Westin has room for big plans

Friday, Sept. 10, 2004 | 9 a.m.

The showroom at the Westin is small -- fewer than 250 seats.

But Paul Reder, who leases the venue from the hotel, has big expectations for the little room a block east of the Strip on East Flamingo Road.

When it opened in November, comedian David Brenner was the headliner. After months of doing so-so business Brenner left for an engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton, which premiered Friday.

Sleight-of-hand magician Collin Foster continues to hold down the fort with his 6 p.m. performance Saturdays through Thursdays.

In November, Reder will debut a new production, "Forbidden Vegas." He says it will be along the lines of "Forbidden Broadway," which spoofs hit Broadway musicals.

Besides having "Forbidden Vegas" as a resident production, Reder says he will use his room to showcase other shows looking for a Vegas home, such as "Dragapella," a spoof of drag queen shows that was at the Westin for two nights last week.

Some shows he will produce, some he will co-produce.

He is a co-producer of "Divas" and "Exposed," two showcase productions that debuted Wednesday at the venue,

Actually, the two song-and-dance revues are essentially the same show -- the main difference is that "Exposed," at 10 p.m., is topless and a little sexier than "Divas" at 8 p.m. Also, the late show does not include the diva who is featured in the early show.

The almost-identical twins are the brainchildren of veteran producer, director and choreographer Nanette Barbera, who has more than 200 shows on her resume. She produces "Dance Mania," now at the NightClub at the Las Vegas Hilton, and created "Dancin' to the Hitz," which was the longest-running show in Laughlin at the Flamingo Laughlin.

Barbera has used her experience to create two high-energy, fun productions that she is showcasing for the next two months in hopes of landing a spot in a larger venue -- and on television.

Her goal is a hybrid production -- a revue (ideally located on the Strip) and a reality TV show, in which the revue and activities surrounding it are taped and televised, revealing a behind-the-scenes look at the stage show.

"What you see here is a small version of the big look," she said of the production at the Westin.

The tiny showroom doesn't lend itself to the big production Barbera speaks of. But it will give potential buyers a taste of what they can expect.

Sexy dancing. Good vocalists. Occasional acrobatics. Provocative costumes.

"Our vision is of a much bigger show," Barbera said. "But it is all contingent with our contract for the TV show."

She's thinking Showtime or Fox.

The "Divas" showcase is divided into two one-month segments, with each segment featuring a different vocalist who will sing sets opening and closing the shows.

During the first month (through Oct. 3) Crystal Waters is the featured vocalist. She is best known for her 1991 hit "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)."

The second month (Oct. 4 through Nov. 6) will feature CeCe Peniston, whose 1991 hit, "Finally," was No. 1 on the Billboard dance chart and went multi-platinum in worldwide sales.

Barbera says when her production settles into a showroom it will include a five-piece band and a series of rotating stars that change every three or four weeks.

The TV series will star whomever the featured star is for the three- or four-week stretch.

"We will be intermixing what's going on backstage -- dealing with the new stars -- with the stage show," Barbera said.

She has been working on the idea for years.

Barbera said when Brenner decided to move to the Hilton there was almost a two-month stretch before Reder's "Forbidden Vegas" was to open, which gave her the opportunity to test the waters for "Divas."

"I just had to reduce the size," she said.

Reder, formerly vice president of entertainment for Park Place Entertainment, Northern Nevada (now Caesars Entertainment), envisions more showcases for the Westin -- and possibly more headliners and resident productions.

He is in partnership with Rich Super, president of Super Artists in Los Angeles, which represents dozens of notable entertainers, among them Pauly Shore, Richard Lewis and Judy Tenuda.

Reder also produces "Fusion," a comedy-magic show at the Horizon hotel-casino at Lake Tahoe, where his company is based. He is working on creating a similar show for a venue in Laughlin.