Columnist Jerry Fink: Stuart’s resolve is legendary

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 8:23 a.m.

The adopted son of "Legends in Concert" founder John Stuart died recently from complications of spina bifida. Memorial services for 41-year-old David Wayne Stewart (whose surname was spelled differently than that of his father) were held Feb. 12 at Robindale Chapel.

"David was born with spina bifida, which is a hole in the spine," Stuart said. "It prevents you from having feeling below the waist."

The condition creates myriad internal problems, including, in David's case, liver and kidney failure.

Spina bifida is the most-common permanently disabling birth defect, occurring in one out of every 1,000 newborns in the United States.

It results from the failure of the spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy.

Because of the paralysis resulting from the damage to the spinal cord, those born with spina bifida usually need numerous surgeries and extensive medical care.

"He was in and out of hospitals a good share of his life," Stuart said. "David had a lot of physical problems."

Stuart and his wife, Alex, first met David when David was about 7. They were living in Orange County, Calif.

Stuart's son John Michael was born with cerebral palsy and attended a special elementary school, which also was attended by David.

"David had no parents," Stuart, who has five other children, said. "He was a ward of state. Periodically we would take him with us on family outings -- to Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and places like that."

Stuart said he and Alex eventually realized no one was going to adopt David, and so they brought him home with them permanently when David was 10. The child's last name was Stewart, and so when they adopted him they allowed him to keep his birth name as a connection with the past.

"He has been a great kid," Stuart said. "We are glad to have had him as part of our family. I hope he grew from the experience; we know that we grew from it."

Survivors include his parents and brothers John Michael, Shane and Cory and sisters Donna Marie (Missy) and Arriel.

Stuart, a devout Mormon, says faith has helped him and his family through the ordeal.

"One thing that I believe real firmly is that this vehicle we have -- our body -- is really a temporary thing while we're here on this earth," he said. "It would be crazy if this is all that it's about."

Stuart, who brought his family to Las Vegas 23 years ago, says he learned a lot from his relationship with David.

"I was very gratified," he said. "It was a humbling experience, to a degree. "It was difficult if you wanted to make it so, but to us, it wasn't difficult compared to a lot of people raising a child. Look at all the kids whose parents think they have a great child and don't know anything is wrong until the child ends up committing suicide or robbing a bank."

Having David in their life was rewarding, Stuart said.

"He responded to us. He shared his love with us many times," he said.

Stuart said his son, who worked for several years for On Stage Entertainment (which was founded by Stuart) was never a burden.

"He loved to read, he loved his computer, he loved movies," Stuart said. "He was with us on a lot of outings. When he was in his healthy periods he could go faster in his wheelchair than we could on our legs. He was very athletic."

David grew progressively worse over the past few months, however.

"He was in intensive care four times in the last six weeks," Stuart said. "But he had been through some rough times before. We didn't expect him to pass away."

Stuart said he got up around 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 5 to read. He and his wife had spent 12 hours at the hospital with their son the day before.

"I decided to call at 6 to check on him, and they said he passed away three minutes ago," Stuart said.

While Stuart grieves, he also is happy to know that his son is at peace.

"This is a probational period here on earth," he said. "We all take care of each other to get to the next step -- this was a transition to move him on to the next level.

"The mortal body is not as important as mental attitude and heart -- that is what we stressed with him, and that is why we feel that today he is doing cartwheels and running and doing OK."

Judd on tap

Choreographer Cris Judd (Jennifer Lopez's ex) is creating some new dance steps for the sexy stars of "Midnight Fantasy" at Luxor.

"We will start implementing new numbers in a week," Judd said Tuesday.

He says that, rather than shutting the show down and making the changes all at once, he will come to Vegas periodically over the next several months to add the new steps a step at a time.

"That way it doesn't have to go dark and the show will be seamless," Judd said.

Judd and "Midnight Fantasy" producer Anita Mann have been friends for years. They worked together on an off-Broadway production of "Debbie Does Dallas" several years ago.

The musical was showcased in Vegas, but there were no takers.

Judd says there won't be any dramatic changes in "Midnight."

"It will still have the same kind of concept," he said. "The music and the choreography will be more up to date."

There are 12 numbers in the show. Judd said he will change two or three of them initially, and maybe more later.

"We're taking out a country song and putting in a different number," he said.

'Havana' to Miami

The cast of the Las Vegas production "Havana Night Club" is busy rehearsing for a special performance in Miami on March 10 at the University of Miami Convocation Center in Coral Gables.

The 7,000 seats were almost sold out within two days of their release.

