Rick Thomas is celebrating his four-year anniversary at the Tropicana with his show, "The Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas." Show times are 2 and 4 p.m. daily except Fridays.

Thomas continually updates his elaborate afternoon show. In the latest version of his one-hour show, he has incorporated a new dramatic opening and added illusions including a more extravagant finale with his dancers and four royal Bengal tigers. Tickets are $16.95 for table seating and $21.95 for a booth plus tax and surcharge, call 702-739-2411.

Thomas' show features white doves and Mollucan Cockatoos, Buddy and Sally, who are 14 years old. In contrast, he also highlights his spectacular cats of which there are six that he has hand-raised since each of their births. Samson and his sister, Kyra, are six-year-old white Bengal tigers. New additions to the show are five-year-old orange Bengal tigers that are brothers, Maximillian and Rocky.

Life with his animals includes a habitat on two acres of land adjacent to his home and traveling in the "Cat"illac, a custom-designed 22-foot trailer. The special air-conditioned traveling vehicle can hold up to six tigers and has a front section specially designed for the birds.

Thomas' theatrical background includes ballroom dancing, which accounts for the graceful movements of the 6'4" tall magician. He and his sister, Tamara, were in ballroom dance competitions and earned the title of Amateur United States Ballroom Dancing Champions while in their teens.

By age 18, Thomas was entertaining at the Disneyland Hotel in California while attending Long Beach City College. Cruise ships followed as he toured the world with his show, performing in over 30 countries including Australia, China, Korea and Hong Kong.

The highly successful "American Superstars" tribute show at the Stratosphere opened in the resort's Broadway Showroom in April 1996. The newest celebrity impersonation added to the strong lineup of entertainment honors one of today's hottest stars, Christina Aguilera. Naomi Rodriguez has taken on the challenge.

Rodriguez's musical abilities have won her numerous scholarships and awards including the Rotary International Young Singer of the Year award in 1992. She performed in the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland and shortly thereafter, joined creative efforts with singer/pianist Gary Velasco. They performed throughout California and Japan and then "Gary and Naomi" became a popular duo in the Las Vegas scene. Rodriguez also performed with several musical groups in Las Vegas with the most recent being "Wild Life."

Other fabulous tributes making up the "American Superstars" show include Elvis, Charlie Daniels, Madonna, Ricky Martin and Michael Jackson. Tickets are $29.95 for adults and $22.95 for children ages 5 to 12 plus tax, call 1-800-99-TOWER or 702-380-7711.

"Cats," the show that revolutionized musical theatre is coming to the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts for eight performances, Oct. 9-14. Tickets are $35, $55 and $75, call 1-866-477-5267 or 702-785-5000.

On May 11, 1981, "Cats" opened at the New London Theatre in the West End, where it is still running. Eight years later it celebrated its first important milestone. After 3,358 shows, "Cats" became the longest running musical in the history of British Theatre.

In 1982, "Cats" opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and continued its 18-year run through Sept. 10, 2000. On June 19, 1997, "Cats" became the longest running musical on Broadway. The show is based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats."

NBC's summer hit "Spy TV" has returned to Las Vegas for five additional weeks of shooting "Candid Camera" -style pranks.

Pianist/composer Rick Silanskas, known as "The Ambassador of Romance," will bring his own special style of music to the Imperial Palace on Sundays, Sept. 23 and 30 and Oct. 21 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. The Oct. 28 performance will be taped for television and air internationally in more than 20 countries on the Film & Arts Network and selected domestic markets in the Untied States. For reservations, call 1-800-777-7664 or 702-794-3261.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Silanskas developed his love for music at an early age, taking inspiration from his father's words, "...true music comes only from the heart."

In 1999, while on tour in South America, the press began to refer to Silanskas as "The Ambassador of Romance" based upon the appeal of his emotional love songs. The moniker fit perfectly; and, in 2000, he was honored to present his music as an official gift to the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace.

Silanskas' talent as a composer has led to him being placed in contention for an Academy Award Oscar nomination for "Best Original Score" for the movie "Hoover," starring Earnest Borgnine. He is the winner of numerous "Vision Awards" and "Telly Awards" for Best Original Score/Compositions and is the founder of DreamVIsion Motion Pictures & Television.

