Liza Minnelli is scheduled to perform at Luxor from Oct. 12-14.
Liza Minnelli's ugly divorce is raising questions about the status of her long-awaited return to Las Vegas.
Minnelli's no-show at a gay gala Saturday night at the MGM Grand had to cause concern at the Luxor, which has her booked for Oct. 12-14.
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Her absence from the inaugural Human Rights Campaign event came a day after her estranged husband, David Gest, a music producer, accused her of infecting him with a sexually transmitted disease.
Those charges came after Minnelli filed papers alleging that Gest was trying to poison her with drugs.
Minnelli was to be the keynote speaker and recipient of the HRC's National Equality Award for her support of gays and lesbians.
Comedian Louie Anderson was summoned to fill in with female impersonator Frank Marino.
Attendees said it was announced during the gala that Minnelli was in Europe and could not make it back in time.
Local organizers of the event did not return calls by deadline.
MGM Mirage spokeswoman Erin Randell said Minnelli's October dates were still on as of Monday.
Minnelli, 60, has not had a Las Vegas run in decades. Interest in her Luxor appearance was so strong that several shows were added.
RAT PACK RANCOR
Dick Feeney, co-producer of "The Rat Pack Is Back," probably won't be garnering any Boss of the Year nominations.
In recent weeks, he has publicly slammed Lisa Dawn Miller, the wife of his co-producer, Sandy Hackett, and his musical director, Jeff Greenberg, who quit last month.
Greenberg, the musical director since 2002, sent an e-mail to me Monday saying he received his final paycheck and discovered a new deduction category.
He was charged $100 for "unauthorized use of a microphone."
It was a fine, said Greenberg, "because I announced my resignation onstage."
Why the onstage resignation? Because of a pre-show argument, one of many, with Feeney, and "I knew he would make it look as if I was fired."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Tony Curtis will discuss the making of "Some Like It Hot" Thursday during a special screening at a 7 p.m. benefit at the Brenden Theaters at the Palms. Also participating will be Walter Mirisch, a production executive on the film, which was ranked as the No. 1 comedy of the all-time by the American Film Institute. The event benefits the Second Chance Foundation. Ticket information: 369-5876 or go to the Second Chance Foundation Web site at www.secondchancefdn.org. ...
Details for the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be unveiled at a Sept. 27 party at World Market Center. The event will be April 6-8.
SIGHTINGS
Dana Carvey, visiting the "Love" cast and crew backstage (Mirage) after the 7:30 p.m. performance. He had 'em roaring with his Paul McCartney imitation as he walked into the room. ... Diana Ross, trying her luck on a high roller table at Caesars Palace over the weekend, after a meeting with management. ... Prince, taking in Celine Dion's show (Caesars) on Sunday. He was spotted at Club Rio and Voodoo Lounge on Saturday in the company of Pauly Freedman, the Rio's director of nightclubs. ... A camera crew from "The Dish Network," making the rounds at the "Lido de Paris" and "Enter The Night" reunion at the Stardust on Sunday. ... Toni Braxton and her husband, Kerry, dining with Kelly Clinton and Clint Holmes after watching Clinton's show at the Stirling Club on Saturday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"President Bush says that we are now safer than we were five years ago. Sure, now that we got Paris Hilton off the road." -- Jay Leno
