lovely reader, start making your travel plans.

Another young-at-heart senior is comic/impressionist Babe Pier. Babe is that rare breed of comedian who inspires as much praise from his peers as he does from fans. No less an "expert" than Rich Little has called him the "Father of Impressions," and no wonder: Pier was the first impressionist to play Las Vegas and helped make celebrity impersonation a staple form of entertainment on the Strip. Beginning his career as a semi-pro baseball player, Pier's infield clowning soon led to a spot on TV's The Arthur Godfrey Show. He went on to countless appearances with Ed Sullivan, Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin, among others, and was a three-time guest on HBO's Rich Little and the Pretenders. He has toured live venues throughout the country and overseas, appearing with stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Foster Brooks, Dick Contino and Tony Bennett. In Las Vegas, Babe is a favorite opening act for Frankie Avalon. Today, Pier is the show's specialty act in the 17^th Season of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. This is Babe's second booking in the popular revue. This year's show is called Tin Pan Alley!, "Celebrating the Golden Age of Popular American Music." All of the talent - the line of Long-Legged Lovelies, the Follies Gentlemen and the specialty acts - are 55 and older. "Mr. Pier has been called the 'Man of a Thousand Faces,'" notes Follies impresario and master of ceremonies, Riff Markowitz, "but that may be an understatement. He was a big hit on our stage in Follies season 11, and we've been planning an encore visit ever since." Babe is shares the Follies stage with Melba Moore, through tomorrow. Moore will be followed by guest star Anna Maria Alberghetti, who opens on Wednesday and will close out the season... along with Babe Pier.

Babe Pier

Melba Moore

Roseanne Barr

* * * * * *

Although we haven't gotten over to the Sahara to see her yet, we are told that Roseanne Barr is funnier and more irreverent than ever. If you go (and we hope you will), don't expect to see Roseanne Connor (her character's name in the Emmy-winning TV show). Audience members can expect some salty language, and even a few F-bombs. Roseanne says that she made a deal with her 12 year-old son, Buck, agreeing to pay him $5 every time she used a swear word. The first week he made $3600!

* * * * * *

Last night (Thursday, March 20^th), we attended the media event to welcome Jimmy Hopper back to Las Vegas. Hopper's new home is the Lava Room in Trader Vic's at Planet Hollywood. Once again, Hopper is entertaining in a room with a view. His first local engagement was in the Voo Doo Lounge on top of the Rio. After building a following there, Hopper moved into the Fontana Room at Bellagio, where he attracted audiences (both locals and tourists alike) for more than four years. For the last three years, Jimmy has been touring and working on a Broadway-bound musical. His "regular gig" was at The Islands in Newport Beach, California, where just like here, Jimmy built a loyal following. With many changes taking place in Las Vegas since his departure, Jimmy was wooed back by an offer from the new Trader Vic's. Since opening there last month, the entertainer has made some changes in his performance schedule. To accommodate Strip performers as well as others seeking later show times, and because Sundays proved to be a quiet night, Wednesdays have been added and Sundays, for now, eliminated. (Speaking of other performers, Domenick Allen, Clint Holmes and Frankie Scinta all turned out to see Hopper last night. Scinta did a fine job singing Just the Way You Look Tonight, while Holmes did Charlie Chaplin's Smile. We wonder why the talented Allen didn't display his vocal chops?) The current show times for Jimmy are Wednesdays through Saturdays, beginning at 10 p.m. The Lava Room offers an intimate, almost living room-type feel, with comfortable overstuffed chairs where, in addition to the music, visitors can enjoy the fabulous Strip view from its second floor location. Hopper fans know what to expect from the entertainer...the unexpected. If you haven't experienced this versatile entertainer, prepare for an eclectic surprise. We don't know many singers who can do the music of the Beatles, Elton John, Al Jarreau, Sting, Freddie Mercury and Queen, Michael Buble, Daniel Powter, Rod Stewart, Snow Patrol, Five for Fighting, Moody Blues, Mika, Gino Vannelli and Andrea Bocelli equally well. Jimmy Hopper is a performer who can. He even included a beautiful version of Cole Porter's Night and Day, as well as Jimmy Webb's MacArthur Park and Glenn Miller's signature theme, Moonlight Serenade. Hopper, who plays both piano and guitar in his show, is joined by two very talented musicians - pretty Mira Khomik on violin, and Gary Bruno on a multitude of guitars and backup vocals. In the audience were Hopper's bride of a year, Sheri; his mother-in-law, Charlotte; and his able assistant, G.G. Conklin. Also, see Jimmy Hopper, WITH orchestra, in the 500-seat theater at the Suncoast on March 28^th, 29^th and 30^th. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Call (702) 636-7075 or (877) 636-7111 for reservations. If you are one of Hopper's many fans, we suggest seeing BOTH shows for the different things that each offers.

Jimmy Hopper

Clint Holmes & Domenick Allen

Al Jarreau

And speaking of Al Jarreau, he will be making a return visit to The Cannery on May 17^th. Tickets for Jarreau, who will be joined by the Stanley Jordan Trio, go on sale today. A seven-time Grammy-winner and crossover legend, Jarreau will perform at The Club inside the Cannery Casino & Hotel. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting performers of our time. Some of his most memorable hits include Mornin', the theme song to the popular television series, Moonlighting, After All and We're In This Love Together. Whether singing classical jazz and standards, pop hits or R&B ballads, Jarreau's incredible voice will give the audience a show they will never forget. Stanley Jordan came to prominence with the release of his 1985 debut album, Magic Touch, a revolutionary project that placed him among the most distinctive and refreshing new voices of the electric guitar. The key to Jordan's fast-track acclaim was his mastery of a special "tapping" technique on the guitar's fret board instead of conventional strumming and picking. Some of Jordan's best-known work includes singular versions of The Lady In My Life, Eleanor Rigby, Georgia On My Mind and Jordan's original Plato's Blues. Tickets start at $24.95 plus tax and fees and can be purchased at the Cannery Casino & Hotel's ticket sales counter located at the front desk. Tickets are also available by calling (702) 617-5585 or (866) 287-4643 (toll free), or by visiting www.cannerycasinos.com.

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On Sunday, March 30^th, singer/dancers, Gary Oakes and Lou Garcia, will be the featured entertainers as part of the Performing Arts Society of Nevada's Brown Bag Concerts series. Both gentlemen have impressive resumes. Individually, after receiving his MA degree from Columbia University, Gary went on to perform lead roles on Broadway in a number of shows, including Boys From Syracuse, 1776, Little Mary Sunshine, Shoemaker's Holiday and On the Town. Lou graduated from the University of Montana before serving in the US Navy. Upon completion of his military service, Lou headed for the Great White Way. He appeared in Zorba, Illya Darling, Gypsy, West Side Story, The King and I and Mame. The twosome has been singing together since their days (and nights) on Broadway. They have headlined on cruise ships, in showrooms in Reno and Las Vegas (including in Donn Arden's Hallelujah Hollywood), national Broadway tours and summer stock. Sunday's All New Revue, featuring music from Broadway and pop favorites, will mark Gary and Lou's 13^th year as part of the Performing Arts Society of Nevada. Tickets for the 2 p.m. show are $15. Call the Performing Arts Society of Nevada at (702) 658-6741 for reservations. Tickets will also be available at the library theater box office beginning at 1 p.m. the day of the show.

Gary Oakes & Lou Garcia

Sammy Davis Jr. by Merryl Jaye

* * * * * *

Jerry Schafer is puzzled, and so are we. Schafer, a longtime Las Vegan, has contracted with Imagine Omni Media to act as supervising producer and director for the Mark Barnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader?) reality series entitled Contender Muay Thai Asia. The first fourteen episodes, shot in Thailand and Singapore in conjunction with Schafer's Silver Moon Pictures LLC, were completed in September. The final episode of the Contender Series, to include the championship fight as a Live Event, was to take place here. Surprisingly, although this type of martial arts (known as the Art of Eight Limbs) is a major attraction for many people throughout the world, Schafer has been unable to find a local hotel willing to host the show. The money is in place. The property would be paid for the use of their arena. And ticket buyers would beat a path to the hotel or sports facility. So? If Schafer cannot locate a space very soon, the final episode and ensuing seasons will probably have to be done out of the country. As for Schafer, his career in the entertainment industry began in 1957 when he wrote The Legend of Billy the Kid, a television pilot he produced at Republic Studios in North Hollywood, California and on locations in Nevada, at the Valley of Fire. In the past 50 years since, Jerry has written, produced and directed a number of major motion pictures and television shows, including an award-winning documentary Get Madd for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. His live production shows in The Entertainment Capital of the World won acclaim and included such hits as 1963's Speaking of Girls, the first afternoon show ever presented on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Schafer was Entertainment Director of the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas from 1963 to 1970. During that period, he produced such stars as Judy Garland, Jack Benny, Polly Bergen, Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows, Robert Goulet, Debbie Reynolds, Sammy Davis Jr., and many others. In 1967, he wrote an original musical comedy and 33 original songs for That Certain Girl, starring Walter Slezak, Dennis O'Keefe, Virginia Mayo, Gunilla Hutton and Bobby Rydell. That Certain Girl was the first original Broadway-style musical comedy to premier in Las Vegas. He directed the first annual Rhythm & Blues Award show in 1987, produced and directed Belle Starr, an original musical comedy, and the film, Fists of Steel. Schafer has won numerous awards for his productions of Police Training Films, and in 1999, he oversaw the construction of a Las Vegas-style showroom called Jerry Schafer's Legal Speakeasy, for which he wrote, produced and directed a musical variety show, The Roaring Twenties. As an author, Jerry wrote Angel in My Pocket, published by Beginning to End Publishing Co., The Youngest Producer in Hollywood and The Movie Maker. Perhaps, some hotel honcho will read this and make Jerry Schafer an offer he can't refuse. We will keep you posted on this one.

Tags: Bryan Lefeber Joe Williams Merryl Jayne Cork Proctor Keith Thompson Joan So

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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

Norman Kaye & Governor Jim Gibbons

Vittallo@aol.com.

And from Nelson Sardelli comes this e-mail...

FYI...Norman Kaye wrote Throw a Dime My Way, the National March of Dimes song selected from a field of more than 39,000 entries. He also composed Have A Heart, Lend A Hand, the World theme song for Variety Club International. He was Chairman of the Las Vegas Golden Circle, a group of affluent citizens that funded the Las Vegas Community Theatre, and Chairman of the Multiple Charities of Nevada Art Fund. Norman was awarded eight National ASCAP Awards for musical compositions. Perhaps one of the most famous of his compositions is the Hawaiian Island standard, A Miele Lie for Your Hair. In April of last year, Governor Jim Gibbons honored Norman Kaye for his 40 years of volunteer service to Nevada by appointing Kaye Poet Laureate Emeritus. Gibbons personally presented Kaye a certificate of appointment and commission at the governor's office in Las Vegas (see accompanying photo by Rich Johnston). Kaye was appointed Poet Laureate by Governor Grant Sawyer in 1967. He was reappointed by Governor Robert List in 1979, and again by Governor Richard Bryan in 1983. Nevada's poet laureate position has been largely inactive for two decades. "Norman Kaye has played a large role in music as both a performer and songwriter," said Governor Gibbons. "As a member of the Mary Kaye Trio in the 1950s and '60s, he helped create what we know as the 'lounge act.' As a singer/songwriter, he has written for Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Vikki Carr. But he also played a significant role in our state's history by serving as poet laureate for 40 years. I want Nevadans to continue to benefit from Mr. Kaye's service in this new emeritus position." Norman, who is 85-years-old, went into real estate after retiring from show business, has always been a giving man. Now he is the one who needs help. We can't let him down.

Here is an opportunity to see just what kind of an organization the Show Biz Society really is. Will they come forward and donate the $1000 offered to get Freddie Bell a star on the local Walk of Stars (turned down for a number of reasons, primarily because Freddie didn't want one and because it would have taken another $14,000 for the "honor") to help Norman Kaye?

In just a few days, caring individuals, using the jungle drum method, have collected a couple of thousand dollars to, hopefully, keep Norman in the rehab facility while other forms of assistance are sought. And, yes, we will be more than happy to accept checks or Money Orders made out directly to Barbara Kaye or Norman Kaye. Unlike some other local "charity" that claims to help in need entertainers, no "costs" will be deducted from any donations received.

Just received this news from Mr. Sardelli...At the crack of noon, on Tuesday, March 18^th, there will be a planning meeting at Ben Ardito's Take 1 Restaurant (located on the southeast corner of 7^th and Fremont in downtown Las Vegas). This will be where interested parties can voice opinions on how to raise funds to help Norman Kaye. His wife, Barbara, will be there to let folks know how Norman is doing and what his needs are at this time. If you can attend, please contact Nelson by phone at (702) 646-1813 or (702) 499-6919, or e-mail him at Nsardelli@aol.com. We thank you for your help.

* * * * * *

Jimmy Hopper

Gerry McCambridge

Lance Burton

New show times have been announced for Jimmy Hopper at Trader Vic's beautiful upstairs Lava Room. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the show will begin at 9 p.m., while on Fridays and Saturdays, the show will start at 9:30 p.m. A Wednesday show has been added and, for now, there are no performances on Sundays. If you have never seen Jimmy entertain, we urge you to do so. He is one unique performer. Trader Vic's is located right inside the Strip entrance of Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile Shops.

* * * * * *

The press release states, The Mentalist Predicts His Own Future - Gerry McCambridge predicts Lance Burton will take the "Best Magician" award from the R-J. It goes on to say, that McCambridge has received official word that he was one of two finalists in the Las Vegas Review Journal's readers poll for "The Best of Las Vegas" award. Gerry McCambridge was one of the two finalists in the "Best Magician" category, alongside Lance Burton. "I am honored the readers of the R-J took time to vote for me," McCambridge says. "To be considered one of the two best magicians in all of Las Vegas, a town known as being the home of many great magic shows, such as David Copperfield and Penn and Teller, is a tremendous honor," he exclaims, "but there is no doubt in my mind the award should go to Lance. When I came out to visit Las Vegas, it was the Lance Burton Show and the Danny Gans show that caused me to set my sites on being a regular Las Vegas headliner, a dream I had since 1993. Lance actually took time to sit with me and give me words of encouragement," Gerry explains. "Lance told me to watch what I wish for, because it just may come true. Just to be nominated in the same category as Lance is an honor beyond explanation," continues McCambridge. "Performing every night in Las Vegas and spending the days with my wife and six children as a soccer dad is what I wished for, so Lance was right, I did get exactly what I wanted" says McCambridge. "Everything else, like this prestigious nomination, is a bonus I am very thankful for."

As terrific and amazing as we think Gerry McCambridge is, we hope he is wrong in this prediction. We are Lance Burton fans as well, but we think it would be great if Gerry took this award. As a relatively new Las Vegan, this would be a real feather in The Mentalist's cap as well as one that he deserves. At the very least, perhaps the R-J should initiate an additional category in their Best Of... competition. If there was something called "Most Unique Magic Act in Las Vegas," Gerry McCambridge should win that one, hands down. There are no disappearing tigers in his act, no helicopters on the stage, no levitations and, thank goodness, no Pamela Anderson. What there is, is simply astounding, "how did he do that?" entertainment. If you haven't seen The Mentalist at work, take the opportunity to do so. Show times at Hooters are Wednesdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. Call toll free (866) 584-6687.

* * * * * *

OOOPS! Even Cousin Claire makes a mistake every now and then. In last week's column, we accidentally put the wrong MONTH for Lisa Dawn Miller's upcoming dates at the Metropolitan Room in New York City. Lisa makes her return engagement to the popular cabaret on MARCH 25^th and 26^th, NOT in April (although, who knows, she may be back there in April). Yesterday (Thursday, March 13^th), Lisa was back at the Suncoast Showroom as part of the Ed Mathews' Hit Parade series. Lisa paid tribute to her late father, songwriter Ron Miller, performing many of his well-known tunes. Poet Ron Miller was known primarily for writing hits for Motown artists, i.e. For Once In My Life, Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday, Place In the Sun, Heaven Help Us All and Place In the Sun for Stevie Wonder, and Touch Me In the Morning for Diana Ross. He also wrote I've Never Been to Me and If I Could, among hundreds of others. In her show, I Want To Come Back As a Song: Ron Miller, A Knight of Lyrics, Lisa showcases some of her father's lesser-known songs. A new addition to her latest offering included a touching video showing photos of Ron Miller, as well as clips from an appearance on the Merv Griffin Show of Miller singing some of his own songs, along with a beautiful letter written to his newborn granddaughter. Now a healthy teen, the youngster was born with multiple health issues. We suggest that, when Lisa gets ready to record her second CD (her first is called Fly Away), she should definitely include the gems, The Things I Should Have Said, Whenever You Find Yourself and Wasn't I a Good Time among them. Ron Miller has definitely earned his place in the Songwriters' Hall of Fame (is anybody listening?). This week's Suncoast show, once again, featured Lisa's son, 7-year-old Oliver Liam Richman. Singing two songs, Defying Gravity from the Tony-winning musical, Wicked, and his grandfather's, For Once In My Life, two of the proudest people in the full showroom were Oliver's maternal grandmother, Aurora Miller (a talented songwriter in her own right) and equally talented and creative Auntie Debbie Hoover. The mostly senior-age audience loves this talented youngster. Including him in his mother's show was a smart move on the part of producer Mathews. If you are in the New York area, Lisa will also be making return appearances at the Metropolitan Room on March25^th and 26^th. If you are in the neighborhood, try to see her in this intimate cabaret setting.

* * * * * *

Ron Miller & Lisa Dawn Miller

Billy Eckstine

Chick Hughes & Freddie House

We love our readers...and writers.

Hi Claire,

I met you at the Christmas Party for the F.I.O.R.E Club, of which I am a member. The reason I am writing is because I thought you would be interested in this short story about Freddie House. I met Freddie a couple of years ago, at a CAST luncheon at the Greek Isles Casino. We sat together and talked for an hour about his alleged father "Billy Eckstine," who I had met once in Atlantic City, N.J. many years ago. I was a big fan of Billy's singing. Freddie told me all these stories about growing up with Billy Eckstine and what a great father and husband he was. A few months later, Freddie was performing at the Sahara Casino as the son of Billy Eckstine and I took a very rare record of his alleged father, that I had in my collection, and I gave it to Freddie as a gift because, in my heart, I thought he would appreciate it, being the son of such a great legend. Freddie was overjoyed to receive the record and had his wife take this picture of him holding the record. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in the Fraud of a person like Freddie, living and lying about such a great and wonderful legend like Billy Eckstine.

Sincerely

And, from one of Billy Eckstine's REAL offspring, Gina Eckstine, comes this letter, sent after she saw the accompanying photo and heard Chick's the story...

I have that same album, except mine is on CD. I would love to have that album!!!! I collect my Dad's old records. It makes the pleasure of having one of his records more treasured, when added to my collection by one of his beloved fans. I know how special he was to so many people, and for them to give me one of his records from their own collection has always touched my heart. Freddie House should really be ashamed of himself. He is despicable! It hurts my heart and brings a tear to my eye when I think of how he has stolen from my fathers' beloved fans. You see, all my life I have stood and listened to the thousands of Mr. B fans (a name we siblings affectionately call them) each share their special story of my father and how much his music affected them and their lives. I never grow tired or bored. I listen, and am moved by the way he touched them, because we share something SPECIAL... we all loved him. Now to know that even one fan (most likely more) has been deceived and robbed of a special moment in their lives has me livid!!! They probably have told others of that special moment they shared with "Billy Eckstine's Son," never knowing that they gave away their treasured keepsake that they have had for over 40 years, to a lying, low life con man. How does Freddie look at himself in the mirror? I almost feel sorry for him because he must be mentally ill. But he needs to stop now. The charade is over. His covers have been pulled, and he needs to assume his own identity and leave the Eckstine family, and all of my father's fans, out of his sick twisted, pathetic, psychopathic game, and seek professional help. I'd like to personally apologize to Mr. Hughes for Freddie's scam. I am so angry that he has stolen from you. I am truly sorry.
And to you Mr. Freddie House...I demand that you send all gifts that you have received from my fathers devoted fans, either back to them, or to their intended recipients; me or my siblings!!!!! Do the right thing Freddie, clean up your wreckage! As my father use to say, "God does not like ugly"' And you, my want to-be-brother, are UGLY!!! Come on Freddie, the DNA does not lie. You are not an Eckstine. Of course, you and I have known that from the start.

If Mr. House has ANY conscience at all, we suggest that he gather up all of the Eckstine memorabilia he has accepted under false pretenses, and either returns them to the kind people who gave him the treasures, OR give them to Billy's REAL family members. Incidentally, Gina Eckstine inherited her father's musical talent. Before devoting most of her time to raising her child, she was a regular performer (both with her father and on her own), entertaining around the country...including in Las Vegas.

* * * * * *

Also, to Tim from Texas who wrote with this question in December...

Mr. Lee, himself, contacted us with this news...

Michael Lee, known as "The Singer of Memories," and his band, Heat of the Night, will perform at Fitzgeralds (where he had a steady gig for three years) on March 14^th from 9 to 11 p.m. This time around, instead of being in the open lounge on the casino level, Michael and the band will entertain in the downtown hotel's upstairs showroom. It will cost you $10 for the opportunity to see the group in a quieter, less distracting, intimate setting. Sounds like $10 well spent.

* * * * * *

Las Vegas will have its first, of what may become an annual fundraiser, the Easter Bonnet Competition & Show to benefit the St. Therese Center HIV Outreach program. This very special event is modeled after New York's Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet production that has been a success for more than 20 years. The show will feature Easter Bonnet submissions from the major production shows on the Las Vegas Strip as well as hats submitted by local and national corporations. The public's interest and involvement in this wonderful event is welcome. The Easter Bonnet Competition & Show will take place in the Chippendales Theatre at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, this Sunday March 16^th, beginning at 2 p.m. Rachel Smith, from KVVU-TV, FOX 5, and Brian Cheatham from Chippendales, will host. Judges include our Phavorite Phantom, Brent Barrett; KVBC Channel 3's Alicia Jacobs; Chris Saldana, from KLAS Channel 8; and Tina Walsh, currently portraying Madame Giry in Phantom -The Las Vegas Spectacular. The celebrities will be judging bonnets submitted by, among others, Chippendales (Rio), Menopause The Musical (Las Vegas Hilton), Mamma Mia! (Mandalay Bay), Phantom -The Las Vegas Spectacular (The Venetian), Spamalot (Wynn Las Vegas), The Star Trek Experience (Las Vegas Hilton), and, not too surprisingly, Hats! (Harrah's). Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach, under the guidance of Executive Director Father Joseph O'Brien O.P., serves Southern Nevada, reaching out to all those who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. Emphasizing wellness, the Saint Therese Center provides physical, emotional and spiritual support, as well as education with compassion and loving care. Their services and programs include Dry Food Pantries, Food Pantry Certificates, Transportation Assistance, Daily Sandwich Program, Support Groups for Women/Children/Family/Friends and Caregivers, Bereavement Groups, HIV/AA Group, Referrals to other HIV Agencies for Medical care, plus so much more. Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach, a tax-exempt organization, is run primarily by volunteers. Because Las Vegas/Henderson is one of the fastest growing areas in the US, the need for the services that Saint Therese provides continues to increase. Contributions from caring individuals, businesses and religious organizations are gratefully accepted. All gifts are tax deductible. Tickets for the Easter Bonnet Competition & Show are $20, $25 and $75 for VIP seating, and available at the door or by calling (702) 564-4224. For those who would like more information, wish to participate, make a donation, or sponsor the event, please contact the center at (702) 564-4224, or check their Web site at www.sainttheresecenter.org.

* * * * * *

A correction (did Cousin Claire make yet ANOTHER mistake?)...In our shameless plug for Tony Arias, Lloyd Ziel (also known as the musical comedy team of Tony & Lloyd) and Tim Searcy, and their upcoming Victorious in Concert, we used the wrong Web site address (one added letter can make a great big difference). To try to make it up to the fellows, we are giving them some added ink. This Sunday, March 16^th, the concert, described as "A New Dawn of Christian Contemporary Music," takes place at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church, 1140 Almond Tree Lane (off East Sahara near Maryland Parkway). Arias tells us that "Victorious takes the audience on a journey of emotions, from elation to gratitude, that will change their lives." Tony, Lloyd and Tim have been singing together at their church for years. They promise to inspire the audience with amazing and uplifting music." Tickets for the first Las Vegas appearance of Victorious are $10 each. Seating is limited. Call (702) 585-6342 or e-mail to info@WeAreVictorious.net to reserve your spot. That's WeAreVictorious.net.

* * * * * *

We couldn't make it to see Paul Campanella's Let the Good Times Roll at Independence Hall in Sun City Anthem last Sunday, so we asked chick singer Diane Ellis to represent us and give a report. "Thanks so much for the ticket to Paul's show at Anthem. Paul was terrific. In addition to singing, Campanella also plays keyboards, guitar, drums and harmonica in his show. He's got the moves and a very comfortable and likable patter between songs and a nice rapport with the audience. The band _ Jeff Johnson on keyboards, Steven Raimundez on bass, Rob Mader on sax and Jeff Krashin on drums - sounded great and the girl singer, Elisa Dease (she has worked with the "Purple One," aka Prince), was very good. Among the wide variety of material performed by Campanella and company, Let the Good Times Roll, a "Battle of the Sexes" (with Paul doing a BB King take and Elisa singing Aretha Franklin's Think/Respect), My Funny Valentine, a Motown medley (My Girl, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher) and an audience-involved version of Mustang Sally (with three "volunteers" acting as the backup "Paulettes"). After the show, Paul greeted the audience in the lobby. "I gave him my e-mail address so he could keep me informed when he'll be performing at Lucille's restaurant at The District at Green Valley Ranch," added Diane. If you missed seeing Campanella this time out, watch for his name to appear here the next time he does his own show (Paul is also a cast member of Tony n' Tina's Wedding at the Rio), and catch him in action.

Diane Ellis

Darin Hollingsworth

As for Diane Ellis (mentioned above), longtime Las Vegans, or Vegas visitors, will remember talented Diane as a member of the vocal groups, Chazz and D'Cal, that played around these parts for sometime. Ms. Ellis, who has a great flair for comedy (she does a knockout Lucille Ball character), was also featured in the Vegas version (at the Sands) of the San Francisco three-decades old hit, Beach Blanket Babylon, as well as Bill Moore and George Arnold's Broadway Varieties at the Flamingo in Laughlin. She has appeared with the Don Rickles, the Four Freshmen, Marty Allen and Steve Rossi, Freddie Cole (Nat's brother), and Freda Payne. For a number of years, Diane was a member of The Royal Court Singers at the Excalibur. Today, she is one of the most sought after voiceover artists in the community. To learn more about Diane Ellis, check out http://www.helloworld.com/lvvoice.

