LOOKING IN ON: ENTERTAINMENT

Friday, June 22, 2007 | 8:45 a.m.

The title is all wrong.

"Just Another Man" is not about just another man.

It's about Clint Holmes, the son of a black jazz singer and white opera singer who overcame plenty of obstacles to achieve success in the entertainment field.

It would have been easy for "just another man" to look at the mountains in his path and give up. But Holmes scaled the craggy peaks, driven by an engine of eternal optimism.

The musical about Holmes' life might better be titled "This Could Be the Start of Something Big." Or "Applause," which he and his play garner plenty of.

But the title "Just Another Men" seems inadequate, too humble.

For the past month the musical has been going through a trial run at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre, working out the kinks.

If you haven't yet seen it yet, you still have an opportunity this weekend. It's worth the trip.

The production has a few hiccups in transition, character development and staging. But the musical has a lot of potential, and once the issues are resolved , it might very well fulfill Holmes' dream of taking it to Broadway.

Holmes' longtime friend and musical director Bill Fayne has created some wonderful music for the show. Holmes leads an outstanding cast, especially Tezz Yancey as Holmes' son.

The story itself is one worth telling, full of drama, tragedy, confl ict and even humor.

Holmes doesn't pull any punches in telling the tale, even if it means giving himself a black eye in the process.

Details: 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday; UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre; $20 to $35; 895-2787

Happy birthday, 'Phantom'

"Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" was not a mere mirage after all.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical at the Venetian is the real deal, a Broadwaycaliber production that seems to have succeeded on the Strip when others have failed. This week it celebrated its first birthday - more than 500 performances and still going strong.

Some say it's even better now that when it debuted last summer.

Brent Barrett (who alternates as the Phantom with Anthony Crivello) says that's merely an illusion. The show has always been great, but there are so many layers to it fans who see it again and again discover new elements each time.

"There are so many aspects to the show," Barrett says. "When you see it multiple times you catch things you didn't the first time. You enjoy it even more."

It looks like the show will continue to be one of the dominating forces on the Vegas entertainment scene. Both Barrett and Crivello recently signed up for another year with the production.

Details: 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9:30 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays; Venetian's Phantom Theatre; $62 to $157; 414-4300

Around town

More than 250 of the Strip's best entertainers will perform during the annual "Ribbon of Life" production, a fundraiser for the HIV/AIDS organization Golden Rainbow. The bill is headlined by "Spamalot's" John O'Hurley and includes cast members from "American Superstars," "A New Day ...," "Chippendales," "Crazy Horse Paris," "Fantasy," "Folies Bergere" and "Jubilee!" (1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Bally's, $50 to $250, 384-2899) ...

Canadian singer Nelly Furtado performs poolside at the Red Rock Resort (9 p.m. Saturday; Sandbar Backyard poolside at the Red Rock; $67.50; 547-5300) ... Rocky Gordon and the Killer Groove Band inaugurate a new jazz venue tonight at the 3 Tomatoes 7 a Mozzarella Italian restaurant (9 p.m., 6485 S. Rainbow Blvd. at Interstate 215) ... Michael Lee, the hard-working former cop turned versatile vocalist, plays the Cannery's Pin-up Lounge through July 31 (8 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; also 7 p.m. Mondays at Fremont Street Experience between Fitzgeralds and Four Queens).