by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

Madonna's worldwide "re-Invention Tour" will begin in Los Angeles on May 24 and visit the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 29 for a Memorial Day weekend performance. Tickets are $75, $150, $250 and $350 plus service charges and taxes, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

Rehearsals have already begun. "The Material Girl" is a two-time Grammy award winner, a multi-MTV Award winner and has sold more than 250 million albums during the span of her extraordinary two decade career. In addition, she has had more Top 10 singles than any female artist in history and second only to Elvis Presley. For official fan club information, visit www.madonna.com.

Tickets to see multi-million recording artist Peter Frampton at the Aladdin Theater on June 5 go on sales on April 17. Tickets will be $63.85, call 702-785-5000.

Frampton's best-selling live album "Frampton Comes Alive," sold more than 60 million copies. The international superstar is known for his legendary guitar styles. In 2000, he worked with Gibson Guitar to create the Peter Frampton Signature Les Paul Guitar designed to his specifications and with his signature in the 12th fret inlay.

Frampton so enjoyed his role in creating this guitar, that he decided to start his own company, Framptone, to create and build high-end handmade accessories for musicians. So far, the company has produced an isolated amplifier switcher and Peter's trademark "talkbox." Band members from Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Third Eye Blind and more, are using this equipment.

In May 2000, Frampton released his first live DVD, "Live in Detroit." It is the first concert DVD to be released in High Definition TV format and 5.1 surround sound. Loving new technology, he did another live project that featured two new songs and several of his greatest hits. His performance of "Off The Hook" from this project was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 2001. It was his first Grammy nomination in nearly 25 years.

Rush, the epic rock trio, will tour North America with their 30th Anniversary Tour and play the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, July 17. Tickets are $40, $65 and $95 plus service charges and taxes, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

The self-titled album, "Rush," became the biggest selling debut LP released by a Canadian band that hit the music scene in 1974 and the group proceeded to produce more than 22 albums. To date, the band's worldwide sales exceed more than 35 million units and they are the best-selling Canadian artists in U.S. music history. Rush's anniversary tour follows their 2002 release of their visionary album, "Vapor Trails." their first all-new studio collection in what was more than five years. The band's most recent release was the "Rush in Rio" Triple Live CD and double DVD, the latter now more than three times platinum.

After 44 years, the Tropicana's legendary production show, "Folies Bergere," manages to remain a masterpiece and a true reminder of the type of Vegas production show that put the city on the entertainment map. The show debuted on Dec. 24, 1959. The "Folies" offers topless and covered shows. Tickets are $44.95 for table seating and $54.95 for booth seating, call 702-739-2411.

The theme remains a journey of the evolution of women, beginning in the ballroom era of the 1850's into present day, as they reinvent themselves in the true fashion of the femme fatale.

New scenes like the 1940s Club Tropicana in Cuba get added and others like the ever popular "Can Can" stay an integral part. The show maintains its heritage with a big cast featuring showgirls, dancers, a male and female lead singer, glamorous costumes and big sets.

One specialty act is carefully integrated into the show. Wally Eastwood is an incredible juggler with an infectious personality and a comical nature. He ends his routine by playing a keyboard bouncing tennis balls on the keys to produce songs like "God Bless the U.S.A."

Prior to re-experiencing the "Folies Bergere," media recently were re-introduced to the marvelous intimate 76-seat Tuscany Italian Café at the Tropicana. It is open Friday through Tuesday from 5 to 11 p.m.

Tuscany is a region of Italy meaning "genius, culture, and art," which helps describe the atmosphere and warm décor with vintage European light fixtures and numerous photos of small Italian towns. The entry way of the casino level eatery features a rustic checkerboard tile pattern reminiscent of Tuscan Villas. When guests arrive, they are greeted by a maitre d'.

The menu features a wide variety of Italian fare including pasta, pizza and other Italian favorites. Guests can also choose to create their own pasta dish. In addition, 14 different wines are available by the glass. For reservations, call 702-739-2655.

The progressive pop-oriented sounds of Gipsy Kings will be heard at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 3. Tickets are$40 and $65 plus tax, call 1-877-632-7400 or 702-632-7580.

The Gipsy Kings who hail from gypsy settlements in the south of France have successfully created 15 albums with more than 20 million sold worldwide over the past two decades. They are credited with modernizing flamenco music into a heavy metal and hip-hop world. In addition, their music has been featured on the movie soundtracks of Peter Weller's "Fearless" and the Coen Brothers' "The Big Lebowski." Their latest album, "Roots," was released earlier this year.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN