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ent001643-039
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Describing his eighties music fantasy as surrealistic, dreamlike and even comparing it to live M-TV, producer-director Jerry Jackson says the time for ?╟úWitz* has come. "It's been in my mind for so long,* he says of the song and dance production which themes itself around top-40 hits of the ?╟╓80s. Previous commitments, however, and lack of an Ideal stage on which to bring his concept to life, had forced Jackson to retain his brainchild within the theatres of his mind. As his work in the Bahamas drew to a close on the French revue productions ?╟úConfetti?╟╓?╟╓ and ?╟úSoiree?╟ú being the man of many hats including writer, producer and director, he was approached by Hacienda Hotel executives to produce a show for their Fiesta Theatre. Co-producer of ?╟úHitz" is an accomplished musician Ron Andrews. He has been director of entertainment and orchestra leader at the Hacienda Hotel for nearly 15 years during which he also coproduced the show production ?╟úFire & Ice." Stage lighting and backgrounds create the atmosphere tp set up the various period themes. Psychedelic greens, pinks and oranges emphasized with zebra stripes catapults audiences back through time to the ?╟╓60s. Segments of nearly 60 hits interpret themes such as graffiti in the deep city, Bohemian carnivals and rock and roll concerts. The magic movements of adagio team Jeanne Houts and Barry Morgan captivate audiences. They met while performing in the Tropicana's "Folies Bergere." Though not featured together, the two found that their similar timing and style of dance were a perfect match. Morgan began his career after studying the performing arts from Western University in Kentucky. He has performed in major cruise ship productions, industrial films backing-up Gladys Knight and the Pips and road shows from Miami to Montreal. Houts grew up in Las Vegas. She auditioned for the ?╟úFolies" during her senior year but had to decline a dancing position until she finished. Since graduation, the youthful performer has danced in the Bahamas on the set of Jerry Jackson's "Soiree" and then returned to Las Vegas for more than a year?╟╓s stint in "Moulin Rouge" before taking the "Folies" up on their offer, where she spent two and one-half years performing. She traveled with the same Miami-to-Montreal tour as Morgan and when time has permitted, has done some commercial modeling. Another mood is set by a tender ballet featuring the talents of ballerina Tara Foy who has danced with the Dublin City Ballet and London Festival Ballet in England and Nevada Dance Company. At only 5*2* and weighing a slight 89 pounds, browneyed, British ballerina packs over two tons of talent onto the Hacienda?╟╓s stage. The principal singers are Marilyn Kaye and Richie Sacks. Kaye is most recognized as the high school vamp "Molly" in ?╟úA.M. A Blast From the Past" which played at the Riviera. Sacks has most recently been featured in the Sand?╟╓s campy comedy "Beach Blanket Babylon." His past travels have taken him from New York to Los Angeles, and from Puerto Rico to Rome, where he performed for the Pope. Clarence Loos is the long time burlesque comic most recently seen in the Hacienda?╟╓s last stage production, "Minsky?╟╓s Burlesque.?╟Ñ He rolls out the rib-ticklers with his rubber faced retorts and comical shenanigans. Starting as a musician in a comedy band, playing bass guitar and drums, Clarence graduated to stand up comedy and then on to the world of burlesque. The Gymma Brothers have been rumbling and tumbling around Europe and the United States for four generations. Now the fifth generation is rolling out the laughs in "Hitz." Originally titled the Fratellinis, for the family?╟╓s name which means little brother in Italian, the group?╟╓s founder was a pharma- "The Bohemian Carnival" The "Hitz* cast in "The Deep City?╟╓' cist who changed professions in order to win the heart of a showgirl. As a clown, he succeeded both in love and on the stage and his success has passed down to his sons, his son's sons and even to his son?╟╓s great grandson. "Hitz" is of love stories and comedies. It's futuristic and nostalgic, all linked together by a music conceptualization that is totally now in the eighties. "Hitz" can be seen nightly except Mondays, at 7 and 11 p.m. For information call 739-8911. Clarence Loos