ENTERTAINMENT - SHOWS

There's a good reason why Las Vegas is called the "Entertainment Capital of the World." Since its Rat Pack days, Las Vegas has been inextricably associated with legendary shows and entertainers. Say "Las Vegas" and it's likely that showgirls in elaborate headdresses and Elvis impersonators will come to mind.

Today, the Las Vegas entertainment scene still has plenty of its classic glamour, but it has evolved to include so much more. In addition to the iconic Las Vegas entertainment staples, the destination offers a lineup of award-winning magicians, Broadway-caliber productions, world-renowned concert headliners and unique-to-Las Vegas production shows.

What's New

Shania Twain, international superstar and the world's best-selling female country artist of all time, has returned to the stage and vocal spotlight with a two-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The music icon performs all of her biggest hits in her new show SHANIA: STILL THE ONE exclusively to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil have joined forces to create touring and permanent shows based on the music and songs of Michael Jackson. This will be the largest-ever music show touring North America and around the world for four non-stop years. The second show will have a permanent home in Las Vegas and will open in 2013 at Mandalay Bay.

Zarkana, the surreal acrobatic spectacle by Cirque du Soleil, recently opened at ARIA Resort & Casino.  The show follows Zark, the ringmaster of an extraordinary circus coming back to life, as he guides us in an abandoned theatre populated by a motley collection of off-the-wall characters and incomparable acrobats. Zarkana is a visual vortex set in a twisted acrobatic fantasy universe where, little by little, chaos and craziness give way to a true celebration.

Carlos Santana has begun a two-year run of unique performances - "An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" -- in the specially re-configured House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

An imaginative show in a unique venue, Absinthe, the crown jewel of the Spiegelworld experience, is an adult carnival transforming the Roman Plaza in front of Caesars Palace into an entertainment playground. Visitors experience a captivating maze of tents and early 20th Century European decor housing an adult carnival, complete with a secret speakeasy, raucous beer garden and mischievous drinking games. As nightfall approaches, all Absinthe performances, take place in the Spiegeltent, a heritage wooden show tent from Europe opulently decorated with mirrors, stained glass and velvet. Audience members are immersed in a theatre-in-the-round presentation.

The Venetian Las Vegas has welcomed Tim McGraw and Faith Hill "Soul2Soul" for a limited engagement that began in December 2012 and will cover 10 weekends through April 2013. "Soul2Soul" at The Venetian marks the first time in six years that McGraw and Hill have performed together in the United States. The Venetian Theater was also modified to accommodate this new production.  These "Soul2Soul" concerts will include many of the no. 1 hits that have made them, both in their own right, two of the most significant entertainers of our generation.

Broadway

The Venetian Las Vegas has welcomed the newest resident engagement, "Rock of Ages" "Rock of Ages." The worldwide smash hit features a raucous mix of 28 eyebrow-scorching tunes.  Set in L.A.'s infamous Sunset Strip in 1987, "Rock of Ages" tells the story of Drew, a boy from South Detroit and Sherrie, a small-town girl, both in L.A. to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. "Rock of Ages" takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair!  This hilarious, feel-good love story celebrates the great rock songs of the ‘80s including such sing-out-loud songs as "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "I Wanna Know What Love Is," "Here I Go Again," "Don't Stop Believin" and more.

Harrah's Las Vegas will come alive with the untold story of four rock n' roll pioneers and how they came together for one magical night, as the smash hit musical Million Dollar Quartet moves into the Harrah's Showroom Feb. 4, 2013.

Jersey Boys, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical at Paris Las Vegas, takes visitors behind the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The show features golden greats such as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and many more.

