Friday, March 18, 2005 | 8:47 a.m.
"Havana Night Club," the Cuban production that some thought would never make it to the United States, has been extended at the Stardust through the first week in September.
The extension, its fourth, carries the show past its first anniversary. It debuted Aug. 21.
"Havana" features a cast of 50 Cuban dancers, singers and musicians who trace the origin of dance in the Island nation, covering hundreds of years of musical history.
It was to have premiered in July, but because of a conflict with the Cuban government didn't arrive in Vegas until the end of August. In November all but three of the cast members requested political asylum.
Since its arrival "Havana" has become one of the hottest shows in town, and apparently out of town as well.
The production recently returned from a triumphant engagement at the 7,000-seat University of Miami Convocation Center in Coral Gables on March 10. The sold-out show will have an encore performance at the university May 26.
On April 15 it will be in Tampa, Fla., and on May 20 "Havana" will appear at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The out-of-down dates are part of a "Celebrate Freedom" national tour.
The show in Coral Gables was different from the one at the Stardust, whose showroom seats only about 900.
"We changed the show dramatically for the big arena," said Nicole Durr, the show's creator, producer, director, choreographer and costume designer.
The larger version includes pyrotechnics, aerial scenes and new costumes. The show has been taped as part of a documentary that is planned for theatrical release.
Durr also said a CD soundtrack has been recorded.
"I wish I could bring the new version to Vegas," Durr said. "Everybody would be blown away."
Durr wrote a song for the new show, "For You Cuba, I Sing This Song."
When the song was completed the cast and most of the audience were in tears, Durr said.
"It is a song about freedom," she said.
Gallagher, et al.
Watermelon-smashing comedian Gallagher, who at one time was in negotiations with the Sahara, has opened a comedy club at the Tuscany, 255 E. Flamingo Road.
Gallagher's Comedy Club opened Monday, with the comedian headlining the venue the first two nights. He will return for an engagement Monday through March 31.
A Tuscany spokesman said Gallagher will perform at the club when he isn't on tour. When he is away, other comedians will be booked.
Comedy shows will be at 9 p.m. nightly. Admission is $39.95.
Also on the bill at the venue are ever-popular twin pianists Mark & Clark, who opened Monday. Their shows are at 7 p.m. Saturdays through Thursdays (dark Fridays). Admission is $39.95. A dinner and show package is $49.95.
Hypnotist Terry Stokes will star in an 11 p.m. adults-only show, "Hypnosis Gone Wild!" Wednesdays through Sundays (dark Mondays and Tuesdays).
One of Gallagher's first items of business is to raise money for an intervention for Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who made national headlines earlier this month when he told a class of fourth graders that if he could take only one thing to a desert island, it would be gin.
"My idea is to, every Friday, have a charity show at my comedy club," Gallagher said during a telephone interview from Santa Clara, Calif., where he was performing. "We're going to start with the Mayor Goodman Intervention Convention -- send the mayor to the Betty Ford Clinic."
While he says he is just having fun with Goodman, he's serious about the issues of sobriety and drunk driving.
"I'm interested in Students Against Drunk Driving and Mothers Against Drunk Driving," he said. "I'm actually doing a charity at Westlake High School in my neighborhood in Westlake, Calif., on April 17 for an organization that teaches kids about responsible driving."
Gallagher says now that he is part of the Las Vegas community he is going to give something back by earmarking a portion of ticket sales on Fridays for different causes.
"We will choose different charities," he said. "People can make suggestions."
Seats at Gallagher's club will be auctioned on eBay for the March 25 "benefit," but contributors can also e-mail [email protected] or call (702) 496-5707. He plans to smash a watermelon full of gin, but no alcoholic beverages will be served at the event.
"You know, alcohol can impair your judgment, even once you sober up," he said.
Last dance
Dance king Larry Taylor has been given his walking papers by the Gold Coast.
He says his final ballroom dance session will be Sept. 5, the week before ABC's "Monday Night Football" begins.
Taylor, who claims to have a following of more than 2,000 avid dancers, will celebrate his 18th year at the Gold Coast in June.
"I can't even begin to get mad," the upbeat big band DJ said. "I've got to be the luckiest guy in the world -- I signed a two-week contract here in 1987 and stretched it out to 18 years."
Taylor may move his still-popular ballroom dancing gig downtown.
"I promised my people that I would not quit until I find another location," he said.
There are a couple of reasons Taylor is being evicted from the casino's showroom, which has one of the best dance floors in town (price tag: $300,000) -- one is the phenomenal success of the musical "Forever Plaid."
"It's a matter of economics," Taylor said. "They're bringing in a profit of $10,000 a night versus my bringing in $1,500. I can't blame them."
"Plaid" is adding a Sunday afternoon show, taking away Taylor's time slot on that day. The final dance will be Sunday.
His fans will have Monday nights to swing and sway, but only until football season -- the second reason Taylor is being punted from the property.
