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Las Vegas News

Sunday, May 19, 2002 PRIOR ISSUE   -   ARCHIVES
Stones Set To Roll In, Disco Returns, David Spade Enters The Storm, Fab Four Fill In, Le Bistro Adds Sorrentino's "Voices", Paris Welcomes Howie Madell, Gabe Kaplan Takes Over Laugh-Trax, Magical Matinees, Neville Brothers Bring New Orleans To Stardust, Mandalay Bay Goes Country, Swim-Up Blackjack Heats Up the Pool, Silver City Turns Up Dresses, More...

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Jackie Brett
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Rock legends, The Rolling Stones have announced another world tour that will begin on Sept. 5 in Boston. The Group will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with not only the tour but also a greatest hits disc that will feature new songs.

The Stones have set aside a Nov. 29 date to appear in Las Vegas but no site has been determined. The last time the Stones performed in Las Vegas was in 1998 at the Hard Rock. Previously, the group performed at the MGM Grand Garden Arena during a stadium tour.

The Stones will play three different types of shows, with three different music set lists, during their tour. They'll utilize three different types of venues: stadiums, arenas and smaller concert halls. Tickets will run between $50 and $300.

Comedian David Spade will headline in the Mandalay Bay STORM Theatre on Sunday, May 26. Tickets are $55 and $65 plus tax, call 702-632-7580.

Spade is probably best known for his five-year stint as a cast member on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." In 1999, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as Dennis Finch, the wisecracking assistant on "Just Shoot Me." His feature film credits include "Reality Bites," "Light Sleeper," "Coneheads," "Blacksheep" and "Lost & Found."

Beginning on May 24, the Las Vegas Hilton will introduce Disco Nights in The NightClub. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m., DJs will spin dance hits from the 70s and 80s and feature talented dancers wearing the fashions of those two decades. The nightspot will have drink specials, complimentary admission and convenient parking.

The British invasion will return to The NightClub at the Las Vegas Hilton when The Fab Four appear, May 20-26, while Sheena Easton takes a break. "The Ultimate Tribute to the Beatles" has The Fab Four recreating each detail and nuance of The Beatles' sprit and style. The foursome has toured around Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Mexico and Brazil and the United States. Tickets are $27 plus tax and fee, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

"Stephen Sorrentino's Voices In My Head," starring actor, comedian, impersonator and musician, Stephen Sorrentino, is the newest addition to the entertainment lineup in the Le Bistro Theatre at the Riviera. The production featuring a live rock and roll band and showgirls is a combination Las Vegas stage show, classic television variety hour, concert and stand-up comedy all rolled into one.

Sorrentino dishes out one-liners at break-neck speed and displays his musical talents on piano, guitar, saxophone and flute. His musical impressions take him from Joe Cocker to Pavarotti. He's appeared in many shows as Elton John. One guest in the show is Sorrentino's redneck, trailer park character, Travis-Travis.

Show times for "Voices In My Head" are 11:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $19.95 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9433.

Versatile comedian Howie Mandel will make a special three-night appearance in Le Theatre des Arts at Paris Las Vegas, June 14-16. Tickets are $55 plus tax and fee, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

Mandel remains famous for playing Dr. Wayne Fiscus for six years on the hit television series, "St. Elsewhere." More recently, he has made appearances in a wide range of television programs including "Providence," "The Nanny," "Homicide" and "The Ben Stiller Show." Mandel also played the voice of "Gizmo" in the blockbuster 80s movie "Gremlins" and the sequel that followed. Another accomplishment was creating and producing the Emmy Award-nominated animated children's series, "Bobby's World," which ran for eight seasons on FOX.

Comedian Gabe Kaplan became famous playing a teacher on the hit series "Welcome Back, Kotter." He got out of the entertainment profession 15 years ago to become an investor. Now at 57, he's making a career move back to stand-up comedy by working with the Palace Station's comedy club, "Laugh Trax." This past week, he headlined the club that will be renamed Gabe Kaplan's Laugh Trax. In the future, he plans to work on his act by performing at the club unannounced and to introduce the advertised comedians.

An interesting note on Kaplan, he loves to play poker and won the Amarillo Slim Poker Classic in Reno in 1980.

Another afternoon show is going to join the city's lineup on May 28, when singing magician Darren Romeo opens his 3 p.m. matinee show, "Siegfried & Roy present... Darren Romeo, the Voice of Magic," at The Mirage. It will run Tuesdays through Saturdays and possibly cost in the $30 range.

Romeo had an afternoon show at the Flamingo that ran from December 1999 to June 2000. His show has a twist because Romeo was a musical-theater performer first, and sings show tunes while he performs.

Caesars Magical Empire has extended its two theaters for afternoon use with shows running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays-Sundays. Two shows are featured in the Sultan's Palace and Secret Pagoda theaters along with wandering magicians in the Sanctum Secorum area. Tickets are $26.50 and $10 for children 5-12. There is no dining in the afternoon.

