SPRING AND FALL are my favorite times of the year. The weather is perfect, and it fills you with a sense and feeling of renewal. The summers get draining after a while, and it feels as if the energy is being sapped out of your body each time you walk out of doors. That feeling goes away in the Fall. In Las Vegas, Fall also means big business. It is time for the busy convention season to begin, and the football season is under way. Casinos are very busy this time of year, and so, the economy booms here. And then, Halloween is at the end of the month. There have been some big changes in the shows recently, but most of the shows have dug in and prepared for the season, but there are always a few adjustments going on.

The official Web site of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority lists approximately 300 gatherings for this month ranging from a few people to tens of thousands of people (there are a couple with over 100k attendees scheduled to arrive). Conventions bring in huge money to Las Vegas. The influx of conventioneers is always good business for the casinos and the shows.

Clint Holmes has closed his show at Harrahs, and with only a week notice, Splash closed its doors at the Riviera. Performers of the 21-year-old production show felt like they had been thrown on the street.

The legendary Stardust Casino will close at the end of the month…to make way of course for some gigantic mega-resort…

Burn the Floor has opened at the Luxor for a limited engagement. It is a ballroom extravaganza and will amaze you. See it if you can.

The Elvis-A-Rama Museum has closed down for now. The collection was recently purchased and the new owners are looking for a different venue.

The Las Vegas Review Journal has voted "Best Comedian in Las Vegas" to Rita Rudner for the past five years. Rita began with a one-month booking at the MGM Grand in 2000 and then went on to an extended contract at New York-New York's Cabaret Theatre—which was built exclusively for her. She will be moving into the showroom at Harrahs' very soon…but now, you can meet with Rita on three separate occasions as she signs copies of her new book, "Turning the Tables." Your first chance will be on Sunday, October 8, from 8A - noon at Barnes & Noble in Summerlin, then on Saturday, October 14, at 3P at The Forum Shops at Caesars, and finally on Saturday, October 21, at 2P in The Reading Room at Mandalay Bay.

Rumors have former Riverdance producers collaborating with horror czar Wes Craven for a new show eyeing a 2008 or 2009 Las Vegas debut. Magick Macabre doesn't officially have a Sin City home yet, but the man who brought us the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise is previewing the show in Chicago next month before making a move to Broadway next year.

Andre Agassi's 11th Anniversary Grand Slam For Children will be at the MGM this month. The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) has assembled another superstar line-up of entertainers for an unforgettable evening of music and other entertainment to benefit Las Vegas at-risk youth. Counting Crows, Sarah McLachlan and legendary rocker Phil Collins are just a few of the stars that will take the stage Saturday, Oct. 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer David Foster will return for his 11th year as musical director. 8:00pm Tickets $50.00, $70.00 & $90.00 +tax & fee.

Tony Bennett, who headlines at the Las Vegas Hilton October 20–21, has recorded a new album, (as he has done virtually every year or so since the 1950s), celebrating the "Great American Songbook." This year's album, "Duets—An American Classic," is Bennett's 13th new studio collection since returning to Columbia Records two decades ago. It features a reprise of some of the best-loved songs in his repertoire, performed with Bono, Michael Bublé, Elvis Costello, Celine Dion, Dixie Chicks, Juanes, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, John Legend, Paul McCartney, Tim McGraw, George Michael, Sting, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor and Stevie Wonder. And a side note…he just turned 80 years old.

International recording artist, actor, impressionist and comedian Jeff Trachta, best known to over 450 million viewers worldwide as Thorne Forrester on CBS's The Bold & the Beautiful (a role he played for over eight years), brings his one-man show, Jeff Trachta Live! to Las Vegas for a limited engagement at the Rio. Billed as "a one-man show with a cast of thousands," Trachta's show is an explosion of pop culture classics creating a jam-packed 60 minutes of singing, dancing, music, impressions, comedy, and multi-media elements that are sure to take audiences on a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Nevada Ballet Theatre was pleased to announce it has selected Paula Abdul as its 2007 "Woman of the Year." Nevada's professional ballet company, at a star-studded gala, will honor Abdul at Wynn Las Vegas. Considered to be the premiere social event in Las Vegas, Nevada Ballet Theatre's Black & White Ball is the organization's largest fundraiser. Nevada Ballet Theatre's Black & White Ball has generated wide-spread public anticipation as well as local and national press attention since its inception in 1985. Each year, luminaries of the stage and screen are recognized as well as those who have a special connection to dance and musical theatre. From local philanthropists like Elaine Wynn (Nevada Ballet Theatre's first Woman of the Year) to legendary entertainers like Debbie Reynolds, these women have made significant strides to improve their community and the performing arts. Other past honorees include Celine Dion, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, Ann-Margret, and most recently comedienne Rita Rudner.

