In May, Mirage headliner Danny Gans Mirage will celebrate his 10-year anniversary as a Las Vegas performer.

In May 1996, the multi-talented Entertainer first stepped on stage at the newly opened Broadway Showroom at the Stratosphere. Dressed in black and his signature red socks and black and white shoes, Gans received multiple standing ovations that night and many nights thereafter. Word quickly spread throughout Las Vegas and beyond that he was the “must see” show of that year.

Audiences and critics lauded Gans’ characterizations, musical and comedic impressions, satiric lyrics and warm, charismatic stage persona. A New York newspaper reporter called Gans “A superstar in the making.” Well-known columnists such as Daily Variety’s Army Archard said, “Danny Gans killed the crowd with his impressions,” and The Los Angeles Times’ James Bacon called Gans “Brilliant!” Gans was a hit with Las Vegas locals too as they voted him “Entertainer of the Year” in the Las Vegas Review-Journal Readers Poll. He has won that award nine times.

In January 1997, the Rio Hotel offered Gans a multi-year contract to star in the plush Copacabana Showroom. The show was so popular that management was forced to install additional seats to handle the demand. Gans, a gifted singer, comedian and actor, played to capacity crowds night after night.

Advance ticket sales topped the million-dollar mark when Gans opened in his own, custom-designed theater at the Mirage in April 2000. The $15-million Danny Gans Theater became Gans’ new home. There he continues to play to consistently packed houses.

Shows are at 8 p.m.nightly at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

Bellagio remains the one to beat!

Welcome to the 25th annual Best of Las Vegas and a fine one it is, if we do say so ourselves.

The magic number is 3,257 reader ballots, an impressive increase of 1,110 ballots from the previous year, but shy of the all-time record of 3,962 set in 1998. Well, it's good to have a goal to shoot for.

We have eagerly anticipated this year, ever since Steve Wynn began building his new hotel-casino on the site of the once classy but never terribly busy Desert Inn. At last, we thought, some competition for his previous triumph, Bellagio. It's about time for some fireworks, a little drama. Please?

But alas. Wynn finds topping himself to be a tall order. That Bellagio is made of some pretty stern stuff -- and Review-Journal readers are equally unyielding in their loyalty.

Take a look at Bellagio's R-J reader wins: Best Strip Hotel, Best Attraction (Fountains of Bellagio), Best Production Show ("O"), Best Show Choreography ("O"), Best Architecture, Best Interior Design, Best Service, Best Poker Room, Best Brunch, Best Place to Go When Price Is No Object, Best Art Gallery and Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Visitors.

Wynn Las Vegas cracks the reader poll in only one category: Best Outdoor Sign. (We give it a break in a few of our staff picks, however.) The "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign does better, finishing tops in Best Landmark and Best Visitor Photo Opportunity (three, if you count its facsimiles as Best Souvenir). Ouch.

Wynn himself fares better, receiving reader approval as Best-Dressed Las Vegan, Las Vegan You'd Like to Know More About and Most Powerful Las Vegan.

We do have some new and back-again categories to freshen things up a bit. Baby Gap/Kids Gap takes top honors as Best Children's Clothing Store. Smith's checks out ahead of the competition as Best Grocery Store. The Attic sews up Best Vintage Store. Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe and Lounge lights up the board as Best Hookah Lounge. The Double Down Saloon shuffles in as Best Dive Bar.

It's refreshing to see the First Friday art scene downtown gain acceptance as Best Community Event. And we're happy to extend a hearty welcome aboard to Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee as Best Elvis Impersonator.

But, interestingly, readers seem to have a long memory. After a break of several years, they still choose the Rio as having the Best Cocktail Waitresses. Some things are easier to forget than others, we suppose.

Some things are easier to explain than others, too. Take the fickle nature of the Best of Las Vegas readers' poll. Mayor Oscar Goodman tacks up certificates for Best Local Politician, Favorite Male Las Vegan and Most Colorful Character. He'll be less enthused to receive word of earning Least Effective Public Official and Las Vegan You're Tired of Hearing About.

