Columnist Joe Delaney: ‘Country Tonite’ comes home to closing notice

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Oct. 9, 1997 | 10:16 a.m.

"COUNTRY TONITE" returned from a highly successful 17 concerts in 22 days cultural exchange tour of Japan at the end of September to learn that its Aladdin home base will be no more after Nov. 25. ... This was the first time country music has been presented to the Japanese public in major cities. ... Capacity crowds everywhere roared approval and even sang along with the great country music standards.

Fourteen LV cast members, six from Branson, Mo. and seven from Pigeon Forge, Tenn. made up the 27-person ensemble with "Country Tonite" producer-director Karen Nelson Bell in charge.

Japan's Min-On Concert Association sponsored the tour. ... Min-On's founder, Daisaku Ikeda, recently received the United Nations Peace Award. ... He believes that the performing arts "can build bridges between people and give a tangible form to world peace."

Second visit?

Negotiations for a second visit have already begun; unusual since most of the previous Min-On cultural exchange tours have been on a one-time-only basis. ... "Country Tonite" has been voted the "Best Live Country Music Show in the U.S." three years in a row by the Country Music Association of America; the awards keep coming.

Karen Nelson Bell has been a major musical contributor even before "Country Tonite." ... She has been the most important single factor in its success here, in Branson, in Pigeon Forge, and now in Japan. ... Bell & Co. should have no trouble relocating in Las Vegas after the Aladdin closes its doors just before Thanksgiving.

Mexican superstar in films, recordings and television, Rocio Dorcal is slated to appear in the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9, word received while typing this.

Star-policy rundown

It's Paul Anka-Stewie Stone (Bally's); Drew Carey, opening Friday (Caesars); Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Dennis Miller (Desert Inn); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Merle Haggard (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); The Beach Boys (Orleans); Danny Gans (Rio); and Marty Allen & Karon Kate Blackwell (Westward Ho).

Good news: Admission to the Four Queens Fun House is now free with a one-drink minimum. ... Professional Bull Riders Bud Light Cup World Championships are in the MGM Grand Arena, Friday through Sunday, with special events also scheduled at Boulder Station.

"The Brother's Silence" (UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre) concludes this weekend as does Rainbow Company's "The Crane Wife" (Reed Whipple Center); "Guys and Dolls" (Summerlin Library) continues this weekend and next. ... Support your community theatre efforts.

Special events

Danny & The Juniors perform Friday and Saturday, Santa Fe Ice Lounge. ... Hal Ketchum, a free concert Friday, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. (Boulder Station). ... Regina Regina plays there, same hours, Saturday. ... Friday Jazz is at Pogo's. ... Sunday, it's The Jazz Organ-ization (Santa Fe at noon) and Marv Koral's All-Stars, 5:30-9:30 p.m. (Manhattan).

The Country Comfort Tour: Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels Band and Jo Dee Messina are at Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena at 7:30 p.m. Sunday; well worth the trip.

UNLV's Charles Vanda master series season starts Monday at 8 p.m. with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Daniele Gatti, followed by the Stars of the Kirov Ballet on Oct. 18. ... The Stars of the Kirov Ballet will give a completely different World Dance Series performance, Oct. 17. ... Saxman Pete Christlieb is Don Menza's Monday Riviera Jazz Night guest.

A postlude

More than 1,000 LV Old-Timers had a great reunion Sunday evening in the Stardust Convention Center. ... Bonnie Graham, The lovely Stardust Legends and the Scott Brothers, Bernie Allen, Mary and Norman Kaye, Peter Anthony, Joe Williams and The Treniers appeared in that order. ... Las Vegan Joe Williams went on to perform in Chicago's Orchestral Hall on Wednesday.

Jazz concert: The Joe Darro Quintet and the Rudy Aikels Four featuring Edie Aikels will perform at 1 p.m. Saturday in the West Las Vegas Arts Center. ... See you Friday.