When you enter the theatre now, your experience-of-the-unusual begins above the inside doorway entrance where two performers maneuver their way in between immense giant strings and create musical sounds as they crawl around the architectural-like stringed instrument.

Inside the new showroom, the home theater-like seats have a set of speakers to augment the sound that plays out into multiple sections of 180 outlets. The music is more like a movie score that helps tell what's gong on because nobody is talking. Choir and orchestral sounds are blended with a live performance by a seven-piece band that the audience cannot see.

As soon as you sit and face the stage, you know things will be different. It's almost as if there is no stage - just a vast dark hole. What you learn when the show begins is there are two main stages that move in and out of position. One is the "Tommy deck," a platform that slides in and out much like a drawer. The other is the "cliff deck" that is vertical and hoists the battle scene. It is an 80,000 pound rectangle lifted in and out of place by a 230,000 pound gantry arm. Obviously, this is not your typical stage.

It is on these moving stages and the phenomenal Wheel of Death where performers such as gymnasts, acrobats, swordsmen, archers and even the roof-jumping Yamikazis of Paris move on top of the outside of moving circular giant wheels and bring "KA" to life.

There is a plot; however, it is rather lost with all the mind-boggling effects. "KA" is the story of twins, Haight and sister Sheri, in ancient Asian societies who are separated when enemy archers kidnap one of them. Along the way, their separate journeys include a giant forest and a beach full of giant animal puppets.

"KA" is performed Friday through Tuesday at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $150, $125 and $99 including tax and are available 120 days in advance, call 800-929-1111. "KA" will be dark for an extended period of time from March 23 - April 14.

The Fremont Street Experience introduced its latest creation on the Viva Vision canopy over NASCAR Race Weekend with "Titled Speed, Smoke and Spinning Wheels," an eight-minute light and sound show, which is the first of five all-new multi-media productions scheduled to debut during Las Vegas' Centennial year celebration.

"Speed, Smoke and Spinning Wheels" transports guests off the street below and into the world of fast-paced auto racing. The need for speed is felt when the flag is dropped and hundreds of neon vehicles take to the "biggest big screen on the planet" to race the length of the Viva Vision canopy. For more than five-city blocks, 12.5 million LED lights illuminate images of classic cars and auto racing while heart-pounding, rock 'n' roll fills the air on Fremont Street.

The other new Viva Vision shows for 2005 will include: Lucky Vegas in May - a tribute to everything Vegas; Downtown Diva in July- a tribute to the ultimate girls' night out; Fahrenheit at Night in the fall - a sultry, sexy show with an after-dark adult oriented flare; and Above and Beyond in November - a tribute to the progress the aeronautics industry has made throughout the past century.

In preparation for its 10th anniversary, the Fremont Street Experience invested $17 million in the Viva Vision canopy, which towers 90 feet above the street and stretches 1,500 feet in length. The cutting edge LED technology consists of 12.5 million lights and a 550,000 watt concert quality sound system.

Comedian Carrot Top will return to the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theater with his 2005 North American tour for the following engagements this year: April 21 -27; Sept. 22 -28; Nov. 10 -16; and Dec. 1 -21. He headlines at the MGM Grand nine to 11 weeks per year. Tickets are $40 inclusive, call 702-891-7777 or 800-929-1111.

With a knack for wild gadgets and in-your-face energy, Carrot Top's super imaginative performances and outrageous style have made him a pop culture phenomenon. Known as a genius when it comes to inventive props, Carrot Top pokes fun at celebrities, pop culture icons, red necks, and more.

For the last four years, Carrot Top (a.k.a. Scott Thompson) has been an award-winning celebrity spokesman for 1-800-CALL-ATT, an endorsement that has earned him household name status. Called the "King of Props," it takes an 18-wheeler to carry all of Carrot Top's 35 trunks containing his goodies, which include: a French fry basket with book holder for college students so they can study and practice for post college jobs at the same time; a boot with a kickstand for drunken cowboys; and a Slurpee cup with a heater to prevent brain freeze.

Bonnie and Clyde, two 14-foot long Burmese python snakes have returned home to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum located at 900 North Las Vegas Blvd adjacent to Cashman Field after temporarily being housed at the Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay while their habitat was renovated. Their newly constructed surroundings are designed to closely mimic the python's natural environment. The snakes are native to Southeast Asia and frequent swamps, grasslands, river valleys, rocky foothills, and open jungle habitats.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, in association with the Smithsonian Institution, is one of the largest museums in Southern Nevada. The hours of operation are daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for students, seniors and military and $3 for children ages 3 to 11. For more information, call 384-DINO (3466).

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The Imperial Hawaiian Luau now in its 14th year is coming back to the Shangri-La Pool at the Imperial Palace starting April 19 and will run through late October. Tickets start at $31.95, call 888-777-7664.

