Las Vegas Shows

[ARTc3]

Sorry that I didn't post this on "off topic", but I wanted some immediate feedback.

Heading to Las Vegas in a week. Look for some recommendations for shows and stuff to do. Have already seen KA, Love, Mystere, O, and Zumanity. Any suggestions? Any thoughts on Le Reve? Penn and Teller?, etc.?

[Tag]

Le Reve is spectacular and you might also want to check out the Broadway themed ShowStoppers at the Wynn while you're there.

[FishermanBob]

Penn and Teller put on a great show. Definitely recommend.

[maxximumvolume2]

If you enjoyed O then you will likely enjoy La Reve. It's the same director and much in the same vein, but it's more intimate and a bit more sexy. The theatre is in the round and it's gorgeous.

I'd recommend it.

[ARTc3]

Well, I think I will add Le Reve to one of the shows we'll see. I have been to Las Vegas since it opened, but I always thought of it as an, O, rip off. I did know that it was directed by Franco Dragone. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, he directed immediately after leaving Cirque du Sole and right after, O.

I've been curious, but never bought a ticket thinking that I'd get around to it and perhaps I'd get comped.

Well, never been comped and now Le Reve is more popular than ever, so its time to buy a ticket and see what its all about.

Any other suggestions? Penn and Teller is likely another definite. I don't like Penn's politics and have avoided seeing him for that reason, but I've heard to many fun things about their show to stay away on principle.

My partner and I are going to be there for 4 nights and we'll probably see a show every night.

[promisespromises2]

Penn and Teller was fun. My whole family enjoyed it, but there has always been something about them that makes me uncomfortable. But I did like you just said and tried to push that out of my mind when I went to see them! Enjoy!

[Mr Roxy]

Enjoyed O, Love & Le Reve .

Ka was entertaining as well. You may want to get into the Rivera just to look around as it is one of the remaining original casinos which will soon be no more

Try the attraction downtown known as The Mob Museum. It is a lot of fun

A number of shows we have seen over the years have since closed. If I can think of anymore, I will let you know.

[Broadwaywest]

As a former Las Vegan,

If you didn't enjoy O, you may not like le reve. It is somewhat similar, however le reve is a much more intimate experience, theater is way smaller and it's a round. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the cirque shows.

I can not recommend Penn and Teller enough, it's a fantastic show. Also check out Jan Rouven at Tropicana, he's kinda like Chris Angel, but with a far superior personality and showmanship. If you are looking for a throwback vegas show, definitely check out Jubillee with it's showgirls and seeking of titanic.

I also recommend to see who playing at the smith center in they're cabaret jazz theater. The whole building is a beautiful art deco masterpiece. Plus, the jazz area is a very small intimate setting that is very reminiscent of NY.

I also recommend The Mob Museum, it's a great museum. Also if you can get a tour, check out the neon graveyard where are the old bulb las vegas signs go to die.

[luvcaroline]

We actually liked Le Reve much more than O.

I highly recommend Michael Jackson One at Mandalay Bay. Very different from most Cirque shows because it is so dance-heavy. Great stage-craft also.

Absinthe at Caesars is not to be missed. It's what Zumanity should have been.

Can't wait to see Showstoppers at Wynn on our next trip.

[Mr Roxy]

You know at a Wynn property you will get a top notch show.

[Starship]

I've heard Cirque' MJ One is fantastic and I much preferred La Reve over O. A truly fantastic, beautiful show. Enjoy your trip!

[everythingtaboo]

I find "O" a bit glacial in place, while exquisite. But I much prefer Le Reve, and try to see it every time I'm out there. The space is more intimate, they have a 3 million dollar new finale just put in, and there's choreography by Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Wynn finesses his shows constanstly, whereas "O" is pretty much as it was when it started. So Le Reve is a must.

From what I understand Zumanity just did a huge reboot last month, with new acts and new staging by Yanis Marshall (of those high-heeled dancers fame), but I agree with those that Absinthe is another can't-miss.

If you must do an Cirque show, I'd recommend Michael Jackson ONE. It's their most "theatrical" resident production out there, and some of the images they've created and how they brought the music to life brought tears to my eyes. And otherwise it was really quite thrilling.

[JMPlayer6]

I love Penn & Teller. Go see them.

[ARTc3]

Thank you all for you thoughts. They are more than appreciated.

I did like, O, so Le Reve is a definite. I actually went ahead and purchase tickets. I also got Penn and Teller and Michael Jackson.

I am planning on spending Saturday 7 March downtown to ride the Slotzilla zip line, so I'm thinking the mob museum and the neon bone yard are probably going to be a part of this adventure.

Again, can't thank you enough for all your input.

