Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.
Kelly Clinton: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Suncoast Showroom, $22 to $33, 636-7075
"Clint Holmes & Friends Celebrate the Holidays": 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Suncoast Showroom, $22 to $55, 636-7075
The Las Vegas Tenors: 7 p.m. Dec. 16, Las Vegas Hilton, $29.95 to $39.95, 732-5755
It should be a memorable Christmas season for fans of the Clint Holmes entourage.
Holmes and his family and friends are a talented group of entertainers whose careers often crisscross, parallel or become one. They'll be crossing paths a lot during December as they perform in several shows - sometimes together, sometimes not.
First up is Kelly Clinton, who recently became Mrs. Holmes. She premieres her one-woman show at the Suncoast, where she will perform every Wednesday for an extended engagement.
Then Holmes stars in "Clint Holmes & Friends Celebrate the Holidays" this weekend at the Suncoast. His guests include Clinton; his 92-year-old mother, Audrey; his sister, Gayle Steele; and his longtime friend and musical director, Bill Fayne, who will conduct a seven-piece band for the show. The revue blends Christmas music with songs from the show he and Fayne had at Harrah's for five years and from "JAM," the new musical being created about Holmes' life.
Finally, Fayne steps out with the Las Vegas Tenors, who also include Mark Giovi, Bobby Black and Teddy Davey. The Tenors return to the Las Vegas Hilton on Dec. 16 for a Christmas-themed production featuring a choir of 16 to 20 Las Vegas entertainers and a special guest - Clint Holmes.
After a successful performance in September, the Tenors signed a deal to perform there monthly throughout 2008. The exclusive deal means any other performing the group does will be out of town.
"I'm going to be with the Tenors whenever I can," Fayne said, "but mostly I'm going to be with Clint."
Holmes and Fayne are close to finishing "JAM."
"It's falling into place," Holmes said. "I wish I could tell you exactly what is happening, but we're going to make an announcement in a couple of weeks. We're probably going to start rehearsal in March and then it will be ready to go in April. It's been an all-consuming animal, but you only get one shot. Once we get it to New York, it's going to be kind of sink or swim."
The musical has gone through several workshops to fine-tune the production.
"It's about 95 percent there now," Holmes said.
Meanwhile, he and Fayne fill in what little free time they have with a variety of gigs - recently they were at the Excalibur with Domenick Allen (former lead singer for Foreigner). In January Holmes and Fayne will perform in the Far East. In February they may be at Harrah's in Atlantic City for a three-week engagement, depending on how negotiations go.
"My issue right now is that it's hard to give a long-term commitment because of the play," Holmes said. "I just take it day by day."
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