Columnist Kate Maddox: Players shuffle back to Regent

Kate Maddox

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 4:11 a.m.

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

The big-bucks poker game is still on at the Regent Las Vegas. The high-stakes-a-thon began more than a week ago and features some of the world's best poker players, including Doyle Brunson, Bobby Baldwin and Chip Reese.

The average buy-in hovered around the $500,000 mark and the money on the table during any given game was well into the millions.

After a much-needed break, play was to resume last Friday night. But the boys couldn't wait to get back to the game and most were already anteing up by Thursday morning, after only a three-day reprieve.

Round Two was scheduled to continue through the weekend.

Don't worry that the millionaire poker players aren't being treated well at the Regent. Restauranteur Gustav Mauler, who opened Spiedini and Oxo inside the hotel, has been providing the squatters with specially prepared gourmet dinners every night -- served tableside in the poker room to ensure they won't miss even a single $10,000 hand.

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One of the world's most popular musicals is coming to the Strip. The producers behind Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera" are in talks to bring the drama to the stage beginning in January.

The "Phantom" folks are pushing hard and have approached Paris Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay about future potential partnerships. Paris Las Vegas has lined up headliners for the rest of the year and are fielding numerous pitches from productions eager to get into Le Theater des Arts come January. "Phantom" is a front-runner.

As for Mandalay Bay, whether it's "sabotage" or not (and I think not), rumors are still swirling that "Storm" won't end up being the long-running production it was intended to be. And the London-based "Phantom" team has indeed been in talks with Mandalay Resort Group entertainment bigwigs, so don't be surprised if Webber's best seller takes over when "Storm" blows out. *

KTNV Channel 13's loss might end up being KVBC Channel 3's gain. Emmy winner Steve Crupi has reportedly signed a deal to get him back on the Las Vegas airwaves. Crupi lost his KTNV position in March when the station was dropping talent in an effort to cut costs.

Crupi will join KVBC as a reporter on its 11 p.m. newscast. He's set to start this week.

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You're going to be hearing a lot more from club promoter John D. Guzman in coming weeks. Guzman, who has tried to bring his Naked Hollywood nights to just about every club on the Strip, will return, this time at Paris Las Vegas.

I know, Paris doesn't have a nightclub.

See, Guzman is going to take Paris' dark, dreary and almost perpetually empty cigar bar, Napolean's, and somehow transform it into a "sinfully sexy ultra-lounge," whatever that is. And if I hear the words "upscale, late-night experience" used one more time to describe an incoming hotel lounge I'm gonna freak out and vow never to leave my neighborhood Doc Holliday's.

Guzman launches Vamp at Napolean's on Friday night. Check out the upscale, late-night experience for yourself and be prepared for this to be just the beginning of a lengthy partnership between Park Place Entertainment and the notorious club king. I hear Guzman is talking about running the nighttime activities at Caesars Palace, as well as Paris, which is designing a late-night club venue of its own.

Guzman giggled at the rumors, saying, "Put it this way, I'm really happy."

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