Let us Entertain you

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
The legendary performer Cher will headline at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace beginning May 6. The performance agreement, which is in partnership with AEG Live, includes approximately 200 shows over a span of three years. Cher at The Colosseum, designed exclusively for the 4,300-seat venue, will feature countless chart-topping hits over the course of her career. The 90-minute show will be complimented by state-of-the-art lighting, special effects and costumes. A world-famous superstar for more than 40 years, Cher has released more than 25 albums, sold over 100 million records and has received Grammys, Oscars and Emmys for her achievements.

"Hats! A Music and Comedy Celebration" debuted at Harrah?s Las Vegas. It?s the story of a 49.999-year-old woman who reluctantly faces the BIG Five-O until she meets several remarkable women who show her fun, friendship and the lighter side of maturity. The production features lavish costumes, a live band and talented performers.

Known for her incomparable humor, over-the-top imagination and captivating charisma, the Divine Miss M. has appropriately titled her new Las Vegas production Bette Midler "The Showgirl Must Go On". The show, which is created exclusively for The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, made its highly anticipated debut on February 20, 2008. With plenty of girls and gags, "The Showgirl Must Go On" features some of Midler?s favorite colorful characters, a 13-piece band and 20 female dancers.

"JERSEY BOYS", the Tony Award-winning musical, will open in a custom-built, 1600-seat theater at Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino on May 3, 2008. JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty. The show features such hits as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," "Oh, What a Night," and many more. "JERSEY BOYS," which opened to rave reviews on November 6, 2005, continues to set weekly box office records and continues to be one of the top grossing shows on Broadway.

Cirque du Soleil and Luxor have announced a new show featuring renowned illusionist Criss Angel. The show is scheduled to open at Luxor in the summer of 2008. Cirque du Soleil and Criss Angel will work together to fuse revolutionary illusions and mystical artistry with acrobatics, dance, puppetry, music and poetry in an effort to reinvent the traditional magic show. With the opening of CityCenter in 2009, Cirque du Soleil and Elvis Presley Enterprises will team with MGM MIRAGE to debut their next resident show in Las Vegas. Based on the life and music of the iconic performer Elvis Presley, the show will feature state-of-the-art technology and captivating visuals.


Broadway

Wynn Las Vegas introduced the Broadway hit,"Monty Python?s Spamalot" last year. It is the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail. Based on the motion picture, this hilarious, 90-minute show features chorus lines of dancing divas, hot knights in tights, feisty Frenchman, silly songs and more.

In 2006, The Venetian debuted "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular." The show is permanently housed in a $40 million theater. The 95-minute production includes never-before-seen special effects, a jaw-dropping reproduction of the Parisian opera house where the story takes place, and all the beloved songs from the original Andrew Lloyd Webber production. "Phantom of the Opera" has grossed more than $3 billion worldwide since its London debut in 1986. In January 2006, it became the longest running show in Broadway history, surpassing "Cats."

The longest ongoing Broadway-caliber production on the Strip is "MAMMA MIA!" at Mandalay Bay (debuted February 2003). The production based on the music of ABBA includes 22 of the group's greatest hits to tell the tale of one mother's preparations for her daughter's wedding day and the somewhat awkward situation that ensues.

The off-Broadway show "Menopause, The Musical" is a popular part of the Hilton's lineup. Writer/Producer Jeanie Linders created the show as a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived "The Change."

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 "Mystere" at Treasure Island, which recently celebrated 10 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, "KA," 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.

"Le Rêve," French for "The Dream," now 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. Recently, the theater underwent an $8 million renovation project spearheaded by designers Mark Fisher and Roger Thomas. The 1606 seats (down from 2087) provide a more comfortable and luxurious space for the entire audience and include luxurious fabrics, plush chairs and a warm blend of cocoa, bronze and deep reds. The show has also introduced a VIP Indulgence Package with champagne bottle service, chocolate-covered strawberries, private video monitors and live glimpses behind the scenes during the 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 25th anniversary and features no less than the nightly sinking of the Titanic on stage. "Les Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana is another classic Las Vegas production, complete with sequined showgirls, glamour and pageantry.

"Blue Man Group's" Las Vegas production can now be seen at The Venetian in their custom-built, multi-million dollar 1,750-seat 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. "Blue Man Group -- Live at Luxor" opened at Luxor Las Vegas in March 2000.

"Legends in Concert," featuring superstar impersonators, is the popular, long-running show at Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino.

"MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris" is a direct import from its legendary namesake in Paris, a production famous for celebrating the art of the nude since 1951. "MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris" combines sensual choreography and unique lighting effects.

Superstar Headliners

R&B singer Toni Braxton stars in her own show, "Toni Braxton: Revealed" at Flamingo Las Vegas. The seven-time Grammy award-winner is billed as the property's resident headliner and performs five nights per week. Recently, Flamingo Las Vegas announced that it has extended her run through Feb. 16, 2008.

The Las Vegas Hilton's roster of entertainment continues to grow. Currently, Barry Manilow headlines with his production, "Manilow: Music and Passion." He sings his hits, as well as new music written specifically for the show. Manilow's show is expected to run through 2008.

Elton John's "The Red Piano" takes the stage at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. John, one of the world's most successful touring artists and one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, teamed up with David LaChapelle to present his hits in a musical and visual extravaganza. John will perform at the Colosseum through 2008.

Rita Rudner brings her unique comedy to Harrah's Las Vegas. Rudner is an accomplished actress, best-selling author and comedian. Her show features witty commentary on topics ranging from relationships to men.

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.

Master magician Lance Burton performs five nights per week in Monte Carlo's $27 million theater built in his honor. This is one of the few shows where children of all ages are welcome. Expect flying cars, disappearing birds and perhaps an audience member or two dangling from the chandelier.

The Mirage's Danny Gans is the man of many voices and uncanny impersonations. He has a repertoire of nearly 300 voices and can impersonate everyone from George Burns to Al Pacino to Kermit the Frog.

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.

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

Home to the annual "Billboard Music Awards" and numerous other televised awards shows, 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 Bette Midler's "The Showgirl Must Go On", and Elton John's "The Red Piano." 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 Theatre 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.

With a capacity of 1,400,The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has played host to legendary acts such as Aerosmith, Blondie, Lenny Kravitz and No Doubt.

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.

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.

Comedy clubs host well-known and rising-star comedians in an intimate atmosphere. A sampling of such clubs includes:
* Comedy Stop at the Tropicana
* Improv at Harrah's
* Riviera Comedy Club at the Riviera
* Second City at the Flamingo Las Vegas

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

box btm