A Friday session also is being taken over by "Plaid." The last one will be April 1.
"I'm hoping someone will come up to me at the dance and yell 'April Fool! It was a joke,' " Taylor said.
But it's no joke.
Taylor is following the Kinda Dixie Jazz Band out the door. The group was told last month its services would no longer be needed -- an announcement that came a month shy of its 18th anniversary.
But most of the members of Kinda Dixie have been rehired by the Gold Coast as the Royal Dixie Jazz Band. Only band leader Jim Fitzgerald is absent.
Keyboardist Dan Ellis is the bandleader of the newly re-formed band, which performs from 1 p.m. until 6:40 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Taylor is confident he will find a new home. He's been in Vegas for more than 30 years and knows the city as well as anyone -- he was the town's first nightclub DJ (beginning April 1, 1972, at the defunct disco Billy Jack's) and he was responsible for the Palomino Club becoming the first nude entertainment venue in town.
"I was hosting a bikini contest at the club and before you know it several of the girls were naked," he said.
Vegas hasn't been the same since.
Malpractice
Former Russian model Galina Kubrak, founder and president of Tarragon West Entertainment Inc., has many passions -- among them medical malpractice insurance.
A Vegas resident since 1996, Kubrak is an astute businesswoman (she owns several office buildings and a couple of hotels).
She has a fondness for the arts (in 2003 she brought the Kirov Ballet to the Aladdin).
But one of her most passionate projects today is her budding Malpractice Victim's Foundation.
Last week she met with Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, to discuss her campaign to protect victims of malpractice.
On Jan. 1, 2004, her 20-year-old son, Michael, was injured in an automobile accident and suffered paralysis from the waist down.
"Through him I saw the problem of other people with medical malpractice issues," Kubrak said. "I have seen how victims suffer.
"Patients are absolutely helpless against negligence, incompetence, lack of necessary knowledge."
Nevada voters approved a ballot initiative in November that capped jury awards for non-economic damages to $350,000, among the strictest limits in the nation.
Vegas Views
"Forbidden Vegas" celebrated its 100th show at the Westin Theatre on Wednesday with cake and champagne.
The comedy satirizes many of Vegas' most popular performers, productions and locations, including Celine Dion, "Mamma Mia!" Elton John, Liberace, Rita Rudner, Wayne Newton and Cirque du Soleil.
The production is a Vegas version of "Forbidden Broadway," a popular show in New York City for the past 23 years.
Both were created, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini.
"Forbidden Vegas" may be seen at 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. It is dark Sundays. Tickets are $39.95.
This should be a rip-roaring show -- the always entertaining Debbie Reynolds and confetti-tossing Rip Taylor at 8 p.m. through Sunday at The Orleans Showroom.
Admission is $39.95.
Keely Smith, who, along with her late ex-husband, Louis Prima, made lounge history in the '50s and '60s, is releasing a new CD in recognition of Vegas' 100th birthday celebration.
"Vegas '58: Today" will be available April 12. It will include the classic songs that made Prima and Smith (now in her 70s) legends -- among them "Just A Gigolo," "Buona Serra," "I Wish You Love" and the Grammy-winning "That Old Black Magic."
As the Riviera prepares for its 50th anniversary celebration April 20, the venue is displaying 100 photos of some of the more than 475 performers who have entertained there.
Liberace was the first. His 1954 Rolls Royce, on loan from the Liberace Museum, is also among items being displayed by the Riviera.
Tony Curtis will be honored by The CAST Inc. with cocktails (5:30 p.m.) and dinner (6:45 p.m.) Sunday in the Gold Room at the Sahara.
CAST is a social organization of entertainers, musicians and non-entertainers.
Curtis will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award during the fete.
Admission is $55. For tickets call 737-2515.
Acerbic comedian Don Rickles will be around the Stardust for at least another year. The 78-year-old entertainer recently extended his contract with the Strip venue.
Rickles' next engagements in Vegas will be May 12-15 and Oct. 20-23.
Sleight-of-hand artist Collin Foster, who recently had a gig at the Westin, is now performing at the Plaza's Comedy Zone.
"Quicker than the Eye" is at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturdays and Sundays. The show is at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Fridays.
Admission is the purchase of a drink.
"The Temptations Review," featuring Dennis Edwards, will be at the Rampart's Grand Ballroom at 8 p.m. March 26.
Tickets are $35.
Edwards joined The Temptations in 1968, replacing lead singer David Ruffin.
Impressionist, comedian and vocalist Bethany Owen, whose repertoire includes more than 300 voices, will perform a 90-minute show at 10 tonight, Saturday and Sunday in the Stardust's Ba-Da-Bing Theatre. Tickets are $24.95.
"Mamma Mia!" producers have donated $1.2 million for victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia.
The money came from a combination of sources, including from fans who made contributions after attending one of the 14 productions around the world (including Mandalay Bay) as well as from producers and others associated with the show.
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