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 By
Judy Thorburn
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic
Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer
www.theflickchicks.com
World
Premiere of DEAL held at the Brendan Theatres inside Palms Casino
Resort.
On Thursday, April 24 The CineVegas Film Festival and Seven Arts
Pictures hosted the World Premiere of the poker film DEAL on Thursday,
at the Brenden Theatres inside the Palms Casino Resort. The evening
kicked off with a celebrity-studded red carpet that included appearances
by Shannon Elizabeth and her Dancing With the Stars partner Derek Hough,
Jennifer Tilly, director Gil Cates, Mimi Rogers, Lorrie Morgan, TG
Sheppard, Efren Ramirez, former World Poker Tour Host and Fox News
reporter Courtney Friel, legendary poker greats Todd Brunson, Hoyt
Corkins, Mike Sexton, Phil Laak and “The Magician” Antonio Esfandiari,
Las Vegas real estate expert Paul Murad, and of course, Palms owner
George Maloof and Brenden Theatres owner Johnny Brendan.
TG Sheppard
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Shannon Elizabeth
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Paul Murad
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Mike Sexton
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Johnny Brendan and George Maloof
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
George Maloof and Shannon Elizabeth
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Jennifer Tilly
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Derek Hough
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Courtney Friel
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Lorrie Morgan
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
Gil Cates and Mimi Rogers
Photo credit: Judy Eddy
After the red carpet premiere, celebs Shannon
Elizabeth, Derek Hough, Jennifer Tilly, Mena Suvari, Efren Ramirez and
Mimi Rogers headed over to the After Party at the Palms hotspot Moon
Night Cub to dance under the stars.
The Las
Vegas Hilton’s Got Talent With Headliner Terry Fator
Terry Fator, the winner of TV’s 2007 America’s Got Talent, says,
kidding, “It took me just 32 years to become an overnight success”.
Thanks to the overwhelming response from TV viewers (including yours
truly) who voted for him as their favorite act, the talented entertainer
who, since the age of ten has honed his craft, has finally gone on to
achieve his dream as a main showroom headliner in Las Vegas complete
with a back up band, and, yes, showgirls. Obviously thrilled by his
newfound success, a smiling Fator proudly tells his audience, “I know I
made it when I have my name in twelve foot red high letters across the
back of the stage”.
Terry Fator
 
Photo credit: Stephen Thorburn
Soon after being chosen the winner of the talent
competition, Fator signed a contract to perform at the Las Vegas Hilton,
and I finally got to see his show as member of the audience last Friday
night. I can say, without a doubt, he is a one of a kind performer who
puts on a fantastic show geared to people of all ages, and although
children will definitely love it, the show was not created just for
them. In addition, the Texas born Fator is a genuine, nice guy and that
appeal comes across from the moment he appears on stage and immediately
connects with the audience.
By himself, Fator is an amazing singer impressionist. But, what has made
him so unique is that he has blended those talents with ventriloquism
and uses several different puppet characters such as chanteuse Emma
Taylor, Winston the impersonating turtle, lounge singer Johnny Vegas,
Maynard the stuttering Elvis wannabee; Dougie Scott Walker, the hippie
rocker dude; Walter T. Airdale the yodeling cowboy, and Julius, the
master of soul, to perform singing impressions that encompass different
music genres. Among the growing list of voices in Fator’s repertoire are
James Blunt, Etta James, Garth Brooks, the Bee Gees, Roy Orbison, Nat
King Cole and Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson, Brooks and
Dunn and Louis Armstrong.
Backed by a seven piece band, Fator shares several duets as well as very
comical and clever repartees with his puppets. Especially brilliant is
the back and forth banter with Airdale who refuses to believe that Fator
is a ventriloquist. Think about it!
If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing Terry Fator in person,
his is a must see show, unlike any other. You will leave totally
entertained and enchanted by this wonderful performer whose clean,
upbeat show filled with good natured humor, I highly recommend to
everyone.
