Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes said he's setting aside the next two years to concentrate on his London play.
In his first public statements on his life after Harrah's, Holmes disclosed his plans in an interview during Saturday's fundraising marathon at the Palms for The Caring Place. It was broadcast on KBAD-AM, 920 (ESPN).
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"My next two years will be spent on my play," he said, in response to a question from Dianne Taylor, the co-host, who had bid for a one-hour stint with Holmes.
If the play is not a success, he'll "come back here and hopefully work often" or pursue acting.
"Right now, I have to go and try this."
Holmes, who ends his six-year headliner run at Harrah's on Sept. 30, also revealed that he was offered the role of The Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway about 15 years ago.
He turned it down, he said, because many fans associated Michael Crawford as the face of The Phantom, even though he had been gone for eight years.
"I would be just another guy with a mask on," said Holmes.
KHASHOGGI'S KID
For years, the name Khashoggi sent surges of electricity through Las Vegas casinos.
Now comes the next generation: Petrina Khashoggi, daughter of billionaire arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.
But the 25-year-old beauty is more of a high stepper than a high roller. She makes her debut in the American edition of Vogue next month. She's traded New York ("too fast-paced") for London to become an art buyer, according to The Mail on Sunday newspaper.
Her father, who turns 71 on Tuesday, ranks among the biggest whales to hit Las Vegas, leaving behind legendary tales of his extravagance.
He reportedly spent millions of dollars on his 50th birthday party in Marbella, Spain, in 1985, among celebrity pals such as Sean Connery, Shirley Bassey, Brooke Shields and George Hamilton IV.
Adnan Khashoggi's sister, Samira Khashoggi Fayed, was Dodi Al-Fayed's mother. He died in the 1997 car crash with Princess Diana.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Wayne and Janet Gretzky were back at Las Vegas' high-stakes tables recently, their first trip since her alleged linkage to a betting ring back in February.
SIGHTINGS
Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child at Tryst (Wynn) on Friday, along with NBA bright lights Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. ... At N9ne Steakhouse: Rapper Lil Jon; Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings with his mother, Virginia; John Salley of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period"; and Southern Cal basketball coach Tim Floyd, with a group in the private dining room. At Rain: illusionist David Blaine, with supermodel Bridget Hall; and Lil Jon, with Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls. At the Palms pool: Artie Lange and Blaine. ... At Piero's Italian Ristorante on Friday: Digger Phelps, John Calipari, Leonard Hamilton and Bruiser Flint, at one table; actor Dennis Farina at another. ... NBA legend Moses Malone, at Chinois (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Friday. ... In the audience at Reba McEntire's show (Hilton) on Friday: Melissa Peterman and Joanna Garcia, cast members in "Reba," the WB show. ... Former NFL star Herschel Walker, lunching at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Saturday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Miss France gets ejected for violently head-butting Miss Italy." -- From David Letterman's "Top Ten Signs You're Watching a Bad Beauty Pageant"