In many ways, the silver anniversary edition of Best of Las Vegas is much like the others. Celine Dion wins Best Singer, Danny Gans tops Best All-Around Performer. Olive Garden. Taco Bell. Red Lobster.

And then there are those categories that just make so much sense, year after year. Such as Andre Agassi winning Best Celebrity Resident, Best Local Professional Athlete and Most Generous Las Vegan. And restaurateur Andre Rochat winning Best French Restaurant and Most Romantic Restaurant. Or maybe you just like guys named Andre.

But enough sentimentality, we're making ourselves cry. Better to move on to the much-anticipated world of Best of Las Vegas prizes. See if you're among the winners:

Marshall Breland of Las Vegas, two tickets to see "O"; Gilberto Carrera of Las Vegas, two tickets to see Danny Gans; Carole Convey of Las Vegas, dinner for two at Spago; Elia Sifuentes of Las Vegas, dinner for two at Rosemary's Restaurant; Sheila Stetts of Henderson, lunch for two at P.F. Chang's China Bistro; Julie Gans of Henderson, gift certificate to Fashion Show mall; and John Rose of Las Vegas, a full-fledged night on the town.

Danny Gans skyrockets his craft to a new level in his own show at the Mirage. The award-winning singer-impressionist-actor-comic-dancer has taken the entertainment scene by storm and zoomed to the top of the list of must-sees in Las Vegas.

There’s a magical feeling in the plush, 1,265-seat Danny Gans Theater. The atmosphere is anticipatory as the house fills, the lights dim and the music begins. The moment Gans walks on stage, the room lights up with his energy. He jumps right into his act with magnetic enthusiasm, embracing the audience with his warmth and talent.

Gans is not content presenting a handful of impressions. Instead, he draws from his ever-expanding repertoire of nearly 300 voices and delivers anywhere from 60 to 100 uncanny characterizations during each show. Each portrayal is dead on, down to the slightest tilt of the head and facial expression. It’s astounding how Gans is able to truly capture the essence of another person.

Gans has worked hard to reach this level of excellence and succeed. He spent more than 15 years traveling across the country honing his skills, singing with bands, performing stand-up comedy and practicing his impressions. However, it was not until he saw Sammy Davis Jr. perform that all of the pieces came together for him.

“He did everything I ever wanted to do in one show,” Gans recalls. “He sang, danced, did impressions, played instruments; he was funny and he was dramatic. That’s when I said, ‘That’s what I’m going to do.’”

From that point on, Gans directed his focus to blending these talents into a single act. He became one of the most sought-after performers on the coveted and prestigious corporate circuit, where entertainers are well-compensated for one-night-only concerts. It was not unusual for Gans to play to huge, stadium-size crowds at these events, where he worked for international companies like IBM and Heinz.

After a hit show in a theater in California, Gans was offered his own one-man show on Broadway. A New York critic referred to him as “a superstar in the making.” When he was presented with the opportunity to bring his show to Las Vegas, where he could settle down to a life with his family, Gans didn’t think twice. His family is his number-one priority.

Since arriving in Las Vegas, Gans has received numerous awards, including “Entertainer of the Year,” “Comedian of the Year” and “Showman of the Year.” He recently released his first album, Brand New Dream, which is rapidly climbing the charts. He is also in development with veteran producer Aaron Spelling on a pilot for a television series.

But all of this pales in comparison with Gans’ depth and character. He is a dedicated family man and a man of faith. He isn’t afraid to let his audience get to know him on this deeply personal level. In fact, he sings “The Journey’s Here at Home” in each show. It’s an inspirational song from his new album that he co-wrote with Kyle Matthews and Michael Puryear. It exemplifies his life and his priorities.

Gans’ show is a must see for the whole family. It is a musical journey filled with music, laughter, drama and tender moments. It’s rock-solid entertainment that will have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face, a song in your heart and on your lips.

An evening with Danny Gans is an evening you will never forget.

He's the "Entertainer of the Year" in Las Vegas,and his show is the hottest ticket in town. He's being called the finest singer-comedian-impressionist-actor in the business today, by entertainment critics and his peers alike and audiences of all ages go wild over his award winning show. Who is he? He's Danny Gans.

