Columnist Joe Delaney: Will singers be helped or hindered by television exposure?

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or [email protected].

Cher is back on tour for the first time in eight years. ... Her 8:30 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday performances in the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be videotaped and telecast as a 90-minute special, starting at 9 p.m. Sunday on HBO, Cox cable channel 54 (see story on page 1E). ... Her best-selling album, "Believe," on the Warner Bros. label, should enjoy another sales spurt after this weekend's television exposure.

Question: With ticket prices at $39.75, $75.25 and $150.25, would the attendance at her live performances in the MGM Grand Garden Arena be hurt by having the HBO special run so soon after? ... Answer: Both shows are sold out.

What about attendance figures for singer Sarah Brightman in the same venue on Sept. 5 at 8 p.m.? ... Ticket prices for Brightman will be $35, $50 and $150. ... Will her exposure in "Phantom of the Opera," "Cats" and on PBS suffice to fill the arena?

Vegans, please note

Las Vegans with proof of residence should take advantage of Mandalay Bay's offer of one free ticket to "Chicago" for each ticket purchased. ... Jasmine Guy is the new Velma Kelly, and Charlotte D'Amboise has replaced Marilu Henner as Roxie Hart. ... This is the final weekend for Ben Vereen -- Hal Linden replaces Vereen on Tuesday.

The six-time Tony Award-winning musical has a change of schedule as of Tuesday. Show times will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 7 and 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4 and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. ... The Sunday matinee is new. ... Monday continues as the dark night.

The one-for-one ticket offer expires on Sept. 12. ... With the regular prices set at $55, $65 and $80, "Chicago" may have to go with stronger names in the roles of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. ... Hal Linden becomes the strongest marquee name as of Tuesday.

Star-policy rundown

It's Earth, Wind & Fire, through Sunday (Caesars Palace); The Four Tops, through Sunday (Desert Inn); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Lyle Lovett and his Orchestra tonight, and Def Comedy Jam Friday and Saturday (LV Hilton); Rodney Dangerfield (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Neil Sedaka (Orleans); Danny Gans (Rio) and The Osmonds, Friday and Saturday (Riviera).

The Hard Rock hotel presents Steve Winwood on Friday while the House of Blues goes with Jim Belushi and the Sacred Heart Band, plus a late show by Dr. Funkinstein, on Friday, and 702 Saturday.

Congrats, Robert Goulet, Jackie Gaughan, Kenny Kerr and the Mary Kaye Trio, new members of the Tropicana's Casino Legends Hall of Fame, inducted Wednesday. ... More congrats: the Tropicana on the 25,000th performance of its "Folies Bergere" at 8 p.m. on Friday.

Other happenings

Julio Iglesias Jr. will appear at an exclusive party to launch his new Epic Record release, "Under My Eyes," which contains an international hit single, "One More Chance." ... He is also scheduled to join Cher on tour in September. ... The time is 10:30 this evening in the MGM Grand's Studio 54 nightclub. ... Doors open at 10 p.m., admission is $10 and those attending must be 21 years of age or older.

The late Roger Miller's "Big River" concludes its Spring Mountain Ranch State Park run Saturday. ... Actors Repertory Theatre's "The Sound Of Music" closes at 2 p.m. Sunday, Summerlin Library Theatre.

Screen Actors Guild Nevada Conservatory's production of "Put On A Hat, Too" will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, CCSN's Nicholas Horn Theatre. ... The cast of 25 includes producer, performer and teacher David London.

Thursday addenda

Erstwhile Las Vegan singer, actress and stunt lady Kaye Wade sent us the news that she has joined Julie Andrews, Lucille Ball and Barbara Stanwyck as an honorary member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures Inc. Wade portrayed Barbara Bush in the "Naked Gun" film series and is currently featured in "Mystery Men."

"What's Poppin', " featuring the Electric Boogaloos, will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park. ... Advance tickets are $10; it's $12 at the gate. ... Please send what you can afford to the Sun Summer Camp Fund. ... See you Friday.

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