Thursday, March 03, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
MIKE WEATHERFORD: Magician Dirk Arthur to move into Thomas' spot at Tropicana
Magician Rick Thomas ended up creating competition for himself by moving to the Stardust. Another magic show, "Xtreme Magic" starring Dirk Arthur, will take his place at the Tropicana.
It's set to open March 26, the day after Thomas opens at the Stardust. Arthur and Thomas will perform at the same 2 and 4 p.m. showtimes.
Arthur performed mostly evening shows at the Silverton in 2002 and 2003 and at the Plaza in 2003 and 2004. He most recently was a specialty act in "Splash" at the Riviera.
"Xtreme Magic" will be produced by David Saxe of "Showgirls of Magic" and "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show." He plans to add more dance and female eye candy and to punch up the comedy.
Thomas announced he was leaving the Tropicana when it was widely expected that parent company Aztar Corp. would announce plans to close or radically remodel the hotel. Instead, Aztar said it would postpone redevelopment plans while studying the Strip's skyrocketing land values.
"They have to do what they have to do," Thomas said Tuesday. He believes the Tropicana wanted him to stay, but says, "in my whole life I've always been booked at least six months out. It got to a point when I had to make decisions."
Thomas closes his Tropicana run on March 17. ...
As reported in January, comic hypnotist Anthony Cools will move into a new venue at Paris Las Vegas on March 22.
He will anchor a dedicated venue known as The Anthony Cools Experience, a 210-seater in the hotel's tour and travel lobby, near the sports book on the north end of the casino.
Cools introduced his raunchy late show to the market with a run at the Stardust in summer 2003. ...
Queen guitarist Brian May says on his Web site that Clear Channel Entertainment backed away from a U.S. tour of "We Will Rock You" this year, which kills any chance of it happening without the corporate giant. But he characterizes the decision as a postponement and not a cancellation.
That leaves the Paris Las Vegas production of "Rock You" as the only place in the United States to see it.
Queen is doing its own rock tour with Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers this year, and tapped Danny Miranda from the Paris "Rock You" band to be the tour bassist. ...
"Forever Plaid" will add a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee at the Gold Coast starting in April, and will move the off night from Fridays to Mondays. ...
Hometown favorite Franky Perez will take up a weekly showcase at the Suncoast with his band The Highway Saints. The free shows are at 8 p.m. every Thursday starting today. ...
Singer Grant Griffin plans to return with his upscale mix of light classics and Broadway music in a Tuesday concert at The Orleans.
Last year's concert was canceled at the 11th hour and Orleans officials have distanced themselves from this year's production, noting it's a theater rental with most tickets sold off-property on consignment.
Don't worry about saving your ticket stub for the tax man this year. Griffin blames last year's troubles on a third party contracted to organize a charity benefit, so this year's show is a traditional, i.e. for-profit, concert produced by Joe Corosh.
Griffin says the audience will include decision-makers from a Strip hotel that's considering him for a weekly berth.
"I think I've put my time in reinventing Grant Griffin," he says of the two past concerts he filmed at his own expense. The singer thinks the enthusiastic reception to past shows should serve as evidence that an older demographic will support a vehicle landing somewhere between PBS and Lawrence Welk.
As in the past, he will be joined by vocalists Patricia Welch, Jeneane Marie and Michaelina Bellamy. They will be accompanied by a 21-piece orchestra, the production's biggest expense. ...
"There's no place anywhere like this heaven ..."
"Here's to Las Vegas," the original song serving as the theme to Barry Manilow's new show at the Las Vegas Hilton, is available in its recorded version at the hotel's new Manilow gift shop. It's part of a two-disc collection selling for $20.
The otherwise predictable gift shop has one unusual feature: A recording booth where you can croon your own vocals and take home a cover of your favorite Manilow hit.
If you prefer professional Las Vegas-related recordings, here's some good news: Keely Smith continues her recording comeback with "Vegas '58: Today," due from Concord Records on April 12.
The title is perhaps confusing. It's meant to convey that the tunes are from her vintage Louis Prima era at the Sahara. But the set with a nine-piece band was recorded just last year at Feinstein's in New York.
Along those lines, vintage Vegas buffs also will be cheered to see the CD reissue of "When the Feeling Hits You," a 1965 collaboration between Las Vegas saxophone legend Sam Butera and Sammy Davis Jr.
The disc was reissued last year as an exclusive by the Collectors Choice company, but now is available from other outlets.
Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays.
