‘Fantasy’ star leaving revue

Angelica Bridges, the first-ever billed star of "Fantasy," will bow out of Luxor's topless revue Saturday.

"I'm very sad," producer Anita Mann says of a decision she termed Bridges' choice, but one that was forced by a new singer-host, Lorena Peril, joining the show Aug. 1. "Angelica will always be my friend."

Bridges joined the 10-year-old revue in November, her previous time on "Baywatch" helping the revue combat the ubiquitous Holly Madison headlining the rival "Peepshow."

But Mann says she needed consistency in the hosting role. Bridges has a pop group and other pursuits beyond "Fantasy" and asked to work five days a week instead of six. "I totally understand I was putting her in a position (by asking)," Bridges says. "She needed to do what she needed to do."

Bridges says she wants to stay in town, and keep her children in school here. She hopes to bring a Los Angeles play called "It's Just Sex" to the Strip. "I'll make it happen no matter what," she says with a laugh.

Peril was top-billed in the rival "Sin City Bad Girls" until it closed recently at the Las Vegas Hilton. She's a powerhouse of a vocalist, but doesn't bring even Bridges' nominal level of celebrity to an ad campaign.

There was talk of Bridges becoming "a special guest star," one who could more easily be scheduled in and out of the show. But that created challenges, too, including Bridges not wanting to go topless. The two had reached an understanding along those lines, but audiences might expect it more from a guest star than from the singer-host, Mann acknowledges.

"There's no real need for it at this point in my life," Bridges says.

Mann notes there were only three singer-hosts in nearly 11 years. "I'm not very good at making changes," she says. "I like to keep a family." ...

It doesn't look like "America's Got Talent" will be back on the Strip as a packaged show this year, but one of last year's Top 10 is trying its luck at a year-round showcase in late August.

Recycled Percussion, a band that plays on "found" instruments such as ladders and barrels, plans to make early use of the Studio 54 nightclub at the MGM Grand. The group was one of the acts crowded into the "Talent" show at Planet Hollywood last fall. This season's winners will tour instead of doing a sit-down on the Strip. The tour makes a one-night stop Oct. 8 at Caesars Palace.

Recycled Percussion toured the college circuit long before "Talent," with an eye on Las Vegas.

The idea of an early evening show inside Studio 54 was shared by the producer of the recent "Girls Night: The Musical," but that dream apparently died with a May test run there.

Here's the current tally of Las Vegas-based "Talent" contestants. The Top 24 contenders now include singer Michael Grimm, fire illusionist Antonio Restivo and the two dancing lads of Future Funk, one of whom is Las Vegan Bailey Munoz. The fate of gymnast Polina Volchek was up to a public vote after she got a negative "X" from judge Piers Morgan on Tuesday. Magician Murray Sawchuck competes next week. ...

Friday marks the 29th anniversary of Bally's "Jubilee!" -- the longest-running show on the Strip and its last old-school showgirl production. But don't show up with a party hat: Friday is the show's regular day off. Instead, choose another day between now and Aug. 31 for a promotion inviting Nevada residents to take another look for $29 . ...

The local production of "The Lion King" is trying to help a member of its extended family. The Mandalay Bay cast and crew is taking part in a "Get Swabbed" campaign to find a bone marrow match for Shannon Tavarez, an 11-year-old member of the Broadway company recently diagnosed with leukemia. Potential donors can volunteer for a cheek swab from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday in the theater lobby. ...

Back in March, Mirage ventriloquist Terry Fator posed a philosophical conundrum when he pulled Rick Harrison from "Pawn Stars" to the stage and transformed him into Cher. The chin-scratcher: Which of the two was more famous at that moment in time?

If you're leaning toward Harrison, the next obvious questions: When and how could they turn the insanely successful "Pawn Stars" into a ticketed attraction? One answer is the "Gold & Silver Road Show" on Aug. 7 at the Suncoast. It borrows a bit from "Antiques Road Show," giving you a chance to get your stuff appraised and maybe meet Rick and Corey Harrison as well as Austin "Chumlee" Russell, all for a mere $7.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.