Columnist Jerry Fink: Male revues heating up over phrase

Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 | 8:24 a.m.

Two groups of male dancers are flexing their muscles at each other.

An attorney for "Chippendales," the production at the Rio, has warned the producers of "Men of Russia," the show at Krave, to quit using the phrase "A GIRL'S NIGHT OUT!" in print advertising.

"The commercial impression created by this tagline is virtually identical to our client's registered trademark," wrote Danielle Mendelsohn, a member of the New York City law firm Pitney Hardin LLP, in a letter dated Aug. 19.

If "Men of Russia" continues to infringe on the "Chippendales' " copyright turf, there could be a battle in the courtroom, according to the attorney.

Laura Herlovich, publicist for "Chippendales," said: " 'Chippendales' has trademarked 'THE ULTIMATE GIRLS NIGHT OUT' and have exclusive rights to use it.

"We feel it is very synonymous with our brand and that their use of the phrase of 'A GIRL'S NIGHT OUT' could create confusion in the market and we have asked them to cease and desist usage of the phrase."

Michele Mosey, a producer and creator of "Men of Russia," says she was caught off-guard by the letter.

"We received it Saturday at our show," Mosey said. "My reaction was that I thought it was just so stupid. They never called, never spoke to us, just sent us a threatening letter."

"Men of Russia" premiered at Fitzgeralds on March 20. It moved to Krave on July 20 so it would have a presence on the Strip instead of downtown.

Krave is a relatively new nightclub/showroom, adjacent to the Aladdin, that prides itself in being open to all sexual preferences. Basically, it's an upscale gay club that welcomes everyone.

Mosey said she used the phrase "girl's night out" in her advertising to emphasize that the show targets females, not gay men.

"It's a very common phrase," she said. "It was around a long time before ("Chippendales") used it."

Mosey says producers of "Chippendales" might be nervous over the competition.

"If they would come to our show they would realize we are completely different," she said. "The only thing we have in common is that both shows feature men.

"We have a lot of dancing; we have jugglers; ours is very tightly choreographed -- theirs basically is stripping and groping. Ours is clean compared to the other shows."

Mosey said she doesn't see any competition with "Chippendales."

"We're just giving women a variety," she said.

Mosey says she will consult a patent attorney about the issue.

"To make sure we're not doing anything wrong," she said. "But the point is, they could have called me. They didn't have to threaten me."

Hair reunion

The counter-culture rock-musical "Hair" premiered in New York City's Public Theater on Oct. 17, 1967, before moving to Broadway's Biltmore Theater on April 29, 1968.

It defined a generation and an age -- the Age of Aquarius.

The controversial production, which featured a nude scene at the end of Act I, tackled such issues as racism, sexism and war (specifically the Vietnam War).

Among those who performed in the stage production were Donna Summer (in a version of the musical in Germany before she became a disco queen in 1975) and Ben Vereen (in productions in New York and Los Angeles).

Milos Forman directed a movie version of "Hair" in 1979. It featured Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo and John Savage.

All former cast members of "Hair," which is still playing all over the world, have been invited to a reunion at Michael Butler's La Mama Theater in the East Village of New York City on Sept. 10.

Las Vegas vocalist Jessica Marciel has accepted the invitation.

She is one of more than 300 former cast members expected to attend the affair, which is held about every 10 years.

"The day after I graduated from high school in Las Vegas I flew to Los Angeles and got an agent -- Bill Loeb -- and the first audition he sent me on was 'Hair.' "

The then 18-year-old daughter of legendary drummer Irv Kluger (who, at the age of 84, still performs Friday night gigs at Pogo's Tavern in Vegas) got the role of Chrissy, a teeny bopper.

She had the part from 1969-'71. When the show closed in LA she returned to Vegas to perform in nightclubs.

Today she still performs in clubs, at corporate gigs and in concerts and at other functions. On Sept. 24 she will front a 15-piece orchestra for Hollywood (Calif.) High School's 50-year reunion at the Suncoast.

And she gives private vocal lessons (lasvegasvocaltraining.com).

