Las Vegas Weekly

February 5, 2009 · 9:25 AM

Strip Scribbles: Color salon owner Michael Boychuck receives Top 50 honor

By Robin Leach

Lindsay Lohan and Michael Boychuck.

Photo: Wicked Creative PR

For 10 years, hair king Michael Boychuck has advocated that Las Vegas is as stylish a hair city as London, Milan, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and anywhere in between. Michael’s now been rewarded for his belief as the only full-time local hairstylist to be named in the new Top 50 world hair hero’s book. He’s listed alongside Oribe, Robert Cromeans and Kris Sorbie of Redken. In the 50 Hairstylists book, he says: “At one time in Beverly Hills, I was working on about 75 celebrities, and that meant 7 in the morning or 12 at night. If you put a client’s needs first, even above your own, they appreciate it, and it’s reflected in your bookings. You must have passion for your industry and never be afraid to work hard. Love what you do, and do what you love. ”

The Top 50 Hairstylists cover.

Michael, who runs Amp and Primp at the Palms and Color at Caesars Palace, names Paris and Nicky Hilton, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria, Kirsten Dunst, Josie Bissett and Susan Anton in his appointment book! He says blonde highlights and soft waves are quickly becoming celebrity favorites and sees lush, warm tones as this spring’s hottest trend. “Spring is the perfect time to show off polished hair; it’s that extra finishing touch,” Michael says. You can find all his hair tips and color predictions at www.michaelboychuck.com.

The feature on Michael Boychuck.

*Actor Chris Pine, who stars as Capt. Kirk in the eagerly awaited Star Trek film May 8, has been tapped as Male Star of Tomorrow by the ShoWest movie group heading here March 30. It’s the first announced award! Chris, who appears with Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, John Cho and veteran Leonard Nimoy in the new vision of the epic space story, will be honored on the final-night banquet and awards ceremony April 2. Chris also will be seen this summer in Carriers, in which he battles a viral pandemic. ShoWest is one of the largest annual international conventions, with more than 5,000 members of the motion picture industry, and will be held at Bally’s and Paris.

*A circus big top with a big difference is to be set up at the Hilton starting next month -- and when I say monster, I’m talking about not only the size of the show but also the horror-themed spectacle! Las Vegas has never seen anything like this: Call it a high-octane rock concert with sexy dancers, human circus acts and sideshow freaks! Call it the Platinum Masters Monster Circus complete with a tour bus filled with platinum-selling rock stars. The wild insanity begins March 19. I’m told the circus mascot, Sicko the Clown, will play sidekick to an irreverent ringmaster who will guide audiences through rock and metal anthems dating back to the 1970s.

“The great rock ’n’ roll stars from some of the great bands of the last three decades in a circus atmosphere. … it doesn’t get any better than that,” said Ken Ciancimino, executive vice president of the Las Vegas Hilton. The debauchery begins with an all-star lineup of jaw-dropping Monster Circus featuring Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio) John Corabi (Motley Crüe, Ratt), Fred Coury (Cinderella), Bruce Kulick (KISS) and Tony Montana (Great White), plus various guest artists will join the circus to perform hits they personally rock out to, therefore creating an ever-changing set list. The circus will be in town six nights a month Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with an 11 p.m. show time followed by an after-show party with the stars that goes till dawn!

Photo: Joan Marcus

Phindile Mkhize in Disney's The Lion King.

*Here’s a heads up: Tickets for Disney’s The Lion King musical go on sale Feb. 28 for the April 22-May 1 preview performances and the grand gala celebration opening May 2. The public will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets at Mandalay Bay from 7 to 10 a.m. that Saturday morning and receive commemorative gifts before all other ticket outlets begin sales at 10 a.m.!

The first person in line will receive free autographed copies of The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway and How Does the Show Go On? by Thomas Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical Productions. Then the first 100 guests will receive a full-length CD of the musical, while all purchasing guests at the box office that morning will receive a special gift. In its 12th smash year on Broadway and seen by more than 45 million people in 11 countries, The Lion King is the winner of more than 70 major awards, including Tony, New York Drama Critics and Grammy awards.

Photo: TVT

Amazing Johnathan, a shapely companion and the host of Vegas DeLuxe.

*You’d better not get confused when you want a magic show at the Harmon Theater. Make sure you specify Amazing Johnathan’s late show because now that the successful female impersonator dinner cabaret Lucky Cheng is ending a three-year run, a second magic show is being added. This one features drag queen Scott Weston as Cashetta, the Queen of Magic starring in Magic’s a Drag. Think one part Bette Midler, one part Dolly Parton, mix with the talents of David Copperfield, and poof! You have Cashetta, the Queen of Magic!

The new show begins Feb. 21 with the only female impersonator magician in the world. Cashetta’s act includes cards that disappear and reappear in unlikely places and a gypsy rope illusion that rivals Harry Houdini’s famous escapes! One audience member will be dressed in drag at each performance to be taught and to perform an illusion. I’m not going to dare tell you what Cashetta can do with a 5-foot balloon, but suffice to say it’s too outrageous to describe here!

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Joshua Bell.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Joshua Bell.

*And now for something different: Our contributing photographers are out and about covering concerts, nightclub guest DJ events, premieres and parties. We don’t, sadly, normally think of covering a violin concert, but lens man Erik Kabik was excited about the multimillion-dollar Gibson ex-Huberman Stradivarius of 1713 that Joshua Bell performed with at UNLV. Joshua was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2005 because of his incredible violin skills. He has performed with many of the world’s major orchestras and conductors since his Carnegie Hall debut in 1985, and one of his 30 CD recordings won a Grammy. The 300-year-old violin was stolen twice from previous owner Bronislaw Huberman and is valued at more than $4 million!

*Executive chef Jean Paul Labadie has installed a chef’s table alongside his kitchen in the new Wine Salon at our favorite locals restaurant Marche Bacchus. The chef walks and talks up to six guests at a time through the customized five-course dinner menu complete with wine pairings. The romantic lakefront dining spot also features Wayne Brady’s saxophonist Tommy Alvarado on Wednesdays and starts every weekend with a two-hour Happy Hour party, where all menu items are priced at just $9 each!

Tonight’s tip

Dead men don’t talk, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a theory about them. Uniquely named Dead Men’s Theory performs at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. … The Jamz cheer and dance championships get underway tonight through Monday’s finals at The Orleans Arena. … No less than five Envy models (Dijana, Colleen, Melissa, Zaya and Jean) are teaming up to celebrate their birthdays at the “Worship” party in Tao at The Venetian. … After a brief break, the “CineVegas From the Vault” screening series resumes with 4th & Life at our main Clark County Library. The movie is about a championship football game between two of the largest and most dangerous penitentiaries in the South. This year’s CineVegas Film Festival is June 10-15 at the Brenden Theaters at the Palms.

Photo: Courtesy

Danny Gans.

Tomorrow’s tease

Our exclusive one-on-one interview with entertainer extraordinaire Danny Gans as the curtain goes up on his new “as long as you want” residency contract at Steve Wynn’s the Encore. Plus, it’s time to end the life of The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, and Motley Crue is ready to make the walls come tumbling down. You take the rest of the furniture!

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Motley Crue.

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