As of October first, The Second City show schedule will be Thursday–Tuesday at 8 pm, with additional 10 pm shows on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The Second City is the show that inspired "Saturday Night Live" and turned improvisation into a true art form that has been enthralling Las Vegas audiences since 2001! Starting out as a tiny theater in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, it has become the top name in live, comedic entertainment.

The Golden Nugget is unveiling its newly remodeled showroom this month, and with it come two shows from London. Strictly Ballroom will be the show in the evening—bringing world-class ballroom dancers to the stage. The late night show will be Cover Girl, a 3D cybernetic adventure into an adult film…I don't have a grasp of the nature of the show just yet, but I'll let you know…

The women of the show "Fantasy" have just release a new calendar. It should be lovely and will be available at the Luxor.

Halloween is always an interesting day in Las Vegas. Most available venues will host some sort of costumed ball—usually having to do with some sort of sexual content, and the more outrageous the better. There are a couple of Fetish and Fantasy balls, several Erotic balls, and the Pimp an' Ho ball, of course. It's a strange night and not one for the timid. It will continue to be a huge party weekend in Las Vegas. With the addition of the second annual Vegoose Music Festival to what was already a busy social calendar, Vegas continues to prove that there might not be a better city in which to celebrate Hallow's Eve. Already coming together is the annual Nightmare on 54th Street at MGM Grand's Studio 54 which raises the bar by throwing a full week of Halloween focused parties kicking off on Friday, October 27. Of course costume contests will be offered each night. Of course, one sure highlight will be the 40th annual Beaux Arts Ball, a huge costume bash which will help raise money for the Golden Rainbow Foundation. Studio 54 always goes above and beyond on Halloween with a whole week of parties…be sure not to miss this year! After all, it is Halloween in Las Vegas…

Freakling Brothers, the creators of Las Vegas' premier haunted attractions, will terrify visitors again this year as it celebrates its 30th anniversary in Las Vegas. By concentrating on primal fears, relying on the power of live performers, and employing the art of theatrical illusion, Freakling Brothers will once again frighten yet delight thousands of Las Vegas' bravest thrill seekers! The three horrifying attractions are open through October 31st. CIRCUS OF HORRORS at Sunset Station Hotel & Casino; CASTLE VAMPIRE; Charleston Swap Meet; THE MORTUARY, United Artist Theater

…And not to be outdone, Madame Tussauds is going to have live characters as well. Freddy Kruger has moved to Las Vegas from Elm Street. So has Crystal Lake's unstoppable monster Jason Voorhees and Leatherface, toting his chainsaw from Texas. The three most frightening horror movie characters in Hollywood history are now scaring guests at the new "Chamber of Horrors, Live" experience at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Characters of Freddy (A Nightmare On Elm Street), Jason (Friday The 13th) and Leather Face (Texas Chain Saw Massacre) will be portrayed with special effects and live actors to create the ultimate in scare maze experiences. Guests will walk through a number of themed environments where they should expect the unexpected!

Sunset Park will host a three-day event filled with medieval delights tournaments, feasting, shopping, music and merriment October 13th–15th. Sunset Park will be transformed into a medieval kingdom peopled by lavishly costumed knights, knaves, fine ladies and wenches, as Clark County Parks and Recreation presents the annual "Age of Chivalry" Renaissance Festival. Featured this year will be live music, historical re-enactments, jousting tournaments, stage and strolling performers, medieval pageantry, hand-made craft demonstrations and sales, and food and beverage vendors. Concerts on Friday and Saturday evening will feature nationally known Celtic bands.

The Cannery will again host the Pure Aloha Festival and Concert featuring Hawaiian and Polynesian entertainment, food, arts, crafts and amusement rides. The event occurs the first weekend in October.

Clark County's largest Halloween celebration featuring the Broken Spoke Saloon 20-acre Haunted Corn Maze opens on Friday the 13th and will culminate with a barbeque, a country music band from 4–10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27th. It's the kick-off for a humongous corn maze to celebrate Halloween with a likeness of the Broken Spoke Saloon's insignia. The ghosts and goblins will haunt the attraction for the last three weekends. Call 864-2277 or see the Web site at www.GLENDALECORNMAZE.com. The 20-acre corn maze will baffle anyone seeing it from the air. This is an art form developed in the Midwest and will be an amazing site from the air. The corn field is four acres by five acres.

Bottom's Up, the long-running, award-winning comedy revue will be making a long anticipated return engagement to Las Vegas. Marking its 45th year, the show will open at Fitzgerald's Hotel and Casino on September 29th, playing one show nightly at 7:00 pm except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Producer founder, Breck Wall, a Las Vegas icon, will lead the cast, which will also feature long-time Bottom's Up regulars, David Harris and Sue Motsinger. The 60-minute revue has delighted audiences in Las Vegas and all around the country winning awards and rave reviews. Bottom's Up represents Vegas entertainment the way it used to be. In the days when Sinatra and Elvis played in Las Vegas, Bottom's Up was a fixture on the Las Vegas Strip. Unlike the current tribute shows, Bottom's Up features the actual performers who made you laugh back then and will make you laugh again today.

