VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Cirque under fire from activist group

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004 | 10:37 a.m.

A national gay and lesbian activist group is planning protests at all of Las Vegas' Cirque du Soleil shows this summer to call attention to the case of a "Mystere" gymnast who, according to Cirque and the gymnast, was let go because he is HIV-positive.

The controversial Matthew Cusick case is drawing increased national attention.

This week personalities Nathan Lane, Chita Rivera, Rosie O'Donnell, B.D. Wong, Rod McKuen, Bebe Neuwirth and Pulitzer Prize-winning "Angels in America" author Tony Kushner officially lent their names to the cause, according to Lambda, the gay and lesbian legal organization that has taken up Cusick's fight to get his job back.

After training for months to perform in the "Mystere" show at TI, Cusick was removed from the show in early 2003 after producers learned of his health status. In response, Lambda filed a federal discrimination complaint on Cusick's behalf.

According to Lambda, which is speaking on behalf of Cusick, Cirque has since offered Cusick a desk job, but the acrobat wants to be reinstated to his former performance role.

Cirque official Renee-Claude Menard, who is based at its main office in Montreal, said in a written statement:

"Several months ago, we made a decision to terminate a 2-month employment contract with an HIV-positive acrobat who was to perform an aerial act. Our extensive experience with high-level acrobatics demonstrated that the risk of injury attendant to an aerial flying act is very real. With this very important consideration in mind, we believed the risk of exposing fellow artists, technicians and/or spectators to HIV as a consequence of injurious physical contact was too great.

"Our employment decision was made solely for safety reasons, which is a paramount concern for us," the release states. "Contrary to the allegations, Cirque du Soleil has not discriminated against this particular acrobat."

The release went on to say, "This has been a very difficult decision for Cirque du Soleil, because we support many HIV-related educational programs and fund-raising efforts. and have contributed extensively to these causes for many years."

The statement also criticized Lambda for its "continued attempt to focus media attention on this matter."

In regard to the planned Vegas protests, Las Vegas-based Cirque spokeswoman Pien Bowler said: "Renee-Claude's statement stands."

Protests have been set only in Atlanta (March 25 through April 11) and New York (May 6 through June 6), Lambda spokesman Eric Ferrero told us by phone from his New York office on Wednesday.

Aside from its Las Vegas efforts -- "O" (Bellagio), "Zumanity" (New York-New York), "Mystere" (TI) and an as-yet-unnamed new show opening this summer at MGM Grand -- Cirque produces shows that tour the world.

TV star

"An Evening at La Cage" star Frank Marino was at a job audition the other day at the National Association of Television Programming Executives convention at the Sands Convention Center.

We saw him behind a stove trying out for the host job on a proposed syndicated television show, "Cooking's a Drag." The thin premise, if you haven't already figured it out, is cross-dressers preparing meals.

Also walking the NATPE floor was Las Vegas entertainer and producer Tony Sacca, who said his Saturday night KTNV Channel 13 show, "Entertainment Las Vegas Style," was outdrawing its predecessor in the 11:30 p.m. time slot, ABC's "The Practice."

'Lenny' coming

An acclaimed play based on the life of groundbreaking social commentator and comic Lenny Bruce is coming to UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre.

"Lenny," written by Julian Barry, opened in May 1971 at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway and played for 453 performances. In 1974 a big-screen version of the tale, directed by Bob Fosse and starring Dustin Hoffman and Valerie Perrine, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

The play has been revived numerous times.

The UNLV stage production will be directed by Jeffrey Koep, dean of the College of Fine Arts. New York actor Josh Kleinmuntz makes his Vegas debut in the lead role.

Performances begin Feb. 6 and run through Feb. 15; tickets are $25 and are now on sale. For more information, call the box office at 897-2787.

The late comedian was in the news last month when New York's governor issued a posthumous pardon for Bruce's 1964 obscenity conviction.

VegasBits

Buy: Dallas Mavericks owner and dot.com multimillionaire Mark Cuban, in town to speak at a NATPE panel, took 26 people to dinner Monday night at Postrio (Venetian) ...

Web: Adult entertainer Cindy Margolis -- who refers to herself as the Internet's "most downloaded person" -- partied at Studio 54 (MGM Grand) on Tuesday night ...

Price: A Caesars Palace spokesman tells us that top tickets for Luciano Pavarotti's Feb. 28 performance are $800, not $880, as we reported Jan. 14. The $800 figure includes the state entertainment tax. But you get a lot more than Pavarotti -- he is backed by a 66-piece orchestra, conducted by Maestro Leone Magiera ...

Trekkie alert: "Star Trek: The Experience" is casting for galactic heroes and menacing mortals for the grand opening of the new "BORG Invasion 4D" attraction, slated to open March 18. Applicants can stop by the Star Trek office at the Las Vegas Hilton or drop a resume and head shot in the mail ...

Booked: Two of the regulars on Howard Stern's syndicated radio show, Arte Lange and the Rev. Bob Levy, will join Hard Rock Hotel comedy headliner Jeff Beacher at "Beacher's Comedy Madhouse" at its Jan. 31 show. As Stern would say, "Hey now!"

From Sun wires

Troubled water: Art Garfunkel, part of the folk music duo Simon and Garfunkel, was charged with marijuana possession after police pulled his limousine over for speeding in upstate New York.

Garfunkel, 62, had a small amount of marijuana in his jacket pocket when a state trooper stopped the limo Saturday afternoon. He was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday on the charge, which carries a possible $100 fine, or he could respond by mail.