las vegas production shows

Las Vegas Production Shows

Casino venues are technically showrooms, but hardly anyone calls them that anymore; these days the emphasis is on state-of-the-art extravaganzas and extended residencies by show business superstars. Of course, every show eventually runs its course and gets replaced by what the casino is betting will be the next hot ticket.

Scoring Tickets on Your Trip

For show tickets at discounts of up to half off, try Tix4Tonight, a ticket discounter with nine locations on the Strip (including the Fashion Show Mall and Bally's Grand Bazaar) and one booth downtown at the Four Queens. Production shows release unsold seats for that night's performances to Tix4Tonight, which then sells those tickets to customers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Discounts range from about 25 to 50 percent off. Tickets are typically released in mid- or late afternoon; on weekends lines begin forming as early as 9:30 a.m. Phone (877) 849-4868 for general inquiries. Information on specific ticket availability can be obtained only at the ticket booths.

If you’re looking for fun things to do, try perusing promotional tourist magazines—found in your hotel room and taxi backseat pockets—as they're also good sources for show ticket discounts. Though you'll never see a half-off coupon for the big headliner shows, the mags are flush with admission deals for mid-tier shows (think Legends in Concert).

Following is a representative sampling of current production shows that are scheduled to run for the foreseeable future. For show times, ticket prices, reservations, venue policies and other information, contact the hotel box office.

A Provocative Show for Those Not Easily Offended

“Absinthe” (Spiegeltent, Caesars Palace). Risque. Raunchy. Ribald. Like the show's opening acrobatic act featuring a tower of precariously balanced chairs, Absinthe teeters on the edge of seriously bad taste. And if you're easily offended, stop reading now and go see Donny and Marie instead. Since 2011, well over a million guests have been alternately shocked and amazed by this wonderfully demented Cirque du Soleil parody staged in an intimate European-style circus tent fronting Caesars. From tightrope walkers and strong men to burlesque dancers and an explicitly sensual trapeze act, the performers are introduced by a rude, tuxedoed MC named The Gazillionaire, who rattles off crude one-liners and often makes audience members the butt of his off-color jokes. Put simply, you'll either love this show or walk out early. Seating is in the round on cramped metal folding chairs. If you’re looking for things for couples to do, be sure to reserve a back-row table for leg room and a comfortable buffer zone between you and The Gazillionaire. You've been warned. Note: Due to strong adult language and partial nudity, ages 17 and under are not permitted. Phone (855) 234-7469.

All You Need is LOVE

“The Beatles LOVE” (The Mirage) Fans of the Fab Four may want to put this show on their list of things to do. This show combines the innovative performances of world-class Cirque du Soleil artists with the timeless songs of the Beatles. The band's lyrics are interpreted through a series of scenes involving aerial acts, extreme sports and urban dance. The production's original score was created by using the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios, creating some ingenious song mash-ups in the process (imagine a fusion of “What You're Doing” and “The Word” for starters). You'll experience the Fab Four in a whole new way in a custom-built theater that features in-the-round seating and high-definition video projections. Phone (702) 792-7777 or (800) 963-9634.

Performance Art and Celebrated Singers

“Blue Man Group” (Luxor Hotel and Casino) will rock your world, blow your mind, and unleash your spirit. As three bald and blue men explore our world, together we’ll discover music, laughter and surprises at every turn. By the end of this spectacular journey, you’ll be saying “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED BUT I LOOOVED IT.” Some 50 million people of all ages, languages and cultures know what Blue Man Group is really about. Now it’s your turn. Phone (702) 262-4400.

Drag Strip Entertainment

“Jabbawockeez” (MGM Grand Hotel & Casino) are a world-famous dance crew who first gained fame in their national television appearance on America’s Got Talent in 2006, before winning the MTV Hip Hop reality series, Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) in March 2008. The crew uses their signature plain white masks and gloves to guide the audience’s attention away from individual identities and toward a unified group. Known for their creativity, one-of-a-kind choreography, athleticism, and intricate synchronization, each member brings a different technique and perspective to form the original style that makes the Jabbawockeez so distinct. Phone (702) 531-3826.

