"Men Are From Mars, Women Are from Venus," the new musical revue about love made its world premier debut on Sept. 28, at the Flamingo. The show is based on John Gray's best-selling book with that title.

The staged version deals with five couples - all friends - ranging in age from their 20s to 50s and the day-to-day struggles each relationship goes through, depicted through a series of musical vignettes, backed by six live musicians. All ten principals are superb actors and play decidedly different characters. The oldest couple, Bea and Harry, provide the "wisdom" as the couple being married the longest.

The songs are mostly fun and uplifting parodies. The ditty "Back In My Day" about dating in the past versus today steals the show; however, there is no one song that lends itself to being a stand alone hit tune. Regardless, the show especially for couples is a delightful change of pace and well wroth attending.

"Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" plays daily except Tuesday. Showtimes are 7:30 Monday-Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 p.m. on Friday, with extra shows at 10 p.m. on Saturday and a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $36, $44 and $52 plus tax, Check the shows page or call TicketMaster at 1-800-221-7299.

Continuing the enthusiasm created by Gray's book, another "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus"-inspired concept is being launched. A nationally syndicated talk-show version of the book hosted by Cybill Shepherd has begun a run on television.

The Showboat on Boulder Highway is changing its name to the Castaways Hotel & Casino. The original Castaways was a well-known casino on the Strip and was once owned by Howard Hughes. He sold it to Steve Wynn, whose Mirage Resorts Inc. replaced it with the Mirage in 1989 and the Treasure Island in 1993.

The Showboat said the Castaways name suits the resort's transformation from a Mardi Gras theme to the new seaside Spanish resort theme that began several months ago with the renovation of existing restaurants and the addition of Blue Marlin, a Spanish and Mexican seafood restaurant. The gaming and front desk areas will be renovated soon and the property will remain open during the the process.

The 2000 Professional Bull Riders Bud Light Cup World Championships sponsored by Caesars Palace, will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center, Oct. 26-29. Caesars Palace will be the host hotel for the event principals and for many of the week's events.

Post event parties are scheduled Oct. 26-28, in the Palace Ballroom beginning at 10:30 p.m. all three nights. The Great Divide band will entertain Oct. 26. Other bands and entertainers are still TBA.

The awards banquet is open to the public and will be held at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29, in the Palace Ballroom. Tickets are $60.

Championship event tickets are $36.50 and $51.50 including parking, call 1-800-634-6698 or 702-731-7865.

There's a couple closures to announce. The wrestling-themed WCW Nitro Grill restaurant located in the Excalibur has closed. It opened in June 1999.

Veteran female impersonator Kenny Kerr's show at the Plaza downtown has also closed. The show opened there in August 1998. Kerr is a 23-year veteran of Las Vegas entertainment and best known for the long running show "Boy-lesque."

Perini Building Co., the nation's largest builder of hotels and casinos, signed a $138 million contract to build a $280 million five-star resort on 40 acres in master-planned Green Valley. The 122,000-sqaure-foot Santa Barbara-themed resort will have 200 hotel rooms in a low-rise structure, a 9,200-square-foot spa with a pool and grill, a 10-screen movie theatre, six full-service restaurants and quick-service outlets, and a casino. Completion is set for Oct. 1, 2001.

Singing star Tony Orlando will "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" in the Riviera's newest venue, the Royal Pavilion on Oct. 13 & 14. Orlando regularly headlined the main showroom at the Riviera in the `70s. Tickets are $34.50 per person plus taxes and fee, call 702-794-9280.

By the age of 16, Orlando had begun hitting the national charts. But it was putting his voice on a demo record for a song titled "Candida" that set his career in high gear. The record was released under the name of the record promotion director's daughter, Dawn.

Orlando's next song was "Knock Three Times," which became the No. 1 top song of 1971. The song was featured in the hit movie, "Now And Then."

In 1973, Orlando recorded the song "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree," which ultimately became his signature tune and an American anthem of hope, homecoming, reunion and renewal.

As a trio with Thelma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando and Dawn became an international sensation. They hosted a national weekly variety show on CBS from 1971 to 1974.

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Caesars Magical Empire with its eerie catacombs will host an adult Halloween costume party on Saturday, Oct. 28, beginning at 11 p.m. A disc jockey will provide music for dancing in a nightclub atmosphere in the Sanctum Secorum rotunda. A costume contest is included with the admission fee, which is $10 with costume and $20 without costume. Beverages will be available at additional cost from both bars. Magical Empire dinner guests on Oct. 28, may stay for the party at no extra charge.

