Blues singer Sarah Todora, the Louisiana teen who was embraced by Las Vegas during some tough times, has dropped out of sight.
Her father, Phil Todora, said he canceled last Friday's opening for Al Green at the House of Blues when she didn't show for a Thursday rehearsal.
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The father, unable to contact her, is returning to his music booking business in New Orleans and Lafayette, La.
Sarah Todora recently moved in with a young man she met on the Internet and severed communications, her father said.
The father and daughter left for Las Vegas the day before Hurricane Katrina, with the goal of getting her music career established.
After arriving in Las Vegas, their 20-year-old car was stolen and, after running out of money, they found themselves in food lines with the homeless before getting a series of fortuitous breaks.
After the father contacted the media, there were fundraisers that quickly led to small bookings. Then Ron Garrison, the Sahara's entertainment director, put Sarah in the Casbar Lounge for several dates.
A mystery benefactor, later identified as Bill Fry, came forward at one of the fundraisers and gave the Todoras the key to his $1.5 million luxury condo for six months, rent free.
Her leap from near-homeless to headliner made national news.
"A big publishing company wants to do the story," her father said.
It has been a heartbreaker, he said. "If she gets it together, the Sahara has some dates in October."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon shot scenes for "Ocean's Thirteen" at McCarran International Airport and the Sundance heliport on Monday. Judging from the flurry of activity at The Venetian's Palazzo construction site, the shoot is moving there today. ...
Katrina Loncaric of Las Vegas has landed in her first Broadway show. She will cover the role of Ulla in "The Producers," which was played by Uma Thurman in the 2005 film. Loncaric also will be a member of the ensemble. She has been taking classes from local drama coach Gerald Gordon, whose students include Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Tony nominees Marcia Lewis and Walter Willison and Emmy nominee Andrew Lauer. ...
Vince Vaughn returns Friday to host his "Wild West Comedy Show" at Mandalay Bay. When he brought the show here over New Year's, girlfriend Jennifer Aniston danced on the bar at Forty Deuce. If she makes the trip, she probably will miss Pitt, her ex-husband, by a day. The "Ocean's Thirteen" cast is reportedly leaving on Thursday.
A one-hour special on "Love," Cirque du Soleil's Beatles show, will air Aug. 20 from 10-11 p.m. on KVBC, Channel 3, with Access Hollywood. ...
The Rolling Stones return Nov. 11 to the MGM Grand for their A Bigger Bang tour.
SIGHTINGS
"Ocean's Thirteen" cast member Ellen Barkin, dancing up a storm and knocking down Patron tequila late Sunday at Pure in Caesars Palace. Also in the room: NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and rapper Xzibit. ... Mirage vocal imitator Danny Gans and his family, dining at Carnegie Deli after taking in "Love" on Sunday. While chatting with the deli manager, Gans, in jest, suggested the deli offer a Danny Gans sandwich that uses "all imitation meats."
THE PUNCH LINE
"I was trying to impress Sheryl Crow" -- From David Letterman's "Top Ten" Floyd Landis excuses.
