`Jersey Boys' heading to new Vegas hotel

It's Vegas, baby, for "Jersey Boys."

The casino company run by billionaire Sheldon Adelson said Tuesday its bringing the Tony Award-winning musical to its newest casino project, the Palazzo.

The production will be housed in a 1,650-seat theater on the grounds of the $2.56 billion casino-resort, mall and condo tower that is being built by Las Vegas Sands Corp. and is set to open late this year. The show will arrive in early 2008.

"With advance ticket sales over $30 million on Broadway we are confident that visitors from all over the world will come to see what is currently the hottest ticket on Broadway," Rob Goldstein, president of the Palazzo, said in a statement.

"Jersey Boys" follows the ascent of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from the streets of Newark to pop music stardom and is playing in venues across the country.

The cast of the Las Vegas version was not announced.

Las Vegas Sands shares closed up 43 cents, or 0.5 percent, at $85.62 on Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Despite a few high-profile flops, major Broadway hits have continued to open at Vegas casinos, including "Monty Python's Spamalot" at Wynn Las Vegas in April and "The Producers" at Paris in February.

"Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" continues to run at the Venetian, also owned by Las Vegas Sands. But "Hairspray" folded at the Luxor last June after less than four months, and "Avenue Q" called it quits at Wynn last May after nine months.

"Mamma Mia!" is set to close at Mandalay Bay late next summer after 2,300 performances in Las Vegas, making it the longest-running full-length Broadway musical on the Strip.