John Katsilometes on how Nicolas Cage’s plans for his next film are being received at the Liberace Foundation luptat, vent nullasadf

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006 | 7:30 a.m.

Last week when reports surfaced that Nicolas Cage was planning to portray Liberace in his next film, the quick reaction from Liberace Foundation Executive Director Darin Hollingsworth was, "Oh?"

"I have heard nothing from a production company. We know as much as you know, but we're excited about any renewed interest in Liberace's life and legacy," Hollingsworth said Monday afternoon. "We'd love to collaborate with him, as long as it doesn't defame the image."

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle for Monday's editions, Cage said, "It's not 100 percent yet, so pray on a candelabra." Meaning, the project is still in the planning phases, but Cage does intend to star in and direct the film. He went on to say that, "Liberace is fascinating to me because I think he is the ultimate story of the struggle between the material and the spiritual. He expanded classical music to pop audiences, which was great, but he also became incredibly self-indulgent, and I think that injured him, and that is the mythology I want to explore." Of Liberace's concealed sexuality, Cage said, "He lied about everything, really. That was partly because of the times he was living in. The influence he had is pretty unsung. I don't think there would be an Elton John if it wasn't for Liberace. Elton is performing at a time when he can be open. When Liberace was doing it, it was career suicide."

Whether Cage's plans for a multilayered portrayal would defame the image promoted by the Foundation, an image fabulously displayed at the Liberace Museum, remains to be seen. But Hollingsworth is hoping the film will regenerate interest in Liberace's legacy and the foundation he left behind, which has raised more than $5 million in scholarships for the arts since his death nearly 20 years ago.

"You know, Cage was (at the museum) about a year ago, maybe two years ago, and he showed a lot of interest and enthusiasm," Hollingsworth said. "He seems to have a respect for his showmanship and his dedication to his performances. We're hoping he'll reach out to us, but it's an unauthorized biography, so we're in no position to exercise authority unless he wants to use our costumes, or if licensing or marketing the use of Liberace's name and image were in his plans. I don't see that happening We're just hoping for a well-balanced approach."

NoteMart

Any Cage-Vegas connection is good for KSTJ 102.7-FM midday DJ Rick Kelly, who has mastered a dead-on Cage voice. A friend put Kelly, as Cage, on the phone with me a few days ago, and I was totally thrown. He didn't drop character until I started asking about Lisa Marie Presley

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jack Carter has a fundraiser set for Aug. 10 at the Sunbelt Antique & Classic Auto Show on 1420 Gragson St. That locale is better known as the site of university system Chancellor and Sun Belt Communications owner Jim Rogers' classic car collection, 300 beautiful vintage automobiles housed in two buildings near the KVBC Channel 3 studios. But this event is not to signal an endorsement of Carter by Rogers, who has said that if he ever ran for public office it would be as a Republican and who also has a friendly relationship with Carter's opponent, Sen. John Ensign. As Cisco Aguilera, Rogers' personal attorney, said Monday afternoon, Rogers donated the space after being asked to do so by Carter-backer and Urban Chamber President Hannah Brown. Rogers donates the space to all sorts of groups and organizations

One theory about why the South Coast (which last week was sold by Boyd Gaming to Coast Casinos founder Michael Gaughan) has "underperformed" since opening in December, even as the similarly styled Suncoast has thrived: Although both resorts cater to locals, the residents of Summerlin (largely populated by affluent retirees) has far more time and money to gamble than the more middle-class folks living near South Coast, who are typically at work during weekdays and lack the time and finances for frequent recreational gambling

Aggressive signage: Clark County sheriff candidate Laurie Bisch has hung a sign on the Charleston Boulevard overpass, which is certain to grab your attention and not necessarily in a safe way ... Jerry Lewis is feeling healthy enough to commit to a news conference on Aug. 25 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's boot drive, which runs Aug. 19-Sept. 2. The event is scheduled for the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Station at 500 N. Casino Center Blvd. A couple of months ago Lewis suffered a mild heart attack while on a flight from New York to San Diego, canceling a weekend's worth of dates at the Orleans

The Vegas Tenors' first set of dates at the Suncoast Showroom have been set: Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Mark Giovi and Teddy Davey appear there at 7 p.m. Sept. 11, Sept. 18, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. They are also auditioning a tenor to stand in for Fayne when he heads to London with Clint Holmes to launch "Jam" later this year. Ticket prices are $22, $27.50 and $33

Plate spotted by a colleague on a black Dodge SRT-4 with a yellow racing stripe running down the middle: MR RITE. The plate frame read, "Someone said you were looking for me." Good stuff, my friend.