Columnist Joe Delaney: Local culture scene overflows this weekend

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999 | 11:26 a.m.

"Eclectic" is the word for the Nevada Dance Theatre's all-new program, Friday through Sunday in the greatly improved Cashman Theatre. ... Artistic Director Bruce Stievel has assembled three works that feature music ranging from Frederic Chopin to Pink Floyd. ... The evening will open with the classic "Les Sylphides," music by Chopin.

"In The Glow of the Night" takes a young girl through the journeys of her life, from youth to maturity and the completion of her life cycle. ... "A Good Time" is just that, a balletic romp to the music of Pink Floyd, first performed in Berne, Switzerland's State Theatre.

The Nevada Ballet Theatre's 1998-99 season concludes with "Coppelia," April 9-11. ... The Cashman Theatre has 24-hour security, new and improved acoustics and stereo sound system, plus enhanced stage lighting. ... Enjoy the program -- and the theatre -- this weekend.

More local events

"Gris Gris," a comedy-drama based upon the life of Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, is in its second and last weekend, UNLV's Black Box Theatre. ... Our critique will appear in Friday's Sun Show Guide page. ... Elsewhere, it's Actors Repertory Theatre's "Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" (Summerlin Library) and the Asylum's "A Thing Of Beauty" (Winchester Community Theatre).

"The Second Hand," a blend of theater, dance, comedy and acrobatics, is at the Charleston Heights Center, 8 p.m. Friday, followed by the 20th annual "Choreographer's Showcase," 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Eric Burdon & The New Animals perform at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday (Sunset Station's Club Madrid). ... the LV Master Singers, 40 strong, sing great standard pop songs, 4 p.m. Sunday (Flamingo Library Auditorium). ... There's a lot going on in town, attend, become part of it.

Star-policy rundown

It's George Carlin at 11 p.m. (Bally's); Crosby, Stills & Nash (Caesars Palace); The Four Tops (Desert Inn); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Sheena Easton and Rita Rudner plus Tommy Tune in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Richard Jeni (Monte Carlo); Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio).

Michele LaFong, currently appearing at O'Sheas on the Strip with her "Funniest Females Revue," is a triple-threat performer, a world-class ventriloquist, an impressionist and standup comedian. ... The $19.95 tab includes a free pass to the Magic and Music Hall of Fame nearby, one of our town's better buys.

Gans has a recording contract with Sony's Epic label and will spend his day off Monday in Nashville supervising background tracks. ... We understand the vocals will be recorded here.

Thursday addenda

Comedian Bernie Allen is 83 today. ... Allen was once one of the best tumult comedians, explosive, with a series of well-executed, very funny outbursts. ... Today, he is a classic storyteller, soft-spoken yet hard-hitting, even more effective. ... He headlines the Riviera Comedy Club April 5-11. ... Many more birthdays, Bernie, each one healthy and happy.

Gene Stronen and Doug Masters are replicating the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, respectively, nightly in "Legends In Concert" (Imperial Palace). ... Medley caught them the other night: "It's like looking at an old high school yearbook," he said.

Breck Wall and Patrick Maes' "DazzleDance" at Harrah's Tahoe was honored as "Show of the Year" by the media up north. ... Breck, a longtime Las Vegan, and Patrick, now a San Franciscan, are in Reno getting "Night Best" ready for a March Reno Hilton opening.

Jazz notes

It's Brian O'Shea's sextet, Wednesdays (Green Shack); Carl Lodico's Big Band, Thursdays (Pepper's Lounge); Irv Kluger, Fridays (Pogo's); Mike Breene Trio, Wednesdays through Saturdays (Santa Fe) plus The Jazz Organization, noon Sundays; the Ernie George Four, Fridays and Saturdays (Carollo's); The Marv Koral All-Stars there, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sundays; and Jimmy Wilkins Big Band, the first three Sundays in March (Riviera).

There will be a "Lord of the Dance" cast party starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, Murphy's Bar, a real Irish evening with a sing-along led by the Irish Show Band's D.J. Curtin. ... See you Friday.