Arts briefs: Music, magic and theater
Music
'PHANTOM' CASTMATES
FORM 'PHAT PACK' TRIO
You may remember the Rat Pack - Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and pals - who made Vegas their ring-a-ding playground during their late '50s and early '60s heyday.
The Phat Pack, by contrast, is just getting started (at least under that collective name), bringing their new act to The Smith Center's Cabaret Jazz for two Sunday shows.
Musical theater veterans Ted Keegan (who's performed "Phantom of the Opera's" title role on Broadway and on the road), Randal Keith ("Les Miserables' " Jean Valjean on Broadway and on the road) and Bruce Ewing (who's sung three of four "Forever Plaid" roles on the road and in Las Vegas) first met while performing in "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular."
With "Phantom" slated to close Sept. 2, the performers decided to launch a new venture; musical director Joey Singer (also musical director for veteran Vegas headliner Debbie Reynolds) joins them on original tunes and vintage favorites from the Broadway, Vegas and Great American songbooks.
They'll perform at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday in Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets ($21.50-$38) are available by telephone at 749-2000 or online at www.thesmithcenter.com.
Magic
ILLUSIONISTS CONJURE MAGIC AT FOUR SHOWS
In addition to its other claims to fame, Las Vegas ranks as the magic capital of the world.
Especially next week, when illustrious illusionists invade Glitter City for the annual Society of American Magicians Conference - including four conference-related performances open to the public.
Headquartered at the Golden Nugget, the convention runs Monday through Thursday - and the Golden Nugget Ballroom hosts the first two shows: "Magic Duets" (10 p.m. Monday), featuring the teams of Roland Sarlot and Susan Eyed and Christian and Katalina Painter performing comedy magic, mind reading and other illusions; and a magic stage contest (9 p.m. Tuesday), with judges and audience members determining the winners in a variety of categories.
Wednesday and Thursday's action shifts to The Smith Center's Reynolds Hall. At 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the "Las Vegas Magic Experience" showcases Strip showroom veterans performing manipulations, grand illusions, levitations, quick changes and comedy. (A Bengal tiger even gets into the act.) Fielding West hosts a lineup that includes Luna Shimada , Jason Baney, Losander , Ayala and Tanya and Sonny Fontana.
Thursday's 8:30 p.m. finale, the "International Magic Spectacular," spotlights prize-winning performers from around the world, offering everything from card manipulations to comedy. Among those on the bill: R.G. Smith, John Cassidy, Funtasio , Chris Kenner, The Great Tomson and Company, Korean champion Kim Hyun-Joon and Las Vegas' own Nathan Burton.
Tickets for the Golden Nugget shows are $25 and are available at the SAM registration booth or by calling (719) 338-8169; Smith Center tickets are $31 and are available at www.thesmithcenter.com or by calling 749-2000 or (719) 338-8169.
Theater
EX-MOBSTER RECALLS LIFE 'AT SINATRA CLUB'
Many mob associates never live to tell their tale.
Salvatore Polisi isn't one of them, as he demonstrates with his one-man show "At the Sinatra Club," which he's scheduled to present Sunday afternoon at the Clark County Library.
A former associate of Mafia kingpin John Gotti, Polisi spent more than 15 years in organized crime before joining the federal witness protection program - struggling with his new identity until finding redemption, and a renewed purpose in life, through writing.
"At the Sinatra Club" touches on Polisi's experiences with some of the most notorious names in '70s and '80s New York, from Gotti and attorney Roy Cohn to Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke (played by Ray Liotta and Robert De Niro, respectively, in director Martin Scorsese's 1990 movie "Goodfellas").
The free presentation, intended for mature audiences, includes multimedia elements and an audience question-and-answer session.
"At the Sinatra Club" will be performed at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road; call 507-3459 for further information.
Children's theater
'OZ,' 'PINOCCHIO' VISIT
LOCAL LIBRARIES
A little girl from Kansas - and a wooden puppet who longs to become a real live boy - step into the spotlight this week as the Hampstead Stage Company brings a pair of storybook productions, "The Wizard of Oz" and "Pinocchio," to local libraries next week.
Some 10 library locations will host the free performances, which are part of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's annual Summer Reading Program.
Now in its 29th season, the New Hampshire-based children's theater presents more than 2,000 performances annually throughout the continental U.S.; about 20 million audience members have seen their shows, according to the troupe's website.
Both plays are suitable for elementary and middle schoolers; question-and-answer sessions follow the performances.
"The Wizard of Oz," based on L. Frank Baum's books, will be performed at 4 p.m. Monday at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave.; 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road; 2 p.m. Tuesday at Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive; at 5 p.m. Thursday at Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive; at 11:15 a.m. July 27 at Moapa Valley Library, 350 N. Moapa Valley Blvd., Overton; and at 5 p.m. July 27 at the Mesquite Library, 121 W. First North St.
"Pinocchio," inspired by Carlo Collodi's tale, will be staged at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive; at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North; at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Windmill Library, 7060 Windmill Lane; and at 2 p.m. Thursday at West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.
Contact reporter Carol Cling at ccling@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272.
