Let’s start debunking a myth: can Las Vegas only be defined as the gambling capital of the world or “Sin City”? Most likely not. These definitions are all correct but also quite reductive. Why?
You’ll understand when you arrive in the city on your West Coast trip. Along the Las Vegas Strip lined with hotels, there are gigantic billboards of several evening shows displayed. I will share a personal memory from my trip to Las Vegas. I was there for a night with my wife, and I couldn’t count the number of times I saw the advertisements – on posters, signs, flyers, screens, hotel fronts… everywhere! – of a show with an illusionist magician, Criss Angel (which I’ll talk about shortly).
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This is basically to say that Las Vegas, in recent years, has stood out not only for being a popular destination for gamblers, but also for the wide variety of evening shows at the casino hotels. And what is astounding about these shows is not only the quantity but above all their quality. Most likely, if you happen to be in Las Vegas, you will have the opportunity to see concerts or shows of the most important international artists.
Today we want to tell you about some of the most attended and loved shows in Las Vegas, more precisely, the 8 shows of the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, the famous Canadian traveling circus company, and in Las Vegas, there are a few of venues in the world where the shows are permanent.
Contents
“O” by Cirque du Soleil
“O”: a vowel expressing astonishment and, at the same time, sounds like the French word for “water”. And water is the main theme of this show. This is one of the most famous and applauded in all Las Vegas, and it’s no coincidence that this show is held at the Bellagio, a famous hotel in Las Vegas that is also known for the spectacular free water performances seen by thousands of visitors every day. However, “O” is much more than a water show. It is a tribute to the theater, a challenge to the deepest elements and structures of nature, and a dialogue between water and the human race.
The impressive talent of the Cirque du Soleil‘s jugglers and acrobats is presented to the public in a surreal and symbolic way. In the show, there are scenic dives, fireworks, underwater choreographies, and a ghost ship suspended over the water, which becomes a stage for the acrobats. “O” really awakens the senses!
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KÃ by Cirque du Soleil
The ruler of a kingdom in the Far East has two twins – a brother and a sister – both heirs to the throne. During an assault on the kingdom, the siblings are separated. Both will have to face a journey full of pitfalls and masterful discoveries in order to finally meet again. Out of all of the shows of Cirque du Soleil, KÃ is the one that most invests in an articulated plot. During their adventurous quest, the two protagonists will understand that the world always hides two contrasting faces, and so will personal destiny. From a strictly artistic point of view, besides the phenomenal acrobatics of the circus, the martial arts demonstrations – the battles that the two siblings have to face – are worth mentioning.
This is a permanent show at the MGM Grand and is the only one that does not have a “normal” stage. Spectators watch in amazement as the performers move on a platform that rotates 360° that helps to convey the frenzy of the action and combat scenes. It is an exciting show… literally from every point of view!
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The Beatles LOVE
Crazy, colorful, visionary. These adjectives are not enough to describe the Cirque du Soleil show dedicated to the music of The Beatles, the band that changed the history of rock. The show is called The Beatles LOVE and to call it musical could be really reductive. You don’t see a concert like this very often. The artists, dancers, and acrobats of the Cirque du Soleil put on a unique performance of popular songs like Help!, Here Comes the Sun, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Strawberry Fields Forever, etc. In essence, we’re talking about a very original tribute to the music of the Fab Four, including water ballets in slow-motion, acrobatics around British red telephone boxes, dreamy and surreal aerial atmospheres, and much more.
The show is held in the arena of the Mirage. What is interesting about the setup of the arena is that the stage is in the center and is surrounded by the stands. Would you like to hear another fun fact? The Beatles’ Love album, released in November 2006, was conceived entirely as a soundtrack to the show, demonstrating the excellent harmony between the only two musicians still alive – Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – and Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil.
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Mystère
Mystère may not be, to date, the most-watched show of the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, but it is certainly the oldest as well as a real piece of history. This was the first permanent show in Las Vegas back in 1993, with a stage adapted just for this show. At the time, Mystère was designed for Caesars Palace and its theme was Ancient Greece and Rome. Today it is much more complex and abstract. The subject is the mystery of life, and the story is told through a series of exhilarating acrobatics, dances, and sketches performed by a large number of characters, some of which are evidently symbolic.
The show is no longer held today at Caesars Palace, but it is performed at Treasure Island instead. One of the most curious features of Mystère is the huge snail-puppet controlled by 4 puppeteers hidden inside.
