Probably no-one hotter in the movie business these days than Johnny Depp, star of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. And whatever’s hot means it’s going to show up in our town. Madame Tussaud’s unveiled a wax figure of the star in his Capt. Jack Sparrow character this morning in the “Big Night” room at The Venetian.

The identical figure will also be unveiled today in Amsterdam, The Netherlands; London, England and New York City. The movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, opens in Las Vegas July 7.

THE KING IS BACK

It seems that Elvis has not left the building. Well, actually, he had, but he’s back again. At least the bronze statue of him has returned to its place of honor at the Las Vegas Hilton. The statue was officially dedicated at the resort on Friday, September 8, 1978, then temporarily removed while the lobby was undergoing renovation. It’s now on display in the hotel’s courtyard, located to the immediate right when you enter the front doors of the hotel.

Plans for the theater vacated last month by “Hairspray” at the Luxor are coming into sharper focus, and familiarity seems to be the prevailing theme. As reported by Las Vegas freelance journalist and podcast host Steve Friess at www.thestrippodcast.com, the hotel plans to open yet another Cirque du Soleil production — the sixth in Las Vegas — that will revolve around a magic/illusion theme. Friess also said the Luxor is planning to bring in the legendary Liza Minnelli as one of a group of headliners while the production takes shape.

Apart from the podcast, we’re hearing that extreme illusionist Criss Angel will front the Cirque production. Angel, the star of “Mindfreak” on A&E, has been rumored to be in the Luxor’s long-term plans and has been spotted at a bevy of Las Vegas events (particularly those with red carpets leading to the entrance) over the past several weeks.

Also, the list of headliners the Luxor is eyeing is rumored to include Julio Iglesias, Tony Bennett and Engelbert Humperdinck. All have long histories as Vegas performers, and Humperdinck recently opted out of dates in September and November at the Orleans Showroom — to pursue opportunities on the Strip. Humperdinck’s final shows at the Orleans will be July 20-23.

In response to inquiries about a permanent production show at the Luxor Theater, MGM Mirage spokeswoman Jenn Michaels said, “We’ve been looking at a number of options for the former ‘Hairspray’ theater; we are close to signing a deal and will make an announcement as soon as we are able to do so.” Michaels added that MGM Mirage doesn’t have anything to announce regarding headliners and that plans for the Luxor’s entertainment program still need to be firmed up.

Carl Lindstrom’s milky baritone voice warms the room as he breaks into “La Vie en Rose” on request. Wearing a tight-fitting shirt, jean shorts and brown sandals, he grabs the hand of his wife, Henriette, and they begin to dance.

Like the Edith Piaf song, Henriette is quintessentially French. She came to Las Vegas in 1959 to perform in “La Nouvelle Eve” at El Rancho and later in the Stardust’s “Lido de Paris,” which imported hand-picked Europeans to perform on elaborate stages.

“These were the halcyon days of Las Vegas – the days of French revues,” Lindstrom says of the shows that turned the Parisian showgirl into a Las Vegas trademark. “They were a class unto themselves.”

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Having seen “The Phantom of the Opera” a couple times in other cities and once with Michael Crawford, it was with much anxiety that this reporter approached the new show. For one thing, the show had to be cut to 95 minutes and you pray it doesn’t hurt the show’s integrity and sacrifice too much story line. In the end, it didn’t and the show is magnificent.

For starters, the new theatre has achieved an 18th century Paris opera house atmosphere complete with an orchestra pit. All the sight lines are good and above the audience is the signature prop, a monster chandelier separated into four parts. The stage props and the side walls of the high-ceilinged showroom are draped and covered in dark material.

Not long after the show begins, the four fragments of the chandelier are assembled in front of the audience by the aid of 32 winches and the coverings around the stage and walls are suddenly whisked away revealing side boxes occupied by mannequins in period dress.

It is a breathtaking sight and helps settle you into the show.

The $35 million production is awesome with magnificent sets making up 18 scenes and elaborate costumes that have to be seen to be believed. Even Liberace would have been impressed.

The show is solidified by the fabulous music. There are two people playing the Phantom and two playing Christine. What the show has accomplished is taking a Broadway show and making it a Vegas spectacle with more magnificent special effects, a glorious theater and marrying it to the tried-and-true music and plot.

A few days ago, producer David Saxe opened the first striptease dance studio in a Strip shopping mall with classes Thursday-Saturday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Stripper 101 located above the V Theater in the Desert Passage Mall at the Aladdin gives everyday women the opportunity to get slim and sexy with a sweat-inducing low-impact aerobic workout.

Striptease dance studios are popping up across America and striptease cardio has even been featured on “Oprah.” But, Stripper 101 is the first to offer ladies the chance to groove and get down in the midst of their shopping spree.

The exotic dance class minus nudity covers more than 25 sexy floor moves actually used in Las Vegas gentleman’s clubs complete with boas, chairs and poles. During the class each student will have the chance to master the Sin City stripper pole. At the completion of the class, each student receives a certificate establishing them as a “genuine Las Vegas stripper.”

Another big change on the Strip is in the works. At last, owner Phil Ruffin plans to close and tear down the New Frontier by next year in order to make room for his $2 billion, 2,750-room Montreux resort, named after the Swiss resort town alongside Lake Geneva.

Some specific design elements have been revealed. The lobby will have a massive chandelier dipping into a giant vase of water. A pool on the third floor of the property will be on top of the retail stores and overlook the Strip. The property will feature the Strip’s largest ballroom. With about 116,000 square feet, the room will be able to handle major events with stadium seating.

A couple hundred suites at the resort will connect to a 50,000-square-foot health club, spa, meditative retreat and pool area operated by the Golden Door.

Shopping will be a big component with more than a half-million square feet of retail space putting it in a league with the biggest malls in town. The Strip-front fa?ade of the property will be lined with retail shops and “people-watching hangouts.” High-end boutiques will be on the south side of the reoesrt and face the Fashion Show mall.

Anther distinctive attraction on the northeast corner of the property will be the much-talked about 450-foot high observation wheel, which will be Las Vegas’ version of the London Eye.

Comedienne Rita Rudner will be bringing her unique style of comedy to Harrah’s beginning Oct. 2. Tickets are $49, call 702-369-5222.

Rudner’s run at New York-New York began as a one-month booking and led to a five-year engagement and over 600,000 ticket sales. No doubt her success will follow at Harrah’s.

An accomplished actress, screenwriter, best-selling author and comedienne, Rudner’s witty and elegant material has earned her national acclaim and awards. Following the success of her critically-lauded first novel “Tickled Pink,” Rudner has written a second novel set in modern-day Las Vegas. A tale of revenge, “Turning the Tables” will be released Aug. 29, by Crown Publishing.

The retro-cool musical production “Shag With A Twist” will open on July 13 at the Krave Theatre at the Aladdin. “Shag With A Twist” was created by famed visual artist Josh “Shag” Agle and choreographer Cynthia Bradley. The show recently enjoyed a successful extended run at the Los Angeles Theatre Center and garnered awards. Tickets are $45 and for VIP seating $55, call 888-515-SHAG. Performances will run Sunday to Thursday with the party starting nightly at midnight.

“Shag with a Twist” depicts a shagedelic 1960s Tupperware party hosted by the quintessential retro couple Eldon and Othal and their over-the-top friends; party guests include Shimmy and Shake, Siamese twins joined at their fabulous hair, the debonair and egotistical Foot, the very seductive Kitty, the ultra glamorous and ever mysterious Slinky and the creepy Coroner.