Production Shows

Cirque du Soleil and its ethereal combination of acrobats and special effects dazzle audiences all along the Strip. The group produces shows for a variety of properties including "Viva Elvis" at ARIA based on the legacy of Elvis Presley; "Mystère" at Treasure Island, which recently celebrated 15 years on the Las Vegas Strip.  Bellagio's "O" is the troupe's first foray into aquatic theater, featuring a cast of 81 artists performing in and above a pool containing 1.5 million gallons of water. Cirque du Soleil's "Zumanity" opened September 2003 at New York-New York Hotel & Casino.  In 2005, the fourth Cirque du Soleil show, "KÀ," debuted at MGM Grand.  In June 2006 "LOVE" opened at The Mirage.  Based on the music of The Beatles, the project was begun by the late George Harrison and Guy Laliberté, Cirque's founder.  "LOVE" is presented in a custom-built theater featuring 360-degree seating, high-definition projections with 100-foot high digital, moving images in addition to a panoramic sound system. "Criss Angel: BELIEVE," a partnership between the master illusionist and Cirque du Soleil, debuted their much-anticipated production show at Luxor. Fusing together revolutionary illusions and mystical artistry with acrobatics, dance, puppetry, music and poetry, Angel reinvents the traditional magic show.

"Le Rêve," French for "The Dream," calls Wynn Las Vegas home. Franco Dragone produced this show which resides in the Wynn Theater. Water serves as the backdrop for the more than 70 performers who move in and out of a one-million-gallon pool. The show has introduced a VIP Indulgence Package with champagne bottle service, chocolate-covered strawberries, private video monitors and live glimpses behind the scenes during the show. The Diver's Dream Package offers a weekend of excitement, including a two-night stay in a Resort Room at Wynn or Encore, VIP Indulgence tickets to Le Rêve, a private backstage tour, SDI Certified SCUBA training session with the Le Rêve diving team and the unparalleled opportunity to dive during the live show.

For feathers, sequins, showgirls and tuxedo-clad dancers, "Jubilee!" is the multi-million dollar production show at Bally's Las Vegas. The over-the-top show recently celebrated its 30^th anniversary and features no less than the nightly sinking of the Titanic on stage.

"Blue Man Group's" Las Vegas production can now be seen at Monte Carlo in their custom-built, multi-million dollar theater. "Blue Man Group" is a colorful, interactive show.  The groundbreaking performance-art trio playfully incorporates everything from PVC pipes to energetic, percussive music in their productions. 

Superstar Headliners

Celine Dion has returned to Las Vegas to begin a three-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The brand new show, premiered March 15, 2011 featuring 31 musicians, including a full orchestra and band.

World-renowned singer, songwriter and performer Elton John performs at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with an all-new show, "The Million Dollar Piano." Elton is in the beginning of a three-year residency at The Colosseum and his second as a Caesars Palace headliner. He  is accompanied by his band, which includes Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums and Kim Bullard on keyboards with a special appearance by percussionist Ray Cooper.

Legendary rock icon Rod Stewart headlines The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for his two-year Las Vegas residency, that began in 2011.  Rod Stewart: The Hits. is  a concert celebration featuring a set list of the rock and R&B favorites which have defined Stewart's unparalleled five-decade-long career. The spectacular, state-of-the-art production, presented by AEG Live, is a culmination of Stewart's seminal hits mixed with a few surprise rarities and sizzling covers.

Donny and Marie bring their distinctive talents and undeniable talents to Flamingo Las Vegas. These icons of music and television dazzle and delight audiences of all ages.

The "Bad Boys of Magic" can be seen at the Rio. The "Penn and Teller" show is an edgy mix of comedy and magic involving knives, guns, fire, a gorilla and a showgirl.  While Penn and Teller supposedly reveal the secrets to their tricks, they still manage to leave audiences startled.

Entertainment Venues

Classic Las Vegas showrooms may offer a close glimpse of superstars with seating to accommodate several hundred to more than 4,000 guests. Las Vegas' larger arena-style venues can host crowds well into the tens of thousands.

Event centers and arenas sell out regularly and have featured myriad celebrity acts including U2, the Rolling Stones, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Garth Brooks and many more.

Opening its doors for the first time in March of 2012 was The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Las Vegas in the new Symphony Park development. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is a public/private partnership that has become the centerpiece of cultural life in Las Vegas offering a blend of performances by resident companies like the Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Nevada Ballet as well as first-run touring attractions. The 4.75-acre cultural complex features inviting lobbies with beautiful balconies, refined acoustics and a tastefully landscaped plaza linking surrounding hotels, restaurants, shops and offices in downtown's 61-acre urban development, Symphony Park. Home to the 2,050-seat Reynolds Hall and the Boman Pavilion.

