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Tuesday, February 12, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal COLUMN: MIKE WEATHERFORD Future of 'Tease' uncertain due to lawsuit
A judge could bring the curtain down on the "Tease" revue at the Insomnia nightclub if a composer claiming rights to the title gets a temporary restraining order. A hearing was set in Los Angeles today to consider the case of Dailey D. Pike, who says "Tease" producers Gary Ouellet and David Tumaroff went ahead with "a substantially similar entertainment production" after he dropped out of a deal for the two to serve as executive producers of Pike's show of the same name. The restraining order could stop the production or use of the name "Tease" and the subtitle "A Sexy Musical Comedy," both of which Pike, a Californian, claims federal trademark protection for. In the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Pike claims he wrote a show called "Gigolettes" in 1998 that combined "elements of drama, music, nightclub, interactive cabaret and striptease into a live musical comedy production." Pike claims Ouellet and Tumaroff saw the show in June 2000 and talked to him about finding a Las Vegas venue. Pike changed the name "for marketing reasons" at Ouellet's urging, the complaint states. Pike split with the producers last August after a dispute over how to split profits, according to the complaint. Pike's attorney, Keith Cooper, had no comment beyond the information in the complaint. Ouellet and Tumaroff could not be reached Monday. In a Dec. 18 letter, their Las Vegas attorney, Mark Tratos, accuses Pike of usurping the trademark and fraudulently registering it upon learning of the producers' plans, and warns him that his clients would seek to have the trademark canceled. In a court document, Ouellet acknowledges collaborating with Pike for 14 months to combine new songs with Pike's. But, Ouellet stated Jan. 31, "There is not one element of `Gigolettes' contained in `Tease.' " ... Earl Turner won't be looking for a job after he closes at the Rio on Thursday. Parent company Harrah's Entertainment decided to move the singer to Laughlin for a six-month gig as a headliner at Harrah's Laughlin, starting March 18. "I'm going to put some soul in their bowl," jokes the high-energy singer, who actually will set up shop there when the snowbirds start giving way to the younger Jet Ski crowd. The singer closes his current run Thursday after deciding that working just Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Rio wasn't enough to build any momentum. The offer keeps him in the corporate family and came at a good time. "Things are pretty slow here as far as getting things off the ground in Las Vegas," he says. Turner's ticket price will be a comparative bargain at $20, compared to $40 here, providing extra incentive for his local fans to make the drive. ... Andrew James will play Frank in "The Rat Pack Is Back" on a temporary basis while producers look for a full-time replacement for Steve Lippia. Talks with local impressionist Bill Acosta did not pan out, says Sahara spokeswoman Jackie Brett. ... In a Feb. 2 Sunday column, I rounded up a dozen locals-oriented promotions aimed at boosting attendance for shows on the Strip. I figured I'd hear about any I missed, and sure enough: "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance" at New York-New York offers locals $13 off all tickets in a promotion that ends Sunday. The 3 1/2-year-old "Lord" returned from its winter vacation Jan. 8 with 30 percent new material to freshen the show. It added new costumes, a new song and a dance number featuring the women in the cast as female warriors geared for battle. There was talk last year about the days of "Lord" being numbered, but the upgrade guarantees it will stay at least through midsummer. ... From "Storm" at Mandalay Bay comes a backhanded compliment to explain what might otherwise be a routine schedule change. The show is shifting its schedule around to give its dancers two days off instead of one. The reason? After the injuries began to pile up, physical therapists suggested an extra day off might reduce the problems, says hotel publicist Gordon Absher. It's painful testimony to the challenging choreography in a show that held auditions around the country for athletic dancers, some of whom do acrobatics and in-line skating. The cast will double up with two shows a night on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays so they can take Tuesdays and Wednesdays off and still log eight shows a week. ... Finally, another example of the strange paths show business can take. Jennifer Marie Alaimo plays Tina in the new "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding" at the Rio, and played the role in New York's Greenwich Village. But she considers herself primarily a dancer, and moved to Las Vegas two years ago to get a job with the Rio's "Masquerade Show in the Sky." "The ironic part was that I got here and I was too short to be in that show," she says. Eventually, the producer relaxed the height requirement, and Alaimo ended up working the free show in what could now be called "the lobby" for her new gig. When destiny called again with "Tina" auditions, Alaimo not only knew the part, but knew where to park as well. Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Sundays and Tuesdays.`GATTACA' 9 p.m., Sci-Fi, channel 45
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