Columnist Joe Delaney: Numerous acts promise afternoons of Vegas delights

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000 | 9:02 a.m.

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

Afternoon action is beginning to heat up with the addition of "Wheel Of Fortune," the live version of the TV game show in what was once the MGM Grand home of "Catch a Rising Star." It's at 3 and 7:30 p.m., Sundays through Wednesdays, plus 7:30 and 10 p.m. shows on Friday, and 4, 7:30 and 10 p.m. shows on Saturdays. ... The room is dark on Thursdays.

The long-run afternoon show champion is Dick Feeney's revue, "Viva Las Vegas," 2 and 4 p.m. (Stratosphere). ... If magic and illusions are your pleasure, there's Darren Romeo, who also sings and does impressions (Flamingo Las Vegas); Mac King, very funny, 1 and 3 p.m. (Harrah's); and "The Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas," 2 and 4 p.m. (Tropicana).

Robbie Howard and the Walkers duplicate many of the "Stars of the Strip" at 2 and 3:30 p.m. (Lady Luck). ... Each of these attractions are well worth seeing, with most of them priced under $20.

Friday opening

"Blue Man Group: Live at Luxor" opens Friday (see story on page 1E) with a series of previews through March 13, with ticket prices at $55 and $65, plus tax. ... Benefit performances are set as follows: United Way, Friday; Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Boys/Girls Club, Saturday; Golden Rainbow, March 3; KNPR 89.5-FM, March 4; and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, March 5.

More benefit nights: Golden Rainbow and the National Conference of Christians and Jews, March 8; LV Academy, March 9; Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Shade Tree, March 10; and Muscular Dystrophy Association, March 12.

Prices may vary on different nights. ... Dark nights are Monday and Tuesday of next week; March 6-7; and March 11 and 13. ... The press opening is March 14. ... The Blue Man Group, Mandalay Bay Resorts and the Luxor are to be commended for contributing to various vital local causes, including a recent Sunday event at the Luxor for Golden Rainbow.

Star-policy rundown

It's George Carlin-Dennis Blair (Bally's); David Copperfield (Caesars Palace); Toto, plus Susan Anton in the Starlight (Desert Inn); Buddy Greco, Lezlie Anders and their big band, Fridays (Flamingo Las Vegas); Clint Holmes (Harrah's); Rita Rudner (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Louie Anderson, plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); and Mel Tillis (Orleans); there's more.

There's "David Cassidy At the Copa, Co-starring Sheena Easton" (Rio); Wayne Newton (Stardust); and Andre-Phillippe Gagnon (Venetian). ... It's beginning to look more and more like the old Las Vegas.

Felicia Michaels, winner of the 1992 Star Search and the 1999 American Comedy Award, is the star of KXTE 107.5-FM's XXXtreme Comedy Showcase, Friday and Saturday at 11:45 p.m. in the Riviera Comedy Club. ... Comedian-magician Fielding West is this week's Comedy Club headliner.

A little trivia

Anderson, opening tonight (MGM Grand); Michaels, Harry Basil, headlining this week (Tropicana Comedy Stop) and Gagnon have in common that each made their debut as part of Mitzi Shore's Dunes Comedy Store in the late 1980s. ... We discuss Anderson's ever-expanding career and other Comedy Store alumni in Friday's column.

Tickets are on sale now at the Danny Gans box office at the Mirage for the multiple award-winning impressionist's debut there on April 2. ... Ticket prices are $67.50 plus tax.

Congrats, "Forever Plaid" (Flamingo's Bugsy's Celebrity Theatre), now on its way to 4,000 performances here and a good bet to make it. ... Congrats as well to Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce chief Pat Shalmy on being named executive of the year by the Western Association of Chamber Executives.

Thursday addenda

Local events: "The Play Pen," today and Friday at 7:30 p.m. (Winchester Community Center); "A Funny thing Happened On the Way to the Forum," tonight through March 5 (Summerlin Library Theatre); and the 21st annual Choreographer's Showcase 2000, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. (Charleston Heights Arts Center.)

Comedian Paula Poundstone performs at 8 p.m. Friday (Sunset Station's Club Madrid). ... Happy 65th birthday, publisher Chuck Di Rocco. ... Please give to the Sun Summer Camp Fund. ... See you Friday.