" 'Hair' was exciting,' Marciel said. "It was huge in that decade. We went to Hugh Hefner's mansion for parties all the time. I got to hang out with a lot of celebrities like Janice Joplin and Sly and the Family Stone."

The first Hair reunion was in 1979 at the premiere of the movie in Hollywood.

"Everybody was at the reunion," she said.

She missed a reunion in '98.

"I had gotten married and changed my last name so they couldn't find me." Marciel said.

She said she contributed a chapter in a book about the musical titled "Good Hair Days" by Jonathan Johnson. The book can be bought at goodhairdays.net or at Marciel's Web site.

Marciel said "Hair" is still relevant today, which is why it is still being performed around the world.

"Everything is still the same," she said. "There's still war and racial discrimination. Forty years later, all these problems are still the same."

Twenty for Tony

Entertainer Tony Sacca will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his syndicated interview show "Entertainment Las Vegas Style," at 2 p.m., Sept. 11 at the Greek Isles.

The celebration will be taped for Sacca's show, to air in markets around the country on Sept. 25.

Sacca has interviewed more than 300 entertainers through the years, among them such notables as the late Redd Foxx, Milton Berle and Anthony Quinn.

The party will include video clips from past shows.

Sacca says several performers will be part of the event, including crooner Jerry Tiffe (the first singer to appear on the show), David Brenner (who was first interviewed in 1988), Rita Rudner, Lance Burton and others.

In 1985 Tony Sacca and his twin brother, the late Robert Sacca, created "Live From Las Vegas." The show evolved into the current production.

In commemoration of the 20 years, Sacca has composed a new Las Vegas song called "Las Vegas Rocks," which will be introduced at the celebration

On sale

Celebrities are going retail.

Las Vegas Hilton headliner Barry Manilow has a new line of jewelry, "M," available exclusively at the M Store at the Hilton.

Rich Little's wife, Marie, created a bridal accessory, Elegant Arm, which will be featured Sept. 11 at the Las Vegas Bridal convention. It debuted at the Las Vegas Bridal & Formal Market in March.

Manilow's jewelry includes a silver cuff link and a matching ring, crystal earrings and matching necklace.

The McCall Pattern Company of New York City purchased Marie Little's special occasion accessory, which will be available nationally and internationally in 2006.

The "Elegant Arm" is similar to the wrap that women use to cover their arms or wear with a strapless dress to cover up, but Little's creation uses armbands attached to the wrap to keep it in place.

Sumo

Tickets are available for the Grand Sumo Championship to be held in October at Mandalay Bay.

The three-day event, being brought to this country by the Japan Sumo Association, will take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 7-8 and 2 p.m. Oct. 9.

Tickets are from $75 to $125. For more information call 632-7580.

The last Grand Sumo tournament in the U.S. was in 1985 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Connick Sr. onstage

Since retiring as the district attorney in New Orleans, Harry Connick Sr. has been following in his son's footsteps.

The father of popular entertainer Harry Connick Jr. will perform with a 15-piece orchestra at 8 p.m. Sept. 2-3 at Boulder Station's Railhead.

The elder Connick was the longest-serving DA in New Orleans' history. While working his way through law school he performed in bands and owned two record stores.

When he graduated he opted for a career in law instead of entertainment. Now that his law career is behind him, he is focusing on entertainment.

Tickets are $24.95. For information call 547-5300.

Happy birthday

The sexy production "Zumanity, Another Side of Cirque du Soleil," celebrates its second anniversary at New York-New York on Sept. 20.

As part of the celebration, guests may mingle with cast members in the theater's bar one hour before the 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. shows.

Le tweak

Since premiering to mixed reviews April 28, "Le Reve" at Wynn Las Vegas has undergone a few changes -- primarily tweaking of the show to make it less dark and more fun.

To help boost interest in the production a dinner and show package is now being offered.

The $395 package includes the show and dinner for two at one of six restaurants at the resort. You may choose from Bartolotta -- Ristorante di Mare, Country Club Grill, Daniel Boulud Brasserie, Okada, Tableau or Wing Lei.

The dinner and show packages are available every night except Fridays.

