Columnist Joe Delaney: From ‘soft’ to ‘press’ to ‘preview,’ openings run gamut

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000 | 8:44 a.m.

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

Despite a spate of openings in January, starting with a partially new edition of "Splash" (Riviera), followed by Clint Holmes (Harrah's); "David Cassidy Live At the Copa, Co-starring Sheena Easton" (Rio); "Notre Dame de Paris" (Paris Las Vegas); and Wayne Newton (Stardust), in that order, we still have Blue Man Group (Luxor) on Feb. 25, plus the Strip debut of Danny Gans in a theater built for him at the Mirage on April 2.

"Splash" was performed for nearly a month before its official press opening on Feb. 2. ... Holmes and Newton were ready for review on their respective opening nights. ... "Notre Dame de Paris" had two days of full-price previews before opening officially.

"Notre Dame de Paris" was complete on its preview opening night but changes are being made, including a reduction of weekly performances from 10 to six, ostensibly because extra dancers from France could not get visas.

More openings update

Cassidy and Easton had a "soft opening" at full price, followed a week or so later by an official press opening. ... We were there for the so-called soft opening and again the day before the "official" opening and found it still a work in progress. ... The point is that a new show is subject to review the day that it is open to the public and those attending are paying to see the show. ... An opening is an opening.

Newton has been doing capacity (900-plus) at almost every performance at the Stardust. ... Holmes could use some extra push to go with excellent word-of-mouth he is engendering.

The Blue Man Group starts preview performances for the public at the Luxor on Feb. 25 with the official press opening set for March 14. ... Therefore, we will report on both events because the public will be paying for the preview performances.

More Blue Man Group

There are 1,200 seats in the Luxor showroom, nearly three times as many as the largest venue Blue Man Group has performed in to date. ... It should be noted that a number of the preview performances will benefit viable local causes, especially on March 3 for Golden Rainbow with its vital work with AIDS/HIV victims, and March 4 for KNPR 89.5-FM audience builders.

With LV's population well on its way to the million and one-half mark, an effort should be made to make show-goers out of more locals so we can talk to visitors on what shows to see when relatives and friends visit. ... Everyone has visitors during the year and, almost without exception, they will ask advice about shows in town.

Hotels should market to locals (two-fers, when necessary) and to people in town staying at other hotels. ... If there are 250,000 people in town, 240,000 will be staying somewhere else, even if it's the MGM Grand.

Star-policy rundown

It's George Carlin (Bally's); David Copperfield (Caesars Palace); The Temptations, plus Susan Anton in the Starlight Theatre (Desert Inn); Holmes (Harrah's); Rita Rudner (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Shaolin Monks, plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Neil Sedaka (Orleans); Cassidy & Easton (Rio); and Wayne Newton (Stardust).

Impressionist Andre-Phillippe Gagnon (Venetian) will be followed by David Brenner, Friday and Sunday. ... Brenner's Saturday show will go live to the East Coast as an HBO special at 7 p.m., shown on tape locally at 10 p.m.

Premier guitarist Joe Lano and his trio, which includes Chris Gordon, bass, and Tommy Check, drums, in the posh Napoleon's Room at Paris Las Vegas, has had its option picked up. ... Napoleon's Room is just to the left if you're entering from the self-parking garage.

Thursday addenda

Mea culpa. ... In last Thursday's column, we referred to it as the "Caribbean Casino" when it is really the "Caribbean Cabana." ... We went there Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and it was a double error because there was no Joe Darro Quartet featuring Jay Orlando. ... Sorry. ... Marv Koral's All-Stars had a packed house later that Sunday evening in the Pierce Street Annex.

Koral and Carl Fontana & Co. will be there again this Sunday, 5-9 p.m. ... Contemporary jazz fans are also enjoying Rocco Barbato, Mondays and Tuesdays (Palace Station). ... Support good jazz, all good jazz. ... It's time to send a check to the Sun Summer Camp Fund. ... See you Friday.