The Strip's only regular Hawaiian luau is open to the public and takes place every Tuesday and Thursday evening with doors opening at 6 p.m.

The luau features a Polynesian Revue with a fire-knife dance, hula lessons and more and an all-you-can eat buffet with free mai tais and pi¤a coladas. Another highlight is the hotel's stunning fruit and vegetable carvings.

The Cannery Casino & Hotel in North Las Vegas has booked country headliner Dwight Yoakam with alternative country-rock band Reckless Kelly opening at The Club on July 2 and 3. Tickets are $39, $49 and $59 plus tax and applicable fees, call 866-287-4643 or 702-617-5585.

Yoakam, a two-time Grammy winner, emerged in the early 1980's with rock and roll rhythms different from the traditional honky tonk country style. Over the course of his career, he has been nominated for 21 Grammy's and sold more than 23 million albums worldwide.

The MGM Grand's Studio 54 recently won the prestigious Pioneer Award at the 20th Annual Nightclub & Bar Convention. The Pioneer Award recognized Studio 54 for its innovation, longevity and place in the nightlife scene both in Las Vegas and around the world.

Eight years ago when it opened, Studio 54 was one of the first nightclubs on The Strip and it continues to establish new trends and events including powerhouse industry night E.D.E.N, the avant-garde inspired Open Forum, the interactive Dollhouse, aerial acts and the Halloween event "Nightmare of 54th Street."

Earlier this month, the Imperial Palace Karaoke Club at Tequila Joe's accepted the award for Best Las Vegas Karaoke Bar from "L.A. Nitelife" with James Bartholet. The center-Strip club began hosting karaoke three nights a week in 2003. That schedule quickly grew to seven nights per week and the club started a regular contest for celebrity impersonators, the winner of which gets an audition with the hotel's show "Legends In Concert."

"L.A. Nitelife" with James Bartholet went on the air in Los Angeles in 1989 and now the show visits Las Vegas twice a year.

For the fourth year in a row, "Fortune" magazine has named MGM Mirage one of "America's Most Admired Companies" in the Hotels / Casinos / Resorts category in its annual survey of companies with large U.S. operations. Overall, MGM MIRAGE ranked second in the Hotels / Casinos / Resorts category after Marriott International, a non-casino hotel resort company.

For 2005, Fortune and its research partner, the Hay Group, asked 15,000 executives, directors and securities analysts to select the 10 largest companies they admire most in their industry, based on eight criteria including innovation, financial soundness, employee talent, quality of management, use of corporate assets, long-term investment, social responsibility, and quality of products / services.

"Dragapella!," starring The Kinsey Sicks, the hit Off-Broadway show, will return to Las Vegas for one show on Thursday, March 24, in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton. The group combines award-winning a cappella singing, biting wit and over-the-top drag and this is the fifth time the Kinsey Sicks have hit Las Vegas. Tickets are $30 plus tax, call 702-732-5111.

The OtherSide, a four-member band based in Southern California, will bring their Tribute to the Doors to the Royal Street Theater at Jerry's Nugget Casino located at 1821 Las Vegas Blvd. North in North Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3 at 8 p.m. in the Royal Street Theater. The OtherSide with more than 40 of the Doors top hits in their repertoire is dedicated to their authentic delivery of the Doors greatest hits. Tickets are $15, call 399-3000.

On March 11, Hootie & the Blowfish stopped by the Silverton for the renaming and re-grand opening of the official "Hootie & the Blowfish's Shady Grove Lounge." Members of the band, who will be taking over naming rights and adding menu items and band paraphernalia to the lounge, mingled with fans.

Modern Watch Co., a top 'high-end watch jeweler,"' opened inside The Shops at Desert Passage this month and boasts designs from several of today's top watch manufacturers such as Fossil, DKNY, Diesel, Emporio Armani, Zodiac, Michael Kors, Citizen and Swiss Army. This is their second location; the first store is in Glendale, Calif.

Every Friday, the Teatro Euro Bar's in the MGM Grand is presenting "Rock It" featuring an eclectic mix of music through the 70's, 80's and 90's eras and a surprise celebrity DJ starting at 10 p.m.

Nambé located inside the Forum Shops at Caesars are creators of elegant, modern, award-winning home décor, giftware and accessories including some distinctive high end wedding / love-theme gifts such as Kissing Salt & Pepper shakers, Champagne Flutes, Kissing Candlesticks, Grande Heart Bowl, Heart Vase and Heart Pendant.

The Easter Bunny will be found at the Lake Las Vegas Resort's Easter Festival on March 26 - 27. Easter weekend will be hopping with festivities including brunch specials, a classic Easter egg hunt, a petting zoo, pony rides, a pet fashion show, a pet adoption center and an appearance from the Easter Bunny. For more information, call 800-564-1603.

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