All the theories that have been blaring from local and national media about why the Broadway musical "Hairspray" flopped at Luxor brought me back to William Goldman's classical words of wisdom in his 1983 show-biz bible, "Adventures in the Screen Trade": "Nobody knows anything."

The two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter said it's important to remember that no matter how much expertise an analyst may have, "Not one person ... knows for a certainty what's going to work."

My hunch is that Vegas will soon find out which kind of Broadway production works here. It will take some fine-tuning, no doubt, some missteps. That's why we should celebrate producers like "Hairspray's" Michael Gill and Myron Martin. They are pioneers. They're the sort of people who have the courage to test the waters before everyone says it's safe.

We're fortunate to have other Broadway productions already on the boards, or short-sighted analysts would now be saying "Hairspray" proves the New York musical is dead in Vegas. If "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular" is a huge hit at The Venetian, those same analysts will be saying, "It was a forgone conclusion that Broadway would be a boom in Sin City." Nobody knows anything. ...

And speaking of "Phantom," its director, Harold Prince, has been getting some tough ink for not picking up his lifetime achievement award at Sunday's Tony Awards. Can't imagine why. Prince was busy readying his show for its first preview. His refusing to shortchange his responsibilities to his work to receive an award may be one of the reasons the 78-year-old 21-time Tony-winner has managed to stay on top for so long. ...

And speaking of the youthful Prince, perhaps some casino execs could entice him to make Vegas his second home and build a Broadway empire here. He's the perfect artist to do it: commercially oriented, yet full of vision and courage. How about it Mr. Prince? Vegas needs you a lot more than Broadway does. ...

My impression is that the actor-agent relationship is one of the most misunderstood realities of the entertainment industry. Margaret Emory's newly released book "Ask an Agent" is a gentle, step-by-step guide to getting a foot in the door. The former actress and current agent takes the time to explain things like why an agent might be rude to you, why he may not welcome your visits and phone calls, what it is he's doing all day that makes him so busy, and why you should take none of this personally. It's a must-read for any amateur actor thinking of turning pro. ...

The Asylum hosted a well-attended champagne reception Monday for Mike Corda. The local musician, composer and producer was in attendance for the opening of his musical "The Devil, the Damsel and Demon Rum," which plays through Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center. Corda's music has been recorded by the likes of Nancy Wilson and Sammy Davis Jr. He was a member of the orchestra in the original 1947 Broadway production of "Kiss Me, Kate."

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.