The "Le Dinner Cabaret" at the Greek Isles closed recently. In its place, a "Rat Pack" themed production is supposed to open.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The boarded up Silver City Casino on the Las Vegas Strip has been sold after two years of being closed. The building will be replaced by the ninth and largest Ross Dress For Less store in the valley. The most recent past owner had intended to build a San Francisco-themed resort but couldn't get a gaming licensed.

While the temperature in Las Vegas is heating up, the Tropicana offers a solution to cooling off while continuing to play blackjack. The Tropicana's Swim-Up Blackjack is located in the indoor section of the main pool. The season will start on Saturday, May 25, with two separate blackjack tables accommodating up to seven players each. The card game action will take place daily from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

For the convenience of the game players in the water, towels are handy to keep the players' hands and chips dry. Plus, the dealers have money dryers, so guests don't have to worry about soggy cash.

Close by the aquatic card tables is the Tropics Bar featuring traditional "tropical" drinks, Green Parrots in souvenir mugs, and personal favorite drinks served in a souvenir showgirl yardstick or a Tropicana football.

The Tropicana's 12,000-square-foot, free-form main heated pool is open from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. during the season which runs from April 1 - Oct. 31. The adult Lagoon Pool is open 24-hours a day through the same dates, weather permitting.

Private cabanas are available for rent to registered hotel guests. Cabanas include cable TV, a refrigerator, telephone, portable mister, ceiling fan, private dressing room, chaise lounges, chairs, a table, and a complimentary fruit basket. Room service and cocktail service are available. The rental fee for a whole day is $75 on weekdays and $95 for weekends.

The Harry James Orchestra directed by Art Depew, a one-time protege of trumpet star James, will play for dancing at the Stardust on May 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $15. The orchestra is officially licensed by James' estate and features arrangements from the bands led by James during his more than 40 years as a dance band maestro.

James was a Las Vegas resident from 1960 until his death in 1983 and spent much of his career starring in local showrooms and lounges.

James hired Depew in 1953 after he serving his apprenticeship in bands led by Bob Chester, Horace Heidt, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. He played in the James band five years and took over as the band's lead in 1988.

Future big band bookings at the Stardust include the Billy May Orchestra on June 15, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra on Aug. 3, Les Brown's Band of Renown on Oct. 19 and Ray Anthony and his Orchestra on Nov. 16.

Kenny Chesney's "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems Tour" is scheduled at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Sunday, May 26. The show will also feature Montgomery Gentry, Jamie O'Neal and Phil Vassar. Tickets are $30, $40 and $55, call 702-632-7580.

Chesney is launching his first major headlining tour in support of his latest release, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems." This is happening after back-to-back platinum records "Everywhere We Go" and "Greatest Hits."

The duo Montgomery Gentry upset the longest winning streak in the history of Country Music Association when they ended Brooks & Dunn's nine-year stranglehold on "Duo of The Year." Their hit singles include, "Hillbilly Shoes," "Lonely & Gone," "Cold One Comin' On," and "She Couldn't Change Me."

In the year 2001, Jamie O'Neal's debut album, "Shiver," sold over 500,000 copies, making her the best-selling new artist that year. O'Neal's accolades in 2001 included, Billboard Music's "Top New Country Artist" and the Academy of Country Music's "Top New Female Vocalist."

Singer/songwriter Phil Vassar has released hit singles such as "Carlene" and "Just Another Day In Paradise," and had his songs sung by such industry greats as Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina and Alan Jackson.

The New Orleans-based family band, The Neville Brothers will headline in the Stardust's Wayne Newton Theater, May 30-June 1. The five-time Grammy Award winners recorded their first album together in 1978 after each brother had been enjoying individual success. Tickets are $29.95 plus tax, call 702-732-6325.

In 1989, the four Neville Brothers won the "Best Pop Instrumental Performance" Grammy for the song "Healing Chant." The Group's trophy case also includes Aaron's Grammys for duets with Linda Ronstadt and Trisha Yearwood and the Grammy awarded to Art when he teamed with B.B. King, Eric Clapton and others to record "SRV Shuffle."

The newest Las Vegas Harley-Davidson store opened at New York-New York on May 17. The 3,000-square-foot retail store replaced Marshall-Rousso on Park Avenue near the escalators leading up to Coyote Ugly. Harley-Davidson will begin its 100th anniversary celebration in July and specialty logo items will be available at the new location beginning in late summer.

Craftsteak, the new steakhouse at the MGM Grand will open at the end of June. It will take over the space formerly occupied by the Brown Derby restaurant that closed in March. The MGM Grand will own the eatery.

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Editorial Content Copyright(c) 2000-2002 Jackie Brett; Internet Presentation Copyright(c) Las Vegas Leisure Guide