The winner of the Best Overall Costume prize will enjoy a two-night stay at Caesars Palace and dinner for two at Terrazza restaurant and lounge. Scariest Costume, Funniest Costume and Most Original Costume winners will receive dinner for four at the Empress Court, Hyakumi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar or Neros.

Tickets will be sold at Caesars Palace box offices only on the day of the event. Admission will close at 2 a.m. on Sunday, the costume contest judging will be at 2:30 a.m., and the facility will close at 5 a.m. For information, call 1-800-445-4544 or 702-731-7333.

Harrah's recently added three blackjack tables to its outdoor party area, the Carnaval Court Bart and Grill. The tables are open Thursday through Saturday from 7 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Earlier this year, Harrah's invested $1 million to construct the new bar, which is situated in the center of the courtyard. The "Flair Bartenders" were auditioned to ensure their proficiency at not only serving drinks and food, but also at singing, dancing, juggling glassware and breathing fire.

Carnival Court Bar & Grill offers an outdoor party on the Strip from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Daily live entertainment takes place from noon to midnight.

Slot machines are now permeating taxicabs in Las Vegas. A flat, touch-screen entertainment system allows taxi riders to play games such as video poker, blackjack or slots for free while racking up coupons from local advertisers. Ten of the machines are already installed in Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation cabs with plans to have 500 to 600 outfitted by mid-November.

Hard Rock Cafe International is now focusing its attention on music. Approaching its 30th birthday, the granddaddy of themed restaurants is planning a new emphasis on live music in its 103 restaurants worldwide and hours will be extended late into the night for performances.

Menu changes at the Hard Rock Cafe will extend the burgers and chicken wings items by adding 12 new higher-end meals such as stuffed veal chops for $26.95 and lobster tails for $19.95. A huge neon guitar makes the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas on Paradise stand out.

The $205 million sale of the 200-room Santa Fe in northwest Las Vegas to Stations Casinos is complete and so is the name change to Santa Fe Station. A $100 million renovation and expansion will include the addition of 400 slot machines, a buffet, a 24-hour caf‚, a 1,600 space parking garage, movie screens an a childcare facility. The property already features an ice rink and bowling alley that will remain open throughout the transition.

Oktoberfest is being celebrated every weekend through Oct. 22, at the historic Mount Charleston Lodge. The traditional Oktoberfest menu items are served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $12 per person. The Dumkopfs an oom-pah band perform every Sunday afternoon. The restaurant and lounge is open 24 hours daily and serve the popular Mount Charleston coffee.

The Mount Charleston Lodge offers year-round lodging in 23 quaint log cabins with a double whirlpool, fireplace, living room area and private deck.

The Mount Charleston Lodge is in the heart of the Toiyabe National Forest at 10,500 feet elevation and about a 50-minute drive from the Strip. This is the time of year when the Aspen leaves turn a beautiful and breathtaking shade of sunny gold. For more information, call 1-800-955-1314 or 702-872-5408.

The A&E Network will be doing a biography on one of the "Crazy Girls." The show will profile a handful of people who work in Las Vegas and air about 50 times over the next five to eight years. Out of the 50 shows playing on any given night, `Crazy Girls" is the sixth longest running show in Las Vegas right behind its sister show "An Evening at La Cage" at the Riviera, the fifth longest running show.

Athlete turned singer Rocky LaPorte will headline at the Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's, Oct. 24-29. LaPorte pitched for the Cubs and later the New York Knicks after returning from Vietnam. His versatility led to a career in songwriting and singing. Finally, after a steam of successful diverse careers, LaPorte found acting and comedy. He starred in his own CBS pilot "The Rocky LaPorte Show." Tickets for The Improv shows are $24.95 plus tax.

The comedy murder mystery dinner show "Marriage Can Be Murder," has debuted its latest in an on-going series of episode at The Egg and I restaurant, 4533 W. Sahara Ave. Entitled "Shaken, Not Stirred!" this new episode features beautiful women, villains and high tech weapons to depict a James Bond-related parody that runs through Nov. 11. Dinner shows are 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 6 and 9 p.m. on Saturday. New episodes are announced at approximately eight-week intervals. Cost is $39.95 for dinner and the murder mystery. Call 702-616-3322 for information.

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