* * * * * *

Get out your green (cash and clothes)...St. Patrick's Day is on Monday. There are many fun things to do in Las Vegas (too many to mention) when it comes to this holiday. Here are just a couple. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day with exciting holiday specials and live music to entice the inner Irish in all. To keep in the spirit of the holiday, McCormick and Schmick's will offer Irish drink specials featuring Green Beer, Guinness, Bushmills and Baileys. The celebration includes Irish dishes corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew in addition to their famous $1.95 bar menu. The restaurant will honor the city's cab drivers with their 4^th annual 'Happy St. Cabby's Day.' A visiting leprechaun will be passing out Lucky Charms cereal to the drivers, and serving a complimentary hot breakfast, featuring green eggs and ham between 8 am and 9 a.m. In addition, if the cabbies stop by anytime before 5 p.m., they can pick up a special gift certificate while supplies last. McCormick & Schmick's is located at 335 Hughes Center Drive, off Flamingo at Paradise Road.

Killian's Angels will play tonight and tomorrow at Brendan's Pub at the Orleans from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., as well as on St. Paddy's day, Monday the 17^th, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. If the girls - Ginger Bruner, Vita Corimbi, Dolly Coulter, Nan Fortier, Beth Mullaney and Lisa Viscuglia - can't get you in a holiday mood, you're just not trying. May the luck of the Irish be with you.

* * * * * *

One of our favorite musical offerings, the Composers Showcase, takes place this month on Tuesday, the 18^th, beginning at 10:30 p.m. (after theater) at the popular Liberace's Museum. The March edition will feature the songs of local composers and songwriters, Jason Andino, Michael Brennan, Vita Corimbi, Thom Culcasi, Ben Hale, Rylan Leo Helmuth, Kyle Norris, Rebecca Ramsey, Keith Thompson and Mark Wherry, sung by Moriah Angeline, Dustin Dubreuil, Bruce Ewing, Jacquelyn Holland, Jeff Knaggs, Katie O'Toole and Joan Sobel, plus members of the cast of Mamma Mia! and other special guests! Some of the city's top musicians will also be featured, including Philip Fortenberry, Mike Hines and Moonlight Tran. The Liberace Museum is located at the corner of Tropicana and Spencer, next to Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens. Come early for dinner at Carluccio's, serving until 10 p.m., and then attend the showcase. There is a Cash bar (no credit cards, please), and for $5, an hors d'oeuvres buffet is provided by Keg and Cork Catering. Even if you don't take advantage of the $5 buffet (or if you do), a donation to the hosts (the Liberace Museum) is graciously accepted. In case you didn't know it, the museum closes at 5 p.m. during the week. Darin Hollingsworth (shown in Liberace's modest Volks Royce) and the kind folks who spend their days with Liberace memorabilia and gifts galore come back at night to reopen the museum just for the showcase. Now, if that doesn't make you cough up a few bucks for the Liberace Foundation (and the employees' troubles), we don't know what will! The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. Incidentally, if you have never toured the Liberace Museum, you haven't seen Las Vegas. 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. Free shuttle service is available from the Strip. For additional information, call (702) 798-5595.

Tags: Rick Vittallo Rick Verde Mary Kaye Trio Three Suns Johnny Mathis Perry Como

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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 - March 7, 2008

Gina Eckstine

Rebecca Spencer

Vita Corimbi

He's at it again. Apparently, singer Freddie House doesn't have enough faith that his talent alone can get him work as an entertainer. So, in spite of the fact that a DNA test proved without any doubt that House ISN'T related to the late Billy Eckstine, this fraud continues to use the name Freddie Eckstine to try to capitalize on the well-earned legacy left by Mr. B. Instead of keeping his promise to STOP using the famous name and publicly fess up for the attempted scam, if the DNA did not show him to be related to Eckstine, Mr. House goes on as if the test was never done. From Gina Eckstine, a REAL child of Billy Eckstine, comes this information...

"Well, good ol' Freddie ran into the parents of my brother Ed's friend. Freddie was doing some kind of show/appearance on a Los Angeles public TV station (KCET). These people only spoke to Freddie because they thought he was my brother Ed (Eckstine). Freddie just went along with it when they told him that their son said hello. When Guy Eckstine (Gina and Ed's REAL brother) heard about it, he called Freddie, and The Fredster actually had the nerve to tell Guy that he still believed his mothers "deathbed” story and didn't care what the DNA said. Guy immediately fired off a very caustic letter to Freddie's attorney. So there ya' go...he's like a cockroach, ya just can't get rid of him!"

If Mr. House really had any respect for the man he claims is his father, he would stop the nonsense, sing a chorus of I Apologize (a big hit for Billy Eckstine) and get on with his OWN life. We might also mention that, (1) Mr. House's mother is still alive and, (2) insect spray or exterminators will usually get rid of cockroaches. Entertainment buyers and media folks BEWARE. There is a con man in our midst. He has managed to fool too many people. Don't let him fool you. There is plenty of documented evidence to confirm the House of Lies that this Freddie the Fraud has tried to build. This House is built on sand and has no solid foundation. You have been warned.

* * * * * *

As usual, the most recent Composer's Showcase was a hit, playing to an SRO crowd at the Liberace Museum. There were many highlights and no lowlights. We do have to admit, however, it will take a while to get used to the absence of Rebecca Spencer. The talented singer/actress has returned to New York after portraying Madame Giry in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian for more than a year-and-a-half. Becky, as her friends call her, became very involved in the Las Vegas community during her stay here. She performed in numerous fundraising projects - God Lives In Glass, A Phantom Family Holiday Show - was a regular participant in the Composers Showcase, entertained as part of the Performing Arts Society of Nevada's series, and attended and supported concerts put on by her cast mates and other local performers. If you miss the sounds of Becky's beautiful voice, you can hear them on her solo CDs, 2003's Wide Awake and Dreaming and 2006's Fair Warning (accompanied on both by Las Vegans, pianist Philip Fortenberry, and on Fair Warning joined by cellist Moonlight Tran and composer/pianist/musical director Keith Thompson, who produced the CD and wrote some of the songs).

Also missing from the past two showcases, the very, very busy and very, very talented Vita Corimbi. A Las Vegas-native (yes, there are such things), Vita is a gifted and award-winning (three Emmys) performer, recording artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and legend in her own mind. She is currently performing in Menopause The Musical as the Earth Mother. In addition, Vita is the pianist and musical director for the Las Vegas Tenors. As if that were not enough, she is the newest member of Killian's Angels, the popular Celtic all girl band! As St. Patrick's Day approaches, the Angels - group founder Beth Mullaney (on guitar/ mandolin/lead vocals), Dolly Coulter (vocals/guitar/keyboard player), Ginger Bruner (tuba/bass player), Lisa Viscuglia (vocals/violin), Nan Fortier (drums) and Vita - are at their busiest time of the year. Here is a sample of their schedule for the next 10 days: tonight, March 7^th from 7 to 9 p.m., Killian's Angels performs at the Boulder City Renaissance Fair; March 8^th, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center; March 8^th, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., McMullan's Irish Pub; March 13^th at 2 p.m. the Dennis Bono Show at Sam's Town; March 14^th, from 5 to 8 p.m. at McMullan's; March 14^th, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Brendan's; March 15^th, from 5 to 8 p.m., McMullan's; March 15^th, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Brendan's; March 16^th, from 5 to 8 p.m., McMullan's; March 17^th, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., McMullan's; and also on the 17^th, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Brendan's. The event at Reed Whipple, beginning at 3 p.m. tomorrow, will also include Sharon Lynn's Celtic Storm Dancers. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of performance (that would be tomorrow). You can call (702) 229-6211.

As a side note, Vita's husband, Brian Grasmick, is also an award-winning musician (he plays the trumpet), as well as a jingle and voiceover producer. To quote his proud wife, "Brian has played behind everyone and their mother."

And speaking of the Las Vegas Tenors, Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Teddy Davey and Mark Giovi, return to the Hilton on Sunday, March 9^th, for their fourth appearance in the main showroom. It wasn't long ago that the Tenors were performing primarily at local places such as the Bootlegger and Turnberry's Stirling Club. So, how did the fellows make it to the big showroom that has seen the likes of Elvis Presley perform on its stage? Hard work and talent. For their March show, it will be all Tenors, no guests. We guarantee that you will be entertained. Showtime is at 6 p.m. For reservations, call (702) 732-5755.

* * * * * *

Las Vegas Tenors

Mary Wilson

Tony Arias & Lloyd Ziel

Belated birthday wishes to Mary Wilson who celebrated yesterday, March 6^th. The Supreme Ms. Wilson just finished an engagement at the Riverside in Laughlin. Her performances in places like Scottsdale, Washington DC, Miami, Boston, Nashville, San Diego and Venice, Italy, keep the singer/author busy. An engagement at the South Point in September is Mary's next Las Vegas gig. To learn more about Ms. Wilson, her book Dreamgirl - My Life As a Supreme, should provide insight into Wilson's rise to fame. You might also check out her CDs, I Am Changing and Up Close - Live from San Francisco.

* * * * * *

Those two wild and crazy guys, Tony Arias and Lloyd Ziel, actually settle down every now and then. Best known for their musical/comedy act, the duo will get serious on Sunday, March 16^th, when they will be joined by the equally talented Tim Searcy (the ORIGINAL Splash at the Riviera, Abracadabra at the Aladdin) for Victorious in Concert. Described as "A New Dawn of Christian Contemporary Music," the 7 p.m. production will take place at the Metropolitan Community Church at 1140 Almond Tree Lane (off East Sahara near Maryland Parkway). Victorious, presenting music for all ages, takes the audience on a journey of emotions, from elation to gratitude, that will change their lives. Arias states, "In July of last year, we were invited to sing at our fellowship's conference. That moment changed our lives and we haven't been the same since. We've been called to sing for God's people and we love it!" He goes on to say, "I am so excited to share with you this blessed new group I'm in, Victorious!" Tony goes on to say, "Victorious consists of my longtime dear friend Tim Searcy, and of course my brother-in-comedy Lloyd Ziel. The three of us have been singing together at our church for years. Tim is an international recording artist and longtime Las Vegas entertainer who continues to thrive, and Lloyd and I will never stop doing what we do best, being silly and laughing all the way to the buffet. The later part of last year, we had a wonderful time touring in South California and Northern California. In the next few months, we'll be back on the road. Victorious is our ministry with amazing uplifting music." Tickets for the first Las Vegas appearance of Victorious are $10 each. Seating is limited, so if you want to attend, call (702) 585-6342 or e-mail to info@WeCareVictorious.net to reserve your spot.

* * * * * *

Tim Searcy

Lisa Dawn Miller

Mark Nadler

On Thursday, March 13^th, Lisa Dawn Miller returns to the Suncoast Showroom as part of the Ed Mathews' Hit Parade series. Lisa will pay tribute to her late father, songwriter Ron Miller, in I Want To Come Back As a Song: Ron Miller, A Knight of Lyrics. As her special guest, Lisa will feature her son, Oliver. Now, let's talk about (write about?) Oliver Liam Richman. This seven-year-old is an exceptional talent. Vocally, while still maintaining the sound and the innocence of a child, Oliver is mature beyond his years. In addition, the kid has acting chops. He recently auditioned for and got his first film role. The movie, Man Overboard, directed by Oliver Robins, is scheduled for release in September. Lisa and Oliver's Thursday show time at the Suncoast is 2 p.m. For reservations, call (702) 636-7075 or (877) 636-7111. If you are in the New York area, Lisa will also be making return appearances at the Metropolitan Room on April 25^th and 26^th. See her in the east or west...or in both places.

* * * * * *

Last Sunday, Mark Nadler and KT Sullivan made a return visit to the Charleston Heights Arts Center where they, once again, charmed the audience with their cabaret performance. Previously, the twosome has paid tribute to George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. Nadler made a solo appearance with his very clever Mark Nadler In a Nutshell revue (this fellow does it all - plays piano, sings, dances, is funny, and has an incredible memory to boot). This time, the show was called Time After Time and paid homage to many of the great composers. We had been hoping to get Mr. Nadler into one of the hotel showrooms within the next few months. Not surprisingly, he has just signed on for a two-month gig at Chicago's Royal George Theater, where he will win new fans performing Russian On the Side, from April 22^nd through June 29^th. From there, look for the uber-talented Mr. Nadler to take his show to the Great White Way. You know that old saying, "You snooze, you lose"? Someone in Vegas was snoozing. Too bad.

* * * * * *

In response to half of Robert B's inquiry comes this answer from Greg Smith of the musical Smith Brothers band. Reader Robert's question...Whatever happened to The Reycards?
Answer: The Reycards -- Philippine-born singer/comedians Rey Ramirez and Ricardo "Ricky" Castro -- played Honolulu several times in the late 1970s and early '80s. Strong singers with a knack for comedy, the Reycards' ability to combine the two quickly earned the self-styled "Kings of Comedy" a loyal local following.
Ramirez died in August 1997. Castro, known to many in the Philippines as Carding, died in November 2003.
"They were very dedicated (entertainers)," producer Frances Kirk said. The Reycards' most memorable engagements in Waikiki were at the On Stage Showroom in the Outrigger East Hotel in 1978 and 1979. The duo's 1979 album, Besame Mucho, produced by Kirk and Ernie Freeman for release on Silvercloud Records, captured the breadth of their repertoire. Angelitos Negroes, Sometimes When We Touch and the title song showed what they could do as serious vocalists. Papa Oom Mow Mow, a longtime personal favorite, and Ah So, Disco! an original by Kirk Freeman written for the album, offered glimpses of their comic capabilities. The partnership began in 1953 when Ramirez and Castro won a singing contest in Manila. They coined the name the following year, entertained in the Philippines through the '50s, moved to Las Vegas in the '60s and toured extensively for the next two decades. "They would come down one hour beforehand and prepare all their props and everything," Kirk said. "Very few acts do that and then go out and greet the customers. They were really a special pair."
Thank you, Greg (we love our readers). Now, anyone know what happened to Lee Meza (the second half of Robert B's question)?

* * * * * *

Michelle Rohl-Justice passes on this information...Just wanted to drop a line and let you know Jahna Steele's Tribute went great last Friday (February 29^th). We opened with a set of (me) singing the blues. Then Lon Bronson took the stage and we re-created the days of yore when our hair was as high as an elephant's eye (and so were we). Special guest and special (transsexual) soul sister, roommate and close friend of Jahna's, Tara, recreated "Dr. Longjohn," with hilarious perfection. Rick Friedman performed an original song for Jahna, penned just a few hours before the show, titled "I Must've Seen an Angel," inspired from the images he saw on the video footage played at Jahna's funeral. Ex Crazy Girls, Joelle Rigetti, Michele Sandoval and Jilan Ricci, recreated Jahna's production number, "Cuz I'm a Blonde," to dingy perfection! Joelle also sang Jahna's version of "Vehicle." I sang Jessica Rabbit's Do Right (Jahna's Strip number) and Piece of My Heart, dedicated from Robyn (Lewis) St. Romain who couldn't be present (she's on the road with Wayne Newton). She was missed. Tony Davich closed the set with "A Little Help From My Friends." The turnout was great, the band was awesome and it was so cool to see everyone from the "olden days."

Thanks for the update, Michelle. Wish we could have been there.

* * * * * *

The very talented Kristen Hertzenberg (she portrays Christine in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular) and her husband, Dana Satterwhite, have launched a new Web site promoting the culture and arts that tie Las Vegas and Broadway together. Dana is a freelance writer/creative director in the advertising industry and a "hobby photographer" (he takes many of the photos used on their site), although he's hung his work in galleries and has been selling more and more lately. Check out what these two are up to in their "spare" time, by going to BroadwayVegas.BlogSpot.com.

* * * * * *

The ageless Tempest Storm celebrated her Leap Year birthday with an "intimate" party at Carluccio's on Wednesday, February 27^th. Jerry Ritholz and Ray Jarvis hosted Storm, Tulara Gilbert (who had an acrobatic/comedy act under the name of Virginia Lee) and 93-year-old Edna Miner, as Tempest prepared to turn 80. The saucy redheaded former Burlesque Queen proudly states, "I'm old enough for Medicare, but young enough for men to care." With a figure many women would kill for, Tempest still manages to turn plenty of heads. The five celebrants enjoyed the music of Wes Winters, who performs to a full house at Carluccio's on Wednesday nights. You can also see Mr. Winters at work, doing his Liberace tribute show, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays at 1 p.m., in the museum's Wes Winters Showroom.

* * * * * *

Tempest Storm

Wes Winters

Randy Slovacek

Broadway veteran Lee Roy Reams is the Director for Houston's Theatre Under The Stars production of Hello, Dolly! starring Leslie Uggams, while Las Vegan Randy Slovacek serves as the show's Choreographer. Hello, Dolly!, with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman (Mame, La Cage Aux Folles), runs through March 9^th at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Most recently, Reams starred in The Producers on Broadway and in Las Vegas. In addition to performing in the 1978 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!, Reams both directed and choreographed the 1995 Broadway revival. His accolades include receiving the 1981 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for his performance as Billy Lawlor in the original production of 42nd Street. His numerous Broadway credits also include Sweet Charity; Applause; Lorelei; Hello, Dolly!; La Cage aux Folles; Beauty and the Beast; and An Evening with Jerry Herman. Slovacek has appeared on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing. His choreography credits include the National touring company of Hello, Dolly! (which he also supervised), the off-Broadway, world premiere of Plane Crazy, companies of A Chorus Line, and regional productions of They're Playing Our Song, Promises Promises, and Chicago among others. Also starring in TUTS' production of Hello, Dolly! are Lewis J. Stadlen (Horace Vandergelder), who was previously seen in Broadway's The Producers; Glory Crampton (Irene Molloy), who returns to TUTS, having starred in My Fair Lady and the World Premiere of Phantom; Kevin Earley (Cornelius), who was previously seen in the Broadway and National Tour of Les Miserables and joined Leslie Uggams on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie; Michael McGurk (Barnaby Tucker), who was seen in Broadway's The Wedding Singer and The Music Man; Ron Kellum (Ambrose), who returns to TUTS, having recently appeared in Dreamgirls; Katharine Randolph (Ermengarde Vandergelder), who was recently seen in Main Street's The Secret Garden; Jessica Sheridan (Ernestina Simple), who appeared in the National Tour and the 2005 film, The Producers; and Erick R. Walck (Rudolph), who was previously seen in The Producers in Las Vegas understudying Lee Roy Reams and David Hasselhoff. The ensemble cast includes Melanie Allen, Brian Barry, Alan Bennett, Jennifer Blakeney Young, Nathaniel Braga, Dominic Di Felice, Craig Foster, Adam Gibbs, Kevin Hill, Traci Hines, Darrell T. Joe, Tony Johnson, Laura Kaldis, Richard M. Keck, Dominique Kelley, Chris Klink, David La Duca, Alissa Ann LaVergne, Reid Lee, Sarah Moore, Christina Stroup, Mary Jo Todaro, Gia Valenti, and Paige Wheat. The famous story of Hello, Dolly! was taken from Thornton Wilder's 1938 play, The Merchant of Yonkers, which was revised and retitled as The Matchmaker in 1955. The original Broadway production of Hello, Dolly!, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, opened on January 16, 1964, at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 2,844 performances. The stellar cast included Carol Channing, David Burns, Charles Nelson Reilly, Eileen Brennan and Alice Playten. Although facing stiff competition from Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand, Hello, Dolly! swept the Tony Awards in 1964, winning in 10 categories (out of 11 nominations), a record that remained unbroken for 37 years until, ironically, The Producers won 12 Tonys in 2001.

* * * * * *

Regarding our interest in the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, an honorarium only if you have the $15,000 to buy one, comes this e-mail from John Kaye, a member of the famed Mary Kaye Trio family...

I was talking about the Walk of Stars and was wondering why that walk is in existence? I thought the concept was for a person to be famous in order to get a Star. Not someone who is famous in their own mind, but people who are truly well known for their contributions to the Las Vegas scene. How is this sanctioned by the city of Las Vegas? Why is it run by one person from out of state? Can I buy a star for $15,000.00 for my dearly departed dog, Shadow? What the hell is the Walk of Stars all about and whose pockets are being lined because of it?

We wonder the same thing, John. That's why we are checking into exactly how this operates.

* * * * * *

A friend told us about this fundraiser. We have not seen it mentioned anywhere else (yet) and have been unable to confirm all (or any) of the information, so please check into it before getting too involved. If it's true, we are happy to help out for a worthy cause. If not, well... Robin Sherwood, a long time Vegas performer, has experienced kidney failure and is in need of a kidney transplant. In November, Jeff Beacher, Beacher's Madhouse creator, donated proceeds from one of his shows at the Hard Rock Hotel for one of his little-people performers. Sherwood is a member of Beacher's Oompa Loompas troupe, the Tiny Kiss band, and a wrestling team that spoofs the UFC, and has been in and out of the hospital. Beacher said he was forming the Robin Sherwood Oompa Loompa Foundation. Here is what we have been told. On Sunday, March 9^th, there will be a Robin Sherwood Walk-a-Thon to raise money to help with Sherwood‘s mounting medical expenses. Signups begin at 9 a.m., with the Walk-a-Thom starting from Town Square at 10 a.m. In case you are not familiar with it, Town Square is the south Strip's new 1.5 million-square-foot open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination. Donations are also being accepted for Robin at The Robin Sherwood Foundation, 5275 S. Arville St., Suite 348, Las Vegas, NV 89118.

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Claire Voyant’s portrait by Charlie Frye

Tags: Gossip Gina Eckstine Rebecca Spenceer Vita Corimbi Tony Sacca Las Vegas Ten

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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

Bill Nolte

Liberace Kicks

Bill Nolte may not have shown ALL of himself at his concert last Sunday, but the audience who saw his tour de force show at the Clark County Flamingo Library saw enough of him to know there is much more to this man than Franz Liebkind. Nolte's performance as the wacky Nazi playwright in The Producers gives only a hint of this entertainers' versatility. Presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada, All of Me, directed by Mark Waldrop, with Pam Drews Phillips as Musical Director, put sunshine in a kind of gray Las Vegas afternoon. Nolte, who has had leading roles in Broadway and national touring companies of CATS, Me and My Girl, Evita, Man of LaMancha, Oliver!, and Marriage of Figaro, charmed the audience with songs such as Something's Gotta Give, What Kind of Fool Am I, Sway (with a Dancing with the Stars reject for a partner), and Michael Buble's Home. A very clever "travel" medley proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Pretty Pam accompanied Nolte on piano and added some vocal assists. Among those spotted in the library theater were the Liberace Museum's Darin Hollingsworth; Las Vegas Review-Journal's theater critic, Anthony Del Valle; singer/comics, Tony (Arias) and Lloyd (Ziel); Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular principals, Kristen Hertzenberg and Tina Walsh; entertainer Lou Garcia (Lou and partner Gary Oakes will be featured at the library on March 30^th; Jersey Boys music mavens, Keith Thompson and Philip Fortenberry; and singer/dancer Jeanne Brei. Nolte, who has purchased a home here and intends to make Vegas his permanent residence, will be available for vocal coaching after he returns from New York in a few weeks. Those that have heard the Ohio-native sing know that he is more than qualified to handle the job. For more information, contact Bill at (917) 445-9003.

And speaking of the Liberace Museum, you can find some of this season's hottest fashion accessories in the form of jazzy sneakers inspired by Mr. Showmanship. During the recent MAGIC (Major Apparel and Garment trade Show) Convention, Liberace's legendary Volks Royce was moved from the Museum to the convention center, to be used as the centerpiece for a booth highlighting the brand new but already outrageously popular Liberace Kicks sneakers. These fabulous shoes were created by designer Alan Kashi as an addition to his already hugely successful line of BLING kicks! Darin Hollingsworth, mentioned above, is probably the shoe company's best advertisement, as he owns (three pairs) and wears the flashy footwear on a regular basis. A portion of the sale of every pair of the $99 sneakers benefits the Liberace Foundation and the entertainer's legacy of supporting the arts. Check them out!

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The Dynamic Duo, Mark Nadler and KT Sullivan, return to the Charleston Heights Arts Center at 3 p.m. on Sunday (March 2^nd) for the fourth time in as many years (actually, it's KT's third time and Mark's fourth). In previous performances, the twosome has done tribute shows to both George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. On his own, Nadler did his brilliant Mark Nadler in a Nutshell revue. (Songwriter Ervin Drake - Good Morning Heartache, I Believe, It Was a Very Good Year - describes Mark as "the most talented man on the planet." Who are we to argue?) Both KT and Mark, individually and/or together (in their salutes to composers), perform all around the world. Las Vegas is fortunate that they find the time to get here once a year. This time around, the afternoon show is called Time After Time, and is described as "A breezy, sophisticated mélange of the best of the best. " If you have seen them before, you don't have to be convinced to see their shows. If you have never seen them, do yourself a favor. Tickets in advance are only $10. At the door, they are $15 (chances are the show will be sold out before Sunday). Call (702) 229-6383.

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Mark Nadler & KT Sullivan

James Lee Reeves as Milo Tremley

Tina Walsh, Brent Barrett & Reva Rice

Happy birthday to the following Pisces celebrants...Harry Goldson, James Lee Reeves (aka comic Milo Tremley), Brent Barrett, Jed Allen, Cherry Wainer, Betty Mitchell (Mrs. Guy Mitchell), Cinnamon Steen, Lance Burton, Marlon Jackson, Al Jarreau, Margaret Kurtz, Toni Andrews, Teresa Gilmore and Jaymi Marshal. Also, happy anniversary to Robert Allen and Deborah Danielson.