Judy Thorburn with Terry Fator and puppet Emma Taylor
Due to his remarkable popularity and sold out shows,
Fator’s contract with the Hilton, which was to end in May, has been
extended through the end of 2008 with performances one weekend a month.
His next scheduled dates in the Las Vegas Hilton Theatre are May 16 -18.
Showtimes are 8 p.m. Sunday shows are at 6 p.m. Ticket prices range from
$39 - $149 (plus tax and service charges). The $149 ticket includes a
“meet and greet” prior to the show. Call the Las Vegas Hilton Box Office
at 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361 (24 hours a day) for additional future
show dates and information.
Hawaiian
Tropic Zone at Miracle Mile Shops Celebrates the Grand Opening of Torrid
Nightclub
Every Wednesday night through Saturday night beginning April 25 drinking
and dancing takes over Hawaiian Tropic Zone, inside Miracle Mile shops
at Planet Hollywood, as the bar and patio areas transform into Torrid
nightclub featuring drink specials, DJ spun music, go-go dancers,
various celebrity hosts and DJ’s as well as a street-side patio at the
heart of Las Vegas Boulevard.
DJ Samantha Ronson
To celebrate Torrid Nightclub’s Grand Opening, a
weekend of drinking, dancing and partying began when DJ phenom Samantha
Ronson teamed up with Playboy Playmate Amanda Paige and American Curves
cover model Brooke Banx to host the evening on Friday, April 25. DJ
Direct turned out an irresistible hip-hop and top 40 mix from 10 p.m. to
midnight before Samantha Ronson took over the turntables with a special
performance from midnight to 4 a.m.
Penthouse Pet Dr Z
Penthouse Pet Justine Jolie
Penthouse Pet Erica Ellyson
Then on Saturday, April 26, Torrid hosted Strip Las
Vegas’ May release party with cover model Valentina Vaughn. In addition,
Penthouse Pet and author Dr. Z hosted her book release party with fellow
“Pets” Cassia Riley, Justine Jolie, Jamie Lynn and Penthouse Pet of the
Year Erica Ellyson. From 10 p.m. to midnight. DJ Samantha Ronson
returned for a second night to spin a mind-blowing set from midnight to
4 a.m.
Other
recent and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:
Mega Bubble Show, the unique production created by and starring 16 time
Guiness World Record holder Fan Yang, has changed its name back to the
original title, Gazillion Bubble Show. Gazillion Bubble Show is
performed in the Steve Wyrick Theatre in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet
Hollywood Resort and Casino.
AGO, the elegant Italian trattoria at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is
upping the ante by offering guests "Ago After Dark," the new weekend
happening that takes place outside the eatery on the poolside terrace
and features live music by talented entertainer, Jeremy Cornwell as well
as an open bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Ago After Dark kicks
off Friday, April 25 from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. and will return to AGO every
Friday and Saturday night at the same time.
The College of Fine Arts Department of Film and the UNLV Short Film
Archive will present Spring Flicks 2008, the annual spring short film
festival at UNLV on Friday, May 2 – 7-10pm, Saturday, May 3, 7-10pm, and
Sunday, May 4, 1-5pm. All screenings will be in room CBC A-106. After
the final film has been screened, The Spring Flicks 2008 Awards
Presentation will be held in CBC-A-106 with prizes award in various
categories. The screenings are FREE and open to the public. The goal of
the College of Fine Arts Department of Film and the UNLV Short Film
Archive and Spring Flicks is to promote the art and importance of the
short film and to celebrate the student filmmakers who make them.
In honor of Mother’s Day, Harrah’s is offering a free ticket to HATS!
the 75- minute musical production, that celebrates the journey of
womanhood, and encourages women to embrace life, sisterhood and growing
older. Just purchase a regularly priced ticket for performances, May 1 –
11 and get one ticket free. Tickets for HATS! are $49.95 (plus tax and
fees).
