Columnist Joe Delaney: Concert production hard work but great fun

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997 | 8:44 a.m.

AWEEKEND AWAY. ... Last Thursday evening, we checked into the Phoenix Hyatt Regency Hotel for a good night's sleep in preparation for a heavy duty weekend in Arizona. ... The young man at the hotel registration desk addressed me as "professor," then reminded me that he had survived our UNLV Hotel Entertainment Class in 1992.

He must have been given a good grade in class because I was given an upgrade on the room. ... Friday morning, we directed a free concert for 4,500 school children in the Civic Plaza with two youthful mariachi groups, the Ballet Folklorico de San Juan and a local folklorico group.

That evening, 3,500 people attended a special mass officiated by the Bishop of the Diocese with six priests, an observance of the Feast of Guadalupe, with music by Mariachi Guadalupano, ages 14-18, from Guymas, Sonora, Mexico, a very moving two-hour service.

The next day

Saturday at 8 p.m., more than 11,000 people packed the Phoenix America West Arena for the Sixth Annual Christmas Mariachi Festival, a four-hour spectacular that included performances by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Mariachi Las Adelitas, Mariachi Guadalupano, Pedro Fernandez, Gabriela Beltran, LV's Mario & Daniel and the Ballet Folklorico de San Juan de Julie Gallegos.

Daughter Kathleen had flown in Saturday morning to assist me. ... It is a one-day procedure. ... Equipment load-in at 8 a.m., lights and sound up and ready for sound check and rehearsal at 1 p.m., an hour for lunch, rehearsal completed by 5 p.m., doors are opened at 7.

Both the American West Arena and The Center in Tucson, Ariz. have ice hockey rinks just under a covering, making for a cold room, very hard on the feet during a 17-hour day, load-in to load-out.

And on Sunday

Our gear was packed and the crew on their way to Tucson during the night. ... Sunday at 8 a.m., they were loading on as we were enroute by bus to join them at noon. ... Showtime was 5 p.m. with a Christmas posada procession with some 400 children an added feature. ... This festival lasted 5 hours, 30 minutes more than the night before. ... Not one person in the audience left early on either night.

Kathleen was at my side until she had to leave for the Tucson airport at 8:45 p.m. Sunday. ... I returned on Southwest Monday, along with Mario & Daniel, their parents and our top notch crew.

With the Aladdin Theatre closed, the Eighth Annual LV International Mariachi Festival will happily return to its 1991 starting point, the Thomas & Mack Center, next year. ... When you can work with the best in their field as I do on these festivals, it is hard but more fun than work.

This week

With most showrooms dark between now and Christmas, the best show in town has to be Louie Anderson (Bally's), especially those hilarious impromptu chats with members of the audience. ... This would also be a good time to spend an evening with Debbie Reynolds and/or Kenny Kerr at Debbie's hotel. ... Lionel Richie will be at the Mirage Friday and Saturday.

Danny Gans (Rio) may have a seat available during this period. ... The various comedy clubs are in action. ... Afternoon show-goers, take a break; catch Nick Lewin (Maxim) and "Viva Las Vegas" (Stratosphere).

Music World's Donald and Dorie Kemp introduced the futuristic $175,000 "Schimmel-Colani Pegasus Grand Piano" at the Rio recently. ... Mafalda, the best, introduced the new instrument with a medley of piano concerti, closing with "Granada," dedicated to the Kemps who had just returned from that Spanish city. ... Mafalda is off for performances in Florida.

Thursday addenda

Tony Sacca's 12th annual "Merry Christmas, Las Vegas" TV special repeats on Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. on KFBT Channel 33 (Cable 6). ... Get those Nevada Dance Theatre tickets for "The Nutcracker" early, don't be shut out, it closes on Dec. 28. ... Performances are in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre, call 895-3801 for times and tickets. ... Mail those Christmas and Hanukkah cards early as well. ... See you Friday.