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And speaking of Brent Barrett...Get out your calendar and circle the date April 18^th. If you are a music lover, you won't want to miss this event. Mr. Barrett, who plays the lead in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, will star (he also co-produces) with Reve Rice and Tina Walsh in Too Darn Hot! The Golden Age of Broadway. The years from the early 1940s through the mid-1960s were considered" The Golden Age of Broadway." Songs from Oklahoma! ('43), Carousel ('45), Annie Get Your Gun ('46), Kiss Me, Kate ('48), South Pacific ('49), Guys and Dolls ('50), Wonderful Town (53), The Pajama Game (54), West Side Story and The Music Man (both '57), Gypsy ('59), Carnival (‘61), Oliver! (‘63), Fiddler on the Roof ('64) and Sweet Charity ('66) will be among those performed. The production, with a 25-pice orchestra and the 90-member Red Mountain Music Choir, will do a One Night Only show at the Cashman Theatre on Friday, April 18^th, at 7 p.m. Jeffrey Skouson serves as Artistic Director and David Skouson is Musical Director. Barrett, who is a member of Actors Equity, was seen on Broadway reprising his role as Billy Flynn in the Tony Award-winning hit, Chicago - The Musical, for which he received a Los Angeles drama Critics Award. He received an Olivier Award nomination for his starring role in the London premiere of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate (available on DVD), starred in the City Center Encores! production of The Pajama Game, and played King Arthur in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Camelot. Some of Barrett's film performances include The Producers, Hercules and Longtime Companion. On television, he has appeared on the daytime soaps, All My Children, Another World and Guiding Light. Our Phavorite Phantom's CDs, The Alan Jay Lerner Album and The Kander & Ebb Album, "ain't so bad either" (from All I Care About in Brent's Kander & Ebb Album) Reva Rice, was a featured performer in Starlight Express during its run at the Las Vegas Hilton and was in the Clint Holmes bio-musical, JAM, Just Another Man. She is currently standby for The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot at Wynn Las Vegas. Tina Walsh, who currently plays the role of Madame Giry in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, starred as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! at Mandalay Bay, performed in EFX at the MGM Grand, and was featured in Just Another Man. David Skouson is a Broadway pianist and conductor who has collaborated with the likes of Stephen Schwartz, Patti LaBelle, Wayne Brady, Anne Reinking, Walter Bobbie and Rob Fisher. Vocal instructor Jeffrey Skouson‘s international clientele includes a wide array of pop, country and Broadway stars, including lead performers in Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables, and Hairspray. The Boulder City-based, nonprofit valley-wide musical performing arts organization, Red Mountain Music Company (RMMC), was founded in 1998. RMMC encompasses five musical organizations, including Red Mountain Choir, Red Mountain Youth Choir, Red Mountain Music Theatre, Red Mountain Second Saturday Concert Series and Red Mountain Music Camp. The organization is one of the most active and largest community-based choir groups in Southern Nevada. Tickets for Too Darn Hot! are $35, $25, and $15. Cashman Theatre is located at 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. There is plenty of parking available. To order tickets, or for more information on Red Mountain Music Company or any of its groups, call (702) 294-0043 and leave a message, or visit redmountainmusic.org. You can also e-mail to info@redmountainmusic.org today! We will remind you about this again, closer to the actual performance date.

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We have mentioned Take 1 on more than one occasion, usually when telling readers about the F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) bunch (the non-club club where everyone is a president). Most F.I.O.R.E. gatherings are held at the downtown club/restaurant, but there are other things going on at Ben Ardito's place. For example, on Sunday night, you can have a five-course dinner, drinks and a show for $34.95 plus tax (and, hopefully, a tip for your server). Doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner. At 7 p.m., A Night with the Voice, featuring "Frank the Voice" (real name C.J. Decker), pays tribute to Sinatra's early years. Frank the Voice has been performing the music of Frank Sinatra for some time (including a stint in The Rat Pack Is Back). On occasion, some other tribute artists join the show, including the talented Denise Rose as Judy Garland. Reservations are required for the Sunday night shows. To make them, call Take 1 at (702) 433-TAKE (8253), or (702) 523-4398. You can also e-mail frank_the voice@yahoo.com.

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Frank the Voice

Martin Nievera

Roseanne Barr

Michelle Rohl-Justice sends this reminder...If you haven't already heard the sad news, our friend and fellow entertainer, the beautiful, glamorous and amazingly gifted Jahna Steele passed away on January 24^th. In honor of her great spirit, a Memorial/Jam Tribute to her life will be held tonight (Friday, February 29^th) at 9 p.m. at The E String Grill & Poker Bar, located at 2031 W Sunset Rd (at Mountain Vista), in Henderson, Nevada. "The Grill has great food," says Michelle, "so come early, get a seat and have a nice dinner." Michelle and the Lon Bronson Band will be performing, along with Catte Adams, puppeteer Jerry Halliday, Joelle Rigetti, Tara, Rick Friedman, Tony Davich, Robyn St. Romain and others will be sitting in. This will be a night of celebration with Jahna's favorite music and musicians, memories, laughs and stories. Please attend, participate, and bring your photos, DVDs, stories and love for a great friend who is gone too soon.
Please feel free to contact Michelle with questions at celebratingjahna@cox.net or call the E-String at (702) 437-8764.

If the name Catte Adams is familiar, it may be because you remember the talented lady from the forerunner to TV's American Idol, Star Search. In 1985, after competing for nine weeks, Catte Adams was named Grand Champion in the Female Vocalist category, winning $100,000 in the process. In the years since, Catte has toured and recorded with artists such as Natalie Cole, Bill Medley and Neil Young. She also appears on Yanni's live concert video, Tribute.

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One of our favorites, Martin Nievera, joins the Society of Seven and Lani Misalucha for a very limited run. Comprised of Hawaii's finest performers with an eclectic mix of talents, Society of Seven has earned a reputation as one of the most entertaining and energetic shows on the Las Vegas Strip. Tony Ruivivar contributes to vocals and guitar. Bert Sagum is the comedic leader of the group. Huku Low plays the bass and horns. Vince Mendoza is the group's drummer, with impressive vocals. Roy Guerzo is the keyboardist, and Wayne Wakai rounds out the group with an impressive vocal range. Lani, born in the Philippines, has been dubbed "Asia's Nightingale." She performs pop, rock, jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, and operatic arias, and is frequently compared to popular American divas such as Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. Lani also possesses a comedic flair and can effectively impersonate the above-named divas as well as Gladys Knight, Toni Braxton, Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears. As for Nievera, in the Philippines (where he, too, is from), he is known as "The Concert King"...and with good reason. Nievera could, and should, be a star anywhere he performs...if he gets the opportunity to play the right venues. A change of owners at the Golden Nugget, where he performed when he first came to Vegas, resulted in a change of policy (we hate when that happens). Martin's more recent stint, at the Wyrick Theatre in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, was pretty much doomed before it started. The Wyrick venue has many obstacles to deal with and, so far, no entertainer or show, no matter how good, has been able to overcome them. SOS shows are at 3 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays, in the Flamingo Showroom. Their run will end on April 13^th, when magician Nathan Burton moves from the V-Theater at Planet Hollywood to take over the SOS time slot at the Flamingo. Friends who saw the Society of Seven with Lani and Martin on Thursday, raved about the show. Our suggestion is, that if you love good music, sung by top vocalists, with some comedy thrown into the mix (like the Vegas revues of old), get yourself over to the Flamingo before the 13^th of April. Tickets are $49.95, plus the usual tax and fees. You won't be sorry. For reservations, call (702) 733-3333, or (800) 221-7299.

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Emmy Award-winner Roseanne Barr returns to Las Vegas for an indefinite run at the Sahara, beginning tomorrow night. The comic/actress/author is ranked No. 9 on Comedy Central's list of 100 the Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time. The Utah-born entertainer moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to pursue stand-up comedy. Her 1985 appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (Cousin Claire remembers that night very well) set her course. Barr's groundbreaking, award-winning TV show, Roseanne, followed. The series ran for nine seasons, earning four Emmys and two Golden Globes, and made her a household name. As fate would have it, the Sahara's Congo Room is where Roseanne's mentor, the late Johnny Carson, headlined when performing in Las Vegas. Show times for Roseanne Barr at the Sahara are 9:30 p.m., Saturdays through Wednesdays (dark Thursdays and Fridays). For reservations, call (702) 737-2515.

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Are we through with our issues involving the organization once known as The CAST? Hell no. Since the interest seems to be building (along with questions about that questionable joke known as the Las Vegas Walk of Stars), we will keep writing about what is left of the group, now known as The Show Biz Society. On their Web site, it indicates, "Only the name is changed. " That couldn't be further from the truth. (It has been suggested to us by a very astute reader, "The name has been changed to protect the guilty.") The "board" changes on a weekly basis, and early CAST members are abandoning what appears to be a rapidly sinking ship. (Those wishing to become totally unassociated with the "Society," have been told they must submit their resignations in writing (see example below). Reading through those resignations must be keeping someone very busy.) In the meantime, some concerned Las Vegans have formed a grassroots operation to check into some of the goings on within both the Walk of Stars and the former CAST organization.

Here is one letter of resignation, addressed to new Society board member, and longtime CAST Webmaster, Denny Jones...

And speaking of Larry Taylor, also known as First DJ Larry, he announces that his latest gig at the Railroad Pass Casino is already expanding its schedule. What started on Valentine's Day as a once a week dance night, has now turned into a two times a week event. On Tuesdays, from 6 to 10 p.m., dance classes begin at 6, followed by open dancing starting at 7 and running until 10. For only $10 a person, future Dancing with the Stars competitors (you never know) get four hours of fun and exercise. The price includes a beverage and the chance to win drawing prizes valued up to $150 (including $100 for dinner in the Railroad Pass' Conductors Room steak house). Beginning on March 15^th, the Railroad Pass will add Saturday night dances to their lineup. Ticket prices and times for Saturdays will be the same as on Tuesdays. This is the first time, in his more than 20 years of doing these Ballroom Dance specials in the Las Vegas Valley, that Taylor has had a regular Saturday night party. Larry Taylor spent almost two decades hosting dance nights at the Gold Coast in Las Vegas. For additional information, call the Railroad Pass hotel/casino at (702) 294-5000 or (800) 654-0877, or the Hot Line at (702) 225-5324 (you can leave a message). E-mail to firstdjlarry@att.net.

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Reader Robert B. wonders what became of entertainers The Reycards and Lee Meza. Cousin Claire has not been able to locate these people (she doesn‘t know EVERYTHING). Anyone out there know where these folks might be today?

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They're back! A group that we saw and enjoyed multiple times during their run at the Luxor in 2005, has returned to Las Vegas for, hopefully, a longer stay. This time around, Toxic Audio is performing at the V Theater in the Miracle Miles Shops adjacent to Planet Hollywood. The Toxins, as they are called by their fans, is a five-member theatrical mixed vocal band who combine popular and original songs, musical improvisation, and comedic sound effects in their high energy performances. No musical instruments are used. The group creates their unique sound by combining tight a cappella harmonies with vocal percussion and voice effects processors. Styles include contemporary pop, rock ‘n‘ roll, jazz, hip-hop, comedy, and improvisational songs. They have toured across the country, performing concert shows and opening for the likes of Tony Bennett, Ziggy Marley, The Rippingtons, and The Bobs. In 2003, Toxic Audio's album, Chemistry, was named Album of the Year by the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America. The group has appeared on national TV with Ed McMahon and Wayne Brady. In 2004, the Toxins won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience in their off-Broadway show at New York's John Houseman Theatre. To date, five Toxic Audio albums have been released on CD. Show times for Toxic Audio are Fridays through Wednesdays at 6 p.m. For reservations, call (702) 932-1818.

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Toxic Audio

Paul Xavier Campanella

Ronnie Rose

On Sunday, March 9^th at 3 p.m., Paul Xavier Campanella, one of the stars of Tony 'N Tina's Wedding at the Rio, will Let The Good Times Roll! when he performs at the Independence Hall Theater in Sun City Anthem. Backed by some of this city's top musicians - Jeff Johnson on keyboards and vocals (Lon Bronson All Stars); Jeff Krashin on drums (Tony 'N Tina's Wedding); Rob Mader on sax (Fat City Horns with Bette Midler); Elisa Dease on vocals (solo performer Kelly Clinton's Sunday Showcase at The Bootlegger); and Steven Raimundez on bass (Sheena Easton, Expose', Mamma Mia!) - Campanella presents a dynamic mix of blues, soul, R&B, comedy and audience participation. There will also be giveaways ($100.00 in cash and other prizes). Tickets are $12 if purchased by March 2^nd, and $15 from the 3^rd up to show time. Here's the rub...only Member Residents can "buy" tickets. If you are not a Sun City Anthem Resident Member, and want to catch the show, contact Campanella via email at desertvoicemusic@hotmail.com for guest tickets. The show starts at 3 sharp. There will be no one at the door for Will Call once the show starts, so don‘t be late.

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Among the productions scheduled for the San Diego REPertory Theatre's 2008-2009 season is the world premiere musical, The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea. The REP's artistic director, Sam Woodhouse, announced that the company will stage The Threepenny Opera; the Pulitzer Prize winner Doubt: A Parable; and "an exotic twist" on a classic Han Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Princess and the Black Eyed Pea. The remainder of the theatre's new season, as well as production dates, will be announced in the coming weeks. Woodhouse will direct Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera, the groundbreaking musical that features "a cunning and glorious story of love, greed, deception and capitalism run wild." John Patrick Shanley's award-winning Doubt, the drama about certainty set in a Catholic boys school, will be directed by REP associate artistic director Todd Salovey. Hans Christian Andersen's The Princess and the Pea will be transformed into "a soulful musical comedy set in two exotic African kingdoms," The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea. The musical won the Richard Rodgers Award for Most Promising New Musical. The show, by Karole Foreman and Andrew Chukerman, had workshop and concert presentations around the country, and at the Musical of the Year International Musical Competition in Europe. "With a charming sense of fun and play, [the authors] spin a compelling tug of war between destiny and the destiny-changing power of the individual spirit," according to REP notes. "Rousing gospel, funky rhythm and blues, tropical African world beat and soaring pop ballads, this musical poses the question, 'Does fate or free will lead us to true love?'" In it, "Colorful characters rule the African kingdoms of Kheba and Torel - one is the tyrannical Queen Mother Zauba, the other, a befuddled King Nat whose teenage daughter, Princess Quelie, has never been outside the sheltering palace walls. When the most feared warrior in the land, Vinzulu, vows he will force her to be his queen, the defiant Princess climbs the walls, braves a wild storm and heads into the dangerous forest to seek her freedom. Meanwhile, back in Torel, the sad Prince Gallant has not yet found the princess of his dreams. To assist, the Queen Mother plans an elaborate ball, during which her son accidentally stumbles upon a ragged and starving Quelie. Its love at first sight, but will fate let these love birds stay together? There's only one way to find out - the sacred and legendary test of The Black-Eyed Pea! Andersen's Princess and the Pea was also the inspiration for the Broadway musical, Once Upon a Mattress. The REP presents their productions at the Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza in San Diego. For more information, visit www.sandiegorep.com.

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Catch song stylist Ronnie Rose, tonight (Leap Year Friday, February 29^th) at Just Jazz. Rose will perform with Cocho Arbe (piano), Tim Hauff (bass) and Ryan Rose, from 9:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. Just Jazz is located at 1000 E. Sahara Ave. Call (702) 650-0432.

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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

Freddie Bell

Don & Gloria Hill

Frankie Laine

Freddie Bell photo by Mike Christ

Don Hill, the former saxophone player with the famed Treniers, considered Freddie Bell to be almost like a brother. The history of the two men goes back to Wildwood, New Jersey's Beachcomber, where The Treniers and The Freddie Bell Show played opposite each other. In 1954, when Resorts International opened in Atlantic City, the two acts once again alternated in the same room. As fate would have it, the entertainers wound up living and working in Las Vegas. In addition to show business, Bell and Hill shared another common passion...golf. Don Hill says of his friend of more than 54 years, "We considered each other family. I am going to miss my brother like crazy, but I know we will be playing golf together again in heaven. I love you, man."

According to some very reliable sources, the control freak who heads up that group (you know the one we mean) suggested that Freddie Bell's funeral and gathering afterward were deliberately scheduled to conflict with a celebration for the jerk. Would we, could we, make this crap up?

Freddie Bell never wanted a star with his name on a Las Vegas sidewalk. He expressed his feelings on the subject some time ago. Although the entertainment pioneer seems an obvious choice for immortalization, his thinking was clear and logical and now makes perfect sense to us. What should have been developed as an honor for those that truly deserve it, is, instead a private business. The facts are that just about anyone who can scrounge up the $15,000 can get a star on the sidewalks of Las Vegas Blvd. The most recent recipient proves that point. It's a joke...an embarrassing, unfunny joke. It is our suggestion that those who feel this makes a mockery out of what should be an earned and deserved reward, let their feelings be known via letters to local elected politicos. It is shameful that The Entertainment Capital of the World has no permanent LEGITIMATE way of paying tribute to the REAL pioneer entertainers - the ones that actually made their living (as in getting paid for their work) performing in this city beginning in the 1940s. We feel that our Mayor, Oscar Goodman, forget about turning the old downtown post office into a Mob Museum and, instead turn it into a museum dedicated to the entertainers that made Las Vegas what it is today. If the Mob Museum is something the mayor (a former defense attorney who counted mobsters among his clients) can't let go of, how about paying tribute to Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Tony "The Ant" Spilotro and the rest of the boys in a small section of the building. The majority of the space should be reserved for the likes of Frankie Laine, Elvis Presley, Johnny Carson, the Mary Kaye Trio, Ann-Margret, Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles, The Treniers, Dean Martin, Anthony Newley, Robert Goulet, Debbie Reynolds, Marie Wilson and the many, many talented performers who attracted tourists to the city.

A group of angry citizens has taken up the cause and is planning a meeting to discuss what is and isn't going on regarding the neglect of proper and formal acknowledgement of entertainers in our city. A grassroots movement is taking place for the cause they are calling Las Vegas Star Wars. The first gathering will occur this Sunday, February 24^th, at 2 p.m., with some politicians and attorneys invited to attend. If you are interested, RSVP and get the meeting location and directions by e-mailing to Halazon1954@aol.com.

Louis Prima & Keely Smith

Ann-Margret

Jimmy Hopper

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The award-winning Las Vegas Academy's production of CATS definitely put a local spin on Andrew Lloyd Webber's. We got a real kick out of seeing "cats" that looked like Liza Minnelli, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Carrot Top and a number of Vegas icons, scamper, dance and sing through the Neon Bone Yard. There was even a trio of Blue Men. There are two days left to see CATS Las Vegas. Call (800) 585-3737 to purchase tickets.

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We were in the audience last night (Thursday, February 21^st) when Jimmy Hopper made his debut in his new Las Vegas Strip home - the Lava Room in Trader Vic's at Planet Hollywood. Once again, Hopper is entertaining in a room with a view. His first local engagement was in the Voo Doo Lounge on top of the Rio. After a couple of years in the clouds, Hopper moved into the Fontana Room at Bellagio, where he attracted crowds for more than four years. For the past three years, he has been touring, working on a new (hopefully) Broadway-bound musical, and playing a regular gig at The Islands in Newport Beach, California. Apparently, he missed Las Vegas...and Las Vegas definitely missed him. Hopper's schedule at Trader Vic's offers shows on Thursdays and Sundays at 9 and 11 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. In spite of what you may have read in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mr. Hopper has an open ended contract at Trader Vic's (as opposed to a "weekend engagement" as written), there is no show that starts at 10 p.m., and there is a $20 cover charge (it's not "free" as indicated in Vegas Confidential). The Lava Room has an intimate, up-close, almost living room-type feel, with comfortable overstuffed chairs from which to enjoy the Strip view...and Jimmy. If you have never seen Mr. Hopper before, you are in for an eclectic surprise. There aren't too many singers who can do the music of the Beatles, Elton John, Al Jarreau, Sting, Freddie Mercury and Queen, Daniel Powter, Snow Patrol, Five for Fighting, Moody Blues, Mika, Gino Vannelli and Andrea Bocelli - and do all of them equally well. Jimmy Hopper can. Playing piano and guitar, Hopper is joined by pretty Mira Khomik on violin, and Gary Bruno on a multitude of guitars (including a very interesting looking electric Yamaha). As mentioned in earlier columns, Jimmy Hopper, with orchestra, will perform in the showroom at the Suncoast on March 28^th, 29^th and 30^th. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Call (702) 636-7075 or (877) 636-7111 for reservations. By the way, for those that have been around Las Vegas since the 1980s, Jimmy's guitar player is NOT the same Gray Bruno that used to do standup comedy around these parts.

Jimmy Hopper photo by Michael Munson

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Have we mentioned Bill Nolte's upcoming solo show at the Clark County Library on East Flamingo this Sunday? Okay, well we're mentioning it again. In our previous descriptions of All of Me, the title of this project, we described it as a "one man show." We have since been told that there will be a special guest. It seems that Mr. Nolte is a big fan of reality television shows...most specifically, Dancing With the Stars. In a tribute to that TV favorite, Bill and a dancing partner will pay homage to the genre. We expect this to be a fun, entertaining and music-filled afternoon. Tickets are $15. For reservations, call the Performing Arts Society of Nevada at (702) 658-6741. See you there.

Bill Nolte

Penn Jillette

Handy Girls Book Cover

And speaking of Dancing with the Stars, the ABC TV show begins its sixth season on Monday, March 17^th. The current lineup for stars are comic Adam Carolla, Shannon Elizabeth, Ugly Betty's Christian de la Fuente, actor Steve Guttenberg, actress Marlee Matlin, R& B singer Mario, Priscilla Presley, tennis ace Monica Seles, Miami Dolphins player Jason Taylor, Hairspray's Marissa Janet Winokur, and ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi. And representing Las Vegas will be Penn Jillette, the talkative half of the magic team known as Penn & Teller.

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Comic/impressionist Rich Little was hospitalized at Summerlin Hospital on Saturday, as the result of a moving blood clot. As we go to press, Rich's personal assistant, Charlotte Morgante, tells us that things are under control and 69-year-old Little is much improved. Nonetheless, his current gig at the Golden Nugget, scheduled to run through April 6^th, has now been cancelled so the veteran entertainer can concentrate on healing. For those who would like to send get-well wishes, please mail your notes and cards to Rich Little at 9030 West Sahara #445, Las Vegas, Nevada 89117.

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Well, it's that time of month again...for the Composer's Showcase, that is. Usually held on a Tuesday, the February offering will take place on WEDNESDAY instead. Mark your calendar for the 27^th (the time is still the same, 10:30 p.m., as in after theater). And the place, where it has been held since last April, remains the same - the Wes Winters Showroom in the Liberace Museum. We might mention, again, this is the portion of the museum located adjacent to Carluccio's restaurant at the back of the Liberace Plaza, not the freestanding building close to Tropicana. This month's lineup of talent will feature the songs of local composers and songwriters Michael Brennan (La Reve, MD), Thom Culcasi (Venetian Gondolier), Wayne Green (Spamalot MD), Rylan Leo Helmuth (Phantom Tech Crew), Richard Oberacker (KA, MD) and Keith Thompson (Jersey Boys MD), performed by Bruce Ewing (Phantom), Kristen Hertzenberg (Phantom), Jacquelyn Holland (Mamma Mia!), Sarah Anne Lewis (Phantom), Mark Leydorf (Michael Brennan's writing partner from L.A.) , Jimmy Lockett (Starlight Express, God Lives In Glass, Just Another Man), Elizabeth Share (Mamma Mia!), Joan Sobel (Phantom), Janien Valentine (Notre Dame de Paris), Danielle White (Phantom), plus other special guests. Also featuring the amazing instrumental chops of Philip Fortenberry (Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys assistant conductor), Johnathan Gorst (Phantom assistant conductor), Abe Gumroyan (The Producers violinist, Liberace scholar), Mark Pardy (Spamalot drummer), Fred Watstein (The Producers bass player) and Drew Zingg (Spamalot guitar player). For the few who don't already know, the Liberace Museum is located at the corner of Tropicana and Spencer, next to Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens (come early for dinner at Carluccio's, serving until 10 p.m.) The Wes Winters Showroom is in the round building next to Carluccio's (off Spencer, not Tropicana). Cash bar (no credit cards, please). Hors d'oeuvres buffet provided by Keg and Cork Catering, $5 per person. The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. Your generous donation to the foundation will keep this wonderful program at the museum. After all, it shouldn't cost them money to host the Composers Showcase.

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Local ladies (at least for the past few decades) Barbara Ciarlantini and Mary Schwartz are over the moon these days. Due to popular demand, their award-winning children's book of a few years ago is being reprinted. In a real coup, Barbara and Mary have been invited to read The Handy Girls Can Fix It to students in conjunction with the upcoming Nevada Reading Week. On February 25^th, they will be at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas. On the 27^th it will be Fay Galloway Elementary School in Henderson, and the 28^th, the students at Harriet Treem Elementary School, also in Henderson, will learn what it's like to be a Handy Girl. If you would like to know more about the co-creators of Handy Girls and the book itself, check out the Web site at www.handygirls.com. The Handy Girls Can Fix It is available through numerous sources, including Amazon.

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If you have any interest in entertainment or entertainers, you probably know this already, but in case you don't...Cher has confirmed a rumor that has been circulating for a number of months. The answer is "Yes," she will headline in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace Colosseum, beginning May 6^th. The performance agreement, in partnership with AEG Live, includes approximately 200 shows over a three-year period. Cher at The Colosseum, an impressive spectacle designed exclusively for the 4,300-seat venue, will feature countless chart-topping hits from the artist's unparalleled career. The show will be complemented by extraordinary choreography from Doriana Sanchez, state-of-the-art lighting and special effects and breathtaking costumes designed by the world-renowned fashion icon, Bob Mackie. "I started in Vegas at Caesars, so I've come full circle," Cher said. "I'm back and I plan to give my fans the best experience yet. I think everybody knows I only do things in a big way." A world famous superstar for more than 40 years, the Oscar and Emmy-winning performer has conquered every endeavor – concerts, recordings, Broadway, TV, movies, film directing and books. Cher has released more than 25 albums and sold over 100 million records worldwide in her Grammy-winning solo recording career. "Cher's name in one word encapsulates icon, award-winning legend, and captivating performer. There is only one home for someone of that legendary status – the most recognized casino brand in the world, Caesars Palace," said Caesars Palace President, Gary Selesner. "Caesars is pleased to welcome Cher back to Las Vegas' most prestigious entertainment address, The Colosseum, joining Bette Midler and Elton John." The 90-minute show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. four nights a week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (dark Monday, Thursday and Friday). Tickets for performances from May 6^th through August 31^st are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (866) 510-CHER (2437) or online at ticketmaster.com, keyword "Cher". Tickets may also be purchased in person at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Box Office, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For groups of 20 or more, call 702-731-7208. Prices are $95, $140, $175 and $250.

Cher

Gordie Brown

Fan Yang

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Bad news/good news...First, the bad news. We were very surprised to learn that the amazingly creative and talented Gordie Brown's engagement at The Venetian ended on February 13^th. Although we were unable to get an explanation directly from the horse's mouth, you know we will stay on top of this story until we do. Whatever the reason, they can't keep a good man down, or a talented man off a showroom stage for long.

