John Katsilometes reports on a soap star sure to steam up an already hot production at the MGM Grand

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007 | 7:05 a.m.

A photo spread in an upcoming issue of Playboy magazine and new name are not the only news items bubbling from "Crazy Horse Las Vegas" at the MGM Grand. The production has announced that a bathtub act will be added to the show, and we have an explanation.

The woman dubbed the International Queen of Burlesque (and the estranged wife of Marilyn Manson), Dita Von Teese, will join the production from April 15 to April 20. Far more splashy than the rose petal-covered women who sit in the tubs at Tao, Von Teese will perform the sensual "Le Bain" bathtub act made famous in the 1950s by "Crazy Horse" fixture Candida, who bathed herself onstage more than 1,500 times as one of the high-water marks in the show's long history.

In October Von Teese joined the "Crazy Horse" production in Paris and is the first guest star in the show's 55-year run. She made waves while lathering up sold-out audiences, and was showered with rave reviews. Also promised from Von Teese is a second seductive "surprise" act, and she will also join the "Crazy Horse" troupe in the revived finale of "We Are the Girls of Crazy Horse." Naturally, we expect no one to pull the plug.

NoteMart

Double dipping: About a week and a half ago a bartender at the dank, pungent and locally famous Double Down Saloon at 4640 Paradise Road took a call from a person representing a film company who asked about the possibility of using "Double Down" as a movie title. The person represented the yet-untitled project centering on MIT students who devised a card-counting system to beat the odds on Las Vegas blackjack tables. The film, which stars Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne and Jim Sturgess, wrapped its Vegas filming schedule last week. The person inquiring about the possible title was told to contact Double Down owner P Moss, who on Monday said he's still waiting to hear back from the rep. Mr. Moss is interested in hearing from these people, as "Double Down" is one of the film's rumored titles. ...

Clint Holmes has changed the name of his autobiographical musical from "Breathe" to "Just Another Man." The show's original working title was "Jam," which if I'm reading this right is the acronym for "Just Another Man." May 22 is the tentative date for the musical's Las Vegas opening at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre. ...

Spirit of 75: Dame Elizabeth Taylor celebrates her 75th birthday tonight with family and friends at the Ritz Carlton, Lake Las Vegas. ...

The crowd was hot (hot! I tell you) at the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place on Saturday. Stopping in to perform and hobnob with Kelly Clinton and her band were "Producers" stars David Hasselhoff, Larry Raben, Leigh Zimmerman and Rick Affannato; prolific session drummer Aynsley Dunbar (who has been affiliated with Frank Zappa, John Lennon, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Journey and Jefferson Starship, among many others); and the Las Vegas Tenors. The Stirling Club remains one of the best venues for such impromptu showcases in the city. ...

Vegas moment: On Sunday during one of Pete Rose's memorabilia signing sessions at Field of Dreams at the Forum Shops at Caesars, a quite tall guy wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers cap (backward) approached Rose's signing table and said, "I don't want to interrupt. I just want to say hi." It was Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger, who sat with Rose for a few minutes and greeted fans. ...

Quickie: As part of its "Random Acts of Chipness" fifth anniversary celebration, the Rio version of "The Chippendales" is scheduled to make an appearance this afternoon at Acacia Springs Senior Retirement Community. ...

The host of the annual United Jewish Community/Jewish Federation of Las Vegas "Champions of Freedom Dinner Gala" fundraiser, to be held March 10 at the Bellagio, is Henry Winkler. The former Fonzie would seem a curious choice until you know he is the son of Holocaust survivors. ...

Wha-a? A friend in the field reports a commercial on KMXB 94.1-FM (The Mix) last week for Dave Smith Motors in Kellogg, Idaho. ...

They could also dig around the Southwest gate at McCarran: Gag headline in Don Asmussen's syndicated feature Bad Reporter, "Archaeologists Find JetBlue Couple Locked in Eternal Embrace." ...

Refugee from "Dukes of Hazzard": Reported plate sighting on an orange pickup lacking a tailgate, KOOTER.