Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Swayze puts on the moves at NBT event

He came, he spoke, and yes -- he charmed! Patrick Swayze, a true Renaissance man who moves easily from dance and film work to song and Broadway roles, thrilled the students at Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre on Thursday.

His midday appearance with his wife, Lisa Niemi, dazzled students attending summer sessions in the ballet company's Summerlin headquarters.

Swayze and Niemi have just completed "One Last Dance," a film based on the couple's play "Without a Word," which won six Drama Critics Awards more than a decade ago in New York. Niemi directed the film, Swayze provides songs for the soundtrack and both dance in the story, which is told from a dancer's perspective.

Previews of the film, to be released this year, were shown to the students.

Introducing the charismatic couple was Bruce Steivel, Nevada Ballet Theatre's artistic director, who was joined by co-founder Nancy Houssels and board members Lynn Cremen and Melissa Warren. Attending with her mother was McKenzie Warren, a past academy student who danced the role of Clara in "Nutcracker" several years ago.

Swayze and Niemi both spoke with special passion about their love of dance. Listening attentively were dozens of young dancers, who later peppered the couple with questions and requests for advice.

Assisting with the unexpected visit were Tim Doyle, newly appointed development officer, and colleague Laurel Knox, company manager, along with Jennifer Kratochwill, Cindy Fox, Beth Gayler, Phyllis Margolis and Dr. Victoria Holley-Foster.

The next performances for the dance company are June 1-2 at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park as the final offering of Super Summer Theatre. Gates open at 6 p.m., and performances are at 8 p.m. with tickets costing $10 each. Call 895-ARTTS or go to supersummertheatre.com.

Shrine time

Stephen Stone, potentate of Zelzah Shrine Center in Las Vegas, beamed as he welcomed supporters attending the ninth annual "Lance Burton & Friends" show on Sunday. The charitable afternoon at the Lance Burton Theatre inside the Monte Carlo was planned by Burton with some of his participating entertainer friends.

Burton, a Shriner himself, is known for his special support of charities serving children.

As he explained from the stage, proceeds will support transportation costs for local children and their families who travel for care at Shriner hospitals. More than 1,700 children from Southern Nevada receive cost-free medical treatment for burns and orthopedic needs.

Overall, Shriners collectively operate 22 hospitals and raise the $450 million necessary for their annual operating expenses. Speaking as a past client of the Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles was actor Pat Morita of "Happy Days" and "Karate Kid" fame.

Unable to walk at birth to age 7, Morita was treated through age 9 at the California facility.

Appearing onstage with Burton were comedy-magician Fielding West, magician Nathan Burton, Drew and Angela Dicostanzo (aka DV8 Reality Magic) and master puppeteer Anthony Rais with Totolino.

Clint Holmes, taking part in this event for the first time, added a musical touch to the performance with his original songs. In the throng of supporters filling the beautiful theatre were David and Brenda Williams with her son Sean Caudill, Kay Darr, Wayne Bernath, Becca Chase with younger brothers Matt and Brandon, Ross and Laura LeCavalier with sons Charlie and Peter, Peggy Smith, Wanda Evans, Paul Adams and Simone Matos.

Concluding the afternoon were cake and champagne ceremonies thanking Burton and his talented friends for their efforts. Present was hypnotist-magician Peter Reveen, who is also Burton's manager and a longtime Shriner, joined by Swannie Swenson, Bob Tobias, past potentate Bill Holland, Hank Koppen, Bill Walsh, Jerry Baum, Larry Levine, John Pennington, Frank Merica with wife Ann, and Bill Berger.

Lending their own talents to the benefit occasion were Bob Walker (front house manager of the theater), costume designer Betty Woods and wardrobe mistress Gabrielle Lyster.

LVAM opening

Forging cultural alliances round the globe, Las Vegas Art Museum feeds a hunger for art among patrons of all interests. Friday saw the opening of "Chinese Beauty and Elegance: Collecting and Connoisseurship in Scholarly Taste."

Pieces on exhibit through Sept. 23 include jade items of great beauty, some on special loan from the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, Calif., and the private collection of museum President Gerald Facciani.

Prominently displayed are a set of vertical scrolls from UNLV's Beam Music Center, commissioned for the university in China. The scrolls were a gift to UNLV by the late Wing Fong, a Las Vegas entrepreneur known for his philanthropy to education and the arts. Las Vegas Art Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and NaXi DongBa Cultural Museum of China.

Kristine Galassi, guest curator, was present for the opening of the exhibition. She will provide a free lecture about the displayed treasures at the museum at 2 p.m. on Aug. 14.

Guests seen taking a first look at the art and furnishings included emeritus board members Judge Gil and Edythe Yarchever, seen with past board member Monterey Brookman and Ken Fong, attending with daughters Victoria and Tiffany.

Enjoying her first official gathering was Libby Lumpkin, who has joined Las Vegas Art Museum as consulting executive director. An art historian, author, instructor and critic, Lumpkin is well recognized as founding curator of the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.

Welcoming her to the museum were board members Karen Barrett, Teresa Eyre, Patrick Duffey and Aurora Wong with her husband, Buck Wong. Also seen in the crowd were Merle Berman, Margaret Kurtz, Joyce Murdock and Jerry Schefcik, director of the Donna Beam Gallery at UNLV.

Chance meeting

Those who support Second Chance Foundation will enjoy Rita Rudner's late show on Aug. 12. The comedian and her husband-producer, Martin Bergman, are donating proceeds from the sale of tickets ($36 each) and have set aside 600 seats for locals attending the 9 p.m. show at New York-New York.

Second Chance Foundation recently appointed Rudner as its celebrity spokeswoman. Her generosity is gratefully acknowledged by Robert Mirisch, executive director.

The foundation's mission is to provide people a second chance by increasing the number of organs available for transplantation. They also strive to provide financial support to waiting list and post-transplant patients in need.

Tickets to the benefit performance can be purchased in person at the New York-New York box office or by calling 704-6815.

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