TAKE FIVE: LIZA MINNELLI

Tuesday, March 27, 2007 | 7:32 a.m.

Who: Liza Minnelli

When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Where: Luxor Theater

Tickets: $50-$95; 262-4400 or www.luxor.com/ entertainment

Liza Minnelli didn't perform in Las Vegas for more than a decade. Now she's back for her third visit in six months.

For fans who can't get enough of Liza, she'll perform Thursday through Saturday at the Luxor.

The music of her godmother, Kay Thompson, will play a prominent role in Minnelli's new show.

While her life has either been charmed or jinxed, depending on your point of view, Minnelli certainly is show biz royalty. The daughter of Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli, her godparents were Thompson and lyricist Ira Gershwin.

Thompson was a well-known dancer, singer, pianist, composer and choreographer. As a singing teacher, her students included Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne.

She was the vocal arranger for films such as "Weekend at the Waldorf" (1945), "Ziegfeld Follies" (1946) and "The Pirate" (1948) with Garland and Gene Kelly .

Thompson left MGM to create her own nightclub act with Andy Williams and his brothers, and toured the country.

But Thompson may be best remembered as the author of the "Eloise" series of children's books ("Eloise" in 1956, "Eloise in Paris" in 1957, "Eloise at Christmastime" in 1958 and "Eloise in Moscow" in 1959). Like Eloise, Thompson lived at the Plaza Hotel before moving into Liza Minnelli's apartment in New York City, where she lived until she died in 1998 at age 89.

1. On the Luxor

There will be some brand - new stuff. I'm working on a television show that highlighted my godmother , Kay Thompson's , music. She was sensational. One of the greatest gifts I ever got was that my parents made her my godmother. She did all of those arrangements for MGM and she had this incredible nightclub act. So we're doing some numbers from that at the Luxor. I've done them in a couple of other places and people seem to really like them.

2. On Broadway

I'm working mostly on this show that I'm bringing to Vegas, which is what I'm really excited about. They want me to bring it to Broadway. I don't know if I want to do that yet. I've been asked. We'll see.

3. On looking back

I always think that to think back is kind of a waste. You might as well go forward and create. That's why I'm doing this brand - new show, because I wanted to do something completely new, and it's the hardest show I've ever done. It's harder than "Liza With a 'Z,' " I mean it's physically hard. There's so much dancing in it.

4. On Little Ricky

Oh yes. I used to date Desi Arnaz Jr. (now a Boulder City resident). I see him every time I visit Vegas. I know his wife, Amy, and daughter, Haley. They're just wonderful people.

5. On slowing down

I don't see why I would. Do you? As long as you've got the energy and it's fun, you might as well keep doing it.