Columnist Joe Delaney: Lesson: Broadway-length shows require money, commitment

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000 | 9:45 a.m.

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

Years spent in the recording industry have revealed that most hit releases were accidents. ... The record producer can join in the selection of material to be recorded, try to match the music with the best possible interpreters, and set a climate most conducive to bringing out the utmost from everyone concerned. ... But there is no guarantee the public will respond accordingly.

With a single record, the artist has approximately three minutes to tell the story. ... With an album, cassette or CD, it is more like a live performance, 45 minutes or more, with a beginning, middle and an end. ... There is a parallel here to a Broadway play or musical. ... With an album, etc., the cost is much less and the risk diminished considerably.

Costs of an original theatrical production, particularly a musical, slated for a Broadway run are astronomical today. ... Sets, costumes, rehearsals and out- of-town tryouts can run a million dollars or more.

Anent 'Miss Spectacular'

It will be interesting to learn what the Mirage's final pre-production costs will be for Jerry Herman's production, "Miss Spectacular," especially if one adds the cost of creating a theater for it. ... Herman's credits are extensive; he is a proven legit theater musical winner. ... He will certainly surround himself with top-notch support personnel.

Will "Miss Spectacular" be taken on the road first? ... Or will it have preview performances before a formal opening, as the Luxor is doing with the "Blue Man Group" starting in February?

This is not a new experience for Steve Wynn, et al., who spent a reported $25 million to create the Siegfried & Roy Theatre and that much and more to house "Mystere" and "O" at Treasure Island and Bellagio respectively, a sum which does not include preproduction costs for Siegfried & Roy or the Cirque du Soleil shows.

Star-policy rundown

It's Howie Mandel (Caesars Palace); Gladys Knight (Desert Inn); Buddy Greco, Lezlie Anders and their orchestra, Fridays only (Flamingo Hilton); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Clint Holmes, starting Friday (Harrah's); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Tom Jones plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Jerry Lewis (Orleans) and Andre-Phillippe Gagnon (Venetian).

Magician-comedian Mac King is now ensconced in Harrah's Improv Comedy Club, 1 and 3 p.m., except Sundays and Mondays. ... Darren Romeo, "The Voice Of Magic," has caught on nicely, Thursdays through Tuesdays at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Flamingo Hilton showroom.

Dick Feeney's "Viva Las Vegas" is a top-quality afternoon show in its ninth year in Las Vegas, 2 and 4 p.m. at the Stratosphere. ... Admission is $10 plus tax, less if you're a slot player.

Post-holiday update

"Splash" at the Riviera is mostly new and greatly improved. ... Holmes heralds the start of a new entertainment policy in Harrah's showroom.

More openings: Rip Taylor now has the star slot in "Great Radio City Spectacular" (Flamingo Hilton) and the David Cassidy-Sheena Easton "Live at the Copa" opens Tuesday at the Rio.

There's more: Paris Las Vegas unveils "Notre Dame de Paris," a smash hit in Europe, a musical retelling of the classic story of beauty and the beast, based on the Victor Hugo novel, "Hunchback of Notre Dame," on Jan. 21, a potential big winner.

Wayne Newton starts his 40-week-a-year run in the newly re-named Wayne Newton Theatre at the Stardust on Jan. 24.

"Blue Man Group" (Luxor) starts a series of modestly priced preview performances on Feb. 3.

Lest we forget

For this columnist, the optimum in Las Vegas entertainment would be an infinite variety of choices, all successful, with showrooms active seven days a week in every hotel. ... But, please, let's keep those showroom prices at reasonable levels.

Or has the costly lesson of this past New Year's Eve been forgotten already?

Tonight at 7:30 the Joseph Bernard Acting Studio presents a series of stage and screen scenes greeting the new year, free, in the Winchester Center Theatre. Call 734-8718 for details. ... See you Friday.