Future will be magic

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006 | 7:34 a.m.

There's magic in Rick Thomas' optimism.

For the past 10 months the affable magician has been the afternoon headliner at the Stardust.

Prior to that, he was the afternoon headliner at the Tropicana for eight years.

Both venues are going to be undergoing major changes in the near future.

The Tropicana hasn't said what its plans are, although the property is not taking reservations beyond April.

The Stardust, on the other hand, isn't shy about what it has in store for Las Vegas.

Boyd Gaming announced it will close the Stardust in March 2007, tear it down and replace it with a $4 billion project, Echelon Place, which will open in early 2010.

Thomas hasn't expressed an inkling of concern about the recent announcement that will dramatically alter his future, one way or another.

"For 25 years I've been a magician," Thomas said. "You constantly must be prepared to do something else."

Although he says he has degrees in fine arts and communications, it isn't likely he will have to give up his magic wand to become a public relations person -- he's popular on the tour circuit (both national and international) and with corporate events.

And Thomas points out that Boyd has properties in other cities.

"They have quite a few casinos," he said.

But no offers have been made at this point -- either to move to one of the other properties or to be part of Echelon's entertainment agenda.

"We have meetings coming up," Thomas said. "I want to discuss with them how things are going to affect me."

He says he has a lot of options.

"But my main love is the Las Vegas Strip," Thomas said.

Despite the fact that the Stardust will close, the magician has no regrets about joining the company.

"I knew of it going into my contract," Thomas said. "There were rumblings that something was going to happen -- the same with the Tropicana; people kept saying it was going to be imploded."

The uncertainty at the Tropicana was one of the motivations for him to go to the Stardust, even though he knew at some point it was going to close.

"I couldn't live month by month, not knowing," Thomas said. "At least the Stardust knew what they were planning."

Thomas says he's thrilled about the Stardust's plans.

"I can't believe it's going down," he said. "But people should be embracing the change -- I would love to be part of it."

Meanwhile, he says he will "continue giving 110 percent."

"Coming to the Stardust had to have been the best thing I've ever done for my career," Thomas said. "Ever since the move I've become more well known -- people on the street know me."

He says his show, slightly expanded from the one he did at the Tropicana, has been a huge success.

"We broke records in December," he said. "I had a very strange experience -- I recently walked into the accounting department, and the whole department applauded me because we had such a great December -- it was something they never expected."

He says he did three shows a day that month.

"And we had to turn people away at the door," he said.

Thomas says he's not making any plans for the future at this point.

"I have a year before the Stardust closes," he said. "Let's make the most of it."

Cool move

Bawdy hypnotist Anthony Cools has moved from a converted showroom at Paris Las Vegas to a converted showroom at the Excalibur.

After a successful run at the Paris, which curtained off a corner of the casino to create a 250-seat theater, Cools is now in a 300-seat theater created out of the former Minstrel Lounge.

Shows are at 9 p.m., Thursdays through Tuesdays. Dark Wednesdays.

New cast member

Comedian Carole Montgomery, formerly of "Fantasy" at the Luxor, has joined the cast of Funny Business, the new comedy club at Krave.

Other cast members include Joe Trammel, Dave Russo, James Bean and Beverly Wines (Pudgy! Queen of Tease).

Shows are at 7 nightly.

'Fantasy' addition

Jennifer Joseph, former Miss Nevada and co-star of E!'s "The Entertainer: Starring Wayne Newton," has joined the cast of "Fantasy" at the Luxor.

Joseph will be a fill-in for lead singer Stephanie Jordan.

Joseph has performed on the Strip for 10 years, featured as the principal vocalist in such shows as "Le Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana and "Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace.

Drew Carey

Drew Carey & The Improv All Stars will perform at MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre Feb. 2-5.

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 and 9 p.m. Feb. 2 and Feb. 5.

Scheduled to appear with Carey are Ryan Stiles, Kathy Kinney, Greg Proops, Chip Esten, Jeff Davis, Jonathon Mangum and Sean Masterson.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.