In 2000, Silanksas released a two-CD set, "Forever In Love" and a Christmas CD, "Footprints in the Snow," on the DreamVision label before releasing his latest work, "Swept Away." Another honor is Silanskas has been endorsed as an official artist by Bosendorfer Piano of Austria.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Joe Krathwohl, The Birdman of Las Vegas, will be on vacation Thursday, Sept. 20 through Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Tropicana.

Fiestas Patrias will be celebrated at Mandalay Bay next weekend with Latin entertainment and all Hispanic championship boxing. You can call 1-877-632-7400 or 702-632-7580 for information.

On Sept. 14, Paulina Rubio will make her first Las Vegas appearance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center at 10 p.m. Her debut album "La Chica Dorada" raced up the international music charts reaching platinum status by selling more than 300 million albums. Tickets for her concert range from $40 up to $75.

That same night, the Latin rock band Ozomatli will present its upbeat sound outdoors at Mandalay Beach. Tickets are $15.

On Sept. 15 at 1 p.m., the weekend celebration will feature Mexican boxing heroes - 1996 U.S. Olympian Jauquin "Killer" Gallardo and Efren Hinojoza. Undefeated 2000 Mexican Olympian Francisco "Panchito" Bojado will make his first Las Vegas appearance. Tickets re $25, $50 and $100.

The following night, Sept 15, traditional Ranchero artist Pepe Aguilar will bring his mariachi style music to the Mandalay Bay events Center. Aguilar has sold more than three million copies in the U.S. and received a Grammy award for his album "Por una Mujer Bonita." Tickets are $45, $60 and $75.

The Arabian-themed Desert Passage shopping mall at the Aladdin, celebrated its one-year anniversary last month. The 500,000-square-foot mall is 90 percent leased with sales of about $650 a square foot, 7- percent above the national average for regional shopping centers. It's also averaging 50,000 in daily foot traffic

Desert Passage has 130 stores and 14 restaurants, many of them with their first Las Vegas location. New tenants on the way include the Benetton clothing store and Prana supper and nightclub, operated by the family famous for the Crustacean restaurants in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Word is Sheena Easton has a one-year extension on her contract at the Las Vegas Hilton beginning next year.

Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling, former headwriter for "The Howard Stern Show," will headline two adult oriented shows in the Top Of The Riv at the Riviera on Sept. 21 and 22. Tickets are $30 plus all applicable taxes, call 702-794-9433 or click on www.theriviera.com.

In addition to contributing to "The Howard Stern Show," Martling has his own impressive list of accomplishments. He's made appearances as himself in the Stern movie "Private Parts" and the stand-up movie "Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen," two dozen comedy recordings, four stand-up comedy videos and owns his own production company called "Off Hour Rockers, Inc."

As an author, Martling has best sellers, "Just Another Dirty Joke Book," "Raunchy Riddles" and "More Raunchy Riddles."

Eight months ago, Mandalay Bay opened a restaurant called 3950, named after the resort's street address, which is 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The eatery features contemporary classic cuisine with a great selection of steaks and seafood. Menu items are made from scratch. Chef Scott McCarter has an extensive background that includes cooking for American athletes at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

The restaurant was created by converting a men's clothing store. The dining room features a vaulted ceiling, mirrored walls, red leather chairs and purple suede booths. Two large wine coolers hold a selection 330 red and white wines and there's a private dining room in the back.

In the lounge area, there's a "Shark Cam" with live underwater video of the hotel's Shark Reef attraction. Dress is "casual chic" and reservations are recommended by calling 702-632-7414.

The bankrupt 350-room Vacation Village property at the far south end of the Las Vegas Strip will go up for auction on Nov. 20.

Free NFL Sunday football-viewing parties at the Imperial Palace are being held every week in the 800-seat Imperial Theatre, located on the third floor adjacent to the race and sports book. Food and drink specials are available for purchase and weekly giveaways from the party sponsors, Miller Beer and Pepsi, add to the festivities. Yes, the Miller Girls will also drop by often during the season.

Rebbie Jackson, who is part of the famous Jackson family, will be returning to the Windjammer Lounge at the Castaways Sept. 13-15, with shows at 8 and 10 p.m. There is no cover charge in this lounge.

The fourth annual Star Chefs of Las Vegas black-tie benefit gala for the March of Dimes is scheduled for Sept. 14 at the Rio. The participating chefs are from some of Las Vegas' finest restaurants. The cocktail reception will be followed by a live auction with Mayor Oscar Goodman serving as auctioneer. Tickets are $125, call t he March of Dimes 702-732-9255.

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