Gans hadn't planned to be an entertainer. His boyhood dream was to play third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he was, in fact, drafted by the Kansas City Royals, while he was still attending high school in California. Sadly, an injury forced him to decline the offer-but, sometimes, opportunity knocks more than once.

While in college, Gans turned down another draft offer, this one from the Chicago White Sox. Two years later, his life long dream came true as he signed that contract and was sent to the minor leagues to start his career as a professional athlete. But, not long after it all came to a crashing halt as a career-ending injury turned his life upside-down.

With love and encouragement from friends and family, Gans shifted his focus from baseball to entertainment. He had been blessed with a marvelous singing voice, the ability to make people laugh and a rare presence that would manifest itself in his new career.

Gans spent 15 years traveling throughout the United States, working at his craft and perfecting a vast repertoire of impressions. At the same time he became one of the most sought-after performers in the prestigious corporate world, often playing to stadium-sized crowds for major, international companies such as IBM and McDonald's and was the darling of the Fortune 500 list. Fellow entertainers such as Bill Cosby and Natalie Cole raved about Gans, and it became apparent that he was destined to be a star.

In 1995 Danny was starring on Broadway in his one man show. However, between New York and 200 concert dates a year, he found himself longing to be with his wife and three children. So, when the opportunity to move his show to Las Vegas presented itself, where he could settle down to a life with his family, Gans knew it was the right move.

In doing so, Gans' commitment to his family had been doubly rewarded; the family is happy to call Las Vegas home, and Gans has taken the town by storm. On top of record-breaking crowds and consistently sold out shows, Gans has been showered with accolades and awards. He's the talk of the town, and his name is on the lips of visitors even before they arrive in Las Vegas.

Gans is an integral part of the Las Vegas community, too. He recently hosted the 4th Annual Danny Gans Invitational Golf Tournament. More than $75,000 was raised for Boys Town of Nevada and the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association, and plans for the 5th annual, star-studded event are underway. He also funds the Danny Gans Golf Academy which allows children to learn how to play golf for free. In addition, he is involved with the Lili Claire Foundation performing annually to raise research money for William's Syndrome.

Gans also finished recording his first album, on Sony's Epic label. Award-winning producer, Michael O'Martian produced Gans' inaugural album which climbed to #19 on the Christian pop charts.

Completing the picture of success, Gans' just celebrated two years of sold-out shows in his 1,250-seat theater at the Mirage, and was again named "Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year" for the 6th straight year in a row.

He may not be playing third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he's hitting home runs nightly in the theatre which bears his name. Danny Gans is truly living a dream come true.

What would you do if it looked like you were on your way to achieving your lifelong dream and then something happened? Singer-impressionist Danny Gans has his heart set on playing third base for the Dodgers. All his life, that was all he could think about. After college, he signed with the minor leagues and it looked like it was all systems go for the young hopeful. Alas, an Achilles tendon injury brought his efforts and dreams to a crashing halt.

“I had to have immediate surgery and following surgeries; I just couldn’t get back into the game,” Gans recalls wistfully.

Fortunately, Gans was blesses with a powerful singing voice and a natural ability to make people laugh. His mom, Alta, encouraged him to pursue a career as an entertainer and he spent the next fifteen years traveling all over the United States singing with bands, doing stand-up and creating a remarkable collection of on-the-money impressions. It was a talent that would propel Gans to the top of his field.

Over the years, Gans caught the eye of the people who plan entertainment events for large corporations and he was soon high on their list of sought-after performers, often entertaining stadium-sized crowds. He began flexing his acting muscles with appearances on hit shows such as “Married With Children” and “Roseanne”, and recurring roles on series such as “Silk Stalkings” and “Open House.” Then, he was spotted by the prestigious Nederlander Group, who lined him up with his own one-man show on Broadway.

But it was bringing his show to Las Vegas that brought Gans the greatest joy. He could finally settle down to a normal life with his wife and children. He could have dinner with them each evening, he could attend his son’s Little League games, play a round of golf, work and drive home after work.

Gans entertains in the theater that bears his name at the Mirage and his show is one of the hottest tickets in town. You must see Gans’ extraordinary performance-it will be an unforgettable experience for the entire family.