If all went according to plan this week, I'm currently in New York taking a reverse view of the whole "Broadway-to-Vegas" trend. By coincidence, however, a production error deleted half of last week's column.

Here's the missing part, better late than never, along with a few notes about holiday offerings during the annual slowdown for the showrooms. ...

The Las Vegas Hilton is filling in its 2006 calendar with more bold moves, demonstrating that the only Las Vegas property owned by Colony Capital plans to keep entertainment high in the mix along with a physical overhaul.

During the National Finals Rodeo, Reba McEntire announced a series of exclusive summer engagements at the Hilton, similar to Barry Manilow's current deal with the hotel.

McEntire called the summer stint "my kind of touring," and said the business contact in fact stemmed from a restaurant encounter with "Barry Manilow's folks." Manilow was quite vocal about citing travel burnout as his motive for the Hilton deal.

A news conference promoting McEntire was timed for the National Finals Rodeo, though news of a one-city tour was maybe not the best for entertainment buyers with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, a major arm of the country music industry that has its annual convention here at rodeo time.

McEntire said she tapes her WB sitcom "Reba" from August to March and then typically tours during the summer. This year, her Hilton dates begin May 3-7. She returns twice in June and July, once in August. Tickets range from $124 to $225 before taxes, but the top price includes a "meet-and-greet."

The singer says her Hilton show won't be themed or otherwise customized for casual fans who may be more familiar with her sitcom than her recording history. The song list will be drawn mostly from the new hits collection "Reba No. 1s," which sold 117,000 copies in its first week of release.

The show will be "similar to the one I have toured with in the years past. It won't be like a Celine Dion show or an Elton show, it'll just be a Reba show," she said.

In February, the Hilton's smaller venue Shimmer will begin hosting an open-ended run of the theatrical revue "Menopause, The Musical."

Like "Mamma Mia!" it has an Actors Equity union ensemble cast with no stars billed above the title. But the four-woman cast will include Las Vegan Paige O'Hara, who tours with composer Jerry Herman and provides the voice of Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and its sequels.

"Menopause" was created by show business newcomer Jeanie Linders. Veteran theatrical producers G Four Productions investigated the strong word of mouth, and now helms most of the sit-down companies in cities including Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

The musical will run in a 7 p.m. time slot and launch with eight shows per week, "but I think we can get to a 14-show week very soon," says co-producer Kathi Glist. "We always enter a city and say, 'Is it going to work here?' ''

But she has a good feeling about the Hilton. The show works best in smaller venues.

"We like to call it the 'Rocky Horror Show' for middle-aged women," Glist says of the musical that generates repeat business and audience participation. "It strikes a chord. It can be very empowering, even transformational for some women." ...

Two afternoon attractions are adding evening shows while the family business is in town.

Ventriloquist Ronn Lucas, the afternoon headliner at the Rio, will take over the Scintas showroom at 7:30 p.m. along with his usual afternoon gig from Saturday through Thursday. He plans to put "a Christmas slant" on the production, though it won't be a start-to-finish makeover.

The Rio has offered quickie Christmas revues in the past, but this year left the room available during The Scintas' vacation. Lucas decided his family-friendly act might do some business even without a long window to advertise. Ticket prices will be the same as the day show, $19.95 general admission and $29.95 preferred seating.

At the Stardust, magician Rick Thomas adds a 7 p.m. show Monday through Dec. 14, and again Dec. 26, 27 and 29. ...

The cast of "Forever Plaid," currently performing the show's Christmas makeover "Plaid Tidings" at the Gold Coast, will sign CDs of the regular show's new cast recording from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, at ReJavaNate Coffee Lounge, 3300 E Flamingo Rd., a shop owned by two of the cast members.

The original soundtrack for "Plaid" had gone out of print, so the Gold Coast cast recorded a new one here in town.

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears on Sundays and Thursdays. Contact him at 383-0288.