The good news is that Gordie's talented group of musicians won't be idle for long. We have it on good authority that all five gentlemen - Jeff Neiman, Keith Nelson, Adam Shendal, Steve Swinford and Rocco Barbato - will provide the music for Trent Carlini's show at the Sahara. Trent is the Elvis Presley tribute artist who won TV's Next Best Thing reality show last year.

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Float away to an iridescent world of fantasy and fun at Fan Yang's "unbubblelievable" Mega Bubble Show, now playing in Las Vegas at the Steve Wyrick Theatre, located in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile Shops . This unique show combines innovative lighting effects and lasers with the fantastical aesthetics of bubbles to create a beautiful and mystifying masterpiece. The show has been featured on TV's Late Night with David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Fox & Friends, The View, and CBS's Sunday Morning. Fan Yang is a world-renowned bubble scientist, international artist and performer, whose show has been featured in museums and science centers around the world. Yang has spent the past two decades studying the mysterious world of bubbles. The greatest bubble artist in the world, Fan Yang, wows audiences with an array of bubble effects you have to see to believe. He holds 14 Guinness World Records including "The Biggest Bubble Ever Blown" and "The Most Bubbles within a Bubble." During his show, Fan creates striking bubble carousels and labyrinths. A laser light show of epic proportions, and the show's spellbinding grand finale, floods the theatre with wave after wave of light-catching bubbles. The Mega Bubble Show is appropriate for all ages. Show times are at 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets range from $39.75 to $80.45 and can be ordered by calling (702) 777-9974.

Tags: Gossip Vegas

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Freddie Bell

Fred Astaire & Cyd Charisse

Jahna Steele

In less than three months, another bright light has gone out on the Las Vegas entertainment scene. On November 27^th, dancer/entertainer Clem Zeleski died unexpectedly at the age of 45. On December 15^th, Marvin "Sweet Louie" Smith of The Checkmates died at 68. Nine days after the loss of Sweet Louie, on Christmas Eve, comedienne Beverly Wines Cardella, better known as Pudgy! (with the well-earned exclamation mark) was gone. Exactly one month later, the talented Jahna Steele was dead at 49. Then on Sunday, lounge legend Freddie Bell (real name Ferdinando Dominico Bello) died, following a valiant battle with lung cancer. When he attended the F.I.O.R.E. holiday luncheon in early December, Bell was in his element - surrounded by friends, singing, joking and having a good time. He seemed indestructible. About the Philadelphia native, the Associated Press had this to say...

Services for Bell will be held at Palm Mortuary, 7600 South Eastern, on Sunday, the 17^th.

Viewing will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Chapel services are at 2, followed by graveside services. A Celebration of Life will take place at the Italian American Club, 2333 East Sahara, beginning at around 4 p.m. It was Freddie's wish that everyone party because he'd made it into heaven!

Last Saturday, a Celebration of Life was held at the Clark County Flamingo Library, in honor of Clem Zeleski. There were very well-edited videos of Clem from the time he was a young boy, through scenes of him with Debbie Reynolds and dancing with Cyd Charisse while her husband, Tony Martin, sang in the background. A beautiful four-color memento, with great photos of Clem was available for the friends and fans who turned out for the occasion. Bill Moore, James "Gypsy" Haake, Larry Edwards, Blair Farrington and Jeanne Brie were among those in attendance. Brei, who has attended many services of this kind, ranked this beautifully put together offering of love as No. 2 in professionalism...right behind that of songwriter (Over the Rainbow) Harold Arlen. Quite a compliment to the creative Kenny Mazlow, responsible for much of the afternoon.

Last night, TV's The Insider did a segment on the late Jahna Steele. As a reminder, the 49-year-old Vegas entertainer, who died of an accidental drug overdose on January 24^th, will be celebrated at the second of two services held in her memory. This musical one takes place at the E-String Grill, 2031 W. Sunset (at Mountain Vista), on Friday, the 29^th, beginning at 9 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

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Ben Ardito's Take 1, at Fremont and 7^th in downtown Vegas, was the place to be on Monday night and Tuesday afternoon this week (but only if you were invited). Nancy Barr hosted a 75^th birthday party for author, artist, PR man, and in one person's mini-mind, a "washed up journalist," Norm Johnson, on Monday, the 11^th (Norm's actual birthday is on Valentine's Day), with help from Norm‘s daughters, Robin and Lisa. Among the guests helping Norm celebrate his three-quarters-of-a-century special day were Vera Goulet, Dennis Bono and Lorraine Hunt Bono, Sean Grady, Genevieve Dew, Mark Giovi, Nelson Sardelli, Mike Christ, Linda Glynn, Carme Pitrello, Tom and Margaret Kurtz, Jackie Brett, Mel Carter, Debbie Marcus, Mike and Anne Merrick, Edwin Cook, Brenda Weems, Denny Denman, Jeanine Hefflin, Mel and Marilyn Larson, Elizabeth Foyt, Barry and Louise Berlin, Cathy Bittinger, Shelly Stepanek, Dr. Tali Arik, Brenda Bouchard, Fred Kiser, Janice Marie, Carla Masterson, and Norm's cutie pie grandson, Mathew. The celebrant took some good-natured ribbing and a good time was had by all.

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Norm Johnson

Nancy Barr

Carme Pitrello & Jeanne Brei

Tuesday, many of the same folks returned to Take 1 for F.I.O.R.E.'s (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) Valentine's Day (one day early) luncheon. Cousin Claire can't be everywhere, especially when allergies are wreaking havoc on her respiratory system, so "Unofficial Assistant" Jeanne Brei reports about this event. According to Jeanne, it was a great party. The room was full, the food was good and the music was great. Nelson Sardelli and Carme Pitrello (in from Florida until Tuesday) served as co-hosts. As Jeanne asks, "How could you go wrong?" Nelson and Carme handled the raffle portion of the afternoon and, according to Jeanne, "It was like a well-rehearsed comedy team. They were a blast!" Nelson brought a bag full of groceries, so each time the raffle gifts were boring, he'd add a can of tuna, a can of beans or a can of beer to go with the prize. The crowd loved it. Carme did his John Wayne impersonation to raffle off a calendar and video featuring The Duke. It was a riot! The Gary Olds Ensemble provided music - with Joe Darro on piano, Gary on drums, Chuck Kovacs on bass and Dr. George Ritter (the chiropractor) on sax. Among those who got up to sing were Nick Mastrangelo (plugging his February 29^th gig at that Italian joint on the south end of Las Vegas Blvd. that we don't mention anymore), and Genevieve Dew, who sang At Last and L-O-V-E and informed that she would be performing at Just Jazz tonight. Loretta St. John sang My Shining Hour and Here's that Rainy Day. The fabulous baritone, Don Gloude from New Orleans, sang Misty (he is headed to Australia for a month). Jeanne Brei (plugging her upcoming CD) sang I Don't Know Why I Love You Like I Do, and Paul Xavier Campanella sang Moondance and announced that he would be performing his show at Sun City Anthem's Freedom Hall in the Independence Building (second Clubhouse) on March 9^th. A F.I.O.R.E. newcomer, CeCe, was invited up to sing by Nelson. CeCe, who performs with a band at the Ice House on Monday nights, sang The Carpenters hit, Close To You. For the finale, Gary Olds urged Nelson to sing Quando, Quando, Quando, and Carme joined him. Gary then insisted that everyone do a tribute to Freddie Bell by closing out with a rousing rendition of When The Saints Go Marchin' In. Nelson, Carme, Nick, the Dons (Hill and Gloude) and Jeanne all sang choruses, with former Treniers player Hill singing, "I don't know the words - I'm a sax man." He then preceded to scat the rest of his chorus - it was quite the hit! Carme did a chorus with a British accent that was fabulous, and Jeanne did a Sophie Tucker-style chorus. When it came time to draw the raffle numbers for the $50, $70 and $150 winners - two of the three winners donated their money back to the Freddie Bell funeral and medical expenses fund. (Norm Johnson who won the grand prize, and the person who won the $70 prize (Robert Ensler?), both donated their winnings to Freddie's fund. During the earlier raffle prize awards (while the musicians took their break), Carme auctioned off a set of golf clubs. The $60 raised also goes help cover Freddie's final medical expenses.

Larry Taylor plugged his upcoming gig at the Railroad Pass - first dance was Valentine's night and will be followed up by every Tuesday for three months (he explained that his retirement lasted all of 9 days). Nelson plugged the Sunday jazz afternoons at Take 1 and asked everyone to come down to support Ben Ardito's club since he's been so good to the F.I.O.R.E. group. Thanks for the report, Jeanne!

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As we have mentioned a number of times in the past few weeks, one of our favorite entertainers, Jimmy Hopper, will be making his second appearance at the Suncoast, March 28^th, 29^th and 30^th. As he did for his two-day engagement at the Suncoast last Mother's Day weekend, Jimmy will perform his Journey of the Heart show, with his full group of musicians. For you diehard Hopper fans, we have great news! We have just learned that he will be returning to Las Vegas...on a permanent basis. When Jimmy originally began working here, it was in the sky-high Voo Doo Lounge at the Rio. That was followed by more than four years in the Bellagio's Fontana Room. He left Vegas to perform around the country and most recently had been a regular at The Island in Newport Beach, California. Like Cousin Claire has said for years, just about everyone who moves away from Las Vegas, eventually finds their way back. Hopper is no exception. Once again, he has decided to hang his hat in The Entertainment Capital of the World and, once again, he returns to play another room with a view. Beginning this Thursday, February 21^st, Hopper becomes a four-night-a-week regular in the Lava Room at Planet Hollywood's Trader Vic's. Jimmy will perform Thursdays through Sundays, with performance times anticipated to be from 9 to 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays and Sundays, and from 9:30 to 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. There will be a $20 cover charge. For additional information, call Trader Vic‘s at (702) 405-4700.

Jimmy Hopper

Anthony Rapp

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On Wednesday, Mamma Mia! celebrated its 5^th anniversary with many media people attending the show at Mandalay Bay, followed by an invited guests party in the hotel/casinos House of Blues Music Hall. The production, using the music of ABBA to tell its tale, has been a Las Vegas success, in spite of the fact it runs as long as its Broadway counterpart...even with an intermission. It has been the tradition in Las Vegas to edit popular musicals down to a "manageable" casino approved length, lest folks are too tired to gamble or eat or drink after the curtain goes down and the house lights go up following a Broadway length production. We found it quite interesting that the very entertaining Avenue Q had some songs cut from the show after its opening at Wynn Las Vegas. Our feeling is that the length of the show had nothing to do with its abbreviated run here. We seriously doubt that anyone who saw the production in its entirety left the theater saying, "It would have been great with three less songs." What we DO think is that if the show had been marketed correctly (taxi cabs covered in orange shag carpeting isn't marketing), it might still be running...same with The Producers (Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Spamalot and Mamma Mia! all have TV spots airing). We loved the sign that hung near the Wynn box office stating, Parental Warning: Avenue Q contains puppet nudity. And so it goes.

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The UNLV Performing Arts Center presents An Evening of Words and Music with Anthony Rapp at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 23^rd as part of the New York Stage & Beyond Series. Rapp will sing and talk about his life in the theatre in this very special evening. Originating the role of Mark in Rent, Rapp has performed on Broadway (Six Degrees of Separation), television (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit), and film, where he reprised his most famous role. Additional Broadway roles include Precious Sons (for which he received the Outer Critics Circle Award), and the revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. His big-screen credits include, Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Road Trip and A Beautiful Mind, among others. Tickets to Anthony Rapp 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. Information about all of the season's performances can be found on the Performing Arts Center Web site, located at pac.unlv.edu.

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There will be lots of excitement and surprises on Sunday, February 24^th, and they won't all be taking place at the evening's Academy Awards ceremony. Bill Nolte, who until its closing at Paris Las Vegas on February 9^th, portrayed the Nazi/playwright, Franz Liebkind, in The Producers, gets a chance to display another side of his talents in his one-man show at the Clark County Flamingo Library Theater at 2 p.m. on the 24^th. Prior to joining the cast of The Producers, Bill's only Las Vegas experience was spending the night in a large casino, dining at a buffet, and doing a little gambling. He never ventured past the Strip to explore the rest of the community. After joining The Producers nine months ago, Nolte has not only gotten to know this city, but to love it as well. He purchased a townhouse here, and plans to make Las Vegas his home. After 30-years of being an actor in New York City - the Broadway companies of Cats, Me and My Girl, The Secret Garden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol, King David, 1776, Jane Eyre, Amour and The Producers, plus regional productions of Evita, Oliver, Man of La Mancha, South Pacific, The Marriage of Figaro, and Jekyll & Hyde among others - this is a major change for Bill, but one he very much looks forward to. The weather and lifestyle all agree with him, and, as an artist, the desert is inspirational. He plans to capture the beauty of the area in some of his future watercolors. There is much more to Bill Nolte than "Franz Liebkind" raising pigeons on a New York rooftop. See for yourself, as he makes his solo act debut in the city he now calls home. The show, titled All of Me, is directed by Mark Waldrop, who wrote and directed When Pigs Fly in NYC. Pam Drew Phillips, a jazz virtuoso who currently makes her home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is serving as Bill's musical director. Pam was one of the first of the Liberace scholarship winners. All of Me will feature standards by songwriters such as Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Fats Waller, Anthony Newley and Stephen Sondheim. There will also be some special material, along with a nod to the Las Vegas lounge shows from the '50s and '60s. All of Me is being presented by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada. Tickets are a reasonable $15. For reservations or additional show information, please call PASNV at (702) 658-6741.

Bill Nolte

Bette Midler

Freda Payne

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Bette Midler debuts her much-anticipated Vegas show at Caesars Palace Colosseum on Wednesday. Needless to say, opening night is sold-out and many celebrities are expected to walk the VIP Red Carpet. In addition to Midler and her cast and crew, some of the notable names who will be here for the Divine One's launch are Paula Abdul, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Kathy Griffin, Rita Wilson, Alan Thicke, Ricki Lake, Siegfried & Roy, George Wallace, Gladys Knight, Rita Rudner, Toni Braxton, and others. Known for her incomparable humor, over-the-top imagination and captivating charisma, the Divine Miss M. is throwing her sequins and feathers on stage for her new Las Vegas extravaganza, The Showgirl Must Go On. Bette will perform approximately 100 shows a year, five nights per week at 7:30 p.m. The show will be dark on Mondays and Thursdays. Ticket prices are $95, $140, $175, and $250. For more information, visit www.bettemidler.com or bette.aeglive.com.

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Here is the latest CAST-off news making the rounds. Via the Internet, this was passed on to us from a number of readers (and, as is our tradition, we are leaving the misspells and other errors intact, exactly as received)...

I am the Membership Director for a fine organization "The ShowBiz Society"

Taka a look at the site, click. http://www.theshowbizsociety.com/ and let me know if you would like to join. Dues are only $100 a year and where else can you get reorganization and tell others what you do. ($100 for a years advertising)

Get involved helping others less fortunate.

Thanks for your time,

Denny Jones

If you want to take the time to look at the "new" site, you will find lots of old CAST names, appearing to be members of The Show Biz Society (who dreamed up THAT name?). Many of them have had nothing to do with this pile of leftovers for many months...and, in some cases, maybe even years.

Here is one man's reaction to the latest news...

The "Players" section of their Web site lists Carme (Pitrello), Artie (Schroeck), Linda November), and a few others that I think have departed the CAST. Methinks maybe it's time to threaten (the group's current leader) with a nasty letter from a "REAL" attorney and to institute a class action lawsuit for the repayment of those who put down 1K for a "lifetime" membership in the CAST. (The group leader) must be the one doing the spelling on the Web site. There are a jillion errors as well as a lot of improper usage. This must be his main source of income as he sure is tenacious (a BIG word) about retaining (yet ANOTHER big word) control of the organization and keeping it under his aegis (Is THAT a word?). In any event, his missive through his attorney is indicative of his tenuous position and fear of further exposure. This moron has had ample opportunity to tame his vitriolic outbursts upon REAL stars and entertainers, but, he insists on keeping his match to the fuse of the bomb that's going to blast him to wannabe heaven. Too bad I don't know any attorneys who would like to chop his legs off at the knees with a countersuit against the little *%#@. One might do it "pro-bono" ( I said PRO, not Dennis) in order to gain a heap of free publicity. He could kill two stones with one bird by making an ass out of the alleged attorney who wrote the cease and desist letter in the first place. It's Vegas baby!

P.S. I've needed to get re-organized...I think this group can help....Amazingly, I actually wanted recognition rather than re-organization. I mean telling others that I'm re-organized would be admitting that I was short a few pencils in my drawer. But, then again recognition is really important for my humongous ego. It would be neat to have all these other people who have reorganized for recognition to recognize me for my re-organization...Really.

Signed,

Mike Christ

Claire Voyant thinks they would be damn lucky to have you, Mike.

We agree with Mr. Christ on his insightful observations, especially when it comes to returning membership money (Lifetime or otherwise) to those that paid to join the CAST and what it stood for. Claiming that "Only the name has changed" is a bunch of crap. The Show Biz Society? What a joke...although it is one way, and the ONLY way, certain people can claim to be in show biz. EVERYTHING has changed from what the original CAST started out to do. Those that are still shown on the new site as being members, are not. Hopefully those that choose not to have any involvement in this "Only the name has changed" group, should rally and insist on having their names and photos removed from the site. We feel that The Show Biz Society (we can hardly utter or write the name without having a sudden urge to grab an airsick bag) should start out the way the CAST did...with NO members and NO bank account. They should have to TRY and build their own (dis)organization the way the CAST pioneers did - one person, one dollar and one event at a time.

Here is a little story about the compassionate, thoughtful person who currently rules whatever the organization is called. When onetime CAST member Larry Taylor's wife passed away last summer, Taylor went to the board (the current president was not even a board member at the time) asking for a LOAN to pay for Kaileen Amador-Taylor's funeral...until the money from a burial insurance policy came through. (It might be mentioned that it wasn't typical for the CAST to loan money for funeral expenses, but to DONATE it with no expectations of being repaid.) The loan by the CAST was willingly approved. A few months later, Mr. Humanitarian approached Larry Taylor at a CAST function at the Italian American Club honoring the Society of Seven. He did not offer his sympathy or even extend a hand in friendship, instead he said to Taylor, "By the way, did you ever pay back the CAST for the loan?" As it happens, the money had been paid back some weeks earlier. We ask, is this the kind of person who should be heading up something remotely like the old CAST? The current leader does not do anything for anyone, without a motive...and the motive always involves self-promotion. We wonder how our city mayor might feel about declaring this no-talent blowhard an "Entertainment Ambassador," if he knew this is the kind of man who carries that undeserved, unearned title.

We have not forgotten our promise to respond to the Libelous Statement Regarding Tony Sacca lawyer letter we received, published in last week's column. We are following advice to respond in the right way at the right time. As we said before, and this we promise...THERE WILL BE NO RETRACTIONS regarding anything we have written. Stay tuned.

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Freda Payne played to a sold-out house at the Charleston Heights Arts Center last Sunday. This lady is ageless and still beautiful, 38 years after her Grammy-winning version of Band of Gold hit the charts. In her recent appearance, Freda paid tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, singing songs such as A Tisket, A Tasket, Mr. Paganini, You've Changed, Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most, Someone to Watch Over Me, and My Buddy. Freda was backed by Rahn Coleman on piano, Joey Malone on drums, Phil Wigfall on saxophone and Hilliard Wilson on bass. Spotted at the meet-and-greet after the show were Jeanne Brei, Bob Kaz, and from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Doug Carfrae and our Phavorite Phantom, Brent Barrett. We will soon have information about an upcoming performance by Brent, separate and away from The Venetian.

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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 8, 2008

Jahna Steele CATS Roseanne Barr

The first of two local memorial services for the late Jahna Steele will be held at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, located at 6200 West Lone Mountain Road Room C-100, on Monday, February 11^th at 2 p.m. This tribute is being lovingly put together by Joelle Jenson, Lon Bronson, Shellee Renee, Frank Marino, Karen Raider, Nicole Navarro, Norbert Aleman and Tara Drasy, longtime friends and co-workers of entertainer Jahna who died at the age of 49 on January 24^th. A number of wellknown local personalities, including magician Lance Burton and Robin Leach, are expected to attend. There will be a reception at the home of Joelle Jenson following the service. If you would like to learn more about Jahna Steele, as well as other women who traveled a similar path, Cousin Claire suggests the very interesting documentary, Trantasia. Filmed mostly in Las Vegas, the film takes a behind-the-scenes look at the first-ever transsexual beauty pageant, where Jahna served as Mistress of Ceremonies. For more information on Monday's open to the public service, call the Canyon Ridge Christian Church at (702) 658-2722. It is requested that attendees wear pink, Jahna's favorite color.

We will have more information about the second celebration (this one musical in nature), scheduled for February 29^th at the E String Grill, next week.

Also, a reminder for friends and fans of acclaimed dancer Clem Zeleski. A memorial service to pay tribute Zeleski is taking place tomorrow afternoon, February 9^th, at the East Flamingo Clark County Library Theater. This Celebration of Life gathering begins at 1:30. Clem, best known for his tribute to Fred Astaire, was only 45 when he died unexpectedly on November 27^th. Former Stardust Lido de Paris performer, Kenny Mazlow (now Director and Choreographer for San Francisco's long running, Beach Blanket Babylon), will serve as host/MC. The public is invited to attend.

* * * * * *

The award-winning Las Vegas Academy of International Studies Performing & Visual Arts (whew!) presents CATS, Las Vegas style. Based on the universally popular poetry of T.S. Eliot, CATS tells the story, in song and dance, of the annual gathering of Jellicle cats. During this time, one special cat is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer. This newly conceived production may change the way you feel about CATS, the musical as well as the beloved house pet. CATS opened last night and will run through February 23^rd, with performances at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays - tonight and February 9^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd. Tickets for the evening shows are $20. There are 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays the 16^th and 23^rd, with those tickets costing $15. Cousin Claire has seen a number of musicals put on by the students at this high school - Thoroughly Modern Millie, Miss Saigon, Sweeney Todd and Little Women to name some - and is always amazed and impressed by the professional quality that is achieved by these young people. One has to remind themselves that these are teenagers, not seasoned professionals...they are that good. The theater is located on the corner of Clark and 9^th Street in downtown Las Vegas. Call StarTickets at (800) 585-3737 for reservations, or the Academy at (702) 799-7800 for additional information.

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Emmy award-winning comedian Roseanne Barr returns to Las Vegas, bringing her everyday humor and observations to the Sahara Hotel and Casino‘s Congo Room, beginning on March 1^st. Shows will be at 9:30 p.m., Saturdays through Wednesdays, off on Thursdays and Fridays. Roseanne describes herself as "Fresh out of rehab and ready to PARTY!" "Seriously though, I'm thrilled to be back in Las Vegas for another run and cannot wait to see you all at the Sahara," says Barr. As one of the most notable names in the comedic industry, Barr holds honors as one of the highest ranked comics, landing at No. 9 on Comedy Central's list of 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.

Following a move to Los Angeles in 1983 to pursue a career in comedy, Barr landed a television appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1985. Little did she know that, years later, she would be performing in the 520-seat Congo Room, where Carson himself performed when in Las Vegas. A few years later, Barr began her namesake show. The series ran for nine seasons, picking up four Emmys, two Golden Globes, six People's Choice Awards and many other accolades. The show propelled her career and soon Barr branched out to show the world that her talent extended beyond television comedy. Releasing two best-selling books, Roseanne: My Life as a Woman and My Lives, established Barr as an author. A run as the Wicked Witch of the West in a production of The Wizard of Oz showed Barr could handle the theater-side of the industry. The Roseanne Show proved she had the power to connect with audiences in a talk show-style setting. Barr has now extended herself into children's books and DVDs. We caught the politically astute Ms. Barr on TV's Extra a few nights ago. She explained that when Bill Clinton looked the world in the eye and declared "I did not have sex with that woman," he was referring to Hillary. That makes us feel so much better. Ticket prices for Roseanne Barr start at $59.50 (inclusive of all taxes and fees); limited VIP and Golden Circle seats are also available. For more information, please contact the Sahara box office at (702) 737-2515, or visit www.saharavegas.com.

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The Producers

With The Producers closing its one year run in Las Vegas tomorrow night (Saturday, February 9^th), folks who want to see it again or who are seeing it for the first time, are heading over to the Paris Theater. We were there on Monday and spotted an interesting assortment of people. Among those that we recognized in the audience were famed tap dancer Arthur Duncan (who performed on the Lawrence Welk Show for 18 years, and in the 1989 film, Tap, with the late Gregory Hines, who would have celebrated his 62^nd birthday this Valentine's Day, and Sammy Davis Jr., among others); singer/actress Anna McNeely (Broadway's CATS, where she created the role of Jennyanydots; Gypsy, and Disney's Beauty and the Beast): Michael Chapman and Paul Holmquist of ChapQuist Entertainment; entertainer Laurie Miller, ChapQuist's most recent presentation at Sun City Summerlin's Starbright Theatre; actor/Burlesque historian/filmmaker Bart Williams; tour manager Bob Kaz; and UK filmmaker Louise "Lou" Camby. After the show, Mr. Duncan greeted the cast backstage, posed for photos and even gave the group a little demonstration, showing why he is considered one of the last of the classic tappers.

Lee Roy Reams Rich Affannato Anna McNeely

And speaking of Laurie Miller, her back-by-popular-demand performance at the Starbright last weekend was a real treat. Her solo performance included You're Gonna Hear From Me (from the 1964 film, Inside Daisy Clover), I Got Love (from Broadway's Purlie), songs from Walt Disney films (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid), and tributes to Cher, Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli. There were well-done versions of Cabaret, How Lucky Can You Get, Someone To Watch Over Me, The Man I Love, Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah, My Buddy, Inch Worm (from the 1951 movie, Hans Christian Andersen) and a little dancing number called One Step. There was also a segment touching on her years with the all-girl recording group, Expose'. With Michael Chapman accompanying Ms. Miller on piano, she did an especially terrific job on combining It Goes Like It Goes (the 1980 Oscar-winning David Shire/Norman Gimbel song from the film, Norma Rae) and Ervin Drake's I Believe. Laurie was cleverly and beautifully costumed, and used videos effectively in her one hour performance. It was female impersonator Frankie Kein who inspired Laurie to do her own takeoffs on celebrities. "I learned more from that man about being a woman on the stage than I've learned from any woman I've ever known," says the multi-talented Ms. Miller. Miller's 2004 CD is called Live...at the Riviera, and, no, it‘s not the Riviera located mid-Strip in Las Vegas.