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Zarkana
Zarkana‘s secret is the rock opera beat! But let’s start with the storyline. The circus for which the magician Zark works is in a state of abandonment and he himself has lost faith in his own abilities. The magician’s passion and the vitality of the circus will shine again after the protagonist has lived an incredible adventure in a dream world populated by surreal and bizarre characters that will test him and revive in him the enthusiasm of magic. The design and colors of the sets are clearly inspired by Gaudi and Klimt’s Art Nouveau.
The show takes place exclusively at the Aria and it may remind you of Mystère due to the breathtaking acrobatics in dark style, hypnotic dances, disturbing and fascinating characters, and a thrilling performance by trapeze artists…
NOTE: Currently (2019-2020) Zarkana has been suspended. However, it may be reinstated soon.
Zumanity
Among the many shows of the Cirque du Soleil, there had to also be the hottest burlesque performance! Even the routine, acrobatics, and dances have great sensuality… Well, Zumanity takes this to the extreme, proposing itself as a journey into the world of eroticism and seduction, and putting the contradictions of sexuality to the test. The performances of the artists of this show are much spicier and more provocative than usual. The scope of the show is to drag the spectator into a vortex of sensuality by exploring body language and its sensationalization.
As you might have guessed, the show – which can be defined as the sensual version of the Cirque du Soleil shows – is forbidden to children under 18, and is held at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino.
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Michael Jackson ONE
If you’re a hardened music lover and the Beatles aren’t for you – or if, on the contrary, they weren’t enough for you! – don’t worry. Cirque du Soleil has decided to dedicate one of its shows to the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson. This show, entitled ONE, takes its inspiration from masterpieces such as Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Dirty Diana, and many other hits that have made the beloved pop star rise to fame. With an impressive mix of rhythm, lights, colors, and music, the Cirque du Soleil artists offer a total show, ranging from Smooth Criminal’s gangster movie choreography to Thriller’s zombie ballets. The result is incredible.
If you want to see this show, you’ll have to go to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The show is a sort of musical tribute but it does not include the use of a live orchestra.
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R.U.N.
Have you always wanted to be in an action movie? This is the show for you! Motorcycle chases, crazy fights, explosions, and men on fire are just some of the crazy things you’ll see taking shape on this stage. R.U.N. creates a not-so-quiet marriage between shady affairs and revenge missions. It’s no coincidence that the director of this adrenaline-fuelled show is Robert Rodriguez (the same as in the movie titled Sin City). Children under 13 cannot access the show and some of the stunts are so extreme that you’ll jump in your seat while watching them. It basically includes everything your parents told you not to do as a child because it’s too dangerous!
To see this show, you have to go to the Luxor Hotel & Casino, which is also one of the most interesting themed hotels on the entire Strip.
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Criss Angel MINDFREAK
The title of the show says it all. “Mindfreak” encapsulates the essence and charm of illusionism. Ultimately, it is impossible to remain unimpressed in the face of the 40 tricks that Criss Angel performs at Planet Hollywood. This show is very different from all the others, and this is a result of a partnership between Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil. It is absolutely spectacular, and you will be left with no choice but to believe what you will see and try to guess, if you can, where the trick is.
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Prices and Schedules
All the shows last about 90 minutes and, typically, they are performed twice a day. They take place at 7:00 pm and 9.30 pm (the price remains unchanged). Let’s just say typically, because some shows sometimes do not follow this schedule. When booking tickets for a show, please check the available time.
The prices correspond to the various seating areas and they usually range from $60 to $210. These amounts may change and are subject to unpredictable fluctuations, but it may be useful to mention them to give you an idea of how much you will spend.
Discounted Tickets for Cirque du Soleil Shows
The ideal thing would be to find discounted tickets for Cirque du Soleil, and the only way for that to happen is to look for them in advance, so as not to risk going to the box office and discovering that the show is already sold out, which is very likely. Most shows get sold out even weeks in advance. Therefore, I suggest that you search for tickets ahead of time, in order not to risk not being able to buy tickets or to miss out on the most affordable tickets.
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…and after the show?
We have already told you about the electric Cirque du Soleil shows, as well as best free attractions in Las Vegas and the other spectacular hotels where to stay, but we’d like to mention another show that is equally exciting, but for other reasons: a helicopter tour from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. Whether by looking at acrobats swing from a trapeze or by flying in a helicopter, you can discover the thrill of flying!