Fright Dome will return to The Adventuredome at Circus Circus with special guests, scary haunted houses, insane freak shows, thrilling rides and a heart-stopping new maze. "We've stepped up this year's Fright Dome to an entirely different level to create five solid hours of fear," said Jason Egan, owner and creator of Fright Dome. "We went to the extreme this time around and will have the best Fright Dome ever." In addition to the exciting celebrity entertainment, Fright Dome will offer five enhanced haunted houses, including the Zombie Mansion, three spine-tingling ride films, four extreme scare zones plus 20 rides and attractions. Pitch black and fog filled, Fright Dome will set a chilling atmosphere with high-powered strobes, lasers and sound effects throughout the five acres of horror.

Get ready to laugh with some of the funniest down-home comedians anywhere. Redneck Comedy Live! kicks off it's run October 9 in a family-friendly, all-ages show that can't be found anywhere else on the Las Vegas Strip! Redneck Comedy Live!, a brand new show at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, features four headlining comedic performers offering their "Redneck Wisdom" and perspective into all things redneck. Mixing together their blend of All-American, down-home humor found in our everyday lives, Redneck Comedy Live! provides audiences a hilarious glimpse at life in middle America.

Cavalia, the spectacular equestrian odyssey, takes its magic to Las Vegas as part of the North American tour. Cavalia has been received with incredible enthusiasm by critics and public alike in every city it has visited since the tour began in 2003. The acclaimed show will be presented under its majestic White Big Top that will be located at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, starting November 16, 2006. Tickets for the exclusive Las Vegas engagement will go on sale on September 22.

The Tropicana Resort & Casino proudly announces a one-night-only performance by the talented soft rock group, Foreigner, on Saturday, November 4, 2006, in the Tiffany Theatre. Foreigner is led by front man guitarist Mick Jones and backed by the hottest talent from some of the greatest bands of all time, featuring Jason Bonham on drums, bass guitarist Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken, ex-Dio) and vocalist Kelly Hansen (ex-Hurricane) joining forces with longtime keyboardist Jeff Jacobs and rhythm guitarist/saxophonist Tom Gimbel. Foreigner has sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide. The Tropicana Resort & Casino is just one stop on Foreigner's major 2006 summer tour. The group is traveling the country performing their all-time rock favorites for die-hard fans, including "Feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Urgent," "Waiting For a Girl Like You," "I Want to Know What Love Is" and more of their greatest hits from almost three decades.

With thousands of rhinestones and hundreds of beautiful girls, Donn Arden's Jubilee! celebrates 25 fabulous years at Bally's Las Vegas. Since 1981, rhinestone-clad showgirls and a talented cast of performers have graced the stage of Jubilee! one of the longest running shows on the Las Vegas Strip. Conceived, staged and directed by the legendary Donn Arden, Jubilee! is an extravagant stage production with an initial cost of $10 million, more than 1,000 costumes, 53 songs and set pieces weighing up to four tons. All of these elements come together 12 times a week in one of the most technically complex productions in the world. Recently voted the "World's Best Showgirls" by Travel Channel/BBC and featured on the cover of the New York Times—Arts & Leisure section, the gorgeous showgirls of Jubilee! are the epitome of the grace and elegance synonymous with classic Las Vegas.

This should be a great month for shows…

The first week has Lewis Black at the MGM. The Pure Aloha Festival is at the Cannery. Jet is at the Joint, Queensryche at the House of Blues (HOB), Jay Leno at the Mirage, Disney Live—Mickey's Magic Show is at the Orleans Arena, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman are at the Stardust, and the Osmond Brothers are at the Suncoast.

The second week has Elton taking over for Celine at Ceasars, George Lopez at the Hilton, Liza Minelli at the Luxor, Blue October and Pogus at HOB, Ray Romano at the Mirage, Dion Warwick at the Orleans showroom, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Red Rock Casino, and Bill Acosta at the Suncoast.

Week three has Elton at Caesars, Tony Bennet at the Hilton, Beach Boys at Luxor, Pauly Shore at the HOB, Jose Feliciano at Orleans showroom, Holiday Celebration on Ice, featuring Dorthy Hamill and the Rock and Roll All of Fame All Stars at the Orleans Arena, and Roy Clark at the Suncoast.

Week four features LeAnne Rimes at the Luxor, Professional Bull Riders at the Events Center at Mandalay Bay, Dave Matthews and then Jimmy Buffet at the Grand Garden Arena at MGM, David Spade at the Mirage, Smothers Brothers at Orleans showroom, and Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormie at the Stardust (where they say good-bye to the showroom and the casino. )

And the 29th is the end of Daylight Savings time (fall back), and the 31st is Nevada Day and Halloween.

October also brings hockey back to Las Vegas with the opening of the season with the Las Vegas Wranglers.

For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: lvol.com.

Igoshows.com is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production. The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.  

Copyright Charleston Communications All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission.