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International magician Hans Klok will team up with film and television star Carmen Electra for "Faster Than Magic," a new show at the Planet Hollywood Theater for the Performing Arts with preview performances beginning in April. Tickets range from $35 to $105 with a special price of $35 for five preview performances April 18 - 22. Regular performances begin May 12.

The stage spectacular will combine the illusions of Klok, who will be coming to town from his sold-out tour of Europe, with one of the world's most beautiful women making her Las Vegas debut. "Faster Than Magic" is being created by a top team of international entertainment professionals, including Creative Director Anthony van Laast, who choreographed the musical "MAMMA MIA!" and helped Siegfried & Roy create their show at The Mirage, and Executive Producer Jan Verveer, who has been responsible for several productions in Europe.

After performing his first magic trick at the age of ten, Klok went on to win a number of magician championships as a young man, including the European Youth Magician Champion Trophy, the Tommy Cooper Trophy and first prize at the Grand Prix of The Netherlands. He soon began to appear on television specials in both Europe and the United States, including "The World's Greatest Magic" on NBC and "The Masters of Magic" on ABC. Now hailed as the fastest magician in the world and "The Dutch Copperfield," Klok's live stage shows have been selling out large arenas throughout Europe and Asia for the past decade.

Electra has an impressive body of work that encompasses television, comedy and theatre and most recently the film "Epic Movie." Electra is also the new face of Max Factor and representative for the NV Weight Loss Beauty Pill. She has also released a DVD series about the new fitness craze, "Aerobic Striptease" and formed her own dance troupe ensemble, the "Bombshells," a contemporary, burlesque cabaret act. In May, Electra will release her first book, "How to be Sexy," where, along with veteran Hollywood writer Sheryl Berk, she teaches women that a solid understanding of one's inner self is the core behind feeling sexy.
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The world's first Hooters Casino Hotel with 696 rooms has announced that it will transform its "13" Martini Bar into a showroom featuring a headlining act. Bobby Slayton, best known as the Pit Bull of Comedy, will be the newest comedian to have a home base in Las Vegas. Though specific details of Slayton's act have yet to be revealed, it will focus on relationships between men and women - or lack thereof - blowing "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" out of the water. The show will run five nights a week and debut to the general public on Friday, April 20.

Audiences may recognize Slayton from his roles in movies such as "Get Shorty," "Ed Wood," "Bandits" and most recently "Dreamgirls." He's been seen on dozens of television shows including "The Tonight Show" and "Politically Incorrect." Slayton's many appearances on HBO have included "Comic Relief "and his own stand-up special. He was a series regular on the HBO series "Mind of a Married Man," and played 'Joey Bishop' opposite Ray Liotta and Joe Mantegna in the film, "The Rat Pack." Slayton's distinctive gravelly voice has often been heard on animated shows like "Dr. Katz'" and "Family Guy."

KC & The Sunshine Band will perform its unique fusion of R&B and funk at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, in the Tiffany Theatre at the Tropicana. Tickets start at $59, call 702-739-2411.

Still widely popular, KC & The Sunshine Band first discoed onto the music scene more than 33 years ago when Harry Wayne Casey-KC for short-and bassist Richard Finch began writing songs together. Combining catchy dance rhythms with a touch of Latin percussion groove, KC & The Sunshine Band soon had fans in both America and overseas dancing the nights away with a string of No. 1 hits. In 1975, the band became the first act to rank four No. 1 pop singles in one 12-month period since the Beatles in 1964.

Over the years, KC's tunes have remained in the public ear. His songs have appeared on television in commercials for well-known brands such as General Motors, Burger King, Old Navy and Nick at Night and in network series "Desperate Housewives" and "Ally McBeal." The big screen hasn't forsaken him, either, and KC's music has been featured in more than 75 movies.

Some of the biggest names in entertainment will be paying a visit to Henderson this summer as Green Valley Ranch gears up for another summer season of entertainment spanning multiple musical genres. Kicking off the summer concert season, swing kings Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy will take the stage May 18. The band's appearance in the cult classic movie "Swingers" helped catapult their blend of jazz, blues and swing music into mainstream radio with their hit "You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight (Baby)."

May also brings 1990s grunge rock icons, Collective Soul on May 25 and 26. Breaking into the scene with their 1994 No. 1 hit "Shine," Collective Soul's angst ridden sound continued to yield success with multi-platinum albums throughout the 1990s.

Rick Springfield will perform a special two-day engagement June 8 and 9. Springfield epitomized the 1980s heart throb on the soap opera "General Hospital" before crossing over into pop music stardom with the hit "Jessie's Girl."

Performing on June 16 will be "the loudest rock 'n' roll band in the world" Grand Funk Railroad. Known as of the most successful hard rock band in the 1970s, the band scored five platinum albums between 1969 and 1972.

It will be groove time on July 13 when Kool and the Gang perform their greatest hits. Known as one of the most influential funk bands during the 1970s, their instantly recognizable dance hits including "Celebration" and "I Wanna Take You Higher" continue to keep them in the spotlight.

Country duo Montgomery Gentry will perform on July 27. Named Best Country Duo in 2000 by the Country Music Association, Montgomery Gentry continues to produce best-selling albums.

A catalyst for jazz rock, Stanley Clarke is the world's premier electric bass player and will be performing Aug. 4. Not only is Clarke a renowned jazz musician, producing 14 solo albums in his illustrious career, he is also a recognized movie composer having received countless honors including a Grammy award.

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