Ceremony to mark Sinatra stamp

The Strip will again share a piece of the Chairman’s legacy, with plans for a ceremony at noon Tuesday in the fountain alcove of the Bellagio to roll out the new Frank Sinatra postage stamp.

Sinatra’s daughter Tina and the stamp artist, Kazuhiko Sano, will be on hand.

It’s part of a tri-city celebration, with Sinatra’s other children Nancy and Frank Jr. taking part in ceremonies in Manhattan and Hoboken, N.J.

Post offices around the country also are selling a new CD compilation, “Nothing But the Best,” and early copies include the collectible stamp with first-day cancelation. …

Who will be the Las Vegas star of “America’s Got Talent” this year?

The first season of the NBC talent show gave a big boost to magician Nathan Burton. Last summer, it was fellow magician Kevin James who reaped the exposure.

This time, insiders say comic juggler Wally Eastwood, host of “V — The Ultimate Variety Show” has the best chance of being the Las Vegas breakout. He’s got the good-guy qualities of Burton, and several stunts with a “wow” factor for TV.

“Talent” debuts on TV June 17, but tapes two sessions on Sunday at in the big theater at Planet Hollywood. Free tickets were being distributed through the Web site http://www.ocatv.com/shows/show/198. …

A one-size $25 ticket fits any of six shows and helps Opportunity Village this month. Producer David Saxe is offering the locals promotion all May; a Nevada driver’s license or comparable ID can score a ticket to Gordie Brown, Toxic Audio, “Popovich Comedy Pet Theater” or “V — The Ultimate Variety Show” in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, or Trent Carlini and “Fab Four Mania” at the Sahara. …

Jimmy Hopper already has vacated the room he opened at Trader Vic’s restaurant, but his former bandmates are rocking the Hilton every Thursday. Hopper has been replaced by the L.A. Comedy Club, which has moved over from Palace Station.

The Palace Station club was mostly viable because of player’s club discounts, but producer Bill Voelkner says the new location seems viable with cash sales. “Within the first week we were rocking,” says Voelkner, who also runs shows for comedy magician Mac King and comedian Vinny Favorito.

Meanwhile, Hopper’s former bandmates are working as Phoenix, part of the Las Vegas Hilton’s attempt to address two lesser-served audiences with “Group Therapy Thursdays.”

The big Hilton theater is trying a weekly concert by the rock band, which places its demographic appeal in the 35-to-55 age range, “with some spillover on either side,” says Phoenix drummer Jamie Borden.

The band features some of Jimmy Hopper’s former players, including Jimmy Crespo, an Aerosmith member when Joe Perry was on the outs, from 1979 through 1984.

The quintet gets a $20 ticket for its 8 p.m. shows at the Hilton.

It also performs at South Point on Saturdays, but drummer Jamie Borden says those sets are more lounge/dance oriented, while the Hilton shows are “more of a sit-and-watch, music-oriented show” that focuses on the players’ chops.

There’s no admission for the live jazz band Nova in the Hilton’s Tempo Lounge from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The show band Sunset Strip completes the Thursday trifecta with late sets in the Shimmer Cabaret. …

If you thought overnight YouTube postings were a modern marvel, expect to have your head turned in the lobby of Cher concerts at Caesars Palace.

Cher’s huge gay following includes a good number of cross-dressers who often get recognized by the singer from the stage.

But the really amazing part is the speed with which the singer’s new costumes are copied, says Doriana Sanchez, Cher’s director and choreographer. “They will come to the second show and have the outfit, I promise,” she predicted last week.

“When we were on tour, I don’t know how, but by the next city (after the tour started) there were people in those outfits. And then, as the tour went along, it was like, ‘Oh, there are people in the ‘Harem’ outfit. People in the ‘Battlefield’ outfit.’ It happened really fast. That is amazing to me.”

This is a quicker turnaround than you see in the Riviera’s “An Evening at La Cage,” where Steven Wayne sticks to the iconic late-’80s black thong for his Cher tribute.

“In a drag show, you’ve got to stick with the known,” says the show’s host, Frank Marino.

“If you’re playing a gay bar, that’s one thing. But it takes you straight people a little longer.”

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288. Read his blog at www.reviewjournal.com/blogs/vegasvoice.