Chinatown District

Locals are familiar with the Las Vegas Chinatown district.

It's relatively small, a few square blocks of restaurants and other businesses located about a mile west of the Strip on Spring Mountain Road. It certainly isn't a rival to the Chinatown of San Francisco. But it is becoming a distinctive area as businesses expand and as office buildings and high rises begin to grow. And now it has its own showroom, thanks to longtime Las Vegas producer Jerry Schafer.

"Some people take the attitude that we need another showroom like we need a hole in the head," Schafer said. "I think the more opportunities we put together for people in the entertainment industry to show their wares, the better.

"Why not in Chinatown? It has been proven to me that it's growing by leaps and bounds and it's going to continue to grow." Schafer said the room will attract locals.

"In my opinion locals hate to go to the Strip," said Schafer, who for years has visited Chinatown to buy herbs.

In March the impresario was at a swap meet in a large room on the second floor of the Chinatown Mall when it struck him that the space was ideal for a showroom.

The 75-year-old Schafer isn't a daydreamer. He has opened many showrooms during his career, at properties such as the Sahara and the defunct hotels Thunderbird, Lucky Casino and The Mint. When he learned the room where the swap meet was being held was empty most of the time, he struck a deal with the owner and went to work. A few months and a few hundred thousand dollars later, the Chinatown Showroom was completed.

The 300-seat venue is comfortable and pleasing to the eye. "It's the most comfortable in the city," Schafer said. "We're not cramming them in like sardines, the way they do in a lot of showrooms."

Tonight, the venue will premiere "NO MSG -- A Musical Variety Show in Good Taste." The production features the New Dynasty Chinese Acrobats from China, China face mask artist Qi Jian Guo, the Janien Valentine Singers, impressionist Craig Canter, ventriloquist Sammy King and the Jamie Townsend Band.

The family shows are at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. The price of admission is $75, but that includes a dinner. For information call 369-2600.

Patrons may choose to have dinner at one of six Chinatown restaurants: Sushi Moto, Harbor Palace Seafood Restaurant, Capital Seafood Chinese Restaurant, New Shanghai Restaurant, the Chinatown Empress Restaurant or the new Korean Barbeque Restaurant.

Rockin' & Romancin
A true show-stopper weaving the comedy, impressions and incredible singing. Janice Hart entertains audiences with her routines and impressions of Tina Turner, George Burns, Streisand, Madonna, Cher, Celine Dion and many more.

Mark Maynard & Craig Canter perform musical tributes to great stars "Engelbert Humperdinck, Frankie Valli, The Everly Brothers, Neil Diamond and The Mamas & The Papas."

As Frankie Valli, Maynard sings with total artistry and delivers the falsetto-famed songs with such craft as

only performed on the original recordings. In 1991, when Valli heard Maynard presenting his tribute, Valli encouraged him to continue to follow his dream of music.

Craig Canter takes you into romantic orbit with his unique presentation of Engelbert Humperdinck. Canter performs many favorites to please the swooners and fond of heart, from "Am I that Easy To Forget", and "Release Me" to a high-energy dance mix version of "Quendo Quendo." Canter also sings an unforgetable Neil Diamond which he delivers with impressive accuracy. Mark and Craig team up in an impressive segment to perform as one of pop music's most

famous duos, the "Everly Brothers." Their renditions of "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie" keep audience wanting more.

The final act is one that tops the show... a tribute to the legendary "Mamas and the Papas." Producer Sharon Haynes even gets in on the fun with the rest of the cast by portraying "Mama Cass."

This is a show not to be missed. Enjoy a great musical evening filled with songs of music legends and hilarious comedy.

Tributes