And speaking of The Producers (and we frequently do), when Keith Thompson isn't leading the 20 plus musicians of the theater orchestra, it is pianist David Kancsar (Forever Plaid) who conducts. When that occurs, David's main substitute keyboard player is Jay Atwood. On Monday night, Jay's band, Wicked Tinkers, were the musical guests and closed out the CBS's Late Late Show where they were joined by the programs' host, Craig Ferguson playing drums. Glasgow, Scotland-born Ferguson, who performs his standup act at The Orleans when he is in Las Vegas, became a U.S. Citizen last Friday. The Wicked Tinkers are a Celtic musical group who perform at many Irish/Scottish festivals, playing bagpipes, drums, didgeridoos and bronze age Irish horn. In addition to Atwood, the Tinkers are made up of Warren Patrick Casey, Keith Jones and Aaron Shaw. Look for the Wicked Tinkers new CD, Rant.

And, once more before they go, a tip of the hat to the strong Producers cast and nice people who did such a good job in their roles as foils for the comedy mind that is Mel Brooks. We will miss you as members of our community. Wherever you go and whatever you do, break a leg (we don't mean you, Bill "Franz Liebkind" Nolte.

Wicked Tinkers Larry Taylor Las Vegas Tenors

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There is plenty to do around Las Vegas for Valentine's Day week...in addition, of course, to getting hitched. Here are some of the options for you romantics...

Las Vegas DJ Larry Taylor, who spent 18 years hosting Ballroom Dancing at the Gold Coast, followed by a year at both Nevada Landing and the Gold Strike, now takes his fancy footwork to the Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino on Boulder Highway in Henderson, opening, appropriately, on Valentine‘s Day. Beginning on February 19^th, Taylor will launch weekly ballroom evenings at Railroad Pass, on Tuesdays from 6 to 10. Larry opened Las Vegas' first disco in 1972. He has been recognized in publications such as Billboard, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and numerous local magazines and newspapers. In addition to encouraging people to get up and dance, Taylor books live entertainment...anything from Rat Pack shows, Neil Diamond and Tom Jones look-a-likes, to complete inter-active comedy dinner shows. For additional information about the Railroad Pass events, call (702) 294-5000 or (800) 654-0877.

If you choose to sit this one out, and prefer your music presented from a stage, we recommend the Las Vegas Tenors in the Hilton Theater. You can expect plenty of romantic ballads courtesy of the talented tenors, Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Teddy Davey and Mark Giovi, plus their special guest vocalists, classic soprano, Lorena Provencio; Vegas lounge favorite, Denise Clemente; and Lorena Peril, from American Superstars at the Stratosphere, and the Sunset Strip Band who perform in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Hilton. The show starts Valentine's night at 7. Tickets are $29.95 and $39.95, plus applicable taxes and service charges. Call the Las Vegas Hilton Box Office at (702) 732-5755 for reservations.

Celebrate a Hassle-Free Valentine's Day with Sammy's Woodfired Pizza's Survival Kits. The kits, for couples, singles and kids are available on February 13^th and 14^th at all Las Vegas locations: 6500 West Sahara Avenue, just east of Rainbow Boulevard; 4300 East Sunset Road at Green Valley Parkway and Sunset in the Town Center shopping plaza, between Courtyard by Marriott and Barley's Casino; and 7160 North Durango Drive in Montecito Marketplace in Centennial Hills. The Valentine's Survival Kit is a decorated bag filled with pizza dough, cheese, sauce, herbs and an easy recipe to make a fun or romantic pizza at home. The kits lend a helping hand, providing creative options for a girls-night-out or a fun and festive activity for kids to do with their parents. Since Valentine's Day can be a tough day to get a reservation at local restaurants, the Valentine's Survival Kit provides a fun way for people to celebrate Valentine's Day in the comfort of their homes. The kits cost $5 and are available as long as supplies last. Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, founded by Sami Ladeki in 1989, is known for its gourmet pizzas, tapas, salads and signature Messy Sundae®, and has been listed among America's Top Restaurants in the Zagat Survey. Sammy's recently concluded a company wide renovation, which included a full menu revision, adding more than 20 new tapas to sample and share, as well as dramatic new design elements. Owned and operated by the Ladeki Restaurant Group, Sammy's Woodfired Pizza has grown to nearly 800 employees with nine San Diego locations, one in Rolling Hills/Torrance, one in Palm Desert, and three in Nevada. The Ladeki Restaurant Group corporate headquarters is at 565 Pearl St., Ste.225, La Jolla, Calif., 92037 and can be reached at (858) 456-8018.

And speaking of romance and Valentine's Day, the Golden Nugget's Entertainment Director, Ron O'Neal, and Jeanne Forman will exchange wedding vows on that day. We wish the happy couple the very best.

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We are asking that you keep Vegas entertainment icon Freddie Bell in your thoughts. Bell, who along with his band, The Bellboys, were lounge staples for many years here, is gravely ill and can use your prayers.

Freddie Bell Louise DuArt & SQuire Rushnell Freda Payne

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Our sympathies go out to Howard Jochsberger, Executive Casino Host at the Suncoast, on the loss of his mother, Marcia. Services were held at Davis Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Las Vegas on Thursday. Among the mourners were Terry Jenkins, Janie Miller, Candi Cazau, Papote Varet and Donna Sinclair. Howard is a longtime employee of Boyd Gaming and one of the really good guys in Las Vegas.

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Happy anniversary to Sheri and Jimmy Hopper who celebrated their first year of (hopefully) wedded bliss on Wednesday (February 6^th). Look for the multi-talented Mr. Hopper to return to the Suncoast on March 28^th, 29^th and 30^th. We will tell you more about Mr. Hopper as we come closer to the March dates.

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At 7 p.m., next Friday, February 15^th, the Community Lutheran Church located at 3720 E. Tropicana, will present the husband and wife team of SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt. Billed as An Evening of Music, Inspiration & Comedy, these two individuals have their own unique talents but, every once in a while, they join together on stage to create a special event. This is one of those times. SQuire Rushnell has done lots of things during his career years. He is a speaker, TV CEO and the author of When God Winks. As for his bride, DuArt is a comedienne with a gimmick, she has a knack for duplicating the voices of other people - both male and female. Among her collection of dead-on impersonations are Cher, Fran Drescher, Judge Judy, Barbra Streisand, George Burns, Bette Davis, Barbara Walters, Joan Rivers, Katharine Hepburn, Carol Burnett, Woody Allen and Edith Bunker. Louise has starred in Catskills On Broadway, hosted her own TV show, and toured with Harvey Korman and Tim Conway in a show called Together Again. (The trio were regulars on the rotating lineup of entertainment at the Stardust prior to the hotel's closing). Rushnell and DuArt first met more than three decades ago at ABC-TV. She was playing Witchiepoo on H. R. Pufnstuf, and he was a vice president there working on Good Morning America and family programming (like Schoolhouse Rock). On Saturday, the 16^th, the dynamic duo will repeat their Evening of Music, Inspiration & Comedy at the New Song Church at 1291 Cornet in Henderson. Tickets for the shows, at either place, are $10 per person. Author Rushnell will sign copies of his book after both performances. In addition, he will return to the East Tropicana church on Sunday, where he will sign books after the 10:45 morning services (no performance by Mr. and Mrs. Rushnell on the 17^th. Call (702) 458-2241 for more information and reservations.

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Songstress Freda Payne does her Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, this Sunday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street near Charleston and Decatur. Payne has released 16 solo albums between 1963 and today. Her Showtime is at 3 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the CHAC Box Office. Call (702) 229-6383.

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And the saga (or however you spell it) of The CAST continues. And you thought (hoped?) we were through with this subject. Like we said in an earlier column, as long as there are things to write about regarding this dwindling group, we will continue to do so. Here is the latest. We, along with longtime Las Vegas journalist, Norm Johnson, and respected pioneer entertainer, Nelson Sardelli, received the following letter, dated February 4, 2008, from Coleman Law Associates. As is our custom, the letter is reproduced exactly as written, warts and all...

As our response to Mr. Coleman is still "under construction," we cannot share it with you...yet (you can look for it next Friday). Although we can't speak for Mr. Johnson or Mr. Sardelli, two things we can assure OUR readers are (1) there will be absolutely NO retractions on our part, and (2) our package to Mr. Coleman will contain copies of the libelous, lying letters that his client sent to and about us, using e-mail addresses "lifted" from other people without their permission.

Tags: Vegas Gossip

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Jahna Steele Laurie Miller John Fredericks

In less than six weeks, Las Vegas has lost its third well-known local entertainer. On December 15th, it was Marvin "Sweet Louie" Smith who died while working at sea with partner Sonny Charles. The twosome, known as The Checkmates, were longtime Vegas lounge icons. Louie was 68 at the time of his death. Just nine days later, on December 24^th, comedian Beverly Wines Cardella, known professionally as Pudgy!, died unexpectedly at her home. A native of Chicago, Pudgy! had been a current cast member of X-Burlesque at the Flamingo. Then, last Friday, too late for the January 25^th column, we learned of the death of Jahna Steele. According to the coroner's report, Jahna's death was caused by an accidental overdose of a prescription medication. In an eerie coincidence, Jahna, who like Pudgy! had entertained audiences in the comedy spot of Crazy Girls at the Riviera, died exactly one month after Pudgy! If you know anything about the history of Las Vegas entertainment, you may already know the story of Jahna Steele. Jahna was born John Matheny, September 29^th, 1958. While in her 20s, the San Antonio, Texas-native underwent sex reassignment surgery and became Jahna. Forget the tales saying that Jahna was "exposed" during her days at Crazy Girls. This is pure fiction. In 1992, when the reality TV show, A Current Affair, was shooting footage at Crazy Girls for an upcoming segment on the girlie revue, it was "mentioned" that Jahna had been born a male. That information caused A Current Affair to divert its focus from the show itself, and turn to its unique star, Miss Steele. This did not please Crazy Girls' producer, Norbert Aleman, and resulted in Jahna's being fired from his production. We feel this was a major mistake on the part of Mr. Aleman. He couldn't have bought this kind of publicity. The sex change was no secret to those that knew Jahna, and even those who didn't. A number of years prior to her role in Crazy Girls, Jahna was the star of the Boob Tube Revue that played at Vegas World (now the Stratosphere). During that period, Jahna was billed as the first transsexual to star in a Las Vegas Strip revue. To paraphrase a song from the Broadway musical, Flower Drum Song, Jahna enjoyed being a girl. She was bright and funny and talented. During her days as a lounge chick singer, no lady filled out a Bob Mackie-style gown better than the beautiful Jahna Steele. In 1991, Jahna was voted Las Vegas' Sexiest Showgirl. The following year, she was named Entertainer of the Year, and in 1993 she was deemed Most Beautiful Showgirl. Jahna became a talk show favorite, appearing with Maury Povich and on Entertainment Tonight. She had been married at least twice and taken advantage of more times than that. Her stint as the hostess of the Hawaiian version of Boy-lesque, ended with her being scammed out of money and a place to live by the then producer. (We understand that the scoundrel wound up serving time. We hope that's the case.) Jahna hosted the first of the Beaux Arts Ball to be held at MGM Grand's Studio 54. She guest-starred on NYPD Blue in an episode called Don We Now Our Gay Apparel. In 2004, Jahna hosted The World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest, held at the Riviera Hotel. A 2006 documentary film, Trantasia, based on that event is available. See it to learn more about Jahna and to gain more insight into her life and career.

There will be two memorial services for Jahna. The first will take place on Monday, February 11^th. We will have details on this in next Friday's column. The second, coordinated by Jahna's longtime friends, entertainers Michelle Rohl-Justice and Lon Bronson, will be A Tribute to Jahna's Great Spirit and a Celebration of her Life, filled with music, videos and memories. This will occur at the E String Grill, 2031 W. Sunset Road (near Mountain Vista) in Henderson, on Friday, February 29^th. Michelle and her band will perform at 9:30 p.m., followed by the tribute that will start at 11 p.m., to accommodate the show crowd. It is suggested that people who knew Jahna, and would like to honor her, get to E String early to get a seat. For more info, to participate in sharing pictures, videos, stories, etc., or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Michelle at celebratingjahna@cox.net. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jahna Steele's name to the We Care Foundation, a treatment center for substance abusers.

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Bad news. Good news. The bad news is that the February 2^nd concert date for Tony-winner Christine Ebersole at UNLV has been cancelled, and Cousin Claire wasn't notified. Thus the big build-up for Christine in last Friday's column. Fear not, fans of Broadway performers, the star of Grey Gardens has been rescheduled for an April 26^th date. We will remind you of her impressive credits in mid-April. The good news is that this will allow those who had tickets for Ebersole to see the multi-talented Laurie Miller at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. In recent years, the onetime member of the popular girl-group, Expose, has been doing her one-woman cabaret act around the world - on land and sea. This will be a "back by popular demand" engagement for Miss Miller. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $17 for the rest of you. Call the Starbright Theatre at (702) 240-1301 for reservations, and (702) 869-2064 for current and future show information.

And speaking of our university, in celebration of Valentine's Day, members of the UNLV Opera Theatre's upcoming production of Così fan tutte present a concert of love songs (including excerpts from Mozart's opera) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 9^th at Christ the King Community Church (corner of Torrey Pines and Tropicana). Christine Seitz, the Director of UNLV Opera Theatre, is emcee for the program, and Michelle Lee is pianist. Both graduate and undergraduate students are featured on the program, including Eldric Bashful, Walter Biggham, Dominick Chenes, Edina Flaathen, Luis Gonzales, Kristopher Jordan, Georgia McQuade, Amanda Mura, Michele-Bridget Ragsdale, Lynne Ricci, Brandon Teal, and Christina Williams. This concert is free and open to the public.

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To help celebrate African American History Month, Conversations with Frederick Douglass, an original stage production, produced and directed by Walter Mason, ponders what it would be like if Douglass had a one-on-one conversation with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and others. Co-sponsored by Cox Communications and the Frederick Douglass Educational Fund, Conversations with Frederick Douglass will take place in the West Las Vegas Library Theatre, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., on Saturday, February 9^th at 7 p.m. Mr. Mason, a longtime Las Vegan, was formerly associated with the legendary Sammy Davis Jr., prior to going to work in the entertainment department of the Las Vegas Hilton. He is currently head of the Ira Aldridge Theatre Company of Nevada, where he teaches acting. Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was a U.S. abolitionist, orator, and writer. He escaped from slavery in 1838, and campaigned against racism in the United States. Admission to this program is free and open to the public. For additional information, call the West Las Vegas Library at (702) 507-3940.

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Mosaic, the Las Vegas-based musical group, was recently named the Next Great A Cappella Group on CBS's The Early Show. The nationwide search was judged by Boyz II Men, the best-selling Motown group ever. On Monday, Mosaic received their grand prize, national airtime performing on The Early Show. Mosaic is made up of six members, Josh Huslig, Sean Gerrity, Corwyn Hodge, Troy Dolendo, Heath Burgett and John Gibson. Huslig founded the group three years ago while living in Orlando, Florida. Each of the members was working in entertainment and connected musically through one another. Since moving to Las Vegas in late 2006, Mosaic has performed as special guests with comic George Wallace at the Flamingo. They have also established themselves as a favorite for private events. The group's act covers a wide range of songs while mixing elements of funk, jazz, hip-hop and even opera to create a sound all their own. Heard live, it is hard to believe that every sound is vocally produced. Mosaic is currently working on a new album. You can see them along with George Wallace at the Flamingo, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10 p.m. Call (702) 733-3333 for reservations.

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Beginning on February 7^th, Channel 3's popular weatherman (and dog lover), John Fredericks, will once again serve as host/MC for a month of Thursdays talent competitions to be held at the Suncoast. Produced by Ed Mathews' Desert Productions, the first group of competitors are youngsters. There will be six performers (listed according to age) showcasing their talent. The youngest is nine-year-old Kiersten Apfelbaum, a 4^th grader at the Gilbert Magnet Performing Arts School and member of choir and drum team. Kiersten has acted in several plays and performed at the Bootlegger, Turnberry Towers and other local events. Ellie Smith, age 11, has earned the nick-name "Star Spangled Girl" for performing the National Anthem for crowds at Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks games. She was selected by David Foster to perform in the 2007 Andre Agassi Grand Slam event, along with Tony Bennett, Kelly Clarkson, Hall & Oates and Santana. Eliie has also performed at the Tuacahn Amphitheater, Disneyland, and many other civic events and productions. Fourteen-year-old Barry Fortgang was voted Best Male Vocalist at the Contemporary A Cappella Competition, and second place winner on Las Vegas Channel 5's Singsation's TV Show. Barry performs with the Green Valley High School Choir, Madrigals, and Barbershop. He played Chip in Green Valley's production of Beauty and the Beast, and hopes to perform in a Broadway Show someday and/or play for the New York Yankees. Vanessa Bayot, also14, adores singing. She performs in her school's musicals and choir, and has performed at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Plaza Hotel and Turnberry Towers. Vanessa will continue to sing until she reaches her dreams. Jennifer Daquilla, age 17, attends Coronado High School in Henderson. She has performed for local events around the valley including at UNLV, the Bootlegger, Turnberry Towers, the City of Henderson Amphitheater and Fremont Street Experience. Jennifer will attend UNLV as a voice major in the fall. She aspires to be a professional performer. Eighteen-year-old Tess Langguth enjoys country music, especially singer Carrie Underwood. She has performed at the Clark County Fair, Bootlegger, San Gennaro Feast, Turnberry Towers, and many other local events. Tess hopes to become a recording artist. Tickets are Free to Club Coast Members (limit two per member). They may be picked up at the Suncoast Box Office on the Mondays before each show, beginning at noon on February 4^th. The Box Office is open until 8 p.m., but tickets are always gone by 2 p.m. Call (702) 636-7075 or Toll Free at (877) 636-7111. If you are not already a Club Coast Member, shows like these are one of the reasons to become one.

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Montel Williams Sylvia Browne Oliver Liam Richman

On Wednesday, CBS Television Distribution announced the cancellation of The Montel Williams Show. The 17-year-old syndicated talk show will cease production after the current television season. Stations that carried his show will be offered a series of Williams reruns. The Best of Montel will be 260 hours of "some of the most exciting episodes" from the show's history, the producers said. If our local CBS station, Channel 8, decides to air a year's worth of repeats (and we wonder why they would), we hope that the segment, with the topic being mother and daughter exotics, will be one of the repeats. It was on that episode that Montel met the lady that would become his second wife, Las Vegas' own Grace Mohrle (known when she was performing here as Bambi Jr.), and his future mother in law, Dori Kotzan (known professionally as Bambi Sr.). Montel was cancelled after Fox stations, which carried his show in the country's top two markets, declined to renew the show. Montel has averaged a 1.5 rating this season, down 12% from last season. The show peaked at a 4.4 rating in its best season. Montel has not commented on what he'll do next. We have to wonder if the cancellation news came as a surprise to Mr. Williams, or if his psychic friend and frequent guest, Sylvia Browne, was intuitive enough to give him a heads-up on this one.

And speaking of Sylvia Browne, from the StopSylviaBrowne Internet site comes these comments from non-fans of Ms. Browne (you can count Cousin Claire among them)... "Whatever the reasons for the (Montel Williams Show) cancellation, Browne will no longer have her free hour-long infomercial every week on national television, and that will translate to fewer of her books being sold, and fewer people being exposed to her. I believe this to be a very good thing." And from another writer, "Regardless (of the reason for Montel's cancellation), it's a dramatic loss of publicity for SB and will have a major impact on her ability to keep on racking in the millions, defrauding people, and doing damage on such a large scale, and that's what matters. All reasons for us to celebrate!" And then there is this one, "My guess is that we will continue to see new books with her name on them (regardless of who actually writes them) until they stop selling well, and that she will continue doing her $750, twenty-minute phone readings as long as the market for them exists. And our very favorite, "Maybe tomorrow is the last new SB episode. Maybe it's the one where she gives a reading that she so obviously pulls out of her ass, even Montel looks at her and goes "What? What the **** are you talking about? Did you just make that **** up? You been making all that **** up all this time? **** that! I'm outta here!" If you think we are making this **** up, or would like to read more, check the site for yourself! If you still want to see Sylvia Browne live, you will have a chance to do so when she appears at the Excalibur in Las Vegas, February 9^th through the 14^th (dark on the 15^th) and on the 16^th. She then returns in March, from the 8^th through the 13^th (dark on the 14^th) and the 15^th through the 18^th. Show times are at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $82.50 and $137.50, PLUS applicable fees. Cousin Claire Voyant, who fancies herself somewhat of a psychic herself, predicts you would have to be a little nuts to spend this kind of money on the hit and miss Miss Browne. Attendees must be 12 or older. For reservations call (702) 597-7600 or (800) 750-5464...if you dare.

And, on the subject of TV cancellations, after eight years on the air, Judge Hatchett has also gotten her pink slip. As in the case of the Montel Williams Show, repeats of Judge Hatchett will be offered to stations next season. If ANY court TV show should have been given the ax, we feel it should have been the embarrassingly bad Judge Maria Lopez. And so it goes.

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If you are a regular reader of Claire Voyant (and we know you are), you may remember when we wrote about young entertainer Cayleigh Capaldi who made her Vegas main room debut in the Las Vegas Tenors' December holiday show at the Hilton. This 7-year-old blew the audience, not to mention her father, away with her talent and poise on stage. We have to give some of the credit for Cayleigh's abilities to the genetic factor - her parents are the multi-talented singer/musician (he plays many instruments), Domenick Allen, and singer/actress Leigh Zimmerman, currently playing Ulla in The Producers at Paris Las Vegas. Well here's another good example of the gene theory at work. It would be quite a surprise if young Oliver Liam Richman wasn't talented. Like Cayleigh, Oliver has show business in his genes. His maternal grandfather was the late songwriter Ron Miller (For Once In My Life, If I Could, I've Never Been To Me, and many, many more). His paternal grandfather is actor/artist/author, Peter Mark Richman. And Oliver's mother is singer/songwriter Lisa Dawn Miller. Environment could also play a role in Oliver's amazing talent. His step-father is comic/ producer/actor/singer (yes, he sings), Sandy Hackett, the son of the late Buddy Hackett. We wonder how many folks know that, in 1964, Buddy Hackett starred in a short-lived musical called I Had a Ball. Richard Kiley (best known for his role as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha), and one of Jerry Herman's favorite ladies, Karen Morrow, also starred. The music was written by our friend Jack Lawrence and Stan Freeman. The senior Hackett did a surprisingly good job on a tongue-twister of a song called Dr. Freud. You can hear it, along with the rest of the original tunes, on the cast album. Back to Oliver. Two years ago, we saw this phenom perform at the Suncoast with Lisa and Sandy in a family holiday show. He knocked our socks off (it was winter and we were wearing them). Today, Oliver has a new CD (his grandfather's For Once In My Life), an agent and his own Web site. Forget American Idol...we predict a Tony Award for this young fellow, before he turns 30. Check out Oliver Liam Richman's site, and see if you don't agree with us.

Karen Morrow Gerry & Scott McCambridge Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano

And this genetic thing continues with the McCambridges. In another family affair situation, Gerry McCambridge, known as The Mentalist, has his son Scott McCambridge learning the business from the ground up. Seventeen-year-old Scott is now appearing on stage in the show at Hooters with his proud father. "He expressed an interest in show business about a year ago. I put him to work backstage when I headlined nightly at the legendary Stardust." When the Stardust closed, and Gerry was offered a contract at Hooters Casino Hotel, he felt Scott was ready for some stage time. "After the show every night he signs autographs and poses for photos with all his glassy-eyed teen age female fans," states Gerry. In addition to his son, The Mentalist has added something else to his show. On the heels of his recent participation as a contestant on NBC's reality series, Phenomenon, Gerry McCambridge ends his Hooters shows by successfully predicting the lottery numbers. "For years, after every performance I am always asked by audience members if I can predict the winning lottery numbers" McCambridge says. "It is something I always wanted to attempt. It took about two years to figure out how I could make it happen successfully, night after night, at the finale of my Las Vegas show. The audience is looking at my predicted numbers during the entire performance" Gerry explains. "The lottery routine ending involves the entire audience. They all take part in the shows as the showroom goes crazy with excitement. When they see the prediction unfolding right before their eyes, they are amazed. Many of them write down my predicted numbers and play them back in their home state after leaving Sin City," he chuckles. Since his appearance on Phenomenon, the demand for Hooters tickets and private appearances around the country has increased. As a result, the property has added more Mentalist shows to their schedule. McCambridge is now performing magic, comedy and mind reading in the Hooters Night Owl room, five nights a week. Show times are Wednesdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $36.95 and may be purchased by calling (866) 584-6687. Check out both Gerry and Scott McCambridge at Hooters. Tell them that Claire Voyant sent you.

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On Wednesday, February 6^th, New Yorkers and East Coast visitors can catch an enjoyable evening of music when the Lincoln Center presents American Songbook, This Is The Life, as Eric Comstock and company give a jazzy salute to composer Charles Strouse in his 80^th year. Performing along with piano player/singer Comstock will be his beautiful wife, Barbara Fasano on vocals, Harry Allen on tenor saxophone, Peter Washington on bass, and Vito Lesczak on drums. Strouse, who wrote the music for Broadway's Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause and many other hits, will appear as special guest. The event will take place at 8:30 p.m., in the Allen Room at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60^th Street. Tickets start at $35. Call CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500.

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Last Tuesday offered a wealth of entertainment for music lovers. The reading of Keith Thompson and Buddy Sheffield's IDAHO! brought out lots of show folk for the afternoon performance in UNLV's Black Box Theater. The audience was amused and greatly entertained. The music is punny and delightful, and the performers are among the best in The Entertainment Capital of the World. That same night, the monthly Composers Showcase was in the spotlight. It was Standing Room Only, in and outside of the Liberace Museum's Wes Winters Showroom. The talent of the songwriters and the people who perform the tunes is always top-notch. Our favorite segment, among a night of highlights, was the trio made up of New York guest artist Jay Rodgers, and local composer/singers Keith Thompson and Thom Culcasi, singing Yes, This Is My Real Voice (and yes, that IS Rogers' real voice). The very clever tune was written by Thompson for his original musical called Kooky Tunes. This is a revue that should be seen by Las Vegans...perhaps for a charity fundraiser. Anybody listening?

