Columnist Kate Maddox: ‘Storm’ reigns at Mandalay

Kate Maddox

Friday, March 2, 2001 | 1:33 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column also appears Tuesdays and Fridays in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com or 259-2309.

The calm before the "Storm" is coming to an end. On Tuesday the much-anticipated Mandalay Bay production will have an official unveiling for media types and hotel entertainment brass. Those who have already been lucky enough to get a sneak peak say "Storm" is quite spectacular.

Costumes are great. Music's great. Dance numbers are "outstanding," "like nothing Vegas has ever seen before," blah, blah, blah.

(OK, maybe I'm feeling bitter because my attempts to poke fun at the show's promotional props -- rain sticks, umbrellas, etc. -- have rendered me teaseless. I was booted off the press mailing list.)

Some insiders are saying the success of "Storm" will likely be due to Jamie King. The twentysomething choreographer/creative director is responsible for the entire theatrical concept of Mandalay Bay's new "entertainment event."

By the by, King was the one who first recognized the bankability of Ricky Martin's shaking bonbon. It was his choreography that led to entire concerts devoted to the Latin beauty's booty. Smart man.

King's dance moves and youthful artistic eye are apparently the driving forces behind this new musical-visual trip through the tropics. Tuesday's mini-preview will finally give those of us who have been dying to see a show about the weather (and really, who hasn't?) the opportunity to live the dream.

Unless you've been spending quality time of late in a cave somewhere, you probably know that tonight is the premiere of season three of "The Sopranos." HBO's the-Mob-has-feelings-too drama series has spawned plenty of kickoff parties around town.

The one at Olio! is already filled to capacity. But don't fret if you didn't snag a seat this time, as the restaurant is planning on continuing the Sunday screening parties through the season. If you're a member at the House of Blues' swank Foundation Room, there's still space available. The private club will air the premiere on two big screens, feature special Italian menu treats and hold poker games with phony Foundation cash.

Even if you can't make the bashes, there's no need to feel left out of all the Mafia fun. Impress (or freak out) your pals by learning the lingo at hbo.com/sopranos/insidersguide/mobspeak/.

One of the highlights at Friday night's 75th birthday celebration for Playboy honcho Hugh Hefner had to be the cake. The two-tiered confection created for the Studio 54 party featured the bunny icon and chocolates shaped like voluptuous naked girls.

The comedy club, bastion of '80s entertainment, makes a return to Las Vegas. Catch a Rising Star will open at the Excalibur later this month with two shows nightly in the hotel's 300-seat showroom.

Catch a Rising star closed at the MGM Grand in 1999 after struggling to gain audiences. The hotel filled the spot with the now-defunct "Wheel of Fortune Live Onstage."

Tickets for the new show at the Excalibur will be $16.95, a steal compared to headliner comedy from Dennis Miller, Rita Rudner, David Brenner, Don Rickles and the rest.

The search is on to find a replacement for Janien Masse, the female lead in "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" at the Flamingo Las Vegas. As of this weekend, producers still hadn't found anyone to fill her shoes, even though scouts were immediately dispatched to both Los Angeles and New York.

They had better get some talent signed quick. Masse plays relationship-phobe "Mandy" for the last time on Tuesday.

On Friday she joins talented Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes as a featured singer and sidekick.