VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: LV was right to take a chance on Walsh

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004 | 10:47 a.m.

VegasBeat appears Sunday through Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Timothy McDarrah can be reached at tim@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-4096.

Even though she has every reason to do so, Tina Walsh is far too polite to shout, "I told you so."

Walsh is the star of the Las Vegas production of "Mamma Mia!," which celebrates its first anniversary at the Mandalay Bay Theatre tonight with a special performance and a Foundation Room reception afterward.

"A lot of people said that you can't do a show here with an intermission; that it was too long, that other Broadway-type shows had failed; and that we were destined to do the same," Walsh told VegasBeat in a phone conversation Tuesday, just after the self-proclaimed "car pool mom" had picked up her 12-year-old son, Austin, from school.

"Well, I am tickled pink that we are still flying high one year later. This musical is a phenomenon, and I am thrilled to be a part of it here in Las Vegas."

Each day, somewhere in the world, more than 18,000 people watch "Mamma Mia!" at one of its 11 global productions, producers claim.

"I am still surprised and amazed how much I am enjoying doing the show, and how the audience continues to respond," Walsh said.

Much of the cast has recently changed, but Walsh was signed to a contract extension, with a raise.

Highlights over the past year have included backstage meetings with stars such as Sean Connery, Neil Sedaka and Frank Langella. "Can you believe that they came to see me?" Walsh said.

On the other hand, she has not been able to get out and see as many Vegas shows as she'd like to.

"I want to see Elton John, Danny Gans, Jimmy Hopper. There is so much talent in Las Vegas that I am still dying to see."

Walsh is also flattered that the producers of the London Queen musical, "We Will Rock You," have credited the success of "Mamma Mia!" as a prime reason that show is opening its first U.S. production in Vegas and not on Broadway.

"May they have all the success that we've had," Walsh said.

The Queen musical is slated to open at Paris Las Vegas late this summer.

All-Star move

Lon Bronson's All-Star Band has been a Saturday night staple at the Riviera since 1990.

But after its Feb. 28 gig it is leaving the hotel. No immediate word why, but a posting on Bronson's website said he and the band were seeking another local venue.

The weekly 1:15 a.m. late-Saturday night show is reminiscent of the old Vegas days, noted for visiting musicians often joining the band for a few songs.

Last weekend, for example, Ray Charles made an unannounced appearance.

Others who have sat in with the band include Huey Lewis, Tom Jones, Joe Walsh, Taylor Dayne and David Cassidy, as well as members of Tower of Power, Beach Boys, Blood Sweat & Tears, The Temptations and Barenaked Ladies.

Vegas tome

An anticipated Las Vegas book, a sociological study called "The Last Honest Place in America: In Search of Paradise and Perdition in the New Las Vegas," by Marc Cooper, got its first review this week.

The current edition of Publisher's Weekly, the book industry bible, asks of Las Vegas: "Is there a place for such unabashed superficiality" in the "post-9-11 world?"

"The answer, Cooper finds, is yes. The city embraces its kitschy supremacy with its drive-thru chapels and casinos. But it's also undergoing an evolution, about which Cooper is somewhat wistful, away from its early, campy seediness and toward a more fully realized, corporate-run money machine."

The Thunder's Mouth Press book is set for an early April release.

Turning 2

The Bellagio hot spot Light celebrates its second anniversary over the weekend, and a nice slice of Hollywood's A-list is coming to help Andrew Sasson celebrate at a big party Saturday night.

Among the notables who have booked rooms at the hotel for the weekend include Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Mark Wahlberg, Lukas Haas, Luke Wilson, Estella Warren and Jason Sehorn and his wife, Angie Harmon.

And, of course, Paris Hilton.

For those celebs who can get up early enough Sunday, Light is also having its inaugural Light Poker Tournament that afternoon.

Fast cause

The Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities will have its sixth annual fund-raiser auction March 4 at Sam's Town.

Fans will be able to bid on racing memorabilia and some NASCAR drivers, who donate their time and are auctioned off to the highest bidder. Winning bidders ride with the driver for one lap before the March 6 UAW/DaimlerChrysler 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Winning bidders on Busch Series drivers will receive an opportunity to participate in a meet-and-greet with their driver prior to the start of the Sam's Town 300 on March 5.

"This event is getting larger and larger and we hope to raise even more money for the children this year," said Speedway Children's Charities Las Vegas Chapter Chairman Keith DeRiso. Last year's event raised $145,000.

VegasBits

Stars: Pioneering female boxing manager Jackie Kallen and Meg Ryan, who portrays her in the new film "Against the Ropes," had coffee together at Cafe Lago (Caesars Palace) before their Wednesday appearance on ABC's "The View" ...

More 'View': Wolfgang Puck, Robin Leach and local food mag publisher Michael Politz had an early breakfast at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) after Puck, Leach and Joy Behar judged the finals of the show's viewer cook-off Wednesday ...

Guest Songwriter extraordinaire Burt Bacharach attended the 7:30 p.m. performance of "Zumanity" on Tuesday ...

Bus: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis is having an open-to-the-public birthday party Friday night at Curve (Aladdin). He turned 32 on Monday ...

Tap: In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, any child between the ages of 5 and 12 can get a free "Lord of the Dance" (Venetian) ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. The promotion runs through March 17 ...

Sorry, Todd: The wife of baseball player Todd Ziele -- who dined with her hubby at AquaKnox (Venetian) on Valentine's Day -- is a lot more than his "significant other," as we identified her in Tuesday's column. Zeile's wife is Julianne McNamara, a gold medal-winning gymnast in the 1984 Olympics.

From Sun wires

Jay Leno's new announcer on NBC's "The Tonight Show" will be "Stuttering" John Melendez from Howard Stern's radio show, a spokeswoman said.

Melendez will start March 29, replacing Edd Hall, who's leaving the show after 12 years to concentrate on movies.

Melendez is working with a speech coach to control his stutter, a "Tonight Show" spokeswoman told the Associated Press.

"Tonight Show" executives became interested in Melendez after seeing him on the ABC reality show "I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here."