Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 10 . LAS VEGAS AFTER DARK
Tips Our Favorites
Our vote for best show? It’s a toss-up between O at Bellagio and Mystère
at Treasure Island, both by Cirque du Soleil. Either must be seen to be
believed—and even then you may not believe it, but you won’t be forgetting
the experience anytime soon. Most intelligent show is put on by
Penn & Teller and we are grateful. The best magic show, and one of the
most reasonably priced productions (and thus the overall best value for
the money), is Lance Burton at Monte Carlo. Best classic Vegas topless
revue is Jubilee! at Bally’s. Best we aren’t sure what the heck to call it is
Blue Man Group at Luxor.
actual show you’ll see, but the basic concept and idea will be the same. What’s more,
the show itself may have closed, so it’s a good idea to always call the venue and check.
The following section will describe each of the major production shows currently
playing in Las Vegas, arranged alphabetically by the title of the production.
But first, here’s a handy list arranged by hotel:
• Bally’s: Jubilee! (Las Vegas–style revue)
• Bellagio: Cirque du Soleil’s O (unique circus-meets-performance-art
theatrical experience)
• Caesars Palace: Celine Dion (music and variety)
• Excalibur: Tournament of Kings (medieval-themed revue)
• The Flamingo Las Vegas: Second City Improv (improvisational comedy)
• Harrah’s: Clint Holmes (music and variety)
• Imperial Palace: Legends in Concert (musical impersonators)
• Luxor: Blue Man Group: Live at Luxor (hilarious performance art)
• Mandalay Bay: Mamma Mia! (a musical that features ABBA songs and
was a great hit in London and on Broadway)
• The Mirage: Siegfried & Roy (magical extravaganza); Danny Gans (impressions)
• Monte Carlo: Lance Burton: Master Magician (magic show and revue)
• New York–New York: Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity (adults-only provocative
revue)
• The Riviera: An Evening at La Cage (female impersonators), Crazy Girls
(sexy Las Vegas–style revue), and Splash (aquatic revue)
• Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower: American Superstars (an impressionfilled
production show) and Viva Las Vegas (Las Vegas–style revue)
• Treasure Island: Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère (unique circus performance)
• Tropicana: Folies Bergère (Las Vegas–style revue)
2 The Major Production Shows
This category covers all of the major Las Vegas production shows and a few of
the minor ones as well. In addition to the following, we also recommend Rita
Rudner’s stand-up comedy at New York–New York, and we urge you to stay
away from the musical family the Scintas at the Rio; a fossilized Vegas act full
of near-parody-level lounge singing and jokes at the expense of every ethnicity,
handicap, and sexual orientation out there.
Note: Shows can close without warning, even ones that have been running
just shy of forever, so please call first. Note also that some ticket prices may not
include tax or drinks, so you might also check for those potential hidden costs.