Penn & Teller, named "Magicians of the Year" two years in a row, recently signed a long-term agreement to perform at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The contract, effective in September 2002, will keep the performers at the Rio's 1,500-seat Samba Theatre through September 2004 working 42 to 44 weeks per year.

Penn Jillette and the single-named Teller, who have been together since 1975, are consummate tricksters, who also happen to be the world's biggest skeptics. Their trickery not only possesses an entrancing magical element, but also offers audiences an intriguing intellectual challenge.

After playing small clubs, theaters and the Renaissance Fair circuit, Penn & Teller gained national attention when their stage show opened off-Broadway in 1985, leading to appearances on "Late Night with David Letterman," "Saturday Night Live" and "Miami Vice." In 1987, their show moved to Broadway for the first of two successful runs.

Penn & Teller are performing nightly except Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 with tax included.

The Boss, Bruce Springsteen is reportedly negotiating with the Thomas & Mack Center to perform sometime in early August. If the 53-year-old star comes to Las Vegas, it will be the second time in his career. The first was two years ago when he headlined at the MGM Grand.

Soul diva Patti LaBelle will perform her newly revamped show in Le Theatre des Arts at Paris Las Vegas, July 18-21 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $65 including tax, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

LaBelle's latest tour features a new band and new arrangements of her high-energy hits. She first took the spotlight in 1961 with The Bluebelles and went on as a solo artist to record a dozen albums. In addition, she has written two New York Times best-selling books including her autobiography, "Don't Block the Blessings" and a cookbook, "LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About."

The Imperial Palace (IP) has introduced a new way to beat the heat by opening Tequila Joe's Frozen Daiquiri Bar, on the sidewalk just steps inside the resort's front door. Open daily, the bartenders mix the coolest frozen drinks in 12, 20 and 46-ounce souvenir-like cups. Along with Daiquiris, you can get Pina Coladas, Margaritas, Patriotic Passions and a Hurricane plus more selections. Domestic and imported beer is also available as well as IP special bottled water.

Tony Orlando who recently spent months headlining downtown at the Golden Nugget will appear at The Orleans Showroom, July 19-21. Tickets are $34.95, $39.95 an $44.95, call 702-365-7075.

Orlando is known for his many hit tunes such as "Candida," "Knock Three Times" and "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree," and his variety show that ran on CBS for four seasons.

Today, Orlando remains in demand. The subject of a VHI "Behind The Music," his episode is one of the highest rated in the series and continues to air to this day. He recently finished a star cameo in Billy Bob Thornton's "Wakin Up in Reno," to be released. He also returned to the studio and recorded a song he wrote, "American Highrise," which is a tribute to the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Check out www.tonyorlandoonline.com for more information.

Laugh master Louie Anderson is moving from the Rio over to The Orleans for a July 25-28 engagement. Tickets are $34.95, $44.95 and $54.95 plus tax, call 702-365-7075.

Anderson made his national television debut on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson in 1984 and the rest has been history. Now he is in his second season as host of "Family Feud," and continues to have the highly successful Saturday morning animated series "Life With Louie." Anderson is also a best-selling author.

The topless production show "Splash" at the Riviera will move its early 7:30 p.m. show to 8 p.m. on July 15. The adult revue will continue with the second show at 10:30 p.m. "Splash" is performed twice nightly, Saturday through Thursday and dark on Friday. For information, call 702-794-9433.

Latin superstar Olga Breeskin has taken to the stage at the Fremont's new Aloha Cabaret room performing ten afternoon shows each week. "Fying Fiddles" stars fiddle players Breeskin and Johnny Potash, a Nevada State Master Fiddle Champion. The 2 and 3:30 p.m. shows are free with the purchase of one drink at $5.95 with tax included.

In Latin America, Breeskin is known as "Super Olga" and "Queen of the Spectaculars." Her act includes individual instrumental selections and vocals.

Her career has encompassed the theatre, nightclub performances, ten soap operas, 14 motion pictures and six instrumental and four vocal albums. Breeskin also authored a best selling "beauty secrets" book.

The sexy male revue "Thunder From Down Under" featuring the Australian troupe of hunks has relocated to the Excalibur. "Thunder" vacated a spot at the New Frontier and another male strip show "Men" will take over on July 19 with seven dancers and a master of ceremonies.