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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

Bill Nolte Rosemary Alvino Diana Ross

The Producers cast member, Bill Nolte, who portrays the somewhat paranoid Franz Liebkind in the very funny Mel Brooks production currently playing (until February 9^th) at Paris Las Vegas, will go solo on February 24^th, when he performs his one man show at the East Flamingo Clark County Library. Calling his act All of Me, Nolte will pay tribute to his new home, Las Vegas, with song and dialog. Nolte has decided that, after The Producers closes, rather than return to New York and his small dark apartment (his description, not ours), he will he will stay in the charming townhouse that he purchased here a year ago. East Coast (or any coast) auditions are only a short drive or a flight away from Southern Nevada. With his years of theatrical experience, Nolte can find plenty to do locally (teaching voice and auditioning skills, for example) when he isn't on a stage somewhere around the country. For his upcoming show at the library theater, Bill promises to leave his pigeons at the Paris Theater. If you have seen the show, you will know what we are talking about. If you haven't...get over there!

This Sunday, The Performing Arts Society of Nevada (the same folks who bring you Bill Nolte next month) , presents Rosemary Alvino as part of their Las Vegas Lyric Opera series. Mezzo Soprano Alvino has an extensive background in opera, musical theater and sacred music and most recently is extending her repertoire to include the Latin music of Mexico, Spain, and Argentina. She has sung throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in Mexico, Argentina, Italy and Israel. In April of 2006 Ms. Alvino was featured soloist with Artists for a United World Concert at the United Nations' Dag Hammarskjöld Hall, New York City and again in Buenos Aires in August of 2007. In May of 2001, she made her Carnegie Hall debut and in the 2002 season, she appeared again at Carnegie's Weill Hall with contemporary composer Lukas Foss singing arias from his opera Griffelkin. Rosemary has performed with Seattle Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Tulsa Opera, Opera San Jose, Mendocino Music Festival, Natchez Opera Festival, Nevada Opera Theatre, Springfield Regional Opera, Las Vegas Lyric Opera and both Colorado and Nevada Symphonies. She is a native of New Jersey and currently divides her time between New York City and Cuernavaca, Mexico. When in New York, this talented lady is a volunteer cantor at The Cathedral of St. Patrick's. She has also had the honor of singing Mass with the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in Rome. Alvino's special Las Vegas guests will be Claudio Herrera, resident pianist with the Instituto Nacional de Belles Artes in Mexico City, and Bruce Ewing, currently appearing in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian. Tickets for both shows are $15. The Sunday afternoon series are always at 2 p.m. Call The Performing Arts Society of Nevada at (702) 658-6741 for reservations to either or both of these presentations.

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Was it live or was it Memorex? When it came to determining whether Diana Ross was really singing or lip-synching during her performance at the opening of the brand new Palazzo last week, one of the city's finest writers turned to Frank Marino for the answer. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's pseudo journalist, Mr. Marino "has made a career out of lip-synching Joan Rivers." We have no idea if this fellow, who specializes in entertainment, has ever seen An Evening at La Cage at the Riviera but, even if he hasn't, how in the world would Frank lip-synch jokes and dialog? Logic, facts and accuracy seem to regularly elude this unnamed writer for Nevada's Largest Daily Newspaper.

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After a one month sabbatical during December (many of the shows are dark and the talented performers take off for parts unknown for the holidays), the Composers Showcase returns for the first of its 2008 series. This Tuesday, January 29^th, at 10:30 (after theater), in the Wes Winters Showroom, at the Liberace Museum, 1775 East Tropicana at Spencer, the showcase will feature the original songs of local composers and songwriters Tom Caruso, Thom Culcasi, Wayne Green, Richard Oberacker, Morris "Buddy" Sheffield and Keith Thompson. The works will be performed by Robin Baxter, Marshal Carolan, Carol Linnea Johnson, and Rob Sutton, all from Mamma Mia!; Kristen Hertzenberg, Rebecca Spencer and Ryan Silverman, from Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular); Jessica Sheridan from The Producers; actor/composer Jimmy Lockett, Poppa in the national touring company (including the Las Vegas Hilton's version) of Starlight Express, and God Lives in Glass; New Yorker Jay Rogers (star of Keith Thompson's Kooky Tunes and more), and other special guests. Musicians Philip Fortenberry (on piano) and Moonlight Tran (on cello) will also be featured. There is a cash bar (no credit cards, please) and a $5 hors d'oeuvres buffet provided by Keg and Cork Catering. The Liberace Museum is located next door to Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens. Come early for dinner and stay for the show. Carluccio's serves until 10 p.m. The Liberace Showroom is in the round building next to the restaurant (enter off Spencer). The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. Donations are always graciously welcome.

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We inadvertently left out the name of accompanist Joey Singer when writing of the Bruce Ewing concert at the Liberace Museum on Sunday, January 13^th. Not only did Mr. Singer play for the very successful Second Sunday cabaret launch, he also served as Musical Director and accompanist for Ewing's 16 song CD, Tonight at Eight - Songs From Broadway. If you haven't heard this recording, check it out. Bruce, currently a cast member of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian, does a great job on favorites such as All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, Embraceable You from Girl Crazy, Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, They Say It's Wonderful from Annie Get Your Gun and Being Alive from Company. As for Singer, he has served as Musical Director for the Unsinkable Debbie Reynolds for more than 20 years. The Las Vegas resident has also played and conducted for a number of other professionals, including Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis and Toni Tennille, and performed with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Gerry Mulligan and Zoot Sims, during his career in music.

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Decisions. Decisions. We hate when this happens. With sometimes very lengthy gaps between professional cabaret-type presentations, on Saturday, February 2^nd, we have two talented ladies basically competing for the same audience members. At the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin, it's Laurie Miller performing under the banner of ChapQuist Entertainment. A native of Miami, Florida, these days (and nights) Laurie spends most of her time performing on some of the most prestigious, luxury cruise lines as well as at corporate events and in theatrical productions worldwide. Her professional appearances range from musicals to lavish revues, intimate jazz clubs and major label recording projects. Laurie is known in the industry as one of the original members and creators of the pop-hit group Expose´, whose debut album, Exposed, is documented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame history book for having more Top 10 hits than The Beatles had on their debut album. Exposé was initially formed in 1984, when Lewis Martinee, a Miami disc jockey and producer, and his Pantera Productions talent scouts hired Sandra Casanas (Sandeé), Alejandra Lorenzo (Alé), and Laurie as the group's lineup. The next year, the trio recorded Point of No Return, with Lorenzo singing lead. The Pantera Records 12" vinyl single became a No. 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play hit. The song helped to introduce a genre of music that became known as Freestyle. The success of Point of No Return led Exposé to their signing with Clive Davis' Arista Records. A year later, the group recorded and released their second club/dance Freestyle hit single entitled Exposed to Love, on which Lorenzo also sang lead. Exposé realized continued success, including a club tour to key cities. Impressed with the performance of the two singles and their unique sound, Arista granted approval for the group to record their first album. Shortly thereafter, Casanas left the group to pursue a solo career, and Lorenzo quit to pursue other ambitions. Laurie Miller left the group to begin a solo career as a cabaret-style performer. She has been delighting audiences ever since, with her critically acclaimed show featuring heartfelt vocals, high energy dancing, and her unique comic flair (with parodies of some show business favorites, including Barbra, Cher and Liza). She is also the CEO and founder of XICA Productions (pronounced shee-ka). Known internationally, XICA Productions is acclaimed for creating unique and artistic atmosphere in diverse venues, using unusual entertainers, creative lighting and décor. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17 for Sun City Summerlin residents, and $17 for the rest of you. Call the Starbright Theatre at (702) 240-1301 for reservations, and (702) 869-2064 for current and future show information.

Laurie Miller Christine Ebersole Artie Schroeck & Linda November

On the very same night, as part of UNLV's New York Stage and Beyond series, we have two-time Tony-winner Christine Ebersole performing in the Artemus Ham Concert Hall. Although she has appeared on television and in film, it is on Broadway where Christine has found the most success. Her most noted roles have included a role in Gore Vidal's The Best Man in 2000, playing Millicent Jordan in Dinner At Eight in 2002 (for which she was nominated for a Tony Award), portraying M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias in 2005, and the role for which she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, as Dorothy Brock in the 2001 revival of 42^nd Street. (In 1981, Lee Roy Reams, currently in The Producers at Paris Las Vegas, was nominated for a Tony (and Drama Desk Award) as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Billy Lawlor in 42^nd Street). In 2006, Ebersole took the dual role of Edith Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and Little Edie Beale in Grey Gardens, a musical based on the movie of the same name. After a sold-out off-Broadway run, the play moved to Broadway in the fall of 2006. Ebersole received rave reviews both places and earned her second Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. She currently lives in Maplewood, New Jersey with her second husband, Bill Moloney, and their three adopted children. Ebersole's first husband was soap star, Peter Bergman. Bergman has played Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, since 1989. Showtime for Christine Ebersole is at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $40, $55 and $80. Call UNLV at (702) 895-2787 (ARTS) for reservations.

Laurie Miller's photo by Carrie Richardson

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Once again, there are reports circulating about the impending implosion of the Greek Isles (formerly the Debbie Reynolds Hotel and, before that, the Paddlewheel). It would be unrealistic to think that the hotel, located on Convention Center Drive between the Las Vegas Strip and Paradise Road, won't come down at some time (the parcel of land, in a prime off-Strip location, is much too valuable to house this outdated building), but it isn't planned for immediate destruction. The Greek Isles is the home of both The Rat Pack Is Back and The World's Greatest Magic Show, produced by Dick Feeney and Sandy Hackett.

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Artie Schroeck and Linda November. The names may not be familiar but chances are you have heard their work before. Linda, who rightfully calls herself The Jingle Lady, is really a saleslady. Her singing voice has helped sell hundreds of well-known products, from the famous "Mean" Joe Green Coke Commercial to the much-imitated commercial for Meow Mix cat food. Linda's career, which began at age five, did not with singing, but as a concert pianist. That ended during her teens when it was more important to have long nails than play the piano. When she was sixteen, a doctor friend of the family asked her to sing a song for one of his patients. She was immediately directed to her first and only manager, the star maker, Gus Schirmer. Gus recognized her talent and sent her to the legendary Richard Rodgers. Linda became a protégé of Rodgers. She worked hard to develop her voice but still had no success in seeking leading roles on Broadway. One day, Schirmer sent her out on an industrial production for the Ford Motor Company, and the rest is history. Linda has sung on records with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Barbra Streisand, Tony Orlando, Engelbert Humperdinck and Frankie Valli, to name a few. At one time, she had more than 700 jingles playing simultaneously on national television and radio. Her most famous commercial, the "Meow, meow, meow, meow" one for Meow Mix cat food, became the No. 1 jingle of all time. Linda continues to perform, usually with Mr. Schroeck. And speaking of Mr. Schroeck, here's a little something about him. Born in Irvington, New Jersey, Artie is comes from a very musical family. His father played the xylophone, his mother played piano, and his three older brothers played a variety of instruments and were tap dancers (we presume they didn't play and tap at the same time). Artie began playing drums and piano when he was only three. At five, he, on drums, and his piano-playing brother, Harold, were performing at social functions in North Jersey. When he was eight, the brothers began appearing on the showplace piers in Atlantic City. It was there that the legendary drummer, Gene Krupa, heard Artie play and took him under his wing. Within a short time, the Schroeck brothers were playing with Krupa's band as well as with the Louis Prima and Johnny Long bands. When Harold left the act to raise his family, Artie stayed on, playing drums, piano, bass, vibraphones or whatever the gig called for. While still performing, he started doing band arrangements as well. While playing an engagement in Las Vegas, the teen went to a local music store to try out a Hammond organ. Lionel Hampton happened to be in the store, heard Artie playing, went to a piano and started jamming with the young musician. When they were finished, Hampton asked Schroeck to come to the Riviera that night. The chance encounter at the music store resulted in Artie going to work with the Hampton band for two years. After he left Lionel, Artie was hired as a recording studio arranger. He worked with Neil Diamond (who turned 67 on Thursday the 24), The Lovin' Spoonful, Paul Anka and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It was Schroeck who wrote the arrangements for Valli's I've Got You Under My Skin and his big hit, Can't Take My Eyes Off You. Artie also wrote songs for these artists, as well as for Liza Minnelli, Petula Clark, Sammy Davis Jr., Barry Manilow and Frank Sinatra. (Schroeck wrote Here's to the Band for Old Blue Eyes.) Artie's film and TV credits include, The Deer Hunter, The Sunshine Boys, You're a Big Boy Now, The Last Request, Liza in London, and Liza at Carnegie Hall and Radio City. He has won a number of Clios for his commercial arrangements and compositions, including for Now is the Time, ABC is the Place, Come On Along with ABC, You Deserve a Break Today for McDonald's, Nobody Cares For Eyes More Than Pearle, and Dannon Yogurt, to name a few. Since his studio days, Artie Schroeck remains mostly behind the scenes where his work is known and respected by his peers and heard all over the world by the general public. Schroeck and November have been a couple for 40 years, living much of that time in Las Vegas. Mr. Schroeck is a proud member of F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events). Mrs. Schroeck is also a supporter who attends the Fun events when the ladies are welcome (usually at the December holiday party and February's Valentine's gathering).

And speaking of the non-club club F.I.O.R.E., here is a friendly (with "friendly" being the operative word) reminder from the Head Organizer...F.I.O.R.E.'s 3^rd Annual Valentine's Day Luncheon/Party will be held on the second Tuesday of February (that would be the 12^th, Abraham Lincoln's birthday). It will, once again, be held at the newly renovated Take 1 Restaurant/Nightclub, located on the southeast corner of Fremont and 7^th Street in downtown Las Vegas. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., exclusively for the party attendees. There will be a great luncheon, live music (played by mostly live musicians), dancing, entertainment, prizes, a no host bar, raffles (with cash prizes for some winners), and all for a measly $25 a person. You can bring your better half, fellows, and bring the other half too. The ladies will receive flowers and chocolates. Invite all of your friends (both of them) for this one as it's the last F.I.O.R.E. party of the semester. The next gathering will not be until July, when F.I.O.R.E. celebrates its anniversary. Please contact Nelson Sardelli at NSardelli@aol.com (646-1813) or Conrad Villella atConradVillella@cox.net (254-3452) at your earliest convenience to see if you qualify to attend (are you breathing and friendly?) and/or to RSVP.

And then we have that other (dis)organization, the remnants of the group formerly known as The CAST Inc. Following their General Membership Meeting, held at a Westside restaurant on the 12^th of January, journalist Norm Johnson, a longtime Las Vegan and CAST member, sent his letter of resignation to Denny Jones, Webmaster, stating that he feels (The CAST) "is no longer a viable organization under its present leadership, namely Tony Sacca." This is the president's response to Mr. Johnson's request (with misspells and poor grammar left intact)...

Mr. Johnson passed the above e-mail on to those in his address book, along with the following message...

Are we through with this subject? That is doubtful. Until the mess is cleaned up (and a name change won't do it), and we get no more feedback from readers, we will continue our coverage of this topic. And regarding the CAST-offs...In last week's column, Cousin Claire, who prides herself on correct information, ESPECIALLY when it comes to people's names, misspelled the name of Laurence T. (The good news is, we DID spell his last name correctly.) Our most sincere apologies, Laurence. We promise it won't happen again.

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On Friday, February 1^st, and Saturday the 2^nd, Scott Stander & Associates will present Roslyn Kind in Concert at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Show times on both nights will be at 8:30 and 10:30. Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Forget that Roslyn Kind is Barbra Streisand's kid sister. She is too good, and too special, to have to worry about comparisons." If you are in the Southern California area, stop in and see for yourself. The club is located at 6725 Sunset Boulevard. By the way, Scott Stander is also the person who brought Rita McKenzie, and her Ethel Merman's Broadway, to the Suncoast in Las Vegas a few weeks ago.

Rosyln Kind Don Rickles

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We finally got a chance to see Shades of Sinatra, a show we have written about but never got a chance to check out until Wednesday, January 16^th. The four talented singers - Ryan Baker, Larry Liso, Carmine Mandia and Lisa Smith - were performing in the Suncoast theater. We enjoyed the revue that offers some comedy shtick, mixed in with lots of Sinatra favorites. We especially liked how our friend's, songwriter Ervin Drake, great timeline song, It Was a Very Good Year, was used to introduce different segments of Old Blue Eyes' career. One of our favorite moments was Lisa's too short version of In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning. There were plenty of Sinatra favorites, including his first recording from 1939, Jack Lawrence's All Or Nothing At All, to That's Life, I've Got the World On a String, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Luck Be a Lady, The Best Is Yet To Come, All Of Me, You Make Me Feel So Young/Young At Heart, Witchcraft, Let Me Try Again, Chicago, The Lady Is a Tramp, I've Got You Under My Skin, a lovely duet of If I Loved You from Carousel and, of course, New York, New York. The group covered more than 40 Sinatra gems (The Chairman of the Board recorded more than 1700 songs during his career). Backed by a talented group of musicians - Ned Mills on piano and conducting, Dick Jones on bass, Bill King on trumpet, Gary Olds on drums, and Tom Steele on sax and a number of other horns. The audience in the almost full theater at the Suncoast loved the loving tribute to the music and career of Frank Sinatra. And, on the subject of The Shades of Sinatra, lest you think of them as just a group that plays in local neighborhood venues, last October, the talented quartet served as opening act to the legendary Don Rickles at the Golden Nugget. We were told that Rickles watched them from the wings on all three nights that they appeared. Look for the 81-year-young Rickles to next perform at The Orleans in March.

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If you are one of those people who bemoans the fact that there is very little Big Band music in Las Vegas, bemoan no more. Music-lover Ben Ardito, owner of downtown's Take 1 Nightclub & Restaurant, will introduce a new group on Wednesday and Thursday, January 30^th and 31^st. Calling themselves Nobody Famous and The Infamous Horns, the 12-piece ensemble will play from 8 to 10 p.m. for your listening and dancing pleasure. Come early, have dinner and enjoy the music. They will be videotaping the show, so dress accordingly and show up with someone you are supposed to be with. Take 1 is at 707 E. Fremont, on the corner of 7^th. There is no cover charge but there is plenty of convenient parking available.

The Nobody Famous and The Infamous Horns Michael Kessler & Melinda Jackson

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As mentioned in an earlier column, native New Yorkers, Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson, return to Las Vegas with their popular dance show. This time, they will perform at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin, Sunday at 2 p.m. Kessler and Jackson have produced, directed, written, choreographed and performed internationally from ballet to Broadway to Las Vegas. They were the starring song and dance team, in The Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular directed by Joe Layton, touring in more than 80 US cities, including an extended run at the Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas. The twosome played in Tommy Tune's Broadway show, Grand Hotel and in Cole Porter's Silk Stockings. Michael and Melinda produced, directed, choreographed, wrote the original music, and starred with their company, M&M American Dance Theatre, off-Broadway in Manhattan Moves at the American Place Theatre. Their first production, Lost Luggage, premiered in New York City at the Emanuel Y and received a rave review in the New York Times. Within 10 months, Lost Luggage was playing to sold-out houses and standing ovations throughout Performing Arts Centers and Opera Houses in the US and Europe. Nine international tours followed. They were the Artistic Directors of Ballet Jazz de Paris and have appeared with New York City Ballet, Monte Carlo Ballet, Geneva Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, Harkness Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and have been guest performers with principal dancers from Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre of Harlem, Joffrey Ballet, and The Bolshoi Ballet among others. M&M have performed at the Friars Club, the 92^nd St Y's Kaufman Theatre, Waldorf Astoria, Broadway Supper Club, Bellagio, Wynn and Bally's Las Vegas. They have done choreography for the Winter Olympics, US Pro Gymnastics Classic, special material for The Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular, members of American Ballet Theatre, as well as for artists ranging from Marilyn Michaels to Kevin McKenzie. They have worked with Sammy Davis, Jr., Gwen Verdon and Maya Plissetskaya. They directed and choreographed the 30th anniversary European tour of the hit Rock Musical, Hair, and co-produced, directed, choreographed and starred in a National Tour of That's Cole!, a Cole Porter dance musical revue. Tickets for this popular presentation are $25. For additional information, including directions to the theater, call (702) 363-1341, (702) 966-1410, or (702) 240-1301.

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Rule My World, a hip-hop musical based on William Shakespeare's Antony & Cleopatra, will be performed in workshop presentation at the new Los Angeles Theatre Center, this Sunday (the 27^th) at 5 p.m. Featured in this special performance are Melody Butiu, Victor Chan, Deidre Henry, Daren A. Herbert, Todd Hunter, Daniel Lujan, Merrick McMahon, Joey Molina, Cedric Sanders and Ron Truppa. Book and lyrics are by Karole Foreman, with music by Allan Phillips. Jon Lawrence Rivera is directing. This is part of the Playwright's Arena, described as "Original works for adventurous minds." The LATC is located at 514 S. Spring Street, and the presentation is in Rehearsal Room 4A. Reservations are required and can only be made via e-mail. Contact jrivera923@juno.com.

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On Tuesday, Trader Vic's celebrated six decades of beauty by playing host to 24 former Miss America winners, including Lee Ann Meriwether (Crowned Miss America 1955, California), Vonda Van Dyke Scoates (Crowned Miss America 1965, Arizona), Phyllis George (Crowned Miss America 1971, Texas), Katie Harman Ebner (Crowned Miss America 2002, Oregon), Ericka Dunlap (Crowned Miss America 2004, Florida) and Jennifer Berry Gooden (Crowned Miss America 2006, Oklahoma). Trader Vic's Las Vegas is located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort Casino.

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He calls himself T. Fox. (What is it they say about being "Sly as a ___"?) Is he talented? We don't know, as we have never seen him perform. He spent some time singing in a hallway at the Tropicana Hotel, and shows up every once in a while at the Take 1 Nightclub and Restaurant in downtown Las Vegas. Our grievance with this man is his attempt to mislead the public. Fox claims that he served as a model for a United States postage stamp, circa 1987, used as part of the ongoing Black Heritage series. Mr. Fox also claims, in some places, that his father was the artist who painted the portrait of Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable. Neither of these claims is true. It is, in fact, Thomas Blackshear who created the portrait used for the stamp. The model used for the painting was a longtime friend of Blackshear's, and the friend is NOT, nor ever has been, a Las Vegas entertainer. This Foxy character even goes so far as to use a photo of himself, alongside the stamp (see accompanying photos) on his Web site, to show the amazing similarities (she says, with tongue planted firmly in cheek). Why do folks try to pull these kinds of stunts? How do they imagine that they aren't going to be found out and exposed? What is the point anyway? Apparently, they feel they can not make it on their talent alone.

T. Fox U.S. Postage Stamp

And FYI...Thomas Blackshear is an African American artist who has achieved great success as a painter, sculpture and designer of beautiful figurines, most often on African American and/or religious themes. Blackshear, who makes his home in Colorado, created the illustrations for many stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service, including four in the Black Heritage stamp series. In addition to the stamp mentioned above, he also designed the James W. Johnson stamp (1988), Asa Philip Randolph stamp (1989) and Ida B. Wells stamp (1990). Other U.S. postage stamps with Blackshear illustrations include portraits of boxer Joe Louis (a former Las Vegan), and jazz musicians Jelly Roll Morton and Thelonious Monk. He also did stamps commemorating James Cagney, The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Beau Geste and Stagecoach. He also did the artwork for the Classic Hollywood Movies series, as well as several stamps for Classic Movie Monsters. Blackshear illustrated the USPS book, I Have A Dream: A Collection of Black Americans on U.S. Postage Stamps (1991).

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Last minute news...Due to today's fire at the Monte Carlo Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, Lance Burton's show has been canceled for tonight (Friday, January 25^th). Check with the hotel regarding other changes at the property.

Tags: Las Vegas Gossip And News

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Rich Affannato Sandra Benton Marvin Hamlisch

Keith Thompson has returned to Las Vegas after being away for three months. He spent time in both New York and San Francisco getting ready for the April opening of Jersey Boys at the new Palazzo (adjacent to The Venetian). Thompson isn't wasting any time getting back into the swing of things at home. He is back in front of the orchestra of The Producers, leading the talented group of musicians. That job will end when the curtain falls on the final Las Vegas performance of The Producers, February 9^th. Thompson will then move to the Palazzo and Jersey Boys, where he will serve as the show's musical director. That's not all that will keep him busy, busy, busy. Get out your pens and your calendars. This is some of what you have to look forward to over the next couple of weeks if you are in or around Las Vegas. January 29^th will offer a goldmine of musical treats, thanks to Mr. Thompson. At 2 p.m., a staged reading of IDAHO! will take place in the intimate (that means very limited seating) Black Box Theater in the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building on the UNLV campus. If you missed this audaciously funny new comedy-musical when it was presented last August, hopefully, you will get a chance to see it this time around. The talented cast of singer/actors (all from The Producers, unless otherwise indicated) delivering the goods are (in politically correct alphabetical order) Rich Affannato, Melanie Allen, Jim Ambler, Sandra Benton (Menopause The Musical), Patrick Boyd, Bill Gilinsky, Chris Holly, Shari Jordan, Chris Klink, Bill Nolte, Jay Rogers (coming in from New York, just for this occasion), Elizabeth Share (Mamma Mia!), Jessica Sheridan, Rob Sutton (Mamma Mia!) and Alet Taylor (formerly Hold Me, Touch Me in The Producers). Stage manager is Joe Sheridan. The creative geniuses behind this punny and clever theater piece are Morris T. Sheffield (book, lyrics and music) and Keith Thompson (music). To secure your seat for IDAHO!, RSVP very quickly to KThomMusic@aol.com or call (917) 705-6899.

And speaking of The Producers (which we do frequently), multi-talented Lee Roy Reams, a scene-stealer as the flamboyant Roger DeBris, took a night off from the show to head to San Francisco where he directed a fundraiser starring Marvin Hamlisch and former America Idol competitor and recent Oscar-winner (for Dreamgirls) Jennifer Hudson on Monday night. There is much more to Mr. Reams than his in-front-of-the-curtain song and dance skills. He is also a much sought after director and choreographer. As mentioned in a previous column, after he leaves Las Vegas, he heads to Texas where he will direct Leslie Uggams in Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly! As for the event in San Francisco, it was a gala black-tie event to benefit the Help Raise Healthy Children organization. Among the honored guests in attendance were former president Bill Clinton, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. As for Hamlisch, here's a bit of impressive trivia about him. The former rehearsal pianist is one of only two people in history (the other being Richard Rodgers) to have won the five major artistic achievement awards - an Emmy (for Barbra Streisand: The Concert special), Grammy (for The Way We Were), Oscar (for The Sting and The Way We Were), Tony and the Pulitzer Prize (the last two for A Chorus Line). Marvin has performed in Las Vegas numerous times over the years, including as part of UNLV's New York Stage series.

