Columnist Joe Delaney: Halt holiday schedule for entertaining options

Joe Delaney

Friday, Dec. 18, 1998 | 9:59 a.m.

Stop shopping, you've shopped enough for now. ... Same thing with those Christmas cards and annual family chronicles. ... Take a break, see a show or one of the local events listed below. ... Comedy's gentle giant, Louie Anderson, performs in the Monte Carlo's Lance Burton Theatre tonight and Saturday, and again Tuesday through Dec. 25.

Hawaii is as close as the Orleans hotel-casino showroom with the Don Ho Christmas Show at 7 p.m. today through Sunday. ... Just as special, those ubiquitous and indefatigable, multiple-award winning Treniers, just back from London, will be in the Orleans Lounge Tuesday through Jan. 10. ... A great choice for the most New Year's Eve fun; less expensive, too.

Danny Gans continues at the Rio but will be off on New Year's Eve. ... Good but inexpensive weekend choices: Michele LaFong's Funniest Females (O'Shea's) and The Michael LaRocca Show (World Trade Center).

Local events

Nevada Ballet Theatre's Christmas classic, "The Nutcracker," opens tonight and continues through Dec. 27, Cashman Theatre. ... Check for times and dates and be sure to order early. ... Also recommended, "The IMAX Nutcracker" in the Luxor's IMAX Theatre, through Jan. 3. ... See both. ... Check out Boulder Station's "Toyland On Ice," directed by Minnie Madden, with special dinner packages available now through Dec. 27.

A new musical version of "A Christmas Carol" is the Actors Repertory Theatre offering tonight through Sunday, plus Tuesday and Wednesday, in the Summerlin Library Theatre. ... The word we heard on it was good.

UNLV's Opera Theatre is presenting Gian Carlo Menotti's children's opera, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, in Artemus Ham Hall on the campus. ... Be sure to take the youngsters to see Opportunity Village's "Winter Wonderland."

There's more

The Asylum Company's "True Magic," is a musical Christmas fable, tonight through Sunday, Winchester Center Theatre. ... There will be a number of Kwanzaa programs through Jan. 1. ... Check the LV Cultural & Community Affairs Division at 229-6713 for a full listing of times and places. ... Local activities will get even better with your attendance.

Variety Club, The Children's Charity, will join Santa in delivering Christmas gifts to children today at the special education section of the John F. Miller Elementary School, the Variety School for Special Education and Variety Day Home. ... You're welcome to join us. ... Call 383-8466.

Saturday at 11 a.m., in the North Las Vegas Airport's Metro Support Hangar, Rancho Drive and Decatur Boulevard, Variety will hold its second "Bikes For Kids" presentation party. ... Variety's recent Radiothon on KFMS 102-FM went over the $100,000 mark this year. ... Thank you.

And even more

Champion ice skaters Scott Hamilton and Katarina Witt will host the "Battle of the Sexes III" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, MGM Grand Garden Arena. ... Jazz fans have even more good choices now that the Ernie George Quartet plays Wednesdays through Saturdays, 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Bourbon Street Hotel. ... Dr. Tom Ferguson, piano; Joe Lano, guitar; Gus Mancuso, bass; and Ernie George, drums and vocals, are the fearsome foursome.

The Mike Breene Trio is at the Santa Fe, 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays (Santa Fe) and The Jazz Organ-ization holds court there, starting at noon Sunday. ... Marv Koral's All-Stars are the Sunday attraction, 5:30-9:30 p.m. (Carollo's Restaurant).

Marv and the All-Stars will play for the Wild Oats Market opening, at Lake Mead Boulevard and Tenaya Way, Saturday from 1-5 p.m. ... They are also scheduled for Wild Oats dates Jan. 7 and 8.

Friday addenda

Comedian Pudgy, a hit last Friday filling in for Mario & Daniel at the Tropicana's "Folies Bergere," performs her new show concept, "Pudgy's Party," with Denise Clemente and her group, 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Desert Inn Starlight Room. ... Recommended. ... We're also looking forward to ace impressionist Bill Acosta's "Lasting Impressions," starting Wednesday in the Luxor's 350-seat Live Theatre.

Producer-entertainer Jay Kessler sent us a note touting "The Pajama Party," nightly except Mondays through Jan. 3 at Arizona Charlie's -- the Monday night home for column favorite P.J. Belly's Texas Thunder.

Take it easy, the shopping will get done and the cards will get written and mailed. ... If they get there a day late, they'll be noticed even more. ... Take a show break this weekend. ... See you next Thursday.