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Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006 | 7:36 a.m.

The odyssey to lure Miss America back to Las Vegas seems to be nearing a conclusion. We hear that the Aladdin - which held the 2006 pageant at the Theatre for the Performing Arts - is poised to bring the pageant back to Vegas in 2007.

Negotiations among the hotel and representatives from the Miss America Organization and the cable channel CMT have nearly concluded. All that remains are a few relatively minor details to be resolved between the hotel and cable representatives before an official announcement is made. The entire deal might be finalized as early as the end of the week.

Leading the negotiations from the Las Vegas end has been Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Chief Executive Mike Mecca, who jumped at the chance to negotiate with CMT, which broadcast the pageant for the first time in January, after Las Vegas Events backed out of the running in June. At that time a CMT spokeswoman said the pageant was negotiating with several venues in several cities; since, the Aladdin has moved to the forefront (the hotel will be in the process of changing over to Planet Hollywood through early '07 and is also refurbishing the Theatre for the Performing Arts, which should be finished in November).

Crucial to Las Vegas Events' decision to drop out of the pageant sweepstakes was that the Miss America Organization made plans to tape the reality series "Finding Miss America" exclusively in Los Angeles in September. That made Miss America Organization's request of $1 million for title sponsorship too steep for Las Vegas Events, but it is not yet known how much money, or what type of proposal, was made by the Aladdin to Miss America. What is certain is that the Aladdin really wanted the event, and Las Vegas has been Miss America's preferred choice since January's show drew record ratings to CMT.

NoteMart

The wildly popular, pure-as-driven-snow Disney Channel movie "High School Musical" will be brought to the stage by Green Valley High School, Disney Theatrical Productions and Music Theatre International announced Tuesday. Green Valley is one of just seven high schools nationwide to be awarded a license to produce a stage version of the musical. The production was recently the subject of a long story in Newsweek, in which the entertainment watchdog group Focus on Family was quoted as saying, "No drugged-up cussin' and carousin' here," and praised the costuming and dancing as "not Las Vegas sensual."

The Killers seem to be avoiding the "sophomore slump," the alliterative term used for many pop artists' second albums. Billboard gave a strong endorsement of the Las Vegas-based band's first single, "When You Were Young," from the upcoming CD "Sam's Town." As the review states, the song "manages to intricately intertwine a hard-driving, drum-laden rock beat with harmonies that even the toughest rock critic or radio programmer couldn't shoot holes through."

Stardust illusionist Rick Thomas is the rare performer who takes the stage for three shows a day - at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. (dark Sundays) The 7 p.m. show was the most recent to be added to Thomas' nearly ceaseless schedule, but he's still drawing strong crowds - he had about 500 in the 800-seat Stardust Theater on Monday night. "I'm enjoying my strongest popularity ever in Vegas," said Thomas, who has been in town for 10 years. He said he hopes to stay with Boyd Gaming once the Stardust closes later this year

Steve Wynn has plucked a winner from Cirque du Soleil, hiring Jennifer Dunne as vice president of entertainment marketing and sales. She started work at Wynn Las Vegas this week

Speaking of winners, and Cirque, and people I know in public relations, one of the great return-to-Vegas stories unfolded last week when Karin Tomcik accepted a PR position with "Mystere" at Treasure Island. I met Karin about 10 years ago when she was with the late, great Las Vegas Stars, and we immediately bonded over all things Beatles (especially Paul McCartney). She has been away for the past five years in St. George, Utah, working as a rep for Blue Bunny ice cream, and is eagerly looking forward to joining the swirling world of Cirque this month

Sometimes the neighbors have the best material: I hustled out of the house in my robe and snapped up the newspaper the other day, and encountered my next-door neighbor on his early morning walk. "How you doin'?" he asked. "Well, I am in the driveway wearing my bathrobe," I said. "At least you're home," he said

OK, one more for Cirque and we'll call it a column: "Ka" at the MGM Grand is offering a bargain-rate $69 ticket and half-off rate in all price categories for children ages 5 to 12. Those reduced rates are $35, $50, $62.50 and $75

Chugging toward the checkered flag: A reader who couldn't make out the make of vehicle reports the plate 1LAP2GO.

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