Columnist Kate Maddox: ‘Chicago’ bears another look

Kate Maddox

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001 | 11:59 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Whether or not business remains quasi-steady at the C2K nightclub (now only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights) owner/operators Scott Iwamoto and Richard Heftel are focusing on changes for the Showroom at C2K.

After some discreet nudging from the Venetian, Iwamoto and Heftel are now thinking seriously about adding a Broadway-style show to the C2K lineup. And the front-runner is something the Strip has seen before: "Chicago."

Producers for the musical, which vacated the Mandalay Bay Theatre almost a year ago after an impressive run, have been in talks with C2K. But they won't sign until both parties agree on financial issues.

"Basically, we are talking with ('Chicago'), but we still haven't seen any money," Iwamoto said. "But we've been talking to a lot of potential shows. 'Chicago' isn't the first to try to get in here, and they won't be the last."

In either case, I have heard something thisclose to definite regarding the showroom, and it's kind of a Broadway-type situation. Robert Goulet apparently wants to perform in the C2K Showroom for a portion of the summer. Goulet will move in when Andre-Philippe Gagnon takes a lengthy vacation.

So why did Iwamoto and Heftel say "yes" to Goulet and "maybe" to "Chicago"? That pesky money issue again. Seems Goulet is going to four-wall the place, leasing the room from the owners. The four-wall is fast becoming a Las Vegas entertainment trend for skittish theater operators. It means less hassle for landlords and more profits through rent money, even if the show in question bombs. Goulet was performing in Louisiana on Friday and could not be reached for comment.

If you're still looking for that last-minute Valentine's Day gift for the celebrity-obsessed Significant Other, log onto kidscharities.org and bid on Ethel M Chocolates personally autographed by stars. Kidscharities is a nonprofit organization founded by David Cassidy's wife, Sue Shifrin-Cassidy. Proceeds from the auction benefit a number of local charities.

It's turning into a real family affair for David Saxe. Saxe, who produces his sister, Melinda, the First Lady of Magic at the Showroom at C2K, will be working with his mother, Bonnie Saxe, over at the San Remo. David will still keep the Melinda gig and reopen his mom's "Showgirls of Magic" on Friday night following a brief absence. Saxe is planning to upgrade the show and make some "major improvements" to the production.

Venetian visionary Sheldon Adelson is helping to bring museums to Las Vegas and soon he'll actually be installed in one. Well, kinda.

On Monday Adelson begins the long process of becoming one of Madame Tussaud's famed figures. A team of wax specialists will take 250 measurements and hundreds of photos of the hotel owner in order to get started on creating his wax likeness.

Look for Samuel L. Jackson at the tables this week. The actor, who hosts ESPN's celeb-packed ESPY Awards at the MGM Grand Monday night, told me he's a big fan of casino action -- the good kind and the bad kind. "I just like to sit at a table and gamble and see people on incredible highs and incredible lows," Jackson said. "That's what this town is all about."

For all the good food, loud music and delectable martinis at Thursday night's opening of Olio! at the MGM, I still have to say the fabulest of the fabulous had to be yet another of Robin Leach's ubiquitous gal-pals. Give the girl credit. Not only did she impress the packed crowd with some impromptu dance moves, she did it without the help of underwear.

In my experience, there are moments when a party truly becomes a party. That, my friends, was one of them.