If you're an Abba fan, you will want to take in "Dancing Queen - A Celebration of the '70s," featuring the group's hit songs at the Eldorado Showroom in Reno. This is the newest in the Eldorado's family shows with lots of glitter and smashing costumes for all ages. Abba's music has got to be a draw from those who grew up on those sounds.
This nonstop "party" is performed by a energetic cast of singers and dancers and showcases glittering costumes and very athletic choreography. The 16 singers and dancers keep things moving breathlessly during the this 75-minute show.
"Dancing Queen" reprises Abba's greatest hits to the party classics of the '70s such as "Car Wash," "Staying Alive" and "YMCA."
The show is fronted by blonde Becky Maclean and Adam Hills, Julia Mansfield and Duncan Heather, offering the group's hits such as "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "Gimme Gimme Gimme," "Fernando," "Waterloo," "Chiquitita," "Take a Chance On Me" and more. The chorus offers some very demanding dancing.
Tickets start at $28.95, seniors and children from $23.95, dinner and show packages from $36.95. Show times are Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Call (800) 648-5966 or 786-5700. Tickets at the Showroom Box Office or at eldoradoreno.com.
HERBIE HANCOCK
Herbie came to the Reno Great Expectations showroom Sunday (about 20 minutes late, tsk tsk) and gave an outstanding performance of contemporary jazz. He was joined by bassist Nathan East and drummer Terri Lynne Carrington. If the audience was expecting replays of his latest stuff, members were surprised. Yep, "Watermelon Man" was there, but as a trio number and perhaps even more interesting than when the band played it on CD.
Hancock played two electronic pianos as well as a standard acoustic one, a portable keyboard and a pop bottle, blowing across the neck and into the mike. The first set got off a bit slow with an umpteen hundred-bar drum solo. When the group came back out for an encore they jammed to breathless levels. The piano solo built along modern classical lines was superb.
HAPPENINGS
• The Mile High Jazz Band will present two hours of Big-Band Jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday as part of Carson City's Relay for Life event at the football field at Carson High, 1111 N. Saliman Road.
• Beers of the World Dinner 2007, Summit Pavilion, 6 p.m., Saturday, $55 at the Grand Sierra Casino, Reno.
• DJ Dan, $15 in advance, Doors open at 8 p.m. to the Opal Lounge, $20 at the door, show at midnight, MontBleu, Stateline.
• "Wondrous Curiosities" of Dr. Simeon L. Lee is a behind-the-scenes tour at the Nevada State Museum. The tour, lead by Dr. Eugene Hattori, curator of anthropology, will offer an up-close look at some of the museum's hidden treasurers. Tours at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. July 27. Call 687-4810, ext. 237 to arrange a tour.
• Classical guitarist Ricardo Cobo plays two concerts Sunday and Tuesday, the first at 7 p.m. at the Cal Neva Resort at 2 Stateline Road, Crystal Bay; the second in Reno at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 Island Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $25. Call 338-1671.
• A No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament fundraiser is Aug. 3 at Sharkey's Casino in Gardnerville. The $40 buy-in and $20 re-buys are accepted in the first hour. Sign-in at 6:30 p.m. Tournament starts at 7. Call 265-1586 or NVRelayForLife@gmail.com
• Stargaze at Dayton State Park 8:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday. View the night sky with the Astronomical Society of Nevada. View Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Nebulae, star clusters and galaxies with high-powered telescopes. Call 687-2770.
• Contact Sam Bauman at 881-11236 or Sbauman@nevadaappeal.com