The tourist corridor isn't getting another Sinatra-themed tribute, but "The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean" is taking the name of a previous Frank Sinatra-themed show that played the Desert Inn and Sahara.
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The name change comes after an agreement between "Tribute" producer Dick Feeney and "Rat Pack" producer David Cassidy, the entertainer and former teen idol of "The Partridge Family."
As he would do some times in the past, Cassidy will join the Greek Isles revue in the guise of Bobby Darin for Saturday and Sunday's shows.
Both production companies have been at legal odds since "Rat Pack" left the Sahara in April 2002, with some of its principal performers taking part in the Greek Isles tribute.
Feeney says the new agreement is a win-win situation, because Cassidy -- who successfully defended use of the phrase "Rat Pack" against the heirs of Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. -- was spending money defending his title without having a working production to offset the expense.
For Feeney, there's a gain in getting to use "Rat Pack" in the title. The old name now becomes a subtitle that publications listing the show can choose to use or go without. The content of the show will change slightly, using Cassidy and co-writer Don Reo's original premise that the antics unfold on the night of Frank Sinatra's birthday. While Cassidy used to be a stickler on using no songs recorded after 1961, Feeney says the show will continue to include the likes of "Mr. Bojangles" and "Theme From New York, New York." "We didn't stretch the time line until we started getting endless requests (for those songs) every night."
Outside Nevada, Feeney says he can use either title. Another edition of the revue in Chicago also is changing its name.
"As it turns out, I created a cottage industry," Cassidy says of the show. The 56-year-old performer notes "I got to see what Vegas was like in that era." As the son of late actor Jack Cassidy ("not your typical dad"), he was given "a backstage pass" to see the real Rat Pack when his father whisked him off for a visit to the Sands. ...
Feeney is also producer of the afternoon revue "Viva Las Vegas" at the Stratosphere, which is the answer to a question people might have after a recent episode of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy": Where does magician Max Clever work?
Clever and his wife Joni received makeovers in the first of a batch of Vegas-centric "Queer Eye" episodes. At the end of the episode, producer Jeff Kutash approached Clever and offered him a job in "Headlights & Tailpipes" at the Stardust. But that was either just for the sake of good TV or Clever opted for the stability of the Stratosphere's afternoon fixture rather than the struggling evening show. ...
A quick explanation of the Review-Journal's review policy for the few who have inquired about when they will be seeing evaluations of Cirque du Soleil's "Love" and "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular."
Both shows are open to the public but have not yet had their formal premieres. Producers are asking reviewers to follow the Broadway tradition of waiting until "opening night" for reviews, even though some newspaper columnists have been following informal opinions. Because "Love" is selling discount preview tickets and the preview window is much more reasonable than it was for "Ka," we won't crash the show before Tuesday, for a review on June 30.
"Phantom" is a tougher call because producers aren't offering any price breaks for previews. But because the opening is Saturday, it was reasonable to wait until Friday or Saturday to see it.
By the way, I was wondering which of the two actors cast as the Phantom would perform at the Saturday gala, and how he would be chosen without suggesting one is "better" than the other. The answer, according to one of the actor's publicist, is a coin toss. Anthony Crivello will perform Saturday, but Brent Barrett will perform Friday when many media members will attend. ...
Finally, how would this fly? A recent interview with famed Broadway director Hal Prince, who is in town to relaunch "Phantom," sent me to the Internet to review his amazing resume. One of his more forgotten titles popped out and set me wondering: With the summer blockbuster "Superman Returns" due in theaters June 28, might there be any interest -- on Broadway or in Las Vegas -- in giving the hi-tech, "Phantom"-overhaul treatment to "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman"?
Prince agreed as far as saying the 1966 musical was short-shrifted, thanks to the TV "Batman" fad. "Everybody was into pop-art camp," rather than warm-hearted romantic comedy.
Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays. Contact him at 383-0288 or e-mail him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com.