Legends Come to Life

“KÀ” (KÀ Theatre, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino) is storytelling at its best. The show combines acrobatic prowess, martial arts, puppets, interactive video projections and pyrotechnics to tell the epic story of a pair of twins—a boy and a girl—who embark on a perilous journey to fulfill their shared destiny. As the massive stage shifts, the KÀ warriors battle on land and in the sky. Under age 3 are not permitted. Phone (702) 891-3140.

“Legends in Concert” (Tropicana Las Vegas) has been wowing Vegas audiences since 1983, first at the Imperial Palace (now LINQ Hotel + Experience), then at Harrah's, at the Flamingo and now at Tropicana. Celebrity impersonators offer remarkable imitations (singing, not lip-syncing) of Lady Gaga, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson and a host of others, backed by a live band in a full-stage production. The lineup changes every few months, although you can count on Elvis making an appearance. Phone (702) 253-1333.

“Michael Jackson ONE” (Michael Jackson Theatre, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino) is Cirque du Soleil's tribute to the King of Pop. Packed with music, dance, pyrotechnics and acrobatics galore, the 90-minute, state-of-the-art extravaganza spotlights MJ's biggest '80s and '90s hits (“Billie Jean,” “Bad,” “I Just Can't Stop Loving You,” etc.), and interprets them for a 21st-century audience. During the “Thriller” number, zombies run amok through the audience. And for “Man In The Mirror” there's even a hologram of a dancing/singing Jackson performing with the Cirque troupe. Since the moonwalk made its Vegas debut in July 2013, the show has become one of the hottest Cirque tickets on the Strip. Beat it to the box office as soon as you get to town. Phone (877) 632-7400 or (800) 745-3000.

Aquatics and Theatrics

“Mystère” (Mystère Theatre, Treasure Island) is still one of the most distinctive shows in town. Although it takes place within a single ring, “Mystère” in no way resembles a traditional three-ring circus. For one thing, the audience becomes intimately involved with this show. The music and lighting effects are ethereally beautiful, and the international cast of acrobats, clowns, jugglers, trapeze artists, dancers and musicians are uniformly superb. Suitable for all ages, this is a must-see. Phone (702) 894-7722 or (800) 392-1999.

“O” (“O” Theatre, Bellagio) is Cirque du Soleil’s venture into aquatic theater. An international cast of 77 performs in, on and above water. By combining circus art, drama, choreography, aerial acrobatics and synchronized swimming, this innovative show pays tribute to the age-old magic of theater. International music performed by a 10-piece orchestra accompanies the 90-minute show. Phone (702) 693-8866 or (888) 488-7111.

Magic With a Bite

“Penn & Teller” (Penn & Teller Theater, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino) have been staging their bad-boys-of-magic act at the Rio since the early years of this century and show no sign of letting up anytime soon. If you enjoy optical illusions with a generous side of acerbic wit and biting social commentary, this is the show for you; the easily offended should stay away. Phone (855) 234-7469.

Daring Dance and Bold Acrobatics

“V—The Ultimate Variety Show” (V Theater, Planet Hollywood) incorporates a broad range of entertaining talents, ranging from aerialists, acrobats and gymnasts who do amazing thing with their bodies to magicians who do amazing things with their minds (and some sleight of hand). Also entertaining are masters of percussion, comedians, and a fun and fascinating juggler who slings one-liners almost as quickly as juggling pins. Phone (702) 260-7200 or (866) 932-1818.

More Acts and Celebrity Headliners

The hotel showrooms that don't feature ongoing productions continue the Vegas tradition of presenting celebrity headliners, along with rock concerts and occasional sporting events. During your vacation, you might catch a show at the David Copperfield Theater at the MGM Grand, which regularly presents its namesake illusionist and rounds out its events calendar with musical acts. For more fun things to do with friends, the Planet Hollywood Showroom at Planet Hollywood primarily books comedians and magicians. At the Tropicana, the Laugh Factory is an intimate spot to catch stand-up comics nightly.

During your travel, don't forget to hit downtown's Fremont Street. In addition to the gaudy neon displays of the casinos, Fremont is lit up with classic signs from the 1940s, '50s and '60s that have been restored and installed at various locations.