Columnist Joe Delaney: Catching up on the progress of local shows

Joe Delaney

Thursday, April 27, 2000 | 10 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at joe@ lasvegassun.com or 259-4066.

Las Vegas is nearly four months into the new millennium, or is it really the last year of the old millennium? ... Either way the following is a progress report. ... There have been a number of new arrivals and changes in venue since Jan. 1. ... Some are hot; some are not. ... People did come in for this past holiday weekend; many opted not to attend shows.

Wayne Newton's Stardust crowd counts in his Wayne Newton Theatre, capacity 900-plus, have been outstanding. ... His strong initial momentum shows no signs of fading. ... The same is true for Danny Gans in his new 1,200-plus seat theatre at the Mirage, with advance reservations indicating near-capacity business for the foreseeable future.

Soul Jam was a winner for the Stardust one of the weekends Wayne was away. ... The Motown packages have always done well at Caesars Palace; likewise those ersatz Platters-Drifters-Coasters Sahara combos.

Continuing on

"Smokey Joe's Cafe" is doing exceptionally good business in the 1,200-seat Caesars Palace Circus Maximus with Gladys Knight as its star, a stellar cast and strong hit songs, well-performed. ... It is due to close June 11 and should be extended until Hilton's Park Place closes one of LV's finest and most historic showrooms forever in September.

If Knight is still available, Mandalay Bay should consider it for that mostly vacant venue. ... The Rio's new theater showroom could do worse than have "Smokey Joe's Cafe" follow "Footloose" when it gets through.

Clint Holmes seems to be picking up steam after a slow start at Harrah's. ... Holmes, an exceptional talent, has a huge LV rooting section, including this columnist. ... He seems to be on the edge of breaking through. ... The David Cassidy-Sheena Easton Copa opus at the Rio, a work in progress, is still trying to find itself.

In conclusion

"Notre Dame de Paris" is now doing seven shows a week. ... The odds are that it will never come near to duplicating its success in Paris, France. ... "Tap Dogs," in the Rio's new theater, is only for three weeks; highly recommended.

Query: Does the booking of "Grease" into the MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre, tonight through May 31 (see story on page 1E), portend a change in policy for that fine star-policy room?

Star-policy rundown

It's Chuck Mangione, tonight only (Arizona Charlie's); George Carlin (Bally's); Knight, starring in "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (Caesars); Lorna Luft plus Don Rickles (Desert Inn); Holmes (Harrah's); Jeff Foxworthy (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Siegfried & Roy, plus Gans (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo) and Roy Clark (Orleans).

Plus Cassidy-Easton (Rio); Newton (Stardust) and Andre-Philippe Gagnon (Venetian). ... The Paul Rodriguez Yo Quiero Comedy Jam takes over Lance Burton's Monte Carlo Theatre, tonight through May 4, followed by Richard Lewis, May 5-6.

"An Evening With Luis Miguel" is a Saturday special (Mandalay Bay Events Center). ... Susan Anton is a lovely winner (Desert Inn's Starlight Lounge). ... Congrats, all concerned, for making the Desert Inn's 50th anniversary week so special. ... More on this Friday.

More congrats

The Flamingo Las Vegas' "Great Radio City Spectacular" celebrated its 3,000th performance Tuesday. ... Rip Taylor, the show's star, came in for two weeks in January and has just been extended through May 31. ... Keep him on. ... Cirque du Soleil's "Mystere" (Treasure Island) makes it 3,000 performances at 10:30 tonight. ... Comedian Richard Jeni hosts the Tropicana Comedy Stop's 10th anniversary bash, starting at 7 this evening.

The Seventh Annual Stacy Darling Charity Tennis Classic, benefiting the local Variety Tent 39, the Children's Charity, takes place this weekend and next. ... Please call 383-8466 for details.

Starting May 2 hypnotist-comedian Justin Tranz's "HIP-nosis, Playing With Your Head" is performed in the Flamingo's O'Shea's at 9 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, and in the Flamingo's Bugsy's Theatre, Fridays and Saturdays, starting at midnight.

Thursday addenda

In the list of shows that changed venues, "The Rat Pack Is Back," is doing well in the Sahara Congo Room, thanks to a hot Lon Bronson Orchestra, a major factor for Cassidy and Easton at the Rio as well. ... Support the Sun Summer Camp Fund. ... See you Friday.