Comings and goings at Rio

The Rio should announce on Monday what has been unofficial for several weeks now: "Fuego Raw Talent," which ended as a sit-down show at the Sahara Jan. 4, will be reinvented in some form of nightclub format, one that hopes to rekindle the days when Club Rio courted the Latin-American demographic.

That room, the Rio’s original entertainment venue, hasn’t hosted a ticketed show since Prince’s brief reign ended in April 2007. The conspicuous vacancy, along with an empty theater at Paris Las Vegas, raised an early flag about the local economy.

The interactive "Wedding," which has been in a neighboring venue since 2002, will close Jan. 31. The dinner show is reopening Feb. 6 in a ballroom at Planet Hollywood. The Rio will invite proposals to replace it, but it’s an unusual structure — more like a warehouse than a theater — originally built for the avant-garde aerial troupe De La Guarda. …

"Mad Men" fans will want to stay up late on Tuesday, when several members of the hit TV drama do a 10:30 p.m. cabaret show for charity at the MGM Grand. It’s one of those occasional windfalls that a big convention can bring for locals. In this case, it’s tied in with the National Association of Television Program Executives conference.

Neither Jon Hamm, aka Don Draper, nor the other five leads are promised, but those slated to perform include one genuine Broadway star: Robert Morse, who opened "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

For the complete cast list, check the Vegas Voice blog at reviewjournal.com/blogs. At this writing, ticketing details were vague. At some point, the MGM box office will have tickets for a minimum donation of $20. The guaranteed way to get tickets is from a kiosk near the registration desk at the conference at Mandalay Bay. …

A quick recap of recent musical chairs activity on the show scene: If "Folies Bergere" is on your bucket list, see the 49-year-old classic showgirl revue before it closes March 28. It’s getting the ax in favor of an unnamed show the Tropicana won’t have to finance; the title of the rent-paying tenant should be announced next week.

"Fab Four Mania" has departed the Riviera, though "Fab Four Live," a renegade production that split off with half the cast and two-thirds of the title, continues at the V Theater.

"Menopause the Musical" will close at the Las Vegas Hilton April 5, after the musical’s roommate, The Scintas, also vacate the Shimmer Cabaret on March 14.

Amid the jumping around, Rita Rudner recognizes a good thing. The comedian and Harrah’s announced they have extended her contract three more years, until January 2012. She will be sharing the room with "Legends in Concert" starting Feb. 23. …

If you’re reading this early enough in the day, there’s time to get over to The Mirage and get in line for Terry Fator to autograph his book, "Who’s the Dummy Now?" He starts signing at 2 p.m. His show opens Feb. 14, with the first month considered previews at slightly reduced prices. …

On Saturday, theater buffs can aid the homeless and hear songs that haven’t yet made it to stage productions here. Jason Forbach, a cast member of "Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular," does an afternoon concert to showcase his self-financed album, "A New Leading Man."

The numbers represent "the alternative music of theater," Forbach says. They were drawn from newer Broadway and off-Broadway titles such as "Spring Awakening" and "Sweet Smell of Success."

"Turning off that other voice and going with your soul can be the hardest part of the job," Forbach says of avoiding the tried and true.

"Phantom" musician William Waldrop accompanies on piano, and Courtney Combs stages some choreography for the 2 p.m. concert at the Clark County Library theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Half of each $20 ticket benefits Family Promise, the homeless assistance program that has been adopted by the "Phantom" cast. Each ticket also includes Forbach’s CD. …

Finally, I interviewed Tom Jones and managed to miss the really big news, at least according to fan reaction on the Tom Jones International fan site and a two-page spread in the Welsh newspaper Western Mail.

So here it is: The once and future sex machine has let his hair go gray, or "au natural," as he said from the stage.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.