Beginning May 1, the Springs Preserve, located at 333 S. Valley View
Blvd, will be offering upbeat concerts at the Springs Cafe by Wolfgang
Puck and a special Farmers Market every Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. Featuring a variety of music including the talented Raj Rathor
Quartet and the Las Vegas Youth Philharmonic, the Café Concert Series
creates an entertaining and relaxing environment for people of all ages.
In addition, every Thursday the Springs Preserve is home to the Las
Vegas Farmers Market showcasing the region’s finest produce and unique
arts & crafts.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, a
one-act opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning, American composer Ned Rorem,
will be presented at UNLV in the Paul Harris Theatre. Before the staged
performance there will be a short concert of American opera arias. Both
performances are FREE.
Marco Andretti’s #26 car, the Indy car from the World famous Andretti
racing team, will be at the Blockbuster Video store- 9785 S. Maryland
Parkway, at Silverado Ranch, on Sunday, May 4th from 12-2 p.m. The
public is invited to come out and take a picture with the car, win great
prizes, enjoy food, fun, and more, all courtesy of Blockbuster.
The Showbiz Society is holding its annual Louis Prima Award ceremony on
Sunday, May 4 at the Suncoast in the Madrid Room. The Prima family has
sanctioned the Showbiz Society with the rights to honor and offer such a
prestigious award to entertainers that have contributed outstanding
showmanship, talent, and charisma to the Las Vegas community, which
represents the late great Louis Prima.
This year’s 2008 honoree is outstanding entertainer and local favorite
Clint Holmes who has been entertaining Las Vegas audiences for over 3
decades through his music-telling stories that tap into the emotions of
audiences -a resemblance of the great Louis Prima. Lena Prima, the
daughter of Louis Prima, who is a close friend of Clint and his wife,
Kelly Clinton Holmes, will present the award.
The afternoon event will include a sit-down luncheon, appetizers and
surprise entertainment. Doors will open at 12:00 noon.
Lena Prima will auction off her original charcoal portrait of her dad
and donate the profits to The Showbiz Society. Unique gifts and other
Lena Prima art works will be raffled off. For tickets call 702-877-2278
or refer to the web at
www.theshowbizsociety.com.
On Sunday, May 4 The Darin Lifetime Group will host an afternoon concert
on at the Alexis Park Resort benefiting Children’s Heart Foundation, a
Nevada-based non-profit that lends support to children and families who
suffer or are affected by heart problems. Bobby Darin’s memorial
organization hosts the event each year consisting of family, friends,
and fans gathering to celebrate and remember the former musician’s
career and life. Attending this year’s event will be former Bobby Darin
Musicians Billy McCubbin, Terry Kellman and others to share in Darin’s
music and memories. The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Alexis Park
Resort located at 375 East Harmon. Individual ticket prices are $15.00
or two for $25.00. Call Children’s Heart Foundation at (702) 967-3522 to
reserve tickets
On May 6 – 10, the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas is hosting the
finals of the 25th annual Miss Hawaiian Tropic International Model
Search competition that will be filmed as a one hour show to be
broadcast this summer. Models from across the globe will vie for the
title of Miss Hawaiian Tropic International, as well as a share of
$25,000 in cash plus prizes awarded to the Top 10. The Finals will be
held on the Fremont Street Experience’s First Street Stage and will
incorporate the lights from the Fremont Street Experience’s Viva Vision
Lightshow and a live performance by the multi-platinum and
Grammy-nominated band Everclear.
Sunday, May 4, Sin City Gospel Fest featuring some of Southern Gospel’s
most renowned performers including The Hoppers and The Beene family will
makes its Las Vegas debut at the Henderson Pavilion. The event, which
will take place from 5 – 8 p.m., includes food, fun and of course,
music. Kevin Burke, star of “Defending the Caveman,” will be performing
a stand-up of Christian comedy and local singer Richel Kompst will
perform songs from her new album. A generous portion of the tickets
sales will go to benefit Children’s Heart Foundation who assists
children in Nevada with heart conditions. Tickets to the Sin City Gospel
Fest start at $15 for general admission, while limited amount of Gold
Circle and Artist Circle reserved seating is $25. Admission for children
age five and under is free. Tickets can be purchased by calling (702)
222-9777 or at the day of the event.
