Thursday, March 16, 2006 | 6:52 a.m.
Vocalist, comedian and dancer Lisa Donovan has joined the entertainment family of Las Vegas.
The vivacious performer - perhaps best known for her part in the syndicated game show "Face the Music" (originally airing in 1980-81) - moved to Southern Nevada a few weeks ago from Florida.
"I'm just getting settled in," Donovan said. "I'm still unpacking my kitchen."
The New York native is no stranger to Las Vegas.
Donovan performed here often in years past, opening for such legends as George Burns and Donald O'Connor at Caesars Palace.
Her last public performance in Vegas was in 1998, when she opened for Don Rickles at the Desert Inn.
Most recently, she performed for a private function at the Golden Nugget last year.
Donovan first worked at the DI in 1994, alternating performances with Keely Smith and Sam Butera. She was hired for a three-week engagement that stretched into seven months.
Donovan was to have performed at Paris Las Vegas in October 2001, but her engagement was canceled because of 9/11.
"Fate changed things for a lot of people," she said.
Donovan has worked with several performers who have roots in Las Vegas, including Rich Little and Bill Acosta, who is appearing at the Suncoast Friday through Sunday.
Settling into the Vegas entertainment world should be relatively simple for Donovan. She meets old friends everywhere she turns.
Today she is scheduled to be on Dennis Bono's radio variety/talk show "Las Vegas Now." The show is taped in front of a live audience at Sam's Town for airing at 7 p.m. Fridays on KUNV 91.5-FM and at 2 p.m. Saturdays on KDWN 720-AM.
"Dennis and I worked at the same time at the DI," Donovan said.
Bono's music director and pianist is Bob Rosario. Bob Sachs is the bassist for the combo. Donovan said they played with her at the DI.
Fans of the game show "Face the Music" will recognize her as the vocalist who sang all of the songs that were clues to the solution of a question.
Donovan also appeared in the 1987 Broadway revival of the musical "Babes in Arms," directed by Ginger Rogers.
She lived in Los Angeles for many years, where she appeared in more than 100 commercials and in episodes of several TV series, including the '80s hit "Simon & Simon."
After years of traveling around the world to perform, Donovan decided it was time to stay in one spot for awhile and let the world come to her.
"I have been doing so much traveling - and it gets harder and harder because of the threats of terrorism," she said.
Donovan is looking for the right venue for her energetic style.
"I would love to find a little room somewhere so that I could develop a following the way I did at the DI," she said.
Donovan's extensive experience allows her to adjust her performances to her audiences - if fans want jazz, she sings jazz. If they want Broadway, she does Broadway.
On "Face the Music" she sang everything from light opera to rock 'n' roll.
"My performances always go to what the audiences want," she said.
Carole Montgomery
On Saturday and Sunday comedian Carole Montgomery brings her one-woman, autobiographical show, "Confessions of a PT&A Mom," back to the CCSN's Cheyenne campus.
Showtimes at the BackStage Theatre are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday.
The bawdy comic, formerly with the Luxor's production "Fantasy," can be seen regularly in the new comedy club, Funny Business, at Krave.
Shows are at 7 nightly.
Others in the rotating cast include Joe Trammel, Dave Russo, James Bean and Beverly Wines (Pudgy! Queen of Tease).
'Jamarama'
"Jamarama Live! Kidsfest" will be held at 2 p.m. March 25 at the Aladdin Theatre.
Featured performers in the music festival for children will include Dan Zanes and Friends, Milkshake and The Ohmies!
Festival activities include a coloring floor for kids; karaoke kiosks; face/hair painting; and "tattoos."
Tickets are $33.25. For information call 785-5505.
Joe Williams
CCSN's 18th Annual Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund Concert will be held at 2 p.m. April 9 in the Orleans Showroom.
Admission is $34.95. For information call 365-7075.
Artists scheduled to perform include Robert Goulet, Marlena Shaw, Kenny Burrell, Vincent Falcone, Pete Barbutti, Artie Butler, Freddy Eckstine and Tom Ferguson.
Also performing will be the CCSN All Star Band and the CCSN Jazz Singers.
Proceeds will benefit CCSN's Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund, which the legendary blues singer created in 1989 to assist deserving music students.
Since its inception, more than $100,000 has been raised.
The late Williams sang with the Count Basie Orchestra from 1954 to 1961. Among his many hits were "Every Day I Get the Blues" and "All Right, Okay, You Win."
Williams, who moved to Las Vegas in 1965, died in 1999 at age 80.
Kid Rock
Kid Rock will perform April 29 at the Palms' Rain Nightclub. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $85 and $175. For information call 947-8833.
Nino Frediani
Once billed as "The World's Fastest Juggler" - even though he is legally blind - Nino Frediani is juggling in Riviera's "Crazy Girls."
The 66-year-old Frediani is the specialty act in the topless production.
Married to a native of Japan, Frediani is fluent in the language and often converses with fans from that country.
He also speaks Italian, Spanish, French, English, German, Portuguese and Greek, languages he picked up while growing up with a circus that traveled throughout Europe.
"Crazy Girls" performances are at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays.
Tickets are $34.95. For more information call 794-9433.