[Bilbo3]

The general feeling in Vegas is that LE REVE is much better than O. So if you liked O, You will probably love Le Reve. But to be honest, the best show in town is a small circus oriented show called Absinthe: http://absinthevegas.com/

[ARTc3]

Many years ago, what is now, Absinthe, was performing in San Francisco. I saw and loved the show in San Francisco. As with all circus shows, they change constantly, and so I'm sure that Absinthe has evolved. I may make, Absinthe, my final show for this vacation. Everyone I've spoken to who's from Las Vegas agrees that is the best of the best in Las Vegas right now.

[everythingtaboo]

^^ I third that. You might be able to score a discount ticket while you're there, but either way, you really need to do Absinthe.

Also, Neon Museum is really awesome, great choice there.

[luvcaroline]

Everythingtaboo, that's very helpful info about the retooled Le Reve finale. I've wanted an excuse to see that show again, now I have one. I guess we'll be seeing 2 shows at Wynn next trip.

ARTc3, all the latest show discount codes can be found at smartervegas.com. Great hotel discounts there also.

[RemlapLBC]

let me add my votes for Absinthe which until recently would have be my #1 recommendation, with a #2 of go back again the next night.
However, now that The Gazillionare and Penny have moved to the Australia production, there is a major ** next this. (I know they have recast Gaz. I have not seen the show since they departed.

If you have never seen Penn & Teller, GO.

I'll add, you obviously love Cirque, Go see Le Reve.

Have a great trip.

[ARTc3]

Again, thank you everyone. I will report back what I thought of everything in two weeks when I get back.

[RippedMan]

Rock of Ages is still going, right? If you want something that's not in the Cirque vein.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Zumanity hasn't been redone quite yet. The show is planning to go dark in the next month and should reopen before the spring break rush.

Le Reve is nothing like O. It's also an entirely more entertaining show and some of the best work by Franco Dragone in the States. If you can't go to see his more amazing work (House of Dancing Water, Taboo, The Han Show, Lido), Le Reve in Vegas is a perfect intro to his artistic sensibilities.

[PatrickDC]

I just got back from Vegas (happy to be out before the craziness). I'm not a fan of CdS shows, too derivative and not much is new. On my last visit I saw "O" and was pleased with that show, though part of it was having a seat where I could watch some of the mechanics of the huge rigging structure over the stage. My friend's favorite show is Le Reve so I humored him and went. I grudgingly thought I'd see a smaller version of O. Boy, was I WRONG! 

The show runs about 80 minutes that feels like 10, there is so much spectacle and so much going on. It is leaps and bounds beyond O. The Wynn Theater is in the round with 12 rows of seats so no bad views. We splurged for the VIP seats and I am glad we did (see below). 

Le Reve has been significantly overhauled in the last year, and my friend who has seen it liked the changes. The costumes especially he said are sexier. 

One of my main complaints with CdS shows are the clown acts that come out of nowhere and -- unless I'm missing something -- rarely have anything to do with the production. They could also be replaced with other clown acts. They take away from the acrobatics and rhythm of the performance. Le Reve has a couple charming characters that could be considered the comic relief, but they are sweet in their two or three appearances trying to woo the Dreamer character. (She is torn between love of the blonde good guy and the dark haired bad boy; the two "clowns" also try to gain her affections.) So it all just seems to work very well. 

I won't go much into the spectacle but just know it is amazing and while some may call parts of it "over the top" to me it was just wonderful. There is alot going on and I feel the need to see it again soon to catch other things I missed. 

As for seating, I highly recommend you get the VIP seats (which my friend seems to think are a somewhat new addition). You are in the very top row in very generous and comfortable seats with tables for your cocktails. At your feet is a video monitor showing backstage. If you are a behind-the-scenes geek like me -- and I assume most of you on this page are -- it is fascinating to watch, say, a performer putting on a harness and swinging into place, then looking up and seeing her dropping into the auditorium. I'm told there is an VIP-VIP viewing section below the "stage" where you can watch all the mechanics and procedures. 

You also want these seats because of the leg room. The regular aisles are narrow. Being Vegas, seemed like 20-30% of the audience were late comers. The ushers didn't wait for breaks to seat them (not that there really are breaks in an 80-minute show). Guests were seated -- and on-timers were forced to stand -- during some crucial parts of the acts. Must have been very annoying for the on-timers. This is not an issue in the VIP seats. And frankly, they are not that much more than general admission. 

Other pluses: amazing sound system, gorgeous soundtrack by a live band and singers, and great lighting by Broadway vets Eisenhauer/Fisher. 

Sorry for the lengthy post. But three days later I'm still daydreaming about Le Reve/The Dream and I can't wait to see it again...and again. 

Happy New Year!  

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

PatrickDC, glad you enjoyed the show so much.  It is my favorite in Vegas, but I need to return soon to see if there are any any changes since last I attended.

The VIP seats have always been there, but I don't care to see details of how the magic is created so I opt out of them when I go to the show.

Happy New Year.

[BWAY Baby2]

Loved La Reve as well- but no one mentioned Love- the Beatles Cirque show- it is really good- I highly recommend it.