By Richard Harrington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 8, 2008

Normally, what Barry Manilow plays in Vegas, stays in Vegas. For the past three years, he has been in residence at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel, with Elton John and old pal Bette Midler a few blocks over at Caesars Palace.

Sounds like a terrific opportunity for mischief on the Strip.

"Me and Elton and Bette -- it's the three of us and a lot of magicians," Manilow says, laughing. He does occasional out-of-Vegas concerts, including a Saturday show at Verizon Center.

"Somehow we had nights free, and we decided we would do this," Manilow says from his home in Palm Springs, Calif. "It's not a tour; we just drop these little one-nighters. We do one show in Vegas and we do another one for the arenas, and it's just great, keeps us all on our toes. I forgot how exciting arenas are."

The difference, Manilow says, is that "in Vegas they want the audiences back out there to throw their money away, so they ask us to bring the curtain down at a certain time, between 80 and 85 minutes. But on these arena tours, we're back to my time schedule. I can go as long as I want and as long as the audience wants.

"My band is the orchestra that accompanies me in Vegas [and] knows everything. After 30-some-odd years, I have enough songs to keep 'em on that stage for two months."

Barry Manilow Appearing Saturday at Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. Show starts at 8. Tickets:$49.99-$250. 202-397-7328 or http://www.ticketmaster.com. The Download: For more songs by Barry Manilow, check out: ¿ "Weekend in New England" ¿ "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" ¿ "Even Now" ¿ "Somewhere in the Night" ¿ "This One's for You" Barry Manilow Appearing Saturday at Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. Show starts at 8. Tickets:$49.99-$250. 202-397-7328 or http://www.ticketmaster.com. The Download: For more songs by Barry Manilow, check out: ¿ "Weekend in New England" ¿ "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" ¿ "Even Now" ¿ "Somewhere in the Night" ¿ "This One's for You"