Here's a reminder; "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance" at New York-New York will close on July 28. The hotel will then start remodeling the showroom to house a new Cirque du Soleil show.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The legendary Righteous Brothers are performing an extended engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton through Aug. 4. Ticket are $35, $45 and $55 plus tax and handing fee, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

For nearly 40 years, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield have been combining romance and rock 'n' roll with timeless classics like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and "Let The Good Times Roll." Their timeless hit, "Unchained Melody" earned the duo a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group" more than two decades after it was originally recorded.

Hold everything, the deal may not be dead; however, the current purchase agreement for the Four Queens to be bought by SummerGate Inc. has been terminated. A new deal may very well be struck and only time will tell. The Four Queens is a 690-room hotel on Fremont Street with a 3,200-square-foot casino, meeting space, five restaurants, three cocktail lounges and a gift shop.

The Society of Seven will be leaving the Golden Nugget downtown and heading back to Hawaii after July 21.

The Castaways, formerly the Showboat on Boulder Highway, has introduced a contemporary Polynesian revue, "At Home in the Islands." The show in the Waolani Showroom is a tour of Polynesia through songs and dances from Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa and Tahiti. Tickets for the family show are $19.95 with a tropical cocktail included. Show times are 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday with additional 10 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday.

Air Supply with special guest Shari Short will return to the off-Strip Suncoast Showroom, July 19-21. The duo of Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell first came together in Sydney, Australia during 1975 when they were performing in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Shortly thereafter, the band recorded their debut album with the single "Love And Other Bruises," which reached the Australian Top 10. The band went on a North American tour supporting Rod Stewart and gained international exposure. Between 1980 and 1982, Air Supply turned out a solid string of seven Top 5 singles. Tickets are $34.95, $39.95 and $44.95 plus tax, call 702-636-7075.

Country sensation Randy Travis will be performing at Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, NV on Friday, July 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $45, call 1-800-FUN-STOP. Primm is located 35 minutes south of Las Vegas on Interstate 15 at the Nevada/California state line.

Travis has recorded 16 albums and his last one was released in august 2001. He's also done quite a bit of acting. His next screen appearance will involve a starring role in the upcoming Miramax / Dimension film, "Texas Rangers."

The Imperial Palace has a special promotion called Super Summer Cash Blast running throughout the month of July. At 3:30 p.m. daily, five contestants will be drawn from a ticket drum to climb into the Imperial Money Machine with $5,000 flying around and start grabbing money.

Tickets can be earned in a variety of ways including every facet of gaming, joining the Imperial Player Club, staying as a guest at the hotel, and dining at any of the hotel's restaurants. Each of the five contestants has one minute in the Imperial Money Machine to grab as much cash as possible and push it through a slot in the side of the machine. Immediately following the money grab, an additional five tickets will be drawn for various prizes. For more information, call 1-800-351-7400, ext. 1.

Look for three major movies to stop in Las Vegas for some location shooting. George Clooney is teaming up with Catherine Zeta-Jones in a romance-comedy called "Intolerable Cruelty." The cast also includes Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush and Billy Bob Thornton.

The other two films are Mike Myers in "Cat in the Hat," and Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu in the "Charlie's Angels" sequel.

A really fun summer experience is the Super Summer Theatre presented at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, located about 18 miles west of Las Vegas on Charleston Avenue. This month's play is the musical "Li'l Abner" based on the characters of Al Capp's comic strip. It's running through July 26.

Plays are performed outside Wednesdays through Saturdays. Gates open at 6 p.m. and plays start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 and $10 at the gate. For more information call 702-594-7529 or visit (website closed). For those attending, chairs may be rented for $1 or bring a blanket to use in the meadow.

Antique lovers may be interested in seeing a rare, Northwind carved oak slant-lid antique desk used by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, author of "The Power of Positive Thinking," while he was pastor at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan from 1932-1984. A Las Vegas resident, Jim Bickford recently acquired it at an estate sale. It will be on display through July 31 at the Antique Sampler Shoppes located about ten minutes from the Strip at Tropicana and Jones. Bickford is accepting all serious offers over $10,000 for this historic treasure.

The June 28 Guess Who show that was postponed at Mandalay Bay Beach has been canceled and will not be rescheduled. Fans can get refunds where they bought tickets.

CONTINUE ON TO...:
>THIS WEEK'S LAUGHLIN SEGMENT
>LAST WEEK'S LAS VEGAS SEGMENT
>VEGAS VIEWS FULL ARCHIVES
>Return to "Heard Around Town"
>Return to Las Vegas Leisure Guide