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NORM: 'Mamma Mia!' time moves fast






"Mamma Mia!" marks its fifth year at Mandalay Bay with an anniversary performance Feb. 14. We don't know where the years went so quickly, but here's an update on where some of the Vegas alums ended up:

Local favorite Tina Walsh (the original Donna) is getting set to take the stage as Madam Drury in Las Vegas' other hit Broadway musical, "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular," at The Venetian next month.

Nick Cokas, who played the original Sam, made headlines this week when he married "American Idol" star Katharine McPhee.

Jill Paice, the original Sophie, will be playing Scarlet O'Hara in the much-anticipated musical production of "Gone with the Wind" in London.


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  • Karole Foreman, the original Tanya, is acting in Southern California and recently performed in Clint Holmes' musical "Just Another Man" workshop at UNLV.

    And coming full circle: Victor Wallace, who played the original Sky, has returned to the show as a much older Sam. He has gone from the role of the young husband-to-be to one of the three potential dads

    "Mamma Mia!" was set to close in August 2008 but has been extended to January. And "Mamma Mia! The Movie" comes out this summer with a cast that includes Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan.

    BACK IN THE HEADLINES

    The jailing of former Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees early Wednesday was the latest in a series of missteps in little more than a year.

    Scandal ended her brief reign in December 2006 after photos surfaced on the Internet of her at age 17 kissing other women and exposing herself.

    Her hard partying resulted in her being rushed to a Las Vegas hospital last year for treatment for alcohol poisoning.

    KVBC-TV, Channel 3 reported at the time of Rees' dethroning that photographs of her appeared on the MySpace page of Tiffany Masters, who according to the station promotes "legitimate escort services" called "Vegas Arm Charms" and "VIP Eye Candy."

    KVBC entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs reported Wednesday night that the Miss Universe organization, which oversees Miss USA, began an investigation into Rees shortly after she won the state title for "behavior not befitting a beauty queen."

    Rees, 23, was booked on several charges Wednesday including resisting an officer after she became physically aggressive, according to a Metro report. She was released from jail after about 12 hours.

    She said she had a tooth chipped during the scuffle after being pulled over about 3 a.m. not far from where she lives in the southwest valley.

    Rees, who grew up in Florida, dated Palms owner George Maloof throughout 2007, but they broke up around Thanksgiving, according to friends.

    Maloof said by telephone Wednesday that he was not aware of the incident until noon and added, "I don't really know anything about this."

    THE SCENE AND HEARD

    Check out Cher on ABC's "Good Morning America" today for her announcement of her three-year deal with Caesars Palace. She'll be on the air about 8:30 a.m. with news that her show premieres May 6. Cher, 61, told USA Today that she overcame a debilitating bout of Epstein-Barr virus that "really takes the life out of you."

    SIGHTINGS

    Actor Eddie Murphy, with a lady friend and other friends at Moon nightclub (Palms) on Tuesday night. Also at Moon: Sarah Larson, the former N9NE Group cocktail server who has been dating actor George Clooney. She has been busy as a local model. Last week, she modeled clothing from Tory Burch and Barneys at the Palazzo for the spring fashion issue of Luxury Las Vegas magazine (a publication of the Review-Journal). Tabloid reports have been circulating for several weeks that she has moved in with Clooney. That has not happened yet, according to a source in Cincinnati, where Clooney grew up. Also at Moon: music mogul Suge Knight, former boxing champion Mike Tyson, New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau, and rappers Birdman and Lil' Wayne. ... Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, at Louis's Las Vegas (Town Square) on Tuesday for a taste of the Southern flavors of his youth.

    THE PUNCH LINE

    "Well, it's all over now ... Hillary (Clinton) can remove the duct tape from Bill's mouth." -- David Letterman

    Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.

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    art wrote on February 18, 2008 05:16 AM: Katie and GEORGE ARE STILL TOGETHER Norm. Can you get anything right! Who is Alisha Jacobs????????


    Diane Bradford wrote on February 08, 2008 12:17 AM: Hey, why insult Alicia Jacobs? All she did was tell Rees' pathetic story? I always look forward to her reports. She obviously has enough going for her, that she doesn't need the old casting couch.
    I agree with Roberta, Joey, you sound like a jealous woman.


    Roberta wrote on February 07, 2008 11:28 PM: Hey Joey, sounds like you're either a very jealous woman, or a man to whom Alicia wouldn't give the time of day!
    My sister has known Alicia for many years, I've always heard she's smart, beautiful, & a very nice person...actually, on the conservative side. Don't confuse TV with reality.


    Joey wrote on February 07, 2008 10:20 PM: Alicia Jacobs a class act? LOL. She is known for sleeping her way into stories - guess Rees did learn something from her afterall!


    The Donald wrote on February 07, 2008 10:18 PM: Katie Rees dated George Maloof? Now that's classic. Maloof is a joke. First he played into Britney Spear's hands, now this bimbo? Wow - he can really pick em.


    Steven C wrote on February 07, 2008 08:18 PM: Saw Alicia Jacob story on Katie Rees on the news last night. I remember Alicia when she was Miss Nevada. She's a class act. Katie can take lessons on how to appreciate a great opportunity, & parlay it into something worthwhile. Rees is an embarassment to our state! (what was George Maloof thinking?)


    GOD wrote on February 07, 2008 03:09 PM: This is Cher's absolutely final farewell tour to end all previous farewell tours!?


    David wrote on February 07, 2008 10:48 AM: Didn't Cher already do several 'FAREWELL' tours? Still looking forward to that day.


    KATIE wrote on February 07, 2008 09:44 AM: GEORGE MALOOF - WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU BABY? YOU ARE THE MASTER AT GREAT DECISIONS!

    Susan --- something's wrong with your computer idiot, the captions are fine! Check YOUR browser than YOUR brain!!!


    VegasGal wrote on February 07, 2008 07:45 AM: Hmmmmmmm... If they ever produce the "Janis Joplin Story" Katie Rees is a shoe-in for the lead. Funny though, Janis Joplin surely would never have been mistaken for a beauty queen.


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