Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 97

Onstage I 3J 3 0 CD Flamingo Comedy Club debuts in Hilton showroom 7T- 5V "Ml "if CD to The Flamingo Hilton Reno's Grand Opening Celebration kicks off Friday night, June 30, with the premier performance of the Flamingo Comedy Club. Headlining the opening engagement of the Comedy Club's "Just for Laughs" Comedy Festival will be Bill Kirchenbauer, star of ABC's "Just the Ten of Us." Kirchenbauer is a veteran of the comedy club circuit, where his antic mayhem won him thousands of fans and served as his springboard to stardom. Working with Kirchenbauer will be the mystical Ken Sonkin, a magician and mime whose performances have a way of spilling out into the audience, with hilarious results. Kirchenbauer and Sonkin will appear every night during the Flamingo's Grand Opening weekend, from June 30 through July 3. The Flamingo Comedy Club will be hosted each night in the Flamingo Showroom by master of ceremonies Doug Kehoe.

Each week this summer a prominent headliner will be featured. Scheduled performers include A. Whitney Brown of "Saturday Night Live," Hawaiian favorite Andy Bumatai, popular recording comedian Kip Addotta, San Francisco star Bob Sarlatte, and Bobby Slayton, recently honored as the most popular nightclub comedian by the American Comedy Awards. The conduit for all this talent is Jon Fox, comic promoter and publisher of the comedy newspaper, Just for Laughs. "The theme of the Comedy Festival Performances are Tuesday through Sunday, with two shows Saturday night.

Most shows will with the early Saturday show being $14.95 and the late show $12.95. Each ticket includes two cocktails. The Flamingo Comedy Club will offer assigned seating. To reserve your seat, call the Flamingo Hilton Reno at 785-7100. Meanwhile, in the Showspot Stanley Johnson, a new attraction to the Reno entertainment scene, will be featured in the new Showspot Lounge at the Flamingo Hilton through July 2.

Known as Stanley Johnson delights audiences with his tasty, soothing, vocal style and keyboard artistry. A natural performer with no formal training, he has developed a refreshing style that is unique and innovative. To categorize Johnson is difficult. However, it has been noted that his style is reminiscent of Stevie Wonder. His show is a blend of established material and his original compositions.For a hand-clapping, toe-tapping time sith Stanley J's soulful sounds, it's the Showspot Lounge at the Flamingo Hilton Reno.

Another attraction is Jonathan Music Magic. Stanley is off on Sunday and Jonathan is off on Monday. Call 322-1111 for show times. Kirchenbauer Sonkin will be to feature the very best contemporary nightclub comedians," says Fox, who, with his wife Anne, books talents into numerous comedy clubs. In addition to their other comedic enterprises, the Foxes are the promoters of the annual San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition, and credited with discovering the likes of Robin Williams, "Saturday Night Live's" Dana Carvey, and "Night Court's" Marsha Warfield.

Flamingo Hilton Reno spreads wings to reveal new look one has to do is show an out-of-state I.D. at the casino services desk. Additional entry cards can be earned by using any Hilton facility. Winners will be determined by drawings held every 15 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Winners will pick an egg from the Flamingo Egg Basket. Inside each egg is a prize, ranging from free drinks to free vacations in flamingo habitats from Florida to Hawaii. The celebration rolls into high gear on Monday night. That's when a parade marches from the Pioneer Theater, up Virginia Street to the Reno arch, across Commercial Row, and down Sierra Street to the corner of Sierra and Second Streets. The merry marchers will be accompanied by pink Cadillacs, a float, and, of course, a band.

When this procession comes to rest at the southeast corner of the Flamingo Hilton Reno, there will be brief commemorative speeches delivered by Hilton dignitaries and city officials. Hopefully, Barron Hilton will then light the fuse that will illuminate the giant signature Flamingo signage. As the fuse is lit, symbolizing the birth of the new Flamingo, fireworks will flash around the sign and along the rooftop. The cause of all this celebration is the completion of a more than $13 million renovation. The massive metamorphosis included total remodeling of the main casino, the registration area, the ballroom and meeting rooms, as well as all 604 guest rooms.

The Flamingo Hilton Reno will be officially christened on the evening of July 3. But before the proud new bird takes wing there will be a long weekend of fun and festivities. The celebration begins Friday night, June 30, when the Flamingo Showroom reopens with the inaugural performance of the Flamingo Comedy Club. Host Doug Kehoe will introduce veteran comic Bill Kirchenbauer, star of ABC's "Just the Ten of Us." Kirchenbauer will be joined on stage by magician and mime Ken Sonkin. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, pink champagne and cake will be served for four hours each day.

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