Columnist Kate Maddox: Rio braces for ‘De La Guarda’

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, June 20, 2000 | 8:36 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

The Rio is hoping to score big with a new show and a somewhat unusual entertainment idea. The hotel, which recently shelled out beaucoup bucks for the new 1,500-seat Pavilion Theatre, has just about completed work on a new showroom by the hotel's pool area.

The room, which will accommodate about 950 people, will be the home of "De La Guarda." The show originated in Argentina and spent two years off-Broadway in New York and one year in London -- to sellout audiences in both cities.

Describing the Rio's newest entertainment draw is a bit of a problem. It has been called "primal," "emotional," "rave-like" and "beautiful." There is no dialogue between cast members, and they spend portions of the show suspended over the audience, flying around, dancing, etc.

To make customers feel like they're a part of the show, audience members get to stand. That's right, no seats. The audience is just packed in tightly, with music blaring, lights flashing and figures whizzing by.

Take heart, though, the show has been popular with celebrity types. Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and members of 'N Sync have all stood to watch the production.

The show is scheduled to open at the Rio in late July or early August.

Even though the surfboard press release clogged traffic in the office, I have to hand it to the creative folks at Mandalay Bay. The hotel's newest attraction, Shark Reef (the arrival of which was marked by a surfboard sent to media types), is nothing short of spectacular. A sneak peak at the $40 million underwater experience was like taking an express train to the ocean floor.

Exhibit-goers are surrounded by tunnels of water holding exotic fish, eels, sea turtles, crocodiles and sharks -- big scary ones. More than 75 species of marine life inhabit the state-of-the-art aquarium, with more expected to be added in coming months.

The biggest surprise is that the hotel managed to keep the huge undertaking a well-guarded secret for almost a year. Plans for Shark Reef have been under way since the hotel opened, but word about the project didn't leak until this week.

Shark Reef opens today. Check it out. It's something new on the entertainment scene for Las Vegas and it's definitely an experience.

So, you're a big movie star, famous the world over for your tight abs, sly grin and starlet girlfriends. You've just wrapped up shooting what promises to be a blockbuster movie and you want to celebrate -- oh, and money isn't an option. What do you do? You plunk down a reported $18,000 and have a private pool party at Mandalay Bay.

Brad Pitt finished up his scenes on "The Mexican" recently and decided to invite some friends for some good clean fun by taking over the large wave pool and converting it into his own back yard. Pitt's girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston, showed up as did his "Mexican" co-star Julia Roberts and her beau, Benjamin Bratt.

A local kindergarten teacher is moonlighting in a public way on Friday night at the Hard Rock. Mara "The Educator" Callihan will step into the ring for her professional boxing debut at the Joint. The 26-year-old teacher at Selma Bartlett Elementary School says that for her, boxing is more a physical and mental challenge than a way to pulverize opponents.

"It's something I love to do ... and it's not so that I can beat people up." OK, Mrs. Callihan, whatever you say.

Tickets for Friday's bout are available at the Hard Rock box office. Callihan's match is one of two female bouts scheduled for Friday.