Bill Clinton Rebecca Spencer Jeff Hobson

And also on January 29^th, at 10:30 p.m., the very popular, much anticipated monthly (except in busy, holiday-filled December) Composers Showcase returns to the Liberace Museum! This month will feature the music of Tom Caruso, Thom Culcasi, Wayne Green, Richard Oberacker and Keith Thompson. Some of the singers involved will be Rob Sutton (Sam in Mamma Mia!), Jessica Sheridan (from The Producers), Ryan Silverman (Raoul in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular), Rebecca Spencer (Madame Giry from Phantom), and special guest, Jay Rogers. Jay is a Drama Desk nominee for When Pigs Fly, and the star of Thompson's original comedy revue, Kooky Tunes.

And speaking of Rebecca Spencer, this will be her last time participating in the showcase... unless she decides to come back to visit her friends and former Phantom cast-mates sometime in the future. Becky, as she calls herself, will be heading back to New York and her home and husband following her February 9^th performance. If you want to hear more of her glorious voice after her departure from Las Vegas, you can do so via one of her two solo CDs, Wide Awake and Dreaming (accompanied by current Las Vegas resident, piano virtuoso Philip Fortenberry, and produced by Spencer, Fortenberry and Keith Thompson) and Fair Warning (also with Fortenberry at the piano and the uniquely-named Moonlight Tran on cello). You will read more about the newly shorn (that means he cut off his once-long hair) Mr. Fortenberry in upcoming columns.

As we have mentioned, more than once or twice, The Producers will close on February 9^th following a one-year run in Las Vegas. We loved this show, and many of the talented cast members have become friends over the past 12 months. We feel if the record breaking, Tony Award-winning musical comedy had been better promoted (like with TV commercials, for example), it would have resulted in a longer stay in our city. If you haven't already seen The Producers, or if you want to see it again before it departs, show times are 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Tickets start at $69. Call Paris Las Vegas at (877) 374-7469 for reservations.

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Those men from FIORE (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events), the non-club club where everyone is president (no great big egos here), will hold their 3^rd Annual Valentine's Day bash on Tuesday, February 12^th, beginning at 11:30 a.m. How appropriate that a group full of presidents would hold an event on Abraham Lincoln's birthday (We wonder if they thought of that when coming up with the date!?!). As has been the case in recent months, the luncheon/party will be held at Ben Ardito's Take 1 Nightclub/Restaurant in downtown Vegas (707 E. Fremont). At this point, there are only two non-meetings a year where the ladies are invited, and Valentine's Day is one of them (the other is the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/ New Year's get together). Based on the big turnout for that December holiday gathering, maybe the girls should be invited a little more often (just a thought, fellows). There will be live music, entertainment, dancing (we understand that FIORE only offers this option when the ladies are invited), a buffet lunch, raffled items and other fun things. Although the event is not open to the general public, you can earn your way in if you meet the following requirements. If you are of the male species, you need to be Italian (or not), know and like one of the presidents, play well with others, and come up with the $25 (in American bucks) to cover the cost of the food and pay those live musicians a little something for their troubles. If you are of the female species, you need to be Italian (or not), know and like one of the presidents (or not), play well with others, and come up with a president who has the $25 (in American bucks) to cover the cost of the food and pay those live musicians a little something for their troubles. Hey boys, this, and a box of Lady Godiva chocolates (or a Snickers bar) could be a cheap way of impressing your wife, girlfriend, mother, mother-in-law, secretary or all of the above. If you want to join in the Fun (as in Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events), contact president Nelson Sardelli at NSardelli@aol.com, or president Conrad Villella at conradvillella@cox.net.

Among those expected to attend the FIORE luncheon are president Artie Schroeck and his first lady, Linda November. Look for a blurb about this talented twosome in next week's Claire Voyant column.

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To our list of Worst Las Vegas Shows, a reader suggests we add Little Legends, currently playing at Krave or the Harmon Theater or whatever they are calling it these days. Our reader felt this show came off as embarrassing and exploitive. Little people sing to tracks, attempting to impersonate stars, similar to Legends in Concert and American Superstars, but on a smaller scale. The best part of Little Legends (billed as Little People, Big Show), we were told, is the comedy host - usually funnyman Jeff Hobson, but on the night our critic saw the show, it was magician Joseph Gabriel holding down the fort. The variety show features a Mini Elvis, Mini Britney Spears (Why would anyone want to be the troubled pop-tart, even for a night?), Mini Tina Turner, Mini Milli Vanilli, Mini Sonny and Tall Cher, along with two, count them, two, Mini Michael Jacksons (And why would anyone, of any size, want to be the troubled onetime King of Pop today?). If you want to see Little Legends in spite of this reader's warning, it's at the Harmon Theatre in Krave on the south side of Planet Hollywood off Harmon. (The free "valet service" at Krave is almost non-existent. Don't count on getting your vehicle into one of the very limited valet parking spaces. Instead, count on a long hike from wherever you wind up leaving your vehicle.) Show times are 7 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Cal 702.836-0836 for show tickets or information. We had another vote, this one for The Beauty of Magic that closed recently at Planet Hollywood's Theater of the Performing Arts after a six-month run. We haven't seen Little Legends, so we can't offer our opinion. We did see Hans Klok and Pamela Anderson in the much-ballyhooed magic show and we would have to agree, that it wasn't one of the best things we ever saw here. We would have to call the show a major disappointment, not just a bad show. With the budget they had to work with, it should have been a blockbuster with a long run. Other than some good choreography executed by some excellent dancers, there was nothing original offered. If you have ever seen Siegfried & Roy, Rick Thomas, Kevin James or any of the other top magicians who are performing in Las Vegas, or have performed here, you have already seen all of Mr. Klok's illusions. As for Pamela Anderson? She should have felt very guilty for accepting the money we hear she received, doing pretty much nothing ($4 million for the show's first three months).

Kevin James T. Fox Maxine Weldon

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A name (or two) that has appeared in this column before, turns up here once again. Freddie House, who tried to convince the public that he was the son of the legendary Billy Eckstine, by telling tall tales and legally changing his name to Freddie Eckstine, has apparently (we hope) seen the errors of his way. We are sure that a DNA test, the results which proved his story to be false, helped to convince House to cease and desist this sham. Today, he is billing himself as Frederick House and is a cast member of Hitzville the Musical. The Motown tribute revue, starring Jin-Jin Reeves, is playing in the Hilton Shimmer Cabaret on Thursday nights. We consider this a very wise move on the part of Mr. House, allowing him to move on (in the right direction) with his career. We also feel this move will bring some peace to the REAL Eckstine family.

Next week, we will be exposing yet another phony in the entertainment field. This character uses the name of T. Fox. Wait until you see what HE is trying to pull off!

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A little more info on Hats!, the new-to-Las Vegas musical, now at Harrah's. In addition to Dolly Coulter and Corrie Sachs, both mentioned in last Friday's column, cast members include, from Las Vegas, Lynn Steinhurst and Kathy Arianoff; from Los Angeles, Toni Malone, Jane Kinsey, Deb Owen and Maxine Weldon; and from Illinois, Jalayne Riewerts. After you have been through menopause and/or seen Menopause The Musical, check out Hats! It is what follows the major change in a woman's (and her family's) life. If you haven't experienced it first-hand, Hats! shows what happens to women after, or around the time they reach the age of 50.

If the name Maxine Weldon sounds familiar, it's because she has a long history in show business. Described as "One of those endlessly versatile vocalists who eventually earn the tag "song stylist," Maxine Weldon is equally at home singing soul, jazz, or blues, and often blurs the lines between all of them." Weldon cut her first LPs, Right On and Chilly Wind, for Mainstream over 1970-1971; despite an overall soul flavor, she received significant support from members of the Jazz Crusaders, among others. Weldon next turned up on the Monument label with 1974's Some Singin', a Southern-style country-soul outing that nonetheless bore the hallmark of Weldon's innate sophistication. It became her biggest seller, climbing into the Top 50 on the R&B album charts. She followed it in 1975 with Alone on My Own, but concentrated much less on recording in the years to come. Weldon remained active, though, performing regularly over the next several decades. She was a cast member, along with Linda Hopkins and Ruth Brown, of the Broadway show Black and Blue, touring with the European production from 1995-1997. She subsequently put together a homage to Ray Charles revue called Wild Women Blues, where she once again worked with Linda Hopkins, as well as with Mortonette Jenkins.

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Charles Aznavour Sierra Boggess

From reader Vince Falcone comes this e-mail...The proud father wants everyone to know that his son, Danny Falcone, is the lead trumpet player with Las Vegas' own Fat City Horns. As mentioned in last week's column, the local favorites will be playing with Bette Midler when she opens her Caesars Palace show on February 20^th. For those that don't read Claire Voyant on a regular basis, you may not know much about the senior Mr. Falcone. The New York-native has been a Las Vegan since 1970. He served as house pianist at Caesars Palace until 1976, when Frank Sinatra hired him away from the Palace to become The Chairman of the Board‘s musical director and pianist. The relationship between Sinatra and Falcone lasted until 1986. As if that wasn‘t impressive enough, Vinnie has also worked with everyone from A to Z - with Paul Anka, Charles Aznavour, Tony Bennett, Diahann Carroll, Connie Francis, Robert Goulet, Jack Jones, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, the McGuire Sisters, Frankie Randall, Andy Williams and Pia Zadora among them. Based on the gene pool, it isn't too surprising that son Danny is so successful. Vincent Falcone is also the author of a 2002 book called Frankly - Just Between Us, chronicling his career through the years. It should make for good reading.

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If the interest in last Sunday's debut of the new cabaret series at the Liberace Museum is an indication of the months to come, we say Second Sundays will be a big hit. The Wes Winters Showroom, with birthday boy Bruce Ewing launching the series, was Standing Room Only for both the 1:30 and 3 p.m. shows at the January 13^th launch. Ewing, as we have mentioned before, is a former Forever Plaid cast member and is currently playing (Monsieur Reyer/ Jeweler) in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. There is no set charge for the shows, but donations to the Liberace Foundation are graciously accepted. For Ewing's concert, half of the raised monies will go to Family Promise, a favorite charity of Bruce's. Family Promise gets homeless families off the streets, providing living quarters and help in getting back into society, while the Liberace Foundation provides scholarships for performing and visual artists - both very worthy causes. Thanks to the generosity of the show goers, a very impressive $2496 was raised.

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From Vegas to Broadway...That's the route that Sierra Boggess took to become the star of the Great White Way's newly opened musical, The Little Mermaid. Prior winning the role of Ariel in the Disney-inspired Mermaid, Sierra understudied Cosette in the National Touring Company of Les Miserables. The Denver, Colorado-native got her big break in June of 2006, when she won the part of Christine Daaé in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. Boggess also has played Maria in West Side Story, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Polly in The Boyfriend and the lead role in Sweet Charity. Look for Sierra Boggess at the next Tony Awards.

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Happy birthday to fellow Aquarians (January 21 to February 19) Wyntergrace Williams (13-year-old daughter of Las Vegas-native Grace Moehrle (Bambi Jr.) and Montel Williams), Neil Diamond, Jim Seagrave, Terry Jenkins, Walter Mason, Doug Saleeby, Elliot Krane, Ray Jarvis, Nino Frediani, Arian Black, Ashleigh Hackett (2-year-old daughter of Lisa Dawn Miller and Sandy Hackett), Jim Semmelman, Ron Andrews, Nancy Lee Parker Andrews, Joe Krathwohl, Cindy Raft, Martin Nievera, Natalie Cole, Bobby Dickerson, Maurice Hines Sr., Eddie Foy III, Joey Zarzecki, Dacoda Collins (10-year-old son of Will Collins), Norm Johnson (who celebrates on Valentine's Day), Sean Grady and twins Anthony and Eddie Edwards.

Ashleigh Hackett Jim Seagrave Norm Johnson

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Thanks to requests by previous attendees of the show, Let's Dance! returns to the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin on Sunday, January 27^th. Led by Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson, the 14 cast members of the M&M American Dance Theatre will perform a show at 2 p.m. Tickets for this popular presentation are $25. For additional information, including directions to the theater, call (702) 363-1341, (702) 966-1410, or (702) 240-1301.

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And you thought we were through writing about the remnants of The CAST Inc., or whatever they are calling it these days. As long as there are things to report, we will continue to do so. Communist-type tactics reign supreme in this once valid and legitimate organization, formed in 2002 by a group of caring entertainers. The original idea was to help aging and/or needy entertainers who had fallen on hard times or could use a temporary hand due to illness or circumstances beyond their control. Last Saturday, a General Membership meeting was held at Josette's (the owner of the restaurant happens to be a very, very close friend of the CAST president). If you are a Las Vegan who reads the Neon section of the Review-Journal newspaper on Fridays, you may have seen the display ad touting this upcoming gathering (and we thought those monies were to help entertainers in need). What was thought by the interested few to be a donated lunch was, in fact, being paid for out of the CAST treasury (and we thought those monies were to help entertainers in need). Here is something to ponder when thinking that we may be too hard on the current president. If the "bargain price" paid for ad in the R-J had resulted in a great big turnout for Saturday's get-together, how much was the CAST prepared to spend on the lunches? It seems that today, money is no object when it comes to outgo. With all of the unnecessary expenses incurred by the group, how will there ever be anything left to help those in need? This last so-called meeting has only done more to convince us that this is self-promotion by a self-indulgent wannabe who is really a never was and never will be. What went on at this meeting to improve the image of the floundering organization? Well, there was a "vote" to decide whether to keep the tarnished name of the CAST (just changing the name won't help to clean up this mess). The three choices that were presented to the paid up members were (1) keep the name of the CAST, or (2) Show Business Society or (3) Show Biz Society. When some of the people stated that they didn't like any of the choices and could other possibilities be up for a vote, they were told by their esteemed leader/dictator that these were the only three choices they had. It was also made very clear, which name Mr. President preferred. We strongly suspect the name will be changed to the one he obviously wanted. One of the current board members, Society of Seven's Tony Ruivivar, as well as a longtime ally of the president, entertainer Lawrence T., seemed a bit disenchanted at the meeting. Mr. T. even used the word "intimidated" in describing his feelings. We wonder just how long it will take these two (as well as the few others who still have interest in the (dis)organization to get the picture and abandon the captain and his sinking ship. It was also announced that there would be elections to create a new board of directors. When someone in the group asked when those elections would take place, the president had no answer. This is democracy in action, folks. Wouldn't you want to be a member of this compatible and friendly bunch? Then there are, of course, money issues. If, as indicated by the group president at the Saturday meeting, the membership has grown from 13 to 40 (way down from the number of active and paid members of a few years ago) since he became head of the group, where is the approximately $4000 dollars in membership fees? To read the presidents bio in the General Membership Meeting handouts, you would think you were listening to an opera singer (Me, Me, Me, Me), or a Mariachi group (I, I, I, I). Will this guy ever stop patting himself on the back? He told the people in attendance at this gathering, that there would be no more small luncheons (at one point, those small luncheons were occurring and raising some money for the treasury on a monthly basis). Instead, the plan is to have BIG events to raise BIG money. Oh really? We have to wonder, how much will be taken out of the treasury to implement this idea? Maybe no one has mentioned to the board that when you spend more than you make in the name of charity, it ain't charity!

By the way, if the minimally talented CAST president (Where is Simon Cowell when you need him?) can't BE a star, he wants to BUY one. Of course he doesn't want to spend his own money, so he is hoping his many friends and fans will cough up the $15,000 so his name can be permanently embedded in concrete somewhere in Las Vegas. He has even sent out letters seeking donations. If this was a charitable man, he would be soliciting funds for the "philanthropic" group instead of for some other "honor" to add to his resume. Since Happy Harry, the late restaurant owner, never felt this blowhard important enough to name a salad or sandwich in his honor, perhaps a paid for star will guarantee his longevity in the Entertainment Capital of the World. And the saga continues...

Tags: Claire Voyant Gossip

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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 - January 11, 2008

Martin Nievera Shades of Sinatra Brent Barrett

Look for a favorite of ours, entertainer Martin Nievera, to join the Society of Seven at the Flamingo for a special two-month guest spot, from February 13^th through April 13^th. The very talented Mr. Nievera is a major star in the Philippines and should be one in Las Vegas as well. He performed in his own show at the Golden Nugget during 2003 and 2004, followed by a short stint at the Steve Wyrick Theater last year (so far, no act that has managed to survive in the theater at Planet Hollywood for very long). Perhaps this engagement with the SOS will give Martin, known as "The Concert King" in the Philippines, the chance he needs to be seen by some savvy entertainment buyer with an eye for building a regular following for this talented fellow. He definitely deserves his own room. Check out Martin Nievera and SOS at the Flamingo. Show times are Wednesdays through Sundays at 3 p.m. Call (702) 733-3333 for reservations.

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Shades of Sinatra returns to the Suncoast Hotel & Casino for a 7:30 p.m. show, Wednesday, January 16^th. "The Shades," as Ryan Baker, Larry Liso, Carmine Mandia and Lisa Smith call themselves, pay tribute to Old Blue Eyes with songs he made famous. Within a relatively short time, the musical quartet has gone from singing in a neighborhood restaurant to headlining in hotel/casino showrooms. For a chance to see Shades of Sinatra at the Suncoast, call (877) 636-7111 for ticket information and reservations.

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Look for our Phavorite Phantom, Brent Barrett, to pop up on stages other than the one in the incredible opera house at Paris Las Vegas. The fact that there are two actor/singers (Anthony Crivello is the other) covering the title role in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, allows Mr. Barrett to take other jobs, a good thing for his as well as music lovers in other parts of the country. For example, on February 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th, Barrett will perform with Karen Ziemba, Connie Kunkle, Nina Hennessy, Ty Stephens, James Sasser and Peter Howard in Life is a Cabaret - A Tribute to Fred Ebb, part of the 30^th Anniversary of the Lyrics & Lyricists series. The event, with Rob Fisher as artistic director, will take place at the famed Kaufman Concert Hall at the 92^nd Street Y, located at 1395 Lexington Avenue in New York City. New Yorker Fred Ebb's four-decade collaboration with composer John Kander produced a remarkable string of unforgettable shows. Fisher, the music director of the revival of Chicago, explores the legacy of the lyricist whose 700 songs epitomized the wit and sophistication of Broadway. Together, Kander and Ebb's stage credits include Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Zorba, Woman of the Year and Cabaret. Their film work includes the scores for New York, New York, and Funny Lady. They are also well known for music they wrote for Liza Minnelli. There is some dispute over what year Ebb was born, but there is no question of when he died - September 11, 2004. Show times are at 3 and 8 p.m. on the 23^rd and 24^th, and 2 and 8 p.m. on the 25^th. Tickets are $50 and $60 per person. On June 28^th, busy Brent will perform in concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, as part of Barbara Cook's Spotlight Series. We will have more details on this as the date draws closer.

Fred Ebb Mark Nadler & KT Sullivan Ethel Merman

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Last month, KT Sullivan, Craig Rubano, Dominic Meiman and Mark Nadler launched their new CD of operetta songs called The Night They Invented Champagne. The CD was produced by Frank Skillern and features beautiful orchestrations for piano and string quartet. The December launch was such an enormous success, many people weren't able to get in, so they are doing it again! This go-round will take place on Sunday, January 20^th at 7 p.m. at the La Rivista Palatine Restaurant, located at 313 West 46^th Street (between 8^th and 9^th Avenues) in New York, of course. The group will perform selections from the CD throughout the evening, promising a most festive experience. The cost for The Night They Invented Champagne is $75 per person. That includes the show, three-course dinner and a complimentary CD. Early reservations are strongly suggested. Call (212) 245-1707.

Incidentally, due to popular demand, Mark Nadler and KT Sullivan return to Las Vegas and the Charleston Heights Arts Center for a concert on Sunday, March 2^nd. In previous appearances, the talented duo has done musical tributes to both George Gershwin and Irving Berlin (Nadler also made a solo visit to perform his brilliant Mark Nadler In a Nutshell). This season‘s presentation is called Time After Time: Celebrating the Great American Songbook. This duos Las Vegas appearances are always sellouts, so if you have any interest in this type of entertainment, call (702) 229-6383 and make your reservations right away. Tickets are only $10 per person, unless you wait until the day of the performance when they are $15. If history repeats itself (and, in this case, it probably will), the tickets will be gone weeks before March 2^nd. He, or she, who hesitates is lost, and misses a great show. Don't say we didn't warn you.

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Unless you use mobility equipment, or have a companion or family member who does, you may not even be aware of some of the obstacles encountered in Las Vegas (and, probably, other city's) public places, primarily hotels. Here are a couple of examples. The Venetian, a relatively new and first class property, has no automatic door entering the casino from the third-floor valet parking garage. It is almost impossible for most wheelchair-bound individuals to pull open heavy glass double-doors with one hand, while trying to maneuver their medical equipment with the other. One usually has to depend on the kindness of strangers (thank you, Tennessee Williams and Blanche DuBois) to hold doors open so the rider can scoot inside. Sometimes the wait takes longer than it should. Almost every hotel/casino, especially the newer ones, is equipped with electric doors. Why not The Venetian? In a number of restaurants and showrooms (the Las Vegas Hilton, for one, and the coffee shop at the now-closed Stardust, for another ), guests in wheelchairs and or electric scooters are asked if they can walk (maybe to move from their equipment to a theater seat or dining chair). If the guest indicates that they are able to do that, their wheels are taken away and parked somewhere convenient for the employees, but not convenient for the customer. If the guest should need to leave the dining area or theater (to use the restroom or in case of an emergency), getting to their equipment might be impossible. In some establishments, mobility equipment may remain at the dining table...only if you stay in it. If you choose to sit in the chair, and keep your wheelchair or scooter at your side, many facilities will not allow this. At a table with four chairs, employees will remove one of the chairs to make room for the scooter or wheelchair with a person in it, but not for the unoccupied piece of equipment. Why? It takes up the same amount of room either way.

And, although the following incident had nothing to do with the fact that a disabled guest was put through great inconvenience, we witnessed an unpleasant scene in the showroom at the South Point last weekend. A couple, one of the people who happened to be in a wheelchair, arrived at the theater to see The Four Freshmen. They had won a pair of tickets in a radio contest, and were looking forward to enjoying the show from their very good reserved seats. When they were taken to where they were supposed to sit, the seats were occupied. Even though their tickets were not for the seats they were sitting in, the interlopers did not want to move. The hotel employee did not know how to handle the situation so a supervisor was called. Same thing. They wanted the couple with the upfront tickets to sit in less desirable seats to avoid the issue. It was only after the threat of contacting the media that the hotel insisted the people in the seats that didn't belong to them had to move. Again, we ask why? Why wasn't this handled properly and in a more efficient yet polite manner? Are employees not taught how to take care of these types of problems without all the fuss? For a city that needs to stress comfort, convenience and hospitality to their guests, there are certainly some areas that need fixing...hopefully, sooner than later.

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Many people know the name Nino Frediani from his years as a world-class juggler. He has been a Las Vegan and a featured Strip performer for about three decades. Frediani was a specialty act in Bill Moore and George Arnold's productions of Razzle Dazzle and City Lites, and The Great Radio City Spectacular starring the Rockettes, at the Flamingo. In more recent years, he has been a guest in Crazy Girls at the Riviera. In September, Nino became a partner in a Henderson restaurant. Formerly known as Chianti, the newly renamed Trilussa is located at 2895 N. Green Valley Parkway near Sunset. The chef/co-owner at Trilussa, Franco Spinelli, has been cooking up a storm for more than 35 years. A native of Milan, Italy, after culinary school, Spinelli in Italy, South America and Tahiti. He and his family arrived in the United States 20 years ago. Since that time, he ran Cafe Milano in Palm Desert, California, for five years and was the chef at Panevino in San Diego. In 2002, Franco was brought to Las Vegas to open Panevino here. He worked at Zeffirino at the Venetian for two years before deciding to open his own place. Call Trilussa at (702) 433-5405 for hours of operation and reservations.

And speaking of Bill Moore, he was one of many showbiz-types who took in Rita McKenzie's show at the Suncoast last weekend. As the ads stated, "There's No Business Like Ethel Merman's Broadway!" McKenzie proved that with her uncanny, award winning off-Broadway portrayal of Ethel Merman in this international smash hit. Rita's one-woman show saw her present I Got Rhythm, There's No Business Like Show Business, Everything's Coming Up Roses and 20 more of Broadway and Merman's all-time greatest songs. Also enjoying the show over the three nights were Nancy Lee Parker Andrews, Brent Barrett, Jeanne Brei and mom Ada, Michael Caprio, Randy Carlson, Michael Chapman, Rene DeHaven, Lisa Donovan and sister Ina Jo, Stan Evans, Nathan Ferrier, Tom Gallagher, Lou Garcia, Garold Gardner, Gerald Gordon, Paul Holmquist, Ray Jarvis, Sherry Jones (Pedley), Frank Leone, John Meren, Gary Oaks, Freda Payne, Sharon Prier, Jerry Ritholz, Howard Shapiro, Randy Slovacek, Joanie Spina and Thom Wise among many others. Ethel Merman was born on January 16^th, 100 years ago. The Queen of Broadway Musicals died in 1984 at the age of 76.

Freda Payne Roslyn Kind Kenny Kerr

And speaking of the beautiful Freda Payne, if you missed her early November shows at The Cannery, you have another chance to see and hear her when she brings her Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald to the Charleston Heights Arts Center, for a performance at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 10^th. The Detroit-born singer/actress is probably best known for her 1970 hit, Band of Gold. That tune earned Payne a Gold Record. A year later, the Vietnam protest song, Bring the Boys Home, netted her a second Gold Record. In the 1980s, Freda, Estelle Reiner (wife of Carl Reiner and mother of Rob "Meathead" Reiner) and Roslyn Kind (half-sister of Barbra Streisand) did a pilot for a project called Ladies of the Nightclub. A few years ago, Freda and Darlene Love performed at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York. The two ladies cleverly called their show Love & Payne. They then took Love & Payne to the Cinegrill at Los Angeles' Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The shows in both cities received excellent reviews. Payne also appeared on Broadway in Jelly's Last Jam, Sophisticated Ladies and Blues in the Night. The Charleston Heights Arts Center is located at 800 S. Brush Street, near Charleston and Decatur. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the performance (if there are any seats left). Call (702) 229-6383 for reservations.

