Weekend Update

Friday, Jan. 30, 1998 | 10 a.m.

LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH -- Herb Gardner's ode to noncomformity, "A Thousand Clowns," tells the tale of a free-spirited TV writer who must rejoin the mainstream in order to gain custody of his young nephew. Catch a few grins at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Off Broadway Theater, 900 E. Karen Ave. in New Orleans Square at Commercial Center. Tickets are $11, $9 for seniors, students and matinees. For reservations, call 737-0611.

MARRY IN HASTE -- Repent at leisure is just what "Hedda Gabler" does in UNLV's theater department's presentation of the Ibsen drama at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Judy Bayley Theater. Her search for her own identity plays against a backdrop of social convention in the 19th century. (See "It Happened Last Night.") Tickets are $8 with discounts for students, seniors, military and the disabled at the Performing Arts box office, 895-3801.

OUR TOWN -- "Our Girl" struggles with ordinary and some only-in-Vegas scenarios as she tours the city in "The Lost Vegas Series" by Julie Jensen. The Asylum's presentation takes you along from the Wee Kirk o' the Heather to the doors of the MGM Grand in just a couple of hours, starting at 7:30 p.m. today through Sunday at the Winchester Center Theater, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Tickets are $10 at the door.

NEW FACES OF 1998 -- The Off Broadway Theater Actors Workshop presents its first showcase of the year at 6 p.m. Sunday at the theater, 900 E. Karen Ave. Scenes and monologues from movies, television and theater will be given new interpretations by student performers. Admission is free. For more information, call 737-0611.

ETC.

THE SECRET GARDEN -- When Siegfried & Roy decide they want a garden, they don't just settle for daffodils and earthworms. No, they have 33 white tigers, seven white lions, black panthers, snow leopards and a three-ton Asian elephant prowling their back 40 at The Mirage in an exotic jungle setting. The garden can be visited from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends. Admission is $10, kids 10 and under get in free.

GO PLAY INSIDE IN THE PARK -- What has been called Las Vegas' prettiest park is inside a hotel-casino -- well, so many things are. Mystic Falls Park at Sam's Town offers climate-controlled roughing it with real, living trees, a towering waterfall, park benches and amazingly lifelike animatronic animals and, oh yes, a river runs through it. The wolf who reigns over the park makes himself known at 2, 6, 8 and 10 p.m. daily in a spectacular laser light and water show. Admission is free to the park and the show.

DINNER IN CAMELOT -- Dine with King Arthur and his court as they take in a tournament on the jousting field at Excalibur. Armored knights cross lances and swords in chivalrous combat, while you wave your chicken leg and cheer them on. There are two three-course dinner shows nightly at 6 and 8:30 p.m. and mighty Merlin makes an appearance at both. All the medieval merriment is $29.95. For reservations, call 597-7600.