Bringing a TV icon to stage

Thursday, May 11, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.

Producer John Stuart signed a licensing agreement last week that will allow him to create live stage shows based on an icon of musical TV programs - Dick Clark's "American Bandstand."

"We know 'American Bandstand' is an American icon and that John Stuart has a lot of experience in this arena," said Allen Shapiro, president of Mosaic Media, which acquired the rights to "American Bandstand" in 2002 when Dick Clark Productions merged with the Los Angeles-based corporation.

Stuart and his partner, Riptide Entertainment of Texas, are negotiating with the company for TV rights. He says if he gets the TV rights he will create a program similar to "American Idol," except the contestants will be tribute artists.

But for now he is concentrating on potential stage productions - a variety show for Las Vegas and a musical that could play on Broadway.

Among his many credits, Stuart is the creator of "Legends in Concert," a show with a cast of tribute artists, which has been at the Imperial Palace for 23 years.

Stuart has already begun to develop the concept of the "American Bandstand" revue and hopes to debut the show within six months.

"We are going to create a time tunnel of all the great acts that Dick Clark brought to the forefront through his show," Stuart said.

"American Bandstand" was a live dance music television show that ran from 1952 to 1989.

Stuart said Clark, by way of old videos, will introduce many of the acts, and that the show will also probably feature a Dick Clark impersonator.

"Some of the performers will be impersonators, re-creating Buddy Holly, Bobby Darin and others. But where there are live acts, such as Frankie Valli and Paul Revere and the Raiders, we will use the actual performers, when we can," Stuart said. "The memory buds will be watered."

The show won't be all nostalgia. It will include contemporary acts as well.

Stuart, who has known Clark for many years, also hopes to negotiate a licensing agreement for a Dick Clark's American Bandstand restaurant.

Meanwhile, Stuart is so busy these days he could use someone to impersonate him so he can be in several places at once.

He is producing or co-producing several shows, is executive producer of the World Extreme Fighting bouts at the Orleans, is helping his son on a documentary about the Elvis phenomenon and his fans, has a few businesses and is working on a Western-themed housing development in Las Vegas.

On May 30, Stuart will get his star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in front of New York-New York. The day will begin with his being given a lifetime achievement award at the Celebrity Impersonators Convention at the Imperial Palace and end with a party at his home.

"It's hard for me to put my hat on something and say I'm going to do this the rest of my life," Stuart said, explaining his restlessness. "I can't fine-tune and then just baby-sit the shows - it's not what I want to do."

Of all his labors, the most fulfilling is his work with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I'd say one-third or more of my time is spent working with the church," Stuart said. "And of all the stuff that I'm doing, the church is all that actually matters to me.

"These other things, they're something I've got to do to stay alive, and to have fun with while I'm doing it - but basically the church is what matters."