Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

A new Cirque Du Soleil magic show is coming there, I heard. I think that could be kinda cool. I love a good magic show, and I really miss S&R, I can't wait to see what CDS can do with magic!

Posted by detroit1051

I've questioned the concept of Las Vegas becoming "Broadway West" for some time now. The demise of Ave Q and Hairspray and the Wynn/Dragone news Hunter just posted don't indicate a bright future for theater on the Strip. Miles and Steve used the word "spectacle" in their podcast about Hairspray closing.

It seems to me that mainstream visitors to Vegas want spectacle and fast moving action. That is the reason Cirque shows have been so successful. They are not plays, they are quick moving sound, light and action productions, and it sounds like Steve Wynn wants to add more of these features as he trys to remake LeReve.

Even though Phantom of the Opera and Spamalot are well known throughout the country, I'm not sure their success in guaranteed in Vegas. Those two shows will be the real test of the Strip's willingness to accept something new.

Posted by Hunter

I think Phantom has a solid chance but I'm really not so sure about Spamalot.

Steve Wynn seems to think that Monty Python has massive appeal... I know a lot of people that are fans but it is a very casual kind of connection - not a 'MUST SEE THE SHOW' kind of thing.

If Spamalot fails then Steve will have really blown it on the entertainment front.

I don't know about Spamalot either. I do find it funny, how the press got so upset about Wynn's comments on Hairspray's attendence levels, and now it looks as if he was right. If they were doing so well, they wouldn't be closing in 6 days.

Actually, I don't think the news was broken by Steve and Miles this time. It was in Norm's column this morning. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-06-Tue-2006/news/7801377.html

Hey Hunter!

Thanks for the blog entry, but I did NOT say that I think Spamalot will work. And Miles said on last night's special edition that it WON'T. I didn't disagree. What I said is that I still believe that Avenue Q could have worked in Las Vegas -- matched with the age-appropriate property, which the Wynn was not. I also think Phantom should do well for the same reasons "Love" and "Mamma Mia!" do -- because they're all pop culture phenoms with presold music.

For the record, I *never* thought Hairspray would work, although I sure thought it would last more than four months. And I predict certain doom for "The Producers" unless Matthew Broderick is moving to our humble desert. Unlikely.

Coming on on Thursday's regular edition of The Strip: Cinevegas' Dennis Hopper. And, possibly, a chat with one of Hairspray's soon-to-be-out-of-work stars.

-Steve

Posted by Hunter

jaredindc - Steve and Miles posted this last night.

Steve - I wasn't trying to imply that you were saying Spamalot would work... The Steve I was referring to was the other Steve... Steve Wynn. :-)

I personally have my doubts and it sounds like you do too.

Keep up the good work on the Podcast - I gave you a vote at Podcast Alley!

I stand corrected. :) Guess I didn't see it online until this evening. Great job (again!) of breaking big Vegas news.

Posted by detroit1051

More on "Broadway West":
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-07-Wed-2006/news/7821063.html

hey... while we're on a roll here...

do me a favor and go vote for The Strip at
http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=22492

we're trying to break into the Top 50, which would mean huge visibility for us.

thanks!

steve

Posted by Hunter

Regarding 'Spamalot', I've been pretty unsure about how it was going to do but after reading this review:

http://wingsforwheels.blogspot.com/2006/06/spamalot-bit-of-fun.html

I'm now more interested and I'm hoping it'll be great. We'll see.