John Katsilometes reports that Clint Holmes plans to keep a hand in educating Clark County students even as his career takes him elsewhere

Sunday, March 26, 2006 | 7:01 a.m.

They say all things must pass (all things except that cliche, anyway), and that's the case for Clint Holmes.

A headliner at Harrah's (where he landed after a stint at the Golden Nugget) since February 2000, Holmes is all but certain to be leaving the Strip when his Harrah's contract runs its course this fall. This week he taped two shows at Harrah's to be edited for a PBS special scheduled to air on Aug. 5; a new CD - two albums' worth of material - is also to be released at about the time the special airs.

So what's next? What we're gleaning from the streets is that a show written by and starring Holmes, titled "Jam," will wind up on Broadway in fall 2007. He is collaborating with Larry Moss, the renowned Broadway performer, director and acting coach (he coached Helen Hunt in "As Good As it Gets" and Hilary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry,'' both Oscar winners, and Michael Clarke Duncan in "The Green Mile," who was nominated for an Oscar).

Holmes and Harrah's declined to discuss details of his future, and no contracts have been signed.

But we here the plan is for Holmes to first stage the production in London, and then in Chicago, before moving to New York.

But Holmes is still rooted in Las Vegas and always willing to give of his time - on Saturday he received a national humanitarian award at the MGM Grand for his charity work - and he says he is moving forward with his Clint Holmes Foundation for the Performing Arts. He has been in ongoing discussions with representatives of the Clark County School District to develop a strategy for educating students about the history and effect of the performing arts.

"Our first project is in the works. We are creating a CD library for the school, the 100 essential pieces of music in all major genres," Holmes said during a phone interview Thursday. "We'll have jazz, classical, Broadway and pop, all through the years and show how that music changed - what was happening at the time and put the progress of the music in context."

Holmes will select the pieces with a panel of informed colleagues and has asked KLAS Channel 8's Kevin Janison to narrate the selections. As for his future, Holmes said, "I live here, this is my home. Even if I go away to do theater, I will always be here."

And when Holmes leaves Harrah's, a famous Las Vegas performer could easily step in. We're hearing that none other than Wayne Newton, today a headliner at Flamingo Las Vegas, is Harrah's man. Newton's last scheduled date at Flamingo is April 8, then he's off to Australia (where he is wildly popular) for a monthlong tour.

NoteMart

Better Holmes: More on Clint: His 90-year-old mother, Audrey, daughter Brittany, granddaughter Asia and son Brent were all in the audience for Thursday night's PBS taping. Among the celebs introduced were Gordie Brown, Delisco and the ubiquitous Robin Leach. And among that crowd, only one sang a bit from "Summertime" - that was Audrey, who drew a standing ovation ...

Million-dollar baby: In the "Reaping Deserved Rewards" department, highly regarded Harrah's exec Don Marrandino has purchased a home in Las Vegas Country Club for a cool (and if it is in Marrandino's hands, it's cool) $1 million ...

Fab update: The Club at the Cannery on Friday proved to be The Fab's rooftop concert (that reference is to the Beatles' final performance on the roof of Abbey Road Studios in January 1969). But frontman Pat Woodward promises, "I'll let you know soon when I've reformed my Beatles celebration, and that is the plan." ...

Steidle appearance Monday: Former Marine captain Brian Steidle, who was the U.S. representative to the African Union's peacekeeping mission to Darfur from September 2004 to February 2005, is set to appear Monday at Regal Cinemas Green Valley Ranch 10 as part of his nationwide speaking tour to promote the "Million Voices for Darfur" campaign. His appearance is set for 6:30 p.m. and is free to the public.

Steidle, who shot hundreds of images while recording the genocide in Sudan, is on a 21,000-mile journey titled "Tour for Darfur: Eyewitness to Genocide"; for information go to www.SaveDarfur.org ...

One from Boston: A caller who declines to have his (oh! I mean, her!) name in the paper recalls a time he (or she) was driving down the Boston Turnpike and spotted a young woman driving a Mercedes-Benz sports convertible with the plate, WAS HIS.