For the 11th straight year, the region’s finest competitive eaters will
come together on the Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York Hotel and
Casino to compete in the highly anticipated Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog
Eating Championship. The contest will take place Thursday, May 8 at 3
p.m. A special Heroes competition for charity will begin at 2:30 p.m.
The winner will represent the United States in the 92nd Annual Nathan’s
Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest Friday, July 4 in Coney
Island, N.Y. Interested competitors who are at least 18 years of age
need to pre-register at
www.NathansFamous.com or by calling Shea Communications at
(212) 627-5766.
On Friday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod
Drive some of Las Vegas’ great veteran entertainers will perform free
for seniors in a variety show co-sponsored by Clark County and Seniors
in Action. Scheduled performers include performance organizer and
singer/ Broadway veteran, Renee Lee along with the Encore Dancers,
dancers Sal Angelica and Lois Layne; the Lohan School of Shaolin with
Billie Ann Sabala, solo singers Greta Lorworth, Michel Martel, Jim Hodge
and Ann McCormack; the Tambourine Four, vaudeville veteran Nancy Long
and dancer Kitty Duarty. Those interested can call the Winchester
Cultural Center at 702-455-7340 or visit the Web site at
www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks. Seniors in Action is a local
non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for
seniors. Among other activities, it works to provide seniors free
entertainment.
Academy Award winning actor and comedian Robin Williams returns to the
MGM Grand Garden Arena for a Memorial Day Weekend performance Sunday,
May 25. The show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Tickets priced at $225
and $100, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on
sale at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office.
On May 31 and June 1 Fusion Model Talent Search will be holding an
industry showcase in the new arts district of Las Vegas. Agents and
managers from New York, Los Angeles, and international cities will be in
attendance to conduct one-on-one meetings, seminars and a question and
answer session in search of runway, print and commercial models, TV and
Film actors, vocalists, talented dancers and choreographers, babies &
young children.
Fusion Model Talent Search” will be held in the DSP
building located at 920 S. Commerce St. The two-day showcase includes
one-on-one interviews with industry representatives within each talent
category, Question & Answer session for all attendees and reps and the
“Sell Yourself in Two Minutes” seminar that teaches audition hopefuls
how to best highlight their talents in a short amount of time. To attend
“Fusion Model Talent Search” call (702) 737-3800 or visit the website at
www.123pickme.com for open
call audition locations. Check the website for additional dates,
locations and times.
Celebrity
Sightings:
Last Thursday night, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo checked in to
the posh Penthouse suite at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Romo is said to be
in town to celebrate the retirement of teammate Marco Rivera. Joining
him for the weekend were Cowboys Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano, along
with their wives and girlfriends. The group was joined by a few friends
for cocktails and bowling before hitting the town. Sources said Romo’s
girlfriend, Jessica Simpson couldn’t make the trip Thursday due to
commitments in Los Angeles.
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson were spotted dining together on Friday
night at Strip House inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The two
sat together in a corner booth, each sipping on a Shirley Temple. Lohan
also enjoyed lobster and fries.
On Friday night entertainer Clint Holmes and his musical conductor Bill
Fayne were spotted in the audience at the Scinta’s show inside the Las
Vegas Hilton. The crowd loved it when Frankie Scinta called Clint onto
the stage to join in the finale.
On Friday afternoon, at the personal invitation of Scores Las Vegas
owner, Dennis DeGori, Tampa Bay Buccaneer Michael Bennett competed in an
all-day tournament at Bali Hai Golf Club. Bennett, a running back for
the Bucs and well-known as one of the fastest running backs in the NFL,
was one of 144 players that joined 100s of beautiful Scores entertainers
for Scores Las Vegas Third Annual Golf Tournament. A portion of the golf
foursome proceeds will be donated to The Shade Tree, a local
organization to benefit homeless and abused women, children and their
pets.
I’ll be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las
Vegas.
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