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January 12, 2007

'Spamalot' Coming to Wynn Las Vegas in March 2007: Broadway in Las Vegas - Will It Work?

Posted by Hunter

This Wynn Las Vegas press release was issued today to remind people that the popular Broadway musical 'Spamalot' is opening in March in the theater that was formerly home to 'Avenue Q'.

The previews start early March with the actual opening on March 31st. This version of the production will feature John O'Hurly, known for his recurring role on 'Seinfeld' as J. Peterman.

While they were once heralded as bringing in a new wave of entertainment to Las Vegas, shows such as 'Avenue Q', 'Hairspray', and 'We Will Rock You' all faltered. At the same time, 'Mamma Mia' has had a very successful run that is scheduled to end in 2008 and the version of 'Phantom' at The Venetian has seen some success. 'The Producers', another Broadway hit, opens in February at Paris Las Vegas.

I haven't seen 'Spamalot' but I've heard the show is 'wacky' and might be a good fit for Vegas audiences. These shows always suffer from having to be cut down to a running length no longer than 90 minutes, as well as the language barrier with foreign visitors that doesn't exist at non-verbal shows, like those from Cirque du Soleil.

I personally hope that this show works. I really liked 'Avenue Q' and was sad to see it go. I usually really enjoy myself when we spend a night on Broadway in NYC, though I rarely catch touring shows when they come to LA.

Wynn Las Vegas Press Release on 'Spamalot' Coming to Las Vegas

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Categories: Business of Gaming, Las Vegas Strip, Press Releases, Wynn Resorts


Comments

Read archived comments (4 so far)
January 13, 2007 12:29 AM Posted by mike_ch

Hairspray was just the wrong production for this town. I guess I can't blame them because I would have told you that Mama Mia was the wrong production as well and I would have had to eat my hat with the success it had. Still, it was a show VERY much more targeted at you usual Broadway audience than Las Vegas. It wasn't modern enough, it wasn't sexy, and the musical score wasn't a hit beforehand.

Avenue Q was like South Park On-Stage but it was trying too darn hard. I didn't think it was funny, and I wasn't alone.

Meanwhile, We Will Rock You was utter trash and I hesitate to wonder who called that theater. Nothing wrong with Queen, but the play that all these songs were being stitched into was the most unimaginative, trite, boring trash I'd ever seen. To steal a phrase from someone else, WWRY was written by guys who hate things immediately once they get popular. It was like four guys got together talking about why they didn't like Starbucks and eventually "We Will Rock You" was born. The story was basically that corporations suck and homogenize everything and that there's no school like the old school. But it all really was very unimportant and merely a platform for people I don't know to sing Queen songs and not as well as Queen did. Imagine if LOVE was mostly people who were not the Beatles singing their songs, and you get the idea.

Phantom I think will do alright between it's name recognition and the draw of it's soundtrack. A lot of people have heard the songs and never seen the show.

Spamalot, I think, will do well. The soundtrack was on my in-flight entertainment center on a cross country flight about a year ago and so I gave it a listen and enjoyed what I heard. Both familiar and, in some ways, different. I wonder with baited breath whether "You Can't Succeed On Broadway" will get a lyrical re-write for the production here. I might see it, but I'm afraid hearing the soundtrack with it's original cast might have ruined me.

And "The Producers" I don't think will make it. I got discount tickets but then realized I could see the movie for less and it features better acting chops. I think I'm probably not the only one and the recent remake film might have hurt it's chances. The only way I'll go is if David brings KITT out onstage.

January 13, 2007 3:10 AM Posted by Mike E

Mike_ch wrote: "The only way I'll go is if David brings KITT out onstage."

Too funny! I don't understand the international success of "the Hoff", but if he's enough to entice an audience that would otherwise avoid a production because of the language barrier, than The Producers will be a great success.

The Strip podcast recently gave the New York production of Spamalot scathing reviews and predicted that the show will be a failure. I think I'll see it for myself at the end of March and make my own judgements.

January 13, 2007 8:43 AM Posted by Dave Lifton

I've seen Spamalot and loved the hell out of it. The guys on The Strip podcast were way wrong about it, although they admitted up front that they're not Python fans. I don't know how well it will do in Vegas, but I don't think it's as difficult a sell as Avenue Q.

Here's my review of Spamalot.

http://www.wingsforwheels.net/wordpress/?p=106

And I don't think WWRY even made it to Broadway. Wasn't it supposed to be in Vegas as a test?

March 6, 2007 11:44 AM Posted by Eric I

http://www.spamalotlasvegas.com
Thought it might be useful to have a link to the Spamalot Las Vegas show.
Cheers!