Newton-John, Leibow host charitable Sunday on Strip
Surviving and thriving are the operative words for Olivia Newton-John and Jeff Leibow as they host a pair of charity events Sunday afternoon on the Strip.
Newton-John, headlining at Flamingo Las Vegas through the first week of December, is hosting a “Turn Up The Pink” breast cancer awareness event at noon Sunday at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip. The special performance and bottomless champagne brunch features Newton-John performing with singer/songwriter Steve Real, the music director of her production at Flamingo. Newton-John is set to sing two of Real’s originals during the event.
Joining the performance is Melody Sweets of “Absinthe” and Vegas singer Chadwick Johnson. Members of “Chippendales” at the Rio will be on hand (likely breaking the club’s dress code) to take donations on behalf of the Making Strides Las Vegas charity run Oct. 30 at Red Rock Resort.
Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. “I have had a long time to brighten up as time has gone on, but it was very frightening, very scary,” the pop superstar said Friday . “I knew it was serious when my doctor left a message for me Jasmine Trias with Ben Stone, the cast of “Baz,” and a reunion of “Jersey Boys” cast members. Tickets are $59; for information, go to Palazzo.com or call 702-4149000 or 866-641-7964. REVA LAS VEGAS
Fun facts about: Reva Rice: She starred in Starlight Express at the Las Vegas Hilton, which was the first Andrew Lloyd Webber show in Las Vegas, and led to the redesign of the showroom headlined by greats including Elvis, Liberace and Wayne Newton.
“I had moved to Las Vegas in 1994 and immediately walked into this theater where Elvis had played, and we were taken up the elevator to his suite, and it was like, ‘Wow, we are in this legend’s dwellings,’ ” said Rice, headlining at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center in her production “Song Bird.” “I could feel his presence, his history, in that theater.” John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.