"Hairspray" at the Luxor will be shortened to a 90-minute version and a name star will rotate every three or four months in the featured role of Edna Turnblad. Tickets will be $65 and $85, $120 for a "producer's circle," and $25 for some last-minute tickets.

"Hairspray" will join several other Broadway productions on the Strip: "Mamma Mia!" currently at Mandalay Bay; "Avenue Q" due to open in September at Wynn Las Vegas; and "The Phantom of the Opera" opening at the Venetian in early 2006.

The historic Golden Nugget property downtown is being bought by the Houston-based Laundry's Restaurants, the operator of more than 300 restaurants nationwide. The current owners, dot-com millionaires Tim Poser and Tom Breitling, are accepting $295 million in cash and debt assumption from Landry's. There's talk that Landry's is also considering making a bid to purchase the Riviera.

It's the year of the Las Vegas Centennial and on April 20, the Riviera will celebrate its 50th anniversary. One of the Riviera's highlights during the Anniversary Week, April 17-23, will be two special 9 p.m. concerts by legendary singer-songwriter Michael Bolton. General admission is $66 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9433.

Bolton has sold over 54 million albums and singles worldwide, and has won two Grammys and six American Music Awards. A couple of his biggest hits are "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay," "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?" and "When A Man Loves A Woman."

As a prolific songwriter, Bolton has penned songs for Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Kenny G., Cher, KISS, Patti Labelle and many others.

In 1993, Bolton established the Michael Bolton Foundation, now the Michael Bolton Charities, Inc (MBC), to provide assistance, education and shelter to children and women at risk from poverty, as well as physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Since its inception, MBC has granted well over $3.7 million in funding. One dollar from every ticket at the Riviera will be donated by the resort to MBC.

Legendary performer and 12-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett, the Golden Nugget's "Ambassador of Cool," will return to the Golden Nugget Theatre Ballroom Feb. 18-20, at 9 p.m. Bennett will perform his personal favorites from the "Great American Songbook," as well as selections from his latest CD, "The Art of Romance."

In 2004, Bennett signed a one-year deal as spokesperson for the Golden Nugget downtown. He is appearing in a new advertising campaign and performing a series of concerts throughout the year.

Following sold-out performances last Labor Day weekend, Bruce Willis will return to the Golden Nugget with his acclaimed blues band, The Accelerators, on March 4-5, at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $82.50, including tax, call 702- 386-8100 or 866-946-5336.

Willis has garnered a following of loyal fans with his music. In 1986, Willis recorded his first Motown Records album, the platinum selling, "Bruce Willis: The Return of Bruno." Willis' second album, "If It Don't Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger" was released in 1989. In 2003, Bruce Willis and the Accelerators entertained US military troops in Iraq as a part of the USO "Touch of Home" tour.

The newest Las Vegas nightclub scene opened this past week at the Riviera. The Le Bistro Theatre is converted into SynCity, the nightclub, every night from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For information, call 702-794-9426.

The club features resident DJ's Bryan Wyld and Dynamixx of the SynCity Mechanixx, flare bartenders and the Riv's special "bevertainers." The SynCity slogan is "Bring Only Your Temptation!" Nights are themed. Wild Women Wednesdays feature "wild, crazy contests" for prizes. Women get in free and receive one dollar drinks all night.

Nuts and Bolts Thursdays and Fantasy Fridays and every Saturday Night becomes New Year's Eve in SynCity with a champagne toast and Balloon Drop filled with more prizes.

Exotic fashion shows are featured on Synful Sundays when all female entertainers get in free and receive a Synful Treat. Again for the ladies, all drinks are one dollar.

The Venetian is opening two private gaming salons, which are for customers with $500,000 lines of credit or higher. One private salon will be on the 36th floor of the resort's primary tower and the second will be built in a lounge area off the main casino floor. The Venetian also plans to add 24 suites to be used by customers using the private salon areas, which will be called Club Paiza.

Singer-impersonator and former Las Vegas headliner Bob Anderson will return to Las Vegas for three special evenings of songs and impressions at the Summerlin Library Theatre, Feb. 18-20. Conductor/pianist Vince Falcone and his trio will provide the music.

Anderson's show will consist of music from some of the greatest composers in the world, including saloon songs, jazz, pop and Broadway along with many of famous impressions. Tickets are $24.95, call1-866-468-3399.

Santa Fe Station in northwest Las Vegas has a new 515-seat showroom that started hosting concerts this month. Stanley Clark is up next on Feb. 26. The room has a different configuration with two tiers of table seating for club operations, plus a third tier of theater-style stadium seats for concert attractions.

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Two perennially popular singing groups who helped make the "Motown Sound" a worldwide phenomenon will co-headline at the Stardust Resort, Feb. 24-27. Tickets are $49.95, call 732-6325.

Both groups rocketed to stardom in the early 1960s after signing with Motown Records, the Detroit-base hit factory that revolutionized the recording industry. The Temptations were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. The Four Tops were inducted the following year.

Originally known as the Primes, the Temptations were signed by Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1960. Otis Williams, the sole surviving member of the original group, will head the current contingent at the Stardust.

A productive chemistry was established when they joined forces with Motown composer/producer Smokey Robinson. Starting in 1964 with "The Way You Do The Things You Do," the Temptations placed six Robinson-penned tunes on the charts in rapid succession.

The original Four Tops - Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Levi Stubbs and Lawrence Payton - performed together for 43 years before Payton's death in 1997. Benson and Fakir will appear at the Stardust, along with former Temptations singer Theo Peoples and Ronnie McNair.

The founding members got together in 1954 as the Four Aims. They later changed the name to avoid confusion with the well-known Ames Brothers. They enjoyed moderate success over the next nine years, eventually touring with jazz great Billy Eckstine. They signed with Motown in 1963, and a year later recorded their first major hit, "Baby I Need Your Loving."

International singing star Grant Griffin will be appearing in concert along with three beautiful female guest artists-Patricia Welch, Michaelina Bellamy and Jeneane Marie. Tickets are $39.95 plus tax, call 702-365-7075.

Griffin's annual concert will feature the music of a 26-piece orchestra under the baton of Lon Bronson. Often referred to as "The Voice," Griffin will present music from every walk of life: Pop, Latin, Opera and Broadway. The ladies will each sing a duet with Griffin plus two solos.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic will present a concert at Artemus W. Ham Hall on the University of Nevada campus on Feb. 26. Call 702-895-2787.

Mount Charleston Lodge is again partnering with United Blood Services to present the fifth annual February Blood Drive promotion. Through Feb. 28, all blood donors receive a $50 gift certificate good towards Mount Charleston Lodge weekday cabin rates that is valid through Oct. 31, (limit one per family).

Certificates are available at all United Blood Services donor centers and at all mobile sites too. This year, two grand prize packages for a one-night cabin stay and dinner for two will be drawn at the conclusion of the promotion from all the heroes who donate blood in February, one for the in-centers, and one for the mobile sites. For information, call 702- 233-9620 or visit www.bloodhero.com.

The historic Mount Charleston Lodge at the top of the mountain on Highway 157 has 23 cozy log cabins.

The famed Carnegie Deli, which opened in 1937, has opened its only eatery outside of New York at the Mirage. The menu includes towering sandwiches, blintzes, and cream pies that have made the flagship location famous. The Deli is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

In North Las Vegas, Uncle Angelo's Pizza Joint at Jerry's Nugget has begun lunch service from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Also the Canal Street Café is offering a Surf & Turf deal for $6.89 from 4 to 11 p.m., Monday-Wednesday. The meal consists of an 8-ounce New York steak and two mini lobster tails, soup or salad, choice of potato or rice, and garlic or French bread.

The MGM Grand recently added a department solely dedicated to large group parties and functions. Private dining space for small groups or whole restaurant buy-out capabilities for larger functions are available at each of the resort's signature restaurants. For information, contact Restaurant Sales at 702-891-7433.

Craftsteak features two private dining rooms for 32 or 40 people or a combination of 72 people. The Mexican eatery Diego has two private dining rooms, each accommodating 15 guests or a combination of 30 people.

Fiamma Trattoria features a café, fireside bar and lounge, split-level dining room and private screening room, which together accommodate up to 300 guests. The private screening room can accommodate up to 50 people and semi-private dining space is available for 114 guests.

NOBHILL offers a semi-private dining area or "Chef's Table" for up to 30 people and for larger parties the restaurant can accommodate 125 guests.

MGM Grand's Chinese restaurant Pearl features the private MoMo room, which houses the largest lazy Susan in Las Vegas and seats 24 guests while the semi-private DiDi room seats up to 60 guests. For larger parties, Pearl can accommodate 130 people.

SEABLUE offers a private dining room that can hold 55 guests, a semi-private dining room that seats 30 and the whole restaurant for 180 people.

Direct from the chic Tokyo district that bears its name, Shibuya offers state-of-the-art Japanese cuisine. The private dining room there can hold up to 44 guests and up to 200 guests in the main dining room.

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