Hackett brings own Rat Pack to Sahara

Sandy Hackett says his late father, Buddy, once turned down a chance to be Frank Sinatra’s opening act in Las Vegas.

Asked why, he explained, “I’d rather be competing with him.” Sure enough, Hackett’s name shows up on another Las Vegas marquee in the movie “Ocean’s Eleven.”

Sandy cites this as one reason for opening his own Rat Pack tribute, instead of waiting for the courts to sort out back-and-forth litigation with Dick Feeney, his former partner in “The Rat Pack Is Back” at the Plaza.

Another reason? “How long do you think I could sit on the sidelines? I need to go back to work.” So on Nov. 19, he plans to launch “Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show” at the Sahara, sharing a second-floor venue with The Comedy Stop.

Hackett will continue to play Joey Bishop, as well as write and direct the revue he will produce with his wife, Lisa Dawn Miller.

Legal filings by each side in U.S. District Court differ on how Hackett departed the Plaza production in September and how much he contributed to it. But the two don’t disagree that most of their falling out stems from Feeney’s hatred of Miller, a singer and daughter of late songwriter Ron Miller, whose hits included “For Once In My Life.”

In his lawsuit, Hackett alleges Feeney’s “bitter campaign” against Miller pushed them to the brink of divorce and caused Hackett to sell his share of the production for $40,000, because “Feeney was adamant that (the producers) prevent any prospect of (Miller) having input or control.”

“He’s just afraid of her,” Hackett says now. “She’s unbelievably bright, ridiculously talented and is an excellent producer.”

Feeney says in response, “I’m kind of hoping (Hackett’s show) does open, because it’ll be a tremendous embarrassment and lose a fortune and, once and for all, put to rest the notion that she has talent.”

Feeney says he has potentially bigger problems. He’s mounting a court appeal to a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Lloyd George that “Rat Pack” is a generic phrase not exclusive to his trademarked show title. …

Cirque du Soleil is extending a locals offer through the end of February and making it good for all six titles: Buy one ticket at full price, get the second for $25, plus tax and fees. You can find details at cirquedusoleil.com/locals.

A caveat noting the promotion applies to “select performances and seating categories” covers Cirque for an airline-style strategy of turning the tap on and off as needed. The Web site is up front in telling you the promotion is stingy with “O” tickets. A couple of more clicks reveal “Love” sits out the promotion in December. …

You knew The Society of Seven had tenacity when the Hawaiian show band first came to town a week before the terrorist attacks of September 2001 and weathered that slump to become a regular presence here.

The group sat out much of the more recent downturn after closing at the Flamingo in April of last year. When Society reopens at the Gold Coast on Friday, it will try something new: a compressed weekly schedule of six shows in three days, mixing afternoons and evenings.

Tony Ruivivar, the group’s founding member, says a Boyd Gaming Corp. venue raises hope of tapping the heavy Hawaiian traffic at the company’s downtown Fremont and California hotels. “They call Vegas the ninth island,” he says.

The original group celebrated its 40th anniversary in Hawaii in July, performing with the “clone” band it created to do the same act there.

The group’s new female foil is Honolulu-born Jasmine Trias, the third-season “American Idol” contestant who first filled in for Lani Misalucha two years ago. Misalucha now headlines “Voices” at the Las Vegas Hilton. …

Jay Leno, back at The Mirage this weekend, tells Broadcasting & Cable magazine his much-lambasted move to prime-time TV has been good for his live act. “I find that when I go to Vegas, whereas before I might not sell out, all of a sudden it’s sold out. I seem to be doing better in terms of public appearances. I am reaching a wider audience.”

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.