"Havana Night Club," which will be at the Stardust at least through April 11, was created in 1998 and has toured in more than 16 countries.

The show's creator, producer, director, choreographer and costume designer is Nicole Durr.

The production, which explores the history of dance in Cuba, features a cast of 50 classically trained singers, dancers and musicians from Cuba.

The troupe made international headlines in November when all but three applied for political asylum. The three who did not apply have since returned to Cuba.

Great cause

Las Vegas native Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," will emcee a benefit Sunday to try to save Samaritan House, a 43-bed residential facility in downtown Las Vegas for homeless men.

Entertainers who will join Kimmel at 2 p.m. at the Railhead in Boulder Station include Clint Holmes, Jimmy Hopper, the Amazing Johnathan, Rick Thomas and members of "Forever Plaid" and "Midnight Fantasy."

For more than 40 years Samaritan House -- a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehab facility -- has helped more than 5,000 men recover from addiction and lead productive lives.

It faces closure unless funds can be raised to provide mattresses and meet city requirements for a paved parking lot.

"Our residents come from Alcoholics Anonymous, Clark County detox facilities and in many cases right off the street," Patrick Foley, president of Samaritan House Board of Directors, said in a statement. "These folks don't have the resources for conventional treatment centers or hospitals. Yet, like all of us, they deserve a chance.

"We help addicts through detox, provide mentoring and help find them work. In turn, our residents adhere to the 12-step program, find a sponsor and re-enter the workforce on a path to a new and better life, for the resident as well as society as a whole."

Samaritan House depends solely on contributions from recovered residents, business leaders, community philanthropy and fundraisers. Tickets are available at all Station Casinos properties or at www.stationcasinos.com. For more information, call Vince Shaffer at 204-4966.

Great benefit

Producer David Saxe's 3rd Annual Benefit for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) will be held at 9 tonight at the V Theater in the Desert Passage at the Aladdin.

In 2002, Saxe's father, Richard, died from the ailment, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Among entertainers who will perform during the fundraising event are comedians Pat Morita, George Wallace, Gordie Brown, Wayne Newton, Lance Burton and Chrissi Scinta and her daughter, Deanna Milkie.

The cast of "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show," "X -- An Erotic Adventure," "Fab Four," "Aussie Angels" and "Showgirls of Magic" are expected to perform.

VIP tickets are $150, which includes a 7:30 p.m. VIP cocktail party (open bar and hors d'oeuvres) and preferred seating.

Premiere tickets are $100 and Celebrity tickets are $75.

Martini toast

Las Vegas personality Jet Loring had one request before she died last week: "Drink an apple martini for me."

"That was her final wish," Loring's sister, Mary Ann Lurie-Owen, said. "She said if anyone wants to, they should throw an apple martini party and have a good time."

Close friend Gary Anthony (who plays Frank in the Greek Isles production of "Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean") has invited other friends to join him at 9:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Casa di Amore, 2850 E. Tropicana Ave., for an evening of "reminiscing, singing, dancing and storytelling."

"She loved it all," Anthony said.

Loring's actual name was Jeanette Lurie-Nittoli.

She died Feb. 9 at age 66 from cancer at the Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas.

Born in Newark, N.J., she and her former husband, Al Loring Nittoli, were a longtime singing duo and recording artists, performing in Las Vegas and other cities throughout the '50s and '60s.

They toured Japan with the late jazz saxophonist Georgie Auld and performed with the late Pepper Davis and Tony Reese at the Desert Inn.

Loring moved to Las Vegas from Bloomfield, N.J., with her children in 1981 and appeared in nightclubs around town for many years.

Loring also wrote songs and comedy and managed entertainers through her company, Jet Star Entertainment Management.

She and music arranger Artie Schroeck of Las Vegas wrote the song "Lovin' Things," which was recorded by the Grass Roots in the early '60s.

Loring was a Screen Actors Guild member and active as a movie extra. She also was active in many charities, including Boys Town and Special Olympics.

She is survived by her daughter, Andrea Nittoli of California, son, Alfred Nittoli III of New Jersey, and four grandchildren.

Me and Elton

Elton John and I have at least one thing in common -- we both are big fans of "Big Elvis" Pete Vallee, a gargantuan entertainer who performs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at the Barbary Coast lounge.

Vallee comes as close to sounding like Elvis as anyone, although he doesn't have the lithe moves of The King.

Lucille Starr, Vallee's manager, says John recently sent a photographer to the lounge to take pictures of her client that will be included in a program to be sold to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

"They're taking pictures of some of Elton's favorite things and putting them in the book," Starr said.