The Palms concert venue, The Pearl, which seats 2,400 guests is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for recording live albums.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is a 17,157-seat special events arena that can accommodate concerts, sporting events and awards shows. In 1993, the Grand Garden made history when Barbra Streisand returned to the stage for a legendary New Year's Eve show after a 20-year hiatus.

Performers as versatile as the destination itself have played to capacity crowds at the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Three Tenors, Ricky Martin, Juan Gabriel, Barenaked Ladies, Andrea Bocelli, Tim McGraw and the Eagles are just some of the artists who have brought their talents to the Las Vegas Strip. World championship boxing and other sporting events are also held at the Events Center.

The $95 million Colosseum at Caesars Palace is the contemporary interpretation of its ancient namesake in Rome. The 4,000-seat facility is home to Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and, soon, Shania Twain. The facility is adaptable to varied types of entertainment when these shows are dark. In addition to accommodating headliners, it can be configured to host special events, including boxing.

Similar to its Los Angeles counterpart, legendary and up-and-coming musical artists have made stops at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues, an intimate venue with a capacity of 1,800. Performers have included Norah Jones, Everclear and Cheap Trick.

The Theater for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino is a 7,000-seat, state-of-the-art venue. The traditional seating auditorium makes the theater an ideal place to see a concert, Broadway-style production, awards show and other types of entertainment.

Hard Rock Hotel has a premiere concert venue, The Joint, features a cutting-edge sound and lighting system and offers seven luxury suites. Inheriting its name from the legendary original Hard Rock venue, the new Joint carries on the up-close and personal feel with the furthest seat in the house only 155 feet from the stage. In addition, the venue contains four dressing rooms; a top-notch green room and meet-and-greet room; WiFi access with full blogging station for press covering events; ability to transform for boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts events, corporate functions and trade shows; as well as red carpet movie premieres and advanced screenings.

In Las Vegas, concert-goers get the chance to enjoy musical performances indoors AND outdoors. During the summer, many properties showcase their performers poolside. Green Valley Ranch's Whiskey Beach, Red Rock Resort, Casino and Spa's Backyard and Mandalay Beach are just three places audiences can see musical acts such as the Go-Go's, Seal, Black Eyed Peas and Joe Cocker.

Just a half mile from the strip is the Orleans Arena, a state of the art arena attached to the Orleans Hotel and Casino that opened in 2003 with Brooks & Dunn. This 8,000 seat arena hosts a number of annual events and is the home of the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey team.

Comedy Clubs

Mainstream comedians such as George Wallace, Dennis Miller, Rita Rudner, Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Drew Carey, Jay Mohr and Kevin James, as well as comedy legends such as Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway and the Smothers Brothers, headline many hotel showrooms and are regulars on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Laugh Factory and the New Tropicana Las Vegas are launching a multi-venue comedy experience at the Strip property. Fun World Media has partnered with Laugh Factory to build this new comedy empire and the first stage of the roll-out will be opening Laugh Factory Las Vegas, a comedy showroom starring the hottest comedians in the business. The venue is set to open in 2012.

Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, home to comedy on the Las Vegas Strip, opened a brand new venue at MGM Grand on March 30, 2012. A never-ending line-up of the finest comedians, from established stand-up stars to the hottest young comics in the business along with Brad Garrett performing live.

"Defending the Caveman," the Broadway smash hit about the differences between the sexes, has announced its new home at The Improv at Harrah's Las Vegas. Originally opened at the San Francisco Improv in 1991, this new Las Vegas home allows the show to return to its Improv roots. Comedian Kevin Burke stars in the Las Vegas run of "Defending the Caveman." Burke was recently named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year for his work in "Defending the Caveman" and has performed the show for more than four years in Las Vegas.

Comedy clubs host well-known and rising-star comedians in an intimate atmosphere. A sampling of such clubs includes:

* Improv at Harrah's
* Riviera Comedy Club at the Riviera

* Brad Garrett's Comedy Club at MGM Grand

For additional information, please visit www.LasVegas.com.