Columnist Joe Delaney: Plenty of entertainment to be had this weekend

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 | 8:20 a.m.

Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" is scheduled to resume on Jan. 8, which should put the rumors of its demise at rest again ... The Four Tops will occupy New York-New York's Broadway Theatre in its place, Dec. 23-Jan. 6 ... Carrot Top is the MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre's attraction through Dec. 23; definitely not for a full-family outing.

If you live here and want to see the country performers, rodeo riders and NFR back-up personnel relax and let their hair down, take an afternoon nap and plan to spend the hours from 11 p.m. to whenever with Ricky and the Redstreaks at the Stardust convention area; $5 admission charge.

Star-policy rundown

It's mostly country with Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker tonight, Sting on Friday and SheDaisy Saturday (Aladdin); Mac King afternoons, Clint Holmes evenings (Harrah's); Brad Paisley and Chely Wright, through Saturday (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); Barry Manilow, tonight through Saturday, Storm Theatre, plus Brian Boitano's Holiday Skating Spectacular, Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

There's more: Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" is dark through Saturday (MGM Grand); Danny Gans, with Siegfried & Roy, dark through Dec. 27 (Mirage); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Tanya Tucker, through Saturday (Orleans); Clint Black tonight, and Natalie Cole, Friday through Sunday (Paris Las Vegas).

And still more: Ronn Lucas afternoons; the Scintas evenings, except Wednesday and Thursday when it's Earl Turner (Rio); Chris LeDoux, Saturday (Silverton); Michael Holly, afternoons, Steve Wyrick evenings (Sahara); Bill Engvall and Ricky and the Redstreaks, in separate locales (Stardust); Don Ho Christmas Show (Suncoast); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, the First Lady of Magic, 7 p.m., and Charo in "Bravo," 9 p.m. (Venetian).

Be sure to check show times; most country-western acts will have 10 or 10:30 p.m. curtains to accommodate NFR ticket holders ... There are two more comedy club-type showrooms: the Comedy Zone (Casino Royale) evenings, and (Lady Luck), where the Robbie Howard and the Walkers' "Stars of the Strip" continues strong in the afternoons.

Jeff McBride and his Masks of Magic is the headline attraction in Caesars Magical Empire where the magic is varied, food is good and the laughs plentiful, especially during dinner ... John Waite and Jonatha Brooke are with 112 in a performance benefiting the Shade Tree Shelter Friday (House of Blues) ... "Thunder From Down Under" is back (New Frontier).

The Las Vegas Philharmonic, with Harold Weller, musical director, presents "A Yuletide Celebration of Traditional Holiday Favorites," Saturday at 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday in University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Artemus Ham Hall, with special guests the Green Valley High School Concert Choir and the Brass Ensemble of the LV Academy of Arts.

As a special philharmonic feature, internationally featured choreographer and dancer and author Vassili Sulich will be on hand for a special booksigning of his "Vision in the Desert," in the Ham Hall lobby before and during the Saturday and Sunday concerts.

Marv Koral's All-Stars, featuring Carl Fontana (trombone), Ronnie DiFillips (piano) and Chris Gordon (bass), are the regular Thursday evening attraction (Jazzed Cafe); on Friday it's Pogo's with Irv Kluger and friends ... Lon Bronson's Big Band swings Saturday, starting at midnight at Riviera Lounge, home base for Don Menza, et al., on most Mondays.

Second and last weekend for the Rainbow Company's "The Emperor's New Clothes" (Charleston Heights Center); the LV Civic Symphony is in concert, 2 p.m. Sunday (Reed Whipple Center), admission is free but tickets are required, call 229-6211 ... UNLV's Chamber Chorale will perform at Nellis Air Force Base, 7 p.m. Saturday, a fund-raiser for its projected spring tour.

We're betting that Charo and her "Bravo" show, with Mario and Daniel, at The Venetian joins Melinda as capable of surviving in spite of the onerous rental system at The Venetian ... Also on our mind: How will the Righteous Brothers and the Smothers Brothers make out in the larger, less warm confines of the LV Hilton showroom? ... We do wish them both well ... See you Friday.