No Rock, but disco lives in Sahara production

Friday, June 11, 2004 | 9:55 a.m.

What: "Saturday Night Fever."

When: 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; beginning June 19, 8 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and on Fridays; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Dark Thursdays.

Where: Sahara Theater.

Tickets: $47.50 to $64.50.

Information: 737-2515.

Las Vegas caricature Monte Rock III is a little testier than usual these days.

He's irate about the new production, "Saturday Night Fever," which premieres Monday at the 830-seat Sahara Theater.

Rock, noted for his flamboyant attire and behavior, played the DJ in the 1977 hit movie that starred John Travolta.

But Rock isn't part of the live show that was inspired by the film.

"I'm (ticked) off. I'm the only one left from the movie," Rock, adorned in jewelry and holding onto his stuffed tiger cub, said recently. "I should be in that show."

Actually, there are a lot of actors still living who appeared in the motion picture, including Travolta, and they aren't in the production either.

"Saturday Night Fever," the stage musical, was created by Robert Stigwood and produced by Troika Entertainment. It debuted at the London Palladium in 1998 and spawned a number of other productions, including ones on Broadway (where it ran 14 months -- from 1999 to 2000) and in Germany, Australia and Japan.

There currently are three productions in progress, shows in London, Australia and Vegas.

They are shortened versions of the motion picture, focusing more on the music than the plot line. Among the familiar tunes fans can expect are the Bee Gees' hits "Stayin' Alive," "How Deep is Your Love," "Jive Talkin' " and "Night Fever."

The Vegas production is in town for an indefinite stay.

The plot of "Saturday Night Fever" is familiar to disco fans:

Tony Manero, a Brooklyn teenager, hangs out at a local disco, where he meets fellow dancer Stephanie. They team up for a dance competition. Tony romances her, but she resists because she wants to leave the old neighborhood and move across the river to Manhattan.

Gradually, Tony also becomes disillusioned with the life he is leading and he and Stephanie decide to help one another to start afresh.

It isn't Shakespeare, but the story has endured for almost 30 years, perhaps because of its basic theme -- a desire to escape from one's mundane life and to find something more meaningful and exciting.

The Vegas version of the show will feature a nightly musical mix, encouraging the audience to interact with the cast in a giant disco.

The Sahara has added $500,000 worth of lighting and sound upgrades for the production.