Monday, July 26, 2004 | 10:26 a.m.
If it was a Shakespeare play, the birthday party Saturday night for Jackson 5 family patriarch Joe Jackson could have been called "Much Ado About Nothing," as nothing -- at all -- of any interest happened.
Jackson was not surrounded by his estranged wife, Katherine, nor any of their famous offspring. No Tito, no Jermaine, no Marlon, no Jackie, no Janet and most definitely no Michael.
LaToya, who has an apartment in Regency Towers at the Las Vegas Country Club, and who was reportedly in town over the weekend, also did not attend.
There was also no Jesse Jackson, Randy Jackson, Reggie Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Kate Jackson, Jackson Browne or "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson.
So who did attend the bash, held at a rented party mansion near Tara Street and South Jones Boulevard?
Behind the house, the talented hypnotist Justin Tranz was with some friends at one of the tables set up over the tennis court, and headline Flamingo funnyman George Wallace was munching on something from the buffet.
Actor Tiny Lester, who told us he just bought a place nearby, also made an appearance.
Plenty of Los Angeles media arrived in anticipation of announced appearances by celebs ranging from Eddie Murphy to Sharon Stone to Mike Tyson -- none of whom showed up.
Joe arrived with five young women of Asian descent, one more underdressed than the next.
When we asked him about the controversy surrounding Michael, he said, "We can get through anything," before an organizer started shouting, "No questions! No questions!" and escorted the entourage to a roped-off area.
And that, pretty much, was that.
Las Vegas-based CMX Entertainment sponsored the bash. Michael was making a video last November at its Polaris Street studio when the story of his latest child abuse allegations broke.
Faces in the crowd
Embattled strip club owner Mike Galardi had a front-row-center table for the Arte Lange show at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on Friday night.
Next table over was booze biggie Bob Cranston of DeLuca Liquor & Wine of Las Vegas. He was sitting with a half-dozen hockey players who were in town for film producer Jerry Bruckheimer's celebrity ice hockey event.
Then came the "Whack Pack" table -- Howard Stern bit players including High-Pitched Eric, King of All Blacks, Gary the Retard and Rev. Bob Levy.
Also represented was the self-proclaimed "Fat Pack" -- a group of young and rotund Vegas entrepreneurs headed by novelties mogul Mike Levine of Monarch Promotions.
"As Sammy Davis Jr. might have said, 'Things are getting heavy, man,' " Levine said. Also in the social club are a Wynn Resorts exec, a mortgage broker and a dentist.
Hello, goodbye
Munificent Vegas entertainer Stephen Sorrentino had a housewarming at his spectacular new Lakes home Saturday afternoon.
He told guests that he was leaving town -- but only for a few months.
Sorrentino's "Voices in My Head" show that he perfected at the Riviera has been booked at the Tropicana in Atlantic City for two months.
Among those joining Sorrentino for the party and boat ride around the lake next to his home were Mary Thomas, producer and creator of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, Robin Leach, Billy Hinsche (of Beach Boys fame), entertainers Hillary Crouse, Michael Cagle and Robert Sluys and noted Elvis impersonator Greg Miller.
First again
On July 9 we reported that "a deal has been inked to bring 'The Phantom of the Opera' to The Venetian."
"Rumors about this have been swirling for ages, but our source, who is in the office of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Group, tells us that the deal is finally done."
Over the weekend, the news was finally and formally announced.
And, like our last Broadway-related Vegas scoop, that "Avenue Q" was coming to Las Vegas, the Phantom story was, on Sunday, also on Page One of the New York Times.
Clear Channel Communications, the entertainment behemoth, will build a dedicated $35 million theater for the show, which has an early 2006 targeted opening date.
The show's original director, Harold Prince, will helm the Vegas production.
VegasBits
Night: Playboy model and MTV personality Jenny McCarthy, NBA veterans Sean Rooks and Antoine Walker, hockey star Sergei Federov and Lange all partied at Body English (Hard Rock) on Saturday night ..
Night II: NBA players Brad Miller and Jimmy Jackson were at Rain (Palms) on Saturday night ..
Night III: "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis and a mystery blonde were spotted at 12:45 a.m. Saturday heading toward promoter Alex Cordova's hot new Moorea Beach party at Mandalay Bay ...
Coming: Nicole Durr, creator of the "Havana Nights" show, was at the AMP Salon (Palms) Sunday afternoon getting her hair done. She was telling friends there that clearance has come through from Cuban authorities for the musical dance group to come to Vegas for their gig, which starts Friday. Calls to her were not returned ...
Happy: "We Will Rock You" co-producer and former Queen drummer Roger Taylor is 55 today ...
Fame: We hear that young musician Nick Motil, who often plays his acoustic guitar at Margaritaville (Flamingo), mused the other night that he had always wanted to see his name in his favorite gossip column.
Here you go, Nick.
Look for him tonight at the New York International Music Festival at 7:45 at the Brenden Theatres at the Palms.
From Sun wires
O'Neal thanks fans: Shaquille O'Neal had a big-hearted message for his Los Angeles fans Sunday.
O'Neal took out a full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times thanking his fans for their support during his eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Last week, O'Neal signed with the Miami Heat, marking the end of an era in which the Lakers won three NBA championships.
Name for prequel: The final "Star Wars" prequel is just "Episode III" no more. Lucasfilm announced its new title Saturday: "Revenge of the Sith."
The movie, set for release in May 2005, will link the prequels with the original "Star Wars" trilogy by showing how Luke Skywalker's father, Anakin, went from a sweet-natured slave boy to the galaxy-crushing villain Darth Vader.
The Sith is the evil sect that corrupts Anakin (played by Hayden Christensen) by drawing him into the dark side of the Force, the cosmic power that balances the universe.
Rowling expecting: "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling said Saturday she is expecting her third child.
Rowling, 38, made the announcement on her official Web site.
The author reassured fans that the pregnancy would not affect the release of the next book in the Potter installment, which will be titled, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."
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