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Condolences to comic/impersonator/singer Kenny Kerr on the recent death of his mother, Ruth "Sunny" Kerr. Kenny, who starred in Boy-lesque in Las Vegas for many years, is currently entertaining audiences as the star of the CopyKatz Celebrity Revue in Palm Springs. He will take some time off this week to attend his mother's memorial services in Blue Anchor, New Jersey, before returning to Palm Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to the Wellness Center at 2300 S. Rancho #205, Las Vegas, NV 89102. If you are in the Palm Springs area, stop in and see Kenny. The address for the Copy Katz Showroom & Backstage Bistro (formerly Atlas) is 200 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Show times and ticket prices are Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m., $39 per person, and Thursday at 9 p.m., $49 per person. Call (760) 864-9293 for reservations.

And speaking of Kenny Kerr and Boy-lesque...From Papote Varet, who choreographed many versions of the popular female impersonator show over the years, comes this information. The Señoras of Excellence/Señores of Distinction Awards Gala will take place Saturday, January 12^th at Wynn Las Vegas. Benefiting the Latin Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund, the awards are presented to men and women who have excelled in their careers, as well as contributed their time and efforts for the betterment of our community. This year's impressive honorees are: Tibi Contreras Ellis, President/CEO, Home Helpers; Amparo Z. Gamazo, Director, Modernization/Development, HACLV; Laurie Travis, President, LT Eventions; Rudy Prieto, CEO and General Manager, Las Vegas Hilton; Consul Mariano Lemus Gas, Consul of Mexico; and Larry Mason, Clark County School Board. A Special Recognition honor will go to World Renowned Recording Star, Marco Antonio Muñiz. Sandy Peltyn, Isabel Pfeifer and Mr. Varet will host the event.

Papote Varet, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, studied with the famed Ballet de San Juan. Varet has worked with Betsy Haug, Peter Jackson, and the institute of Le Danse, Barcelona, Spain. Stage performances, which took him from Broadway to Spain and Italy, include Cabaret, Sarava, and Fiddler on the Roof. His nightclub acts include Viva Viva Lissette and Sandy Peltyn‘s show. He's done TV specials for Showtime, Nevada Opera Theatre and many others. He has been directing and choreographing Boy-lesque at the Sahara Hotel for the past six years. Varet is responsible for the outstanding choreography for Miss Nevada USA Pageants and Miss Nevada Teen USA Pageants.

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Hats! opens at Harrah's tomorrow (January 12^th). The musical comedy, inspired by the Red Hat Society ladies, celebrates woman's journey into middle age...plus. With the success of Menopause the Musical at the Las Vegas Hilton, this tale of a woman who is stressed out about her impending 50th birthday, might be a dandy follow-up for those who have already experienced menopause. Hats! shows that aging can be fun - with a little help from your friends. Written by Marcia Milgrom Dodge and Anthony Dodge, and directed and choreographed by Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Hats! features songs by a number of well-known female songwriters, including Susan Birkenhead, Michele Brourman, Pat Bunch, Gretchen Cryer, Beth Falcone, Kathie Lee Gifford, Carol Hall, Melissa Manchester, Amanda McBroom, Pam Tillis and Sharon Vaughn, along with a few fellows, Doug Besterman, David Friedman, David Goldsmith, Henry Krieger and Stephen Lawrence. The show has already played numerous cities around the country, but the Harrah's production will get a special Vegas-style boost with additional and better costumes, comedy, and choreography. Hats!, presented by Dick Foster Productions, features nine singer/actresses, including local talents Dolly Coulter and Corrie Sachs. Show times are Saturdays through Thursdays at 6 p.m., with an added 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays. Call (702) 369-5111 for reservations.

Dolly Coulter Donny & Marie Osmond Johnny Fortuno

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If you haven't had your fill of Osmonds, siblings Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond will be performing in the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre July 17^th through the 23^rd. We don't know how ticket sales are going for this one, but if the interest is anything like that of The Osmond Family booking at The Orleans last August, this year‘s July engagement at the MGM may already be sold out. To check on ticket availability, call (702) 891-7777.

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It comes as no surprise that The Club at the Cannery Casino Hotel will feature an Elvis Presley tribute show just a few days after what would have been his 73^rd birthday, since Kathy Spehar, head entertainment honcho at the North Las Vegas property, is a longtime, diehard Elvis fan. Johnny Fortuno will star in Celebration of the King's Life, tonight (January 11^th) and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. With his raw energy and powerful stage presence, Fortuno has been praised by critics and celebrities as one of the top Presley tribute artists. Additionally, his costumes pay homage to the late King. Johnny will perform many of Elvis' hits including, American Trilogy, Suspicious Minds, Can't Help Falling in Love and Love Me Tender. He will be joined by Elvis' original back-up singers and Gospel Hall-of-Fame members, Bill Baize, Ed Hill, Sherrill Nielson and bass singer, Butch Owens. Other special guests will include Elvis' personal friend and bodyguard, Sonny West; Elvis' cousin, Jerry Presley; Elvis' Kissin' Cousins co-star, Cynthia Pepper; Elvis' Blue Hawaii co-star, Darlene Tompkins; DJ with Elvis on Air, Steve Christopher; Patsy Anderson and Sandy Miller. Other activities that will take place throughout the weekend include memorabilia dealers and fan club displays. The Cannery Row Buffet will be taking part in the fun by hosting a special "Food that fed the King" section featuring Elvis' favorite dishes. Admission to the show is $15 a person. Call (702) 617-5555 or (866) 287-4643 for reservations.

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Christopher Bowman, the 40-year-old former skating champ known as "Bowman the Showman," was found dead at a hotel in Southern California's San Fernando Valley yesterday (Thursday, January 10^th). Authorities say a drug overdose could be to blame. An autopsy was being planned. Bowman was one of figure skating's biggest personalities in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the U.S. men's figure skating titles in 1989 and 1992, and was runner-up in 1987 and 1991. He also won a silver medal at the 1989 world championships, and a bronze the next year. He skated in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, finishing seventh in 1988 and fourth in 1992. Bowman battled drug problems, and underwent treatment at least twice - once before the 1988 Olympics and then again after the Albertville Games in 1992. A onetime child actor, Bowman is survived by a daughter from a previous marriage.

We have also been informed of the death of Cam Cooper. Cooper was employed by Harrah's in Northern Nevada for a number of years, prior to going to work for Bill Cosby. In his 80s when he died on Sunday, January 6^th, Cam was a friend to many Las Vegas headliners. The walls of his home were lined with photos of the Who's who of stars, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. At our deadline, no funeral services had been announced.

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Displaying keen perception and great insight.
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Claire Voyant

Leslie Uggams Jason Graae Jimmy Hopper

Following the February 9^th closing of The Producers at Paris Las Vegas, the multi-talented Lee Roy Reams won't be idle for very long. Currently portraying the outrageous Roger DeBris in the Mel Brooks Tony-winning musical, Reams will head for Houston, Texas, where he will direct Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly! at the Theatre Under the Stars. The production, which will run from February 26^th through March 9^th, will star Leslie Uggams as Dolly Levi. The Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress/singer recently thrilled Broadway audiences co-starring with James Earl Jones in the revival of Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond. That performance came on the heels of her portrayal of the offbeat society heiress, Muzzy, in the Tony-award-winning musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie. In 1968, Leslie won a Tony Award for her role in Hallelujah, Baby. This will not be Uggams' first TUTS appearance. In 1989, she appeared there in the production of Anything Goes, and in 2001, she played The Witch in Into the Woods. Leslie Uggams won worldwide acclaim as a dramatic actress in one of the most watched dramatic mini-series in TV history, Alex Haley's Roots. She earned the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1978, an Emmy nomination for Best Leading actress, and a Golden Globe Nomination, all for her role as Kizzy.

Speaking of Jerry Herman, we loved the PBS special that aired on New Year's Day, highlighting his career as a Broadway composer. Herman wrote both the words and music for Mame, the above mentioned Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles, Mack and Mabel among others. Our minor complaints with the documentary are not enough face time for Jason Graae, and no face time (or any time) for Lee Roy Reams, Karen Morrow or Las Vegas resident Paige O'Hara (currently in Menopause The Musical at the Hilton). Nice to see Don Pippin, Herman's longtime musical director, so prominently featured. Pippin, Graae, Morrow and O'Hara, all took part in a tribute to Jerry Herman that played at UNLV in October of 2006. Mr. Herman was expected to take part in that evening, but illness kept him from attending. If you missed the documentary, it will probably air again (check your local TV listings). If not, a DVD is available for purchase.

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It's official! Jimmy Hopper will be returning to the Suncoast in March. Following his successful two-day engagement on Mother's Day weekend last May, the wise powers that be at Boyd Gaming are bringing the multi-talented entertainer back, this time for three days, March 28^th, 29^th and 30^th. Word of mouth and Hopper's local fan base should result in sold-out performances. Jimmy Hopper first generated Las Vegas buzz when he was featured in the Rio's sky-high Voo Doo Lounge. The buzz continued when he moved to the Fontana Room at Bellagio, resulting in a more than four-year run.

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The Liberace Museum has figured out yet another way to lure music-lovers to their establishment. In addition to their Composers Showcase, held once a month beginning at 10:30 p.m. (after theater), on Sunday, January 13^th, they are launching the Second Sunday Cabaret Series. The first artist to be featured will be Bruce Ewing. The Suffern, New York-native is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut. He is presently appearing in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Prior to Phantom, for four years, Bruce appeared as Jinx and Sparky in Forever Plaid at the Flamingo, followed by a stint as Jinx in the same musical production when it moved to the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino. Before Vegas, Bruce worked all over the country in musical theater. Credits include national tours of Forever Plaid, City of Angels, Grand Hotel, and Ziegfeld: A Night at the Follies. For his show at the museum, Bruce will offer his cabaret act called Every Day Is A Gift. It‘s a combination of theatre music and inspirational, uplifting music. The performance falls on Bruce's birthday weekend, so he is inviting everyone he knows (and those he hasn't met yet) to attend his "party." As a birthday gift, Bruce asks for any donation, half of which will go to the Liberace Foundation and Museum, with the other half going to Family Promise of Las Vegas. The program will play twice on the 13^th, once at 1:30 p.m. and again at 3:00 p.m. Admission is free for Nevada residents and their guests. The Liberace Museum is located at 1775 East Tropicana Avenue at Spencer.

Bruce Ewing Dixie Evans Las Vegas Classic Jazz Band

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Actors Bart Williams and John C. Brown turn filmmakers as they direct their love of burlesque into a documentary called The Last First Comic. The two have traveled from coast-to-coast, interviewing people such as Irving Benson, Ed McMahon, Alan Young, Mickey Deems, Don Potter, Chris Costello, Suzanne Charney and Betty "The Ball of Fire" Rowland. This weekend, Bart and John will be in Las Vegas to film and interview Dixie Evans. In her day, Dixie was known as "The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque." This lovely lady should add plenty of spark to the project.

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Letters. We get letters. We get lots and lots of letters (thanks again, Perry Como)...

From reader Carolyn Proctor comes this e-mail...

Regarding your comment about Gold Coast entertainment, you really should mention the Dixie band in the afternoon, Mondays thru Fridays. I don't know of any other hotel right now offering anything free in the afternoon. These guys are very professional, with lots of performing credits, and one of Cork (Carolyn's husband, comic Cork Proctor) and my favorites.

Thank you for the reminder, Carolyn. Although we were referring to the main showroom at the Gold Coast, and the Las Vegas Classic Jazz Band (their current name) plays in the hotel's East Lounge, we are more than happy to mention this talented group of musicians. Some folks may know the LVCJB better as the Royal Dixie Jazz Band (or the Kinda Dixie Jazz Band or the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band). The renamed sextet - today made up of Dan Ellis (leader/piano/ vocals), Steve Johnson (reeds/piano/vocals), Paul Testa (drums), Tom Ehlen (trumpet/ vocals), Jeff Davis (bass) and Nate Kimball (trombone/vocals) - perform Monday through Friday, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. at the hotel. A trip to the West Flamingo property to hear these gentlemen should be on your 2008 To Do list.

When we requested Claire Voyant readers to let us know what they think are the WORST shows or acts they have seen in Las Vegas, we meant on stages around the city. We decided to print this e-mail, as it is a valid answer to a vague (on our part) question...

From longtime Las Vegan Lawrence K comes this nominee...

I'm sure a TV show can be included. When Robert Sacca, the twin brother of Tony Sacca was still alive they had a less than tolerable talk (and I use the term "talk" loosely) show. The twins were seated at desks on the opposite ends of a couch on which the guest sat. The twins, who had a difficult time completing a sentence without screwing it up, were hosting Mel Tillis. If you don't remember, Mel (who is now 75-years-old) was the guest and had an uncontrollable stutter when he spoke. The interview was going so poorly with Mel having to turn his head (like he was watching a tennis match) to answer alternating questions from the articulate(less) twins on either end of the couch and having to try to understand the unintelligent questions that were being asked, Mel blurted out, "I t-t-t-talk b-b-b-better than the b-b-b-both of you." Naturally, the passing of someone in the community (Robert Sacca) always saddens us, but the Sacca Twins TV show has got to go down as one of the WORST in history. Unfortunately, Tony Sacca has not gotten any better to this day.

We also received a nice e-mail from entertainer Peter Lemongello. If the name is familiar, it is probably because, in 1976, the singer from Islip, Long Island, New York, became the first person to sell a million records through a television direct marketing campaign. Using a city-by-city marketing strategy, he and his partners began their Love '76 campaign on late-night TV, targeting all six New York metropolitan channels 70 to 100 times a week. The two-record set album, Do I Love You, sold 43,000 copies in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey in 13 weeks. After signing with Private Stock Records, they began the same campaign in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The album began to sell on an unprecedented level, attracting widespread media attention. Lemongello came up with the idea after a lukewarm cabaret career and numerous appearances on national TV, including three on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. After the success of the TV ad campaign, Lemongello performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In more recent years, he has performed in Branson, Missouri, and other venues around the country.

From Stan Evans comes this e-mail...

I would hope that you would include Lisa Donovan among the group that should be performing in Las Vegas on a regular basis. Before Lisa moved here two years ago, she had performed many times on major Vegas stages, such as -- in the main rooms at the Dunes (for two weeks) with Donald O'Connor, at the Riviera with Donald O'Connor and Mickey Rooney, many times with Don Rickles at the Golden Nugget, with Rickles again at the Desert Inn and with George Burns in his final Vegas appearance at Caesars Palace. (Lisa was the last person to have shared a stage with Burns, at Caesars Tahoe, before the home accident that ended his career.) And then there was Lisa's solo performance at that great lounge at the Desert Inn, where Lisa alternated shows with, among others, the great Keely Smith. Jack Eglash and Burton Cohen saw Lisa at Caesars with Burns, and hired her for three weeks. She brought in so much business that they kept renewing her until that three-week gig turned into a nine-month engagement. Outside of Vegas Lisa also worked other major rooms -- with Rickles, with Burns and with Rich Little, among many others. (You can find more information on Lisa at www.lisadonovan.com) Beyond that, Lisa was scheduled to do six weeks at Paris Las Vegas, with the possibility of extending, starting October 3, 2001. After that deal was made and agreed to, of course, came the tragedy of 9/11. Two weeks later and only one week before Lisa's scheduled opening, Paris Las Vegas called with the news that, due to poor post-9/11 business, they were shutting down the room Lisa was to sing in. But, they said, "We will make up for that cancellation." We're still waiting. When Lisa moved to Vegas, it was with the hope of finding steady work here -- so that she could cut down on international traveling (She's worked cruise ships around the world. And did a solo tour of Australia (Judy! Judy! Judy! Lisa Sings Garland). Getting back to the point you made, it's been tough finding work here. Lisa's done a couple of dates at the Starbright Theatre and has another date scheduled there in May. And Jeanne Bavaro, one of Lisa's great supporters, has produced a couple of cabaret shows with Lisa. So Lisa continues singing regularly. But not in Vegas. In just the last four months, Lisa, who, remember, moved to Vegas in the hopes of settling down some, has traveled to, among many other places, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia -- and will start the new year in Darwin, Australia. Which brings me to the other part of your column that stood out for me. There may be an ironic message to be culled from this. You mention Marty Allen and Karon Kate Blackwell, talented Las Vegas residents who did such good business recently at the Gold Coast. But who also don't find much work here. Guess where they are right now? On the same cruise ship (Princess Sapphire) with Lisa. (They each did a show on different nights. And then worked together in a farewell show.) They've become friends as they all debark in Darwin and fly home to Vegas -- where they all hope to find steady work. But will, in order to keep working, have to leave Vegas again.

There's your message brought home, Cousin Claire. Performers who entertain people all over the world but can't find steady work in the city that bills itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World. There's something wrong somewhere. And bless you for pointing it out.

Lisa Donovan Michael Orland Elizabeth Loyacano &
Tim Martin Gleason

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Belated birthday greetings to entertainer Carme Pitrello who celebrated his December 28^th natal day in Florida. Pitrello, a longtime Las Vegan, still maintains a home here but spends much of his time out of the city. Why? One reason is because, with all of his cruise ship work, it is a little more convenient for ship boarding than his ranchero in the Southwest desert.

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We caught the early (7:30 p.m.) of Imelda Papin with special guest David Pomeranz at The Orleans on New Year's Eve Monday. We would have liked to see a few more numbers from Mr. Pomeranz but, after all, it was Papin's show. David did his popular (especially among the Filipinos, who made up the majority of the audience) King and Queen of Hearts, The Old Songs (a Pomeranz tune recorded by Barry Manilow), and Got To Believe In Magic. He later joined Imelda in a duet. We have one criticism of the show. Although most of the audience was made up of Filipinos, for those of us who didn't speak or understand the language, we would have liked to see the English lyrics run on one (or more) of the three screens on stage during the two songs sung by Papin. It's a suggestion, folks.

We were very pleasantly surprised to see longtime friend Michael Orland on piano. In case you don't know anything about Mr. Orland, we will give you a short bio. Michael began his professional show business career as musical director and accompanist for the late comic/puppeteer Wayland Flowers. Since that time, Orland has worked with just about everyone who's anyone in music and cabaret - Lucie Arnaz, Kaye Ballard, Nell Carter, Dom DeLuise, Sam Harris, Lainie Kazan, Sally Kellerman, Gladys Knight, Roslyn Kind, Barry Manilow, Ann Miller and Chita Rivera among them. In addition to his work with individual performers, Orland has been associated with TV's American Idol since the reality show's inception. He is the pianist/ arranger and musical director for the popular FOX television show. By the way, Idol begins its new season on January 15^th.

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With very little fanfare, services were held for comedienne Pudgy! (Beverly Wines Cardella) last Saturday. The funny lady passed away at her home on Christmas Eve. Her last ongoing role was as the comedy relief in X-Burlesque at the Flamingo. Burial was to take place in her native Chicago.

* * * * * *

From a Claire Voyant reader comes all this newsy info (we may have to hire him as an assistant!)...

Elizabeth Loyacano, who created the role of Christine in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, has joined the New York cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-setting Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theatre. Loyacano succeeds Julie Hansen, who played her final performance on November 15^th. The Broadway company also features Howard McGillin as the Phantom, Tim Martin Gleason (Raoul), George Lee Andrews (Monsieur André; Andrews is the only cast member to have been with the Broadway production for the entire run), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Giry), Wayne Hobbs (Piangi) and Heather McFadden (Meg Giry). Elizabeth has also been seen on Broadway in The Woman in White, Oklahoma! and Dracula. Her other theatrical credits include Harmony, Titanic and Grease. Directed by Harold Prince, The Phantom of the Opera is currently the longest-running show in Broadway history. The musical, based on the Gaston Leroux novel, is the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Kristen Hertzenberg and Kristi Holden are currently sharing the role of Christine in The Venetian's Las Vegas production. For tickets and information about Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, call (702) 414-7469.

And speaking of Howard McGillin...Acting coach Gerald Gordon recalls directing Dames At Sea, produced by the very affluent Biltmore Hotel in their annex, the ritzy Coral Casino in Santa Barbara. It starred Joseph Bottoms in one of his first stage shows long before he went into films following in the steps of his brother Timothy Bottoms (Sam and the youngest brother, Benjamin Bottoms, who studied with Gordon, have also had acting careers). Howard McGillin, then 19-years old, was featured and his voice was outstanding even then. This opened for six weeks in November 1972 and was held over for an additional four weeks because it was so successful. Opening night audience members included Eva Marie Saint, her husband Jeffrey Hayden, Bradford Dillman and his gorgeous wife Suzy Parker, Anthony Zerbe and the very affluent society of Santa Barbara. Gordon was housed in a two-story, three-room bungalow at the Biltmore Hotel where guests dressed for dinner. Says Gordon, "I loved it there. I stayed for the entire run. I never wanted to leave."

And from the same helpful reader who provided the info on Elizabeth Loyacano comes this...

The Jerry Lopez Band, Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, perform every Monday night at the Palms. A few weeks ago, Bette Midler came in to see the band, and took the entire horn section to perform in her The Showgirl Must Go On, gig at Caesars Palace, beginning next month. They are all considered to be some of the top musicians in Vegas. Also, America's Got Talent winner, singing ventriloquist Terry Fator, is using the Scotty Alexander Band to back him up at all his Hilton performances. Scotty is the former guitar player and bandleader for Wayne Newton. Fator, who performed at the Las Vegas Hilton on New Year's Eve, has return dates scheduled at the hotel January 17^th through 19^th, and February 22^nd through 24^th. Mr. Fator is really expanding on his 15 minutes of fame...which is a good thing.

Howard McGillin Gerry McCambridge Clem Zeleski

Also expanding on his 15 minutes of fame is The Mentalist, Gerry McCambridge. The increase in Gerry's crowd counts at Hooters proves that you don't have to take first prize on a TV reality competition to be a winner. McCambridge was one of 10 contestants on NBC's Phenomenon. His performances were mind boggling, to both the audiences in the studio and at home. In spite of that, it was Mystifier, Mike Super, who claimed the $250,000 prize. Two-and-a-half years ago, McCambridge was booked into the Rampart for a three-week run. Those three-weeks turned into 47 weeks. Gerry's next Las Vegas stint was at the Stardust, first in a small room and then in the main showroom. He was there until the hotel closed in November of 2006. His current gig at Hooters is now up to five nights a week and the audience numbers are growing. We saw The Mentalist in the big room at the Stardust. We have to say that we much prefer the show in a smaller, more intimate setting. In this kind of venue, you really have the opportunity to see the amazement on the faces of the audience members, especially the ones that become involved in the show. In addition to being a consummate entertainer, Gerry McCambridge is also a savvy businessman. A year ago, while on "sabbatical" from a regular gig (McCambridge is a favorite on the corporate and special events circuit), Gerry started an online ticket business, called Vegas Seat Fillers. He recently sold 75 percent of the business to entrepreneur Chip Lightman (he represents Danny Gans and owns a couple of Las Vegas restaurants) and PR lady Laura Herlovich. The business is now called Show Tickets 4 Locals.

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There were some significant differences between Clint Holmes' Unplugged show at the Excalibur last August, and his recent Unplugged show at the Sahara. In addition to some holiday songs that were included in the December version of Unplugged, two talented musicians joined the original trio of Holmes, Bill Fayne and Domenick Allen. Playing bass was Keith Nelson, and on drums, and just about everything else within reach, was Brian Czach. Nelson is a longtime Las Vegan with an impressive list of credits. The bassist/vocalist has worked with Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer and Diana Ross, and appeared on The Tonight Show and the 1984 Grammy Awards. In recent years, he has been part of the Steven Lee Group and most recently has been performing with comic/singer/ impressionist Gordie Brown at The Venetian. New York-native Brian Czach, a brand new Las Vegan (he and his wife moved here only three days before the Sahara gig started), has been working with Domenick Allen for five years. Brian is an act on his own. We are sure he will find plenty of opportunity to ply his craft in his new hometown.

Mosaic, the a cappella group that works with comic George Wallace at the Flamingo, came onstage to offer a Readers Digest version of Carol of the Bells, while singer Ronnie Rose demonstrated his vocal abilities from the audience. We also spotted Las Vegas Tenor Teddy Davey in the crowd, as well as former entertainer (ice skater/chimp trainer) Sherry Jones (Pedley) in the audience. Sherry was celebrating her birthday at the Sahara (where she worked before retiring about a year-and-a-half ago), enjoying the show and a bite to eat afterwards. Many of her former co-workers greeted her warmly, wanting to know how she was enjoying her well-deserved "time off." The answer is that she is loving it. Cousin Claire's feelings about retirement are that the hours are great, but the pay is only so-so. It was nice to see former Stardust showroom maitre d‘, Bob Van Dura, who currently works at the Sahara.

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A date and location for A Celebration of Life for entertainer Clem Zeleski has been announced. The gathering of friends will take place at the Clark County Library on East Flamingo, Saturday, February 9^th at 1:30 p.m. Zeleski, who died on November 27^th at the age of 45, was best known for his interpretation of the dance style of classy and debonair Fred Astaire. The event is being organized by good friends, Kenny Mazlow (coming into Las Vegas from his job at San Francisco's Beach Blanket Babylon), Shirley Allen and Scott Singharath. Friends and/or fans of Clem's are invited to attend.

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You can dazzle your (grownup) baby even more when you step out in sneakers by Kashi Kicks. We aren't talking about just any sneaker, we are talking about Liberace-inspired footwear. Now acknowledged by the Millennial Generation as "The King of Bling," in addition to his skills at the piano, the late entertainer was known for his extravagance, showmanship and over-the-top wardrobe and lifestyle. The inspiration for the shoe collection followed a 2006 visit to the Liberace Museum to view the Outside the Shoe Box exhibit, which displayed an array of designer shoes worn by Liberace throughout his career. Alan Kashi, designer of Kashi Kicks in Pittsburgh, PA, has a background in jewelry design and is directly connected with hip-hop culture. The company is known for their highly-decorated, detailed and dazzling sneakers coveted by the celebrity feet of George Clinton, Flava Flav, Dj Unk, Joey Porter, Slim of 112, Cool of Cool & Dre and Casey Hampton of the Steelers. Kashi states, "With the introduction of this sneaker collection, Liberace's street credibility is absolutely bumped up a notch. We previewed the shoes for the fashion world at MAGIC in Las Vegas this past August, and eventually they'll be sold around the world at specialty stores and foot-ware giants, even in destinations as far as way as Australia and Europe." For a limited time, sneaker lovers, fans of the late showman, and hip-hoppers alike can ‘step in the bling' with the Kashi Kicks' Liberace Collection, priced at $99 and available exclusively in Las Vegas at the Liberace Museum store or online at Liberace.org. A portion of proceeds from every sale benefits the non-profit Liberace Foundation, which helps talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. To purchase the shoes at the Liberace Museum, call (702) 798-5595 for hours, or visit the store at 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. at Spencer.

Tags: Vegas Gossip

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