She said Elton has invited Vallee to attend a performance and have a personal meeting, but it's difficult hooking up two entertainers of Elton's and Vallee's stature.

"Elton is one of Pete's favorite singers," Starr said. "He told the photographer to tell his boss that first comes Elvis, then comes Elton. He has everything Elton ever did."

Vallee will celebrate his 40th birthday Monday with a party at the lounge.

Since moving to Vegas in 1998, Vallee (who grew up in Tacoma, Wash.,) has developed an enormous following.

He has been at the Barbary Coast almost three years and recently signed a contract to continue there through the end of this year.

Vallee also will be releasing his sixth CD within the next couple of weeks. "Big Elvis -- A Legendary Performer" will be available at his performances or through his website: www.bigelvis.biz.

Biting story

Vocalist Mark Giovi has joined the cast of "Bite," the Gothic, topless vampire production at the Stratosphere's Theater of the Stars.

Giovi, who was afflicted with cerebral palsy as a child, has come a long way since arriving in Vegas from Trenton, N.J., a year ago in April.

He has made the lounge rounds, performing at venues that include the Bootlegger, City Lights Bistro and Cafe Nicolle.

He was in a short-lived revue, "Neon Nights."

Like most entertainers and musicians in Vegas he has had to hustle. Now it appears that his persistence and his talent have paid off.

He will perform several rock 'n' roll numbers during "Bite," which begins at 10:30 p.m. Fridays through Wednesdays.

"I grew up singing rock 'n' roll," said Giovi, who is also great at the blues, R&B and pop standards. "I get to do what I used to do."

Giovi also performs in the revue "Air Play" at the Tropicana at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

"Air Play" is a daily free show in the casino. Showtimes are 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Thursday nights Giovi performs in the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place.

Valli, hi!

Frankie Valli has signed up for an extended series of engagements, performing in the Flamingo Showroom on the dates Gladys Knight does not perform.

His performances will be March 8-12, April 5-9, May 3-7, May 24-28, June 28-July 2, Aug. 23-27 and Sept. 20-24.

Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $70 for the main floor and $60 for balcony seating.

For more information call 733-3333.

Swimsuit winner

Las Vegan Alicia Hall was named the winner of NBC's "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search" last week.

The 20-year-old Hall will appear in the 2005 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which hit the newsstands Feb. 15. And she received a million-dollar modeling contract with NEXT Model Management.

Hall began modeling six years ago as a student of Kim Flowers, owner of the John Robert Powers talent school, 3010 W. Charleston Blvd.

She began filming with the NBC six-week reality show in January. During the show models were judged by a three-person panel. The final decision of the winner was given to viewers, who chose the winner.

Vegas views

Ventriloquist Ronn Lucas has extended his contract at the Rio two more years.

Lucas, who can make any inanimate object seem to talk, performs at 3 p.m. Saturdays through Thursdays in the Scinta Showroom.

His current cast of puppets includes Scorch, Buffalo Billy and a host of everyday objects, including his own microphone. In addition, Lucas plans to introduce some new characters in the coming months -- the first will be punk rocker Chuck Roast.

Beginning this weekend Benny Bennet and his Big Band will perform from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays at Steven David's, 545 E. Sahara Ave.

Club/restaurant owner David will front the 19-piece orchestra.

The 83-year-old Bennet is an internationally renowned drummer who spent more than 20 years in Europe making records and performing in nightclubs and at concerts before returning to the United States.

Also at Steven David's tonight, Saturday and Feb. 25-26, the vocalist will have a reunion with his former band from Colorado -- The Guys Without Ties.

Auditions for upcoming film and television projects will be held beginning Feb. 26 at the John Robert Powers school, 3010 W. Charleston Blvd.

Harriet Greenspan, casting director and talent manager from Gem Entertainment Group in Los Angeles, will conduct the auditions.

For more information, call 878-7300.

Vocalist Darin Ames performs at 8:30 p.m. Sundays at the Bootlegger, backed by the Tommy Deering Trio.

Magician Nathan Burton, featured in Wayne Newton's reality series, "The Entertainer," on E! is going to seal himself in a box with seven showgirls at the Aladdin March 9-15.

Newton's series features 10 entertainers vying for a $1 million contract at the Las Vegas Hilton. Burton is one of the contestants.

The transparent box containing Burton and the showgirls will be suspended in front of the V Theater in the Desert Passage. Burton is one of the cast members of "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show" at the theater.

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