For the first time in three years, the Dixie Chicks will begin touring nearly 60 dates beginning on May 1 and stop in Las Vegas at the over 17,000-seat MGM Grand Garden Arena with special guest Michelle Branch on July 26 and 27. Tickets for the Lipton Presents Dixie Chicks "Top of the World Tour" show that will be performed "in the round" at the MGM are priced at $55, $75 and $100 plus applicable service charges, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

The group's 2000 Fly Tour grossed more than $47 million in ticket sales after the ladies recorded two of the most popular albums in country music history, "Wide Open Spaces" in 1998 and "Fly" in 1999.

The Dixie Chicks' most recent release is "Home," an acoustic album recorded in Austin, TX, outside the usual channels and politics of Nashville. "Home" sold more than 700,000 copies in its debut week, landing them at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 Album Charts for two weeks. Remarkably, "Home" hit the number one spot again 23 weeks later. The disc has already sold five million copies and earned seven Grammy nominations including Album of the Year (all genres).

The Dixie Chicks select their opening acts for their respective dates and rock ing‚nue, Michelle Branch, has been selected for the MGM Grand performances. The 19-year-old singer/songwriter picked up a guitar at age 14, wrote her first song the next day, hit the club circuit a year later and by 2001 had inked a recording deal with Maverick Records. She was catapulted to stardom with the release of her platinum-selling debut, "The Spirit Room," album featuring three hit singles. Her remarkable talents subsequently caught the ear of guitar legend Carlos Santana, later resulting in their Grammy-nominated hit duet, "The Game of Love."

The Orleans Arena, in conjunction with Coast Casinos and Ghost Entertainment, will present Brooks & Dunn as the grand opening concert on Sunday, May 25. Adding to the festivities, Coors Light will present Brooks & Dunn's Neon Circus and Wild West Show 2003, hosted by comedian Cledus T. Judd, and featuring Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Aaron Lines and Jeff Bates. Tickets are $50, $65, $75 and $95 plus applicable service charges, call 702-284-7777.

The Neon Circus is a multi-level entertainment event, loaded with activity and sideshow talent. The tour, which was named "Tour of the Year" by the International Talent Buyers Association, is known for going after fresh, new talent.

Brad Paisley scored his most recent number one hit with "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)." The chart-topping Rascal Flatts, is a trio of stellar musicians with impeccable harmony. Their debut album sold over a million copies, helping the group win the 2001 Academy of Country Music award for "Best New Vocal Group." Canadian-born Aaron Lines, who is currently experiencing success with his top ten hit, "You Can't Hide Beautiful," also joins the tour along with RCA recording artist Jeff Bates.

Brooks & Dunn have scored the coveted "Duo of the Year" award 11 times at the Academy of Country Music and 10 times at the Country Music Awards. They won Billboard's "Country Single of the Year" for their six-week number one hit, "There Ain't Nothing 'Bout You," which also received a CMA "Single of the Year" nomination. The duo has sold over 24 million albums and had 21 number one songs. Their latest album, "Steers & Stripes," debuted at number one on Billboard's Country album chart and number four on the top 200 for all genre sales.

Funnyman George Lopez, star of his own ABC sitcom, "George Lopez," will perform at the Hilton Theater with stand-up comedian Lowell Sanders opening on April 4-5, at 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 and $40, call 800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

Last year, Lopez released a comedy CD entitled "Right Now Right Now" on Oglio Records / Warner Brothers and a second CD is due out this summer, entitled "Why You Crying." His acting credits are in the feature films "Real Women Have Curves" and Ken Loach's "Bread and Roses."

Previously, Lopez hosted his own morning radio show for Clear Channel Communications in Los Angeles, making him the first Latino to headline the keystone morning radio slot on an English-language station in the nation's top radio market.

Classic rock legends, the Moody Blues, in celebration of their March 4 release of "Deluxe Edition-A Night at Red Rocks," are touring all month and will conclude with four nights at Paris Las Vegas, March 27-30. Tickets are $75 with tax included; call 877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

Over the past 30 years, the four-man British band that was formed in 1967, have sold more than 60 million albums and become one of the most innovative and successful rock bands in musical history. The Moody Blues have 18 platinum records, and one of the biggest-selling singles of all time, "Nights in White Satin."

Earlier this month, the Fremont Street Experience downtown released its all-new, Classic Rock light and sound show featuring the 70's legends Kansas, Doobie Brothers, Heart, Chicago, and Boston on the five city block street canopy with 2.1 million lights.

Fremont Street Experience light and sound shows are presented hourly from dusk until midnight and are free and open to the public. Light and sound shows include: Disco Flashback, Tropical Fever, Classic Rock, Dancing in the Street (Motown), The Odyssey: An Illuminating Journey, Kickin' Country, Country Western Nights, Las Vegas Legends and Heartbeat of a Planet.

Ample parking is available in the Fremont Street Experience Parking Garage located at Carson and Fourth Streets. For more information, call 800-249-3559 or 702-678-5777.

Topical comedian Jackie Mason will appear at the MGM Grand's 740-seat Hollywood Theatre, April 3-9. Tickets are $50 inclusive, call or 800-929-1111 or 702- 891-7777.

Mason's hit show, "Prune Danish," is direct from Broadway and examines everything from social to political issues and current events. He has received acclaim for all four of his hit Broadway shows beginning with his first one, "The World According To Me," which brought him a Tony Award, an Ace Award, an Emmy Award and a Grammy nomination. He's also received multiple Grammy nominations for his comedy albums.

