Columnist Joe Delaney: Arts groups announce upcoming performances

Joe Delaney

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 8:57 a.m.

Joe Delaney's columns appear on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

Acultural desert no more ... Las Vegas has come of age in this respect ... The UNLV Performing Arts Center just concluded a very successful season with Rosemary Clooney, Big Kahuna and Copa Cat Pack in Artemus Ham Hall on Sunday ... Here is an advance peek at the 2001-2002 season; the formal announcement with details will be on its way shortly.

The prestigious Charles Vanda Master Series opens with the famed Philadelphia Orchestra on Sept. 29, followed by the "Rising Stars Concert," featuring classical pianist Awadagin Pratt and brilliant violinist Nokothula Ngwenyama ... In 2002 it's Thomas Hampson (Feb. 1), the Vienna Chamber Orchestra (March 9); Australia Chamber Orchestra (April 6); and the Grigorovich Ballet (April 27).

The World Stage Series has the Bangara Dance Group on Nov. 9; Samulnori (Feb. 15) and Sweet Honey in the Rocks, an outstanding female gospel group, to close the season on May 12.

The Performing Arts Center New York Stage series has been expanded ... It is scheduled to start with tap master-choreographer Savion Glover (Oct. 12); and jazz pianists Billy Taylor and Ramsey Lewis on Nov. 18 ... Broadway and television star and recording artist Mandy Patinkin (Jan. 6); Alvin Ailey II Ballet (Jan. 28); Diane Reeves (Feb. 17) and Linda Eder at a date to be announced in March.

Congratulations, all concerned, at the UNLV Performing Arts Center and to the UNLV Theatre Department as well ... We're looking forward to its 2001-2002 season announcement as well.

The Nevada Ballet Theatre's formal announcement of its 2001-2002 season arrived in the mail over the weekend, an impressive list including three world premieres, four company premieres, a full-length "Don Quixote" and an all-new "Nutcracker."

Equally exciting is the news that the 30th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 19 will be held in the Rio's Samba Theatre, as will "Don Quixote" on Oct. 20-21 and "The Nutcracker," Dec. 20-23 ... In 2002 the NBT returns to UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre for "Mozart to Scott Joplin," a series of short ballets, and a "World Premiere Evening," May 16-19.

The formation of the Nevada Dance Theatre, now the Nevada Ballet Theatre, was first announced by original artistic director Vassili Sulich on our KLAV radio program from the Landmark in 1970. Congratulations artistic director Bruce Steivel, Nancy Houssels and everyone, past and present, who have worked so hard to make ballet a success in Las Vegas.

Congratulations as well to musical director Harold Weller and all the people who have made the Las Vegas Philharmonic a success ... The 2001-2002 season includes "Five Fabulous Saturday Classical Series" performances in UNLV's Ham Hall and four special events, three at Ham Hall plus the special "Pops at the Rio" concert at 8 p.m. Sept. 21-22 in the Samba Theatre.

We applaud the Rio for making its Samba Theatre available to both the Nevada Ballet Theatre and the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and to the Orleans for making its showroom theater available to the new Broadway Theatre Company with names such as Anne Jeffreys and Tab Hunter to star in three Broadway musicals, "Mame," "Dreamgirls" and "Damn Yankees" ... Let's have more of this.

While we're at it, low bows as well to the various community theater groups who give us first-quality theater every season.

Star-policy rundown

It's Bill Acosta (Flamingo Las Vegas); David Brenner (Golden Nugget); Clint Holmes, evenings, and Mac King, afternoons (Harrah's); the Fab Four (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); George Carlin, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand); Paul Anka (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); and Kenny Kerr (New Frontier); there's more.

Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Peter, Paul & Mary (Orleans); Pete Barbutti (Plaza); "The Scintas" and Earl Turner, in separate theaters (Rio); Steve Wyrick, "The Rat Pack Is Back" and Michael Holly, afternoons (Sahara); Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Dave Mason and John Ford Coley (Sam's Town); Don Rickles and LaGaylia (Stardust); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic, plus Andre-Philippe Gagnon (Venetian).

An appreciation

Perry Como was the same relaxed, easy, warm individual onstage and off ... There was only one Como; he was a talented, gentle man ... We exchanged Christmas cards for nearly 50 years ... I was there when he played the International (now the LV Hilton), at the start of the 1970s and we had a nice chat immediately after the show, but that's a story for another column ... He ranks right up there at the all-time top with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.

Please give what you can afford to the Sun Summer Camp Fund; send those children to camp this summer ... See you Friday.