‘Le Reve’ continuing to evolve

Wayne Newton wasn't the only Las Vegas connection to "Dancing With the Stars" this week. Brief Monday footage of ballroom dance pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy backstage at "Le Reve" reminded us of that show's seemingly endless evolution.

Chmerkovskiy is adding some ballroom sequences to the Wynn Las Vegas aquacade, which may or may not be ready for a marketing relaunch by spring.

You may recall the show debuted in 2005 to dismal word of mouth. Director Franco Dragone kept plugging away, toning down some dark imagery and switching from a male to female protagonist to further the sex appeal.

But casino head Steve Wynn bought out Dragone's interest for nearly $16 million in June of last year. It's now the rare production to be owned by the casino that houses it. The arrangement, once standard for old-Vegas revues such as "Jubilee!" has been largely replaced by outside producers partnering with a casino to varying degrees.

That means Chmerkovskiy and other artisans show their work directly to Wynn, though Dragone still is considered a consultant. Wynn and the ballroom choreographer got to know each other when Chmerkovskiy was hired for corporate events and private parties.

"Le Reve" made another unusual move earlier this year when it went dark for a few weeks of changes -- not to the content of the show, but to the seating arrangement.

Tinkering didn't stop when the show reopened in April. New lighting was added to help focus the in-the-round audience's attention without blinding people. A relaunch was scheduled for August, but that went on hold, too. The costumes and derivative, Cirque du Soleil-style music needed work.

The show wasn't exactly under the radar before Monday, but "we're not really pushing it until it makes sense," a Wynn spokeswoman says. ...

Newton's ballroom career ended with this week's ouster from "Dancing," but he'll be back to do his Christmas show at Harrah's Las Vegas starting Nov. 15. No word on whether he'll have his tango ponytail. At this point, he has nothing booked at Harrah's in 2008.

Newton talked to syndicated columnist Marilyn Beck, responding to the scribblings of your humble servant and others who consider his vocal problems to be chronic. "Absolutely, positively untrue. All someone has to do is come to one of my shows and draw their own conclusions."

Fair enough. But at the risk of belaboring the obvious, isn't that kind of what people have been doing for the past few years? ...

Another first of sorts: Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" is booked for a one-nighter at the Orleans Arena on Dec. 6. It's the first time I can think of a title that has had a long run on the Strip returning years later for a tour stop.

Flatley won't be performing in this one either. "Lord" played without him at New York-New York from 1998 to 2002. Boyd Gaming player's club members will have an early shot at tickets before public sales begin Oct. 20. ...

Two more names have been added to The Comedy Festival on Nov. 16 at Caesars Palace. A late show co-bills Jim Breuer, formerly of "Saturday Night Live" and currently on Sirius radio, with randy Chelsea Handler, currently hosting E! cable's "Chelsea Lately." ...

Your ticket to history: Ticket holders for Saturday's edition of "The $250,000 Game Show Spectacular" at the Las Vegas Hilton can get there a half-hour early (1:30 p.m.) and witness the first inductions into something called the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.

The inductees sound worthy enough: Monty Hall, Hugh Downs, Peter Marshall and Wink Martindale. ...

Two deals for locals, but one doesn't last long. "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show" has a $5 ticket today and tomorrow to benefit ALS of Nevada. If you're already booked, the show plans to do this for a different charity a few days each month.

Meanwhile, "Zumanity" offers locals half price on its $99 tickets through Nov. 21. ...

Public events for Siegfried & Roy continue to offer encouraging signals of Roy Horn's recovery from a stroke, four years after he was bitten by one of his show tigers on Oct. 3, 2003.

On Sunday, the duo again sponsor the K-9 Trials celebrating police dogs. The free event is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Orleans Arena.

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays. Contact him at 383-0288 or e-mail him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com.