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The "best selling saxophone player in history," Kenny G will entertain at the 7,000-seat Aladdin Theater on March 29. His self-titled debut album was on the Arista label in 1982. He gained his international audience with the release of "Duotones" in 1986, which sold more than three million copies. In 1992, "Breathless" sold over eight million copies in the United States alone. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55, call 702-785-5000.

The doctor "everyone is sleeping with" in Las Vegas is outrageous hypnotist Dr. Scott, who by day is a chiropractic physician and clinical hypnotherapist. By night, Dr. Scott Lewis is hypnotizing audiences at his 7 p.m. Monday night shows in the Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre, where he celebrated his one year anniversary this past week. His engagement is indefinite.

The mayhem Lewis conducts on stage is in sharp contrast to his professional life working alongside medical doctors, radiologists and neurologists in a large clinic near the Strip. The thirty-nine year old physician treats injury victims as well as hypnotizes patients to lose weight, stop smoking and control other unwanted habits. Lewis himself was 40 pounds overweight until he developed his unique hypnotic method which has been featured on "Extra!," "Inside Edition," The Fox News Channel and many other programs.

Lewis recently completed a tour of the Far East and Australia where he was featured on a national television special hypnotizing glamorous Sydney showgirls to control their cravings for chocolate and other fattening foods. To reach him at his office, call 702-456-1200.

Sevilla Las Vegas is a new 35,000-square-foot Spanish-themed restaurant and nightclub at The Aladdin's Desert Passage. The nightclub is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with music in three distinct areas of the club ranging from salsa to Latin house.

Ladies Night is every Thursday with free admittance for ladies and one free drink. Free salsa lessons are offered from 10-11 p.m. Fridays are Sevilla Entertainers Night (SEN) where all entertainers and service industry workers (dancers, show people and restaurant personal) have VIP admittance. Very special bottle prices are offered in the Martini Lounge and on the VIP Terrace. Saturdays are Seduction Night, the sexiest night of the week, with two for one martinis and cosmos offered in the Martini Lounge and on the VIP Terrace.

"Spirit of the Dance," the international dance production at the 400-seat

Theatre Ballroom in the Golden Nugget downtown, has been extended through May 11. Tickets are $45 inclusive, call 866-946-5336 or 702-386-8100.

Currently, there are six award-winning "Spirit of the Dance" troupes touring the world with the show that has won nine Global Awards, including "Best Choreography" and "Best International Production."

For the month of April, the Imperial Palace Players Club will offer new enrollment members, who accumulate 100 points of play within the first 24 hours of enrollment on the Imperial Players Card, two free buffets.

The Imperial Palace School of Gaming gives free lessons Monday through Friday. For more information, call 800-351-7400 ext. 1, or 702-794-3960.

The Golden Nugget downtown, one of Las Vegas' AAA Four Diamond resorts, has a springtime special on suite packages running through June. Beginning at $99 per couple, per night, the resort offers a variety of suites, starting with Junior Suites, up to the 1,500-square-foot, two-story Spa Tower suites.

The package includes one spa pass per person, per day, a complimentary cocktail in any casino bar or lounge per person, per day, and turn-down service with delectable chocolate truffles. For more information or reservations, call 800-634-3454 and ask for your suite special package.

College basketball fans can experience the "March Madness" games, March 20-23, at Paris Las Vegas in Le Theatre des Arts for free. The showroom will become an adult sports fan's paradise with theater-size screens showing multiple games, surround sound and comfortable stadium-style seating. The showroom opens at 9 a.m. and wagers can be placed on the games inside the theatre.

At the Imperial Palace, the free court action will be in the Royal Hall, March 20-23. Hoop madness parties sponsored by Miller Genuine, Miller Lite and Pepsi, will also begin at 9 a.m. with action on big screens, food and drink specials all day long, and a "toss the rock" free-throw game to win prizes. The hotel's Big-4 party will be held on Saturday, April 5.

Sports fans and partygoers can also enjoy all the college basketball games at the Flamingo's "Greatest Week of College Basketball" Party in the Sunset Ballroom, March 20-21, beginning at 8 a.m. The $10 daily admission fee includes viewing on giant-screen televisions, one hot dog, one draft beer and a Flamingo basketball party souvenir T-shirt, call 800-221-7299 or 702-733-3333.

Las Vegas' Official Oscar Night America Party benefiting the Arthritis Foundation will join the festivities when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stages its 75th Annual Academy Awardsr Ceremony on Sunday, March 23. The celebration will be held at the Caesars Palace Pavilion beginning at 4 p.m. with a silent auction, followed by a reception during the awards broadcast from 5:30-9:30 p.m. with four Caesars restaurants providing "A Tasting of Caesars," and be capped off with the After Glow Reception at the new Cypress Street MarketPlace.

Guests will also enjoy competing for prizes in the "Predict the Winner" contest, a live fashion show and a cigar bar. The audience will view the live telecast on four large screens, have Robin Leach of "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" as the celebrity Master of Ceremonies, and receive the same official program and commemorative posters distributed to guests at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.

Tickets are $225 per person; call the Arthritis Foundation 702-367-1626.

The Adlers Appetite Tour featuring Suki Jones with special guests WhiteStarr will present a free show at Boulder Station on March 22 at 7:30 p.m. Suki Jones is an "In Your Face" rock 'n' roll collaboration band put together by musicians Steven Adler and Keri Kelli. The band will enable Adler to perform songs from the album, "Appetite for Destruction" and some classic hits from the 70's & 80's. Adler on drums is a multi-platinum Geffen recording artist who was an original member of Guns & Roses.

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