Restaurant seatings are between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

"Le Reve" performances are at 7:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Anniversary rocks

"We Will Rock You" will celebrate its first anniversary at Paris Las Vegas on Sept. 8.

The production, almost two hours long, has been cut to 90 minutes and will focus more on the music of Queen rather than the storyline.

The musical features 20 Queen hits, including "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Are The Champions," "Another One Bites The Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."

Versions of the musical are playing in London, Spain, Australia, Germany and Japan. Plans are underway for additional shows to open in South Africa and Italy.

"We Will Rock You" is presented by Tribeca Theatrical Productions co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor and Phil McIntyre Entertainment in association with Paris Las Vegas.

Plaid CD

The cast album of the Gold Coast's hit musical "Forever Plaid" will be released Sept. 20.

Recorded by DRG Records in June, the album features cast members J. Gregory Davis, Bruce C. Ewing, Douglas Frank, Mark Perkins and Dale Sandish.

Among the songs are "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Magic Moments," "Sixteen Tons / Chain Gang," "Heart and Soul" and "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing."

"Forever Plaid" was written, directed and choreographed by Stuart Ross and has vocal arrangements and musical direction by James Raitt.

The cast album will be distributed in stores nationally and internationally.

"Forever Plaid" opened in New York in 1990 and ran for more than four years. The musical -- a story about four aspiring singers killed in a collision with a school bus in 1964 -- debuted at the Flamingo in 1994 and closed in 2000.

It premiered at the Gold Coast in January.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays (dark Mondays), and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $29.95, $34.95 for the show and dinner package.

Lewis telethon

The Las Vegas Hilton will be the host hotel for the live local broadcast of the 2005 "Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon."

The show will air on KLAS-TV Channel 8 (with simulcast on Las Vegas One, Channel 19) Sept. 4-5.

KLAS's Gary Waddell, Paula Francis and Kevin Janison will emcee the telethon.

Local celebrities who will perform include the Scintas, Rita Rudner, Clint Holmes, Delisco and the cast of "Forever Plaid."

Vegas Views

The quirky "Toxic Audio" has begun a three-month run at the Luxor's Atrium Theatre, continuing through Nov. 16.

The show features a group of five performers singing acappella and using their voices as musical instruments.

Shows are 8 p.m. nightly. Admission is $34.99.

The group performs a mix of standards, jazz, rock and pop selections in their very own "toxic-style."

"Toxic Audio" formed in Florida 1998. In 2004 the group took their show Off-Broadway to the John Houseman Theater and won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience."

Delisco, winner of E! Network's reality series "The Entertertainer," starring Wayne Newton, premiers in his own show at the Las Vegas Hilton at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11.

The native of Jacksonville, Fla., will perform Sundays through Tuesdays through Nov. 29.

He describes his performances repertoire as a combination of rhythm, blues, gospel, rock, reggae, and ragtime.

Comedian Benny Baker is appearing in "Hellbent 4 Humor" at the Plaza's Comedy Zone at 10 p.m. Saturdays through Wednesdays.

Admission is the purchase of a drink.

Shuli, a frequent guest of the "Howard Stern Show," is the opening act.

Rocker Eddie Money ("Take Me Home Tonight" and "I Wanna Go Back") will perform at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Silverton.

Also coming to the Silverton is "The Temptation Review," featuring Dennis Edwards.

The concert will be at 8 p.m. on Sept. 24.

The original Temptations were one of Motown's hottest groups in the '60s with such classics as "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," "Psychedelic Shack," "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and "My Girl."

The group had 14 gold albums, seven Grammy nominations and five Grammy awards.

Today, Edwards, a 1989 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, joins David Sea, Mike Patillo, Bernard Gibson and Chris Arnold.

Tickets for both concerts, which will be held at the outdoor pool arena, are $30.

For more information, please call 914-8557.

Musician/vocalist Michael Shapiro will perform from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hogs 7 Heifers, 201 N. 3rd St.

Shapiro, who plays guitar, piano and the trumpet, will perform tunes from his debut CD "Somehow, Someway."

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