6.1: Getting married in Las Vegas 6.2: After the sun goes down 6.3: Best long running shows 6.4: Getting the best deals 6.5: What or who is playing now 6.6: The hot Vegas night clubs 6.7: Bars, lounges & comedy clubs 6.8: Seamy side of Sin City

Best Las Vegas "Fan & Feather" Show

6.3 Best long running shows

Due to a new 10% Nevada Live Entertainment tax, ticket prices on most of Las Vegas’ long running production shows went up effective January 1, 2004. Many of them now cost more than $100 per ticket. Still, we recommend that you see at least one of them on your first trip to Sin City. Some of the shows have been running for decades. It is difficult to keep up with ticket prices, but to get the best rates, always book through the show’s box office. Here are our recommendations:

Las Vegas “Showgirl” extravaganzas

Best bet! JUBILEE! at Bally’s – (800) 237-SHOW (7469) - has been running for more than 20 years. It features gorgeous showgirls and costumes, million dollar sets, hundreds of performers and world class musical numbers. A must see. Show schedule: Saturday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Ticket prices: $55 to $74.

Also offered is a one hour backstage walking tour hosted by a real, live Jubilee showgirl so you can see firsthand what it takes to bring this $50 million stage spectacular to life! Tour times: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Ticket price is $15.00, but if you purchase a Jubilee! ticket and backstage tour, the price of the tour is only $10.00. Read review here.

FOLLIES BERGERE at the Tropicana - (800) 829-9034 or (702) 739-2411 - is a Las Vegas Legend having run since 1959 ...nearly half a century! Show was updated in 2004. It is a classic Vegas-style “sequins and feathers” show featuring sexy, spectacular costumes, show-stopping musical production numbers and dazzling choreography. Show schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. On Tuesday and Friday, the show is performed at 8:30 p.m. The 8:30 and 10:00 shows are topless. Price: Booth seating: $54.95 and $60.45; Table seating: $49.45. We think the booths are worth the extra cost. Prices do not include a $6 Service Charge. Read Review here.

Human bodies and “impossible feats” spectaculars

The French-speaking, Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil production company dominates entertainment in Las Vegas. They feature acrobatics and (except for Zumanity) have no naked showgirls. There are currently four completely different permanent shows. These well done, wildly popular shows are all held in specially built MGM/Mirage hotel chain theaters. Sold out performances are generally the rule ...and tickets though expensive are hard to get.

Best bet! MYSTÈRE at Treasure Island - (800) 963-9634 or (702) 796-9999 - is the longest running Cirque du Soleil show is Vegas ...more than 5000 performances in the last 14 years. It is basically a circus without animals ...a surrealistic celebration of music, dance, acrobatics and comedy. Show schedule: Wednesday to Saturday, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Sundays 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dark on Mondays and Tuesdays. 2005 vacation days (no performances) May 16 to 24, July 10 to 12, September 12 to 20 and November 13 to 15. Ticket Prices are $60, $75 and $95.00 (including tax.) Read review here.

"O" at the Bellagio - (800) 963-9634 or (702) 796-9999 - In French, “O” (pronounced like the French word “eau”) means water and the show is performed in, on and above water. (There’s 1.5 million gallons of water on stage.) Show schedule: Wednesday to Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (Dark on Monday and Tuesday.) 2005 vacation days (no performances) April 18 to 26, August 22 to 30, October 16 to 18 and December 5 to 20. Ticket Prices are $99, $125 and $150.00 (including tax.) No children younger than 5 allowed; those younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Read review here.

KÀ at the MGM Grand - (877) 264-1844 or (702) 796-9999 - the newest Vegas Cirque du Soleil show, is about two separated twins on a dreamy perilous journey to fulfill their destinies. The $165 million spectacle features acrobatic performances, martial arts, puppetry, multimedia and pyrotechnics. The Las Vegas ReviewJournal staff picked Kà as 2005's Best Production show. Show schedule: Friday to Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (Dark on Wednesdays and Thursdays.) 2005 vacation days (no performances) April 1 to April 14, June 6 and June 7, August 1 and August 2, September 9 to September 13 and November 14 and November 15. Ticket Prices are $99, $125 and $150 (including tax.) No children younger than 5 allowed; those younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Read review here.

Worst of the Cirque du Soleil shows: ZUMANITY at New York New York - (866) 606-7111 or (702) 740-6815 - is an erotic, cabaret-style adult-themed 90 minute production with some naked performers. This one is definitely not for everyone ...don’t go if you embarrass easily! Show schedule: Friday to Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (Dark on Saturday and Sunday.) Ticket Prices: $65, $95 and $125 including tax. ($250 for a couple to share a love seat.) Absolutely no children are allowed! 2005 vacation days (no performances) April 18 to April 21, June 8 to June 16, August 15 to August 18, October 10 to October 13 and December 7 to December 22. Read review here. And another one is here.

Magic shows...

Best bet! Lance Burton: Master Magician at the Monte Carlo <> - (877) 386-8224 or (702) 730-7160 - is one of the world’s greatest magicians. Show has been running for ten years in a $27 million theatre built especially for him. (He actually began his career two decades ago as an act in Folies Bergere.) Best show on the strip for families. Burton has won Best Las Vegas Magician honors five years a row! Show schedule: Tuesday to Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. (Dark on Sunday and Monday.) Ticket Prices are $65.95 and $60.45 (balcony) plus tax. Read review here.

Best impersonator

DANNY GANS: THE MAN OF MANY VOICES at the Mirage – (800) 963-9634 or 702-792-7777 - was voted Best Las Vegas Performer for 2005 by readers of the Las Vegas ReviewJournal. Show schedule: Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. (Dark on Monday and Friday.) Important: Check the above website for more dark days! Ticket Price: $100 including tax. Read review here. And another review is here.

Best comedy group

BLUE MAN GROUP at the Venetian - (866) 641-SHOW or (702) 414-1000 - is a New York City based troupe that had been performing in Las Vegas at the Luxor for more than 5 years in a show that almost defies description.  In October 2005, the show moved to a new 1750 seat theatre built especially for the Blue Man Group at the Venetian.  The show is a unique combination of comedy, percussion music played on drums, PVC pipe tubes and other wacky instruments, weird antics, unusual choreography, juggling, sounds, lighting and colors. The cast of three silent pranksters in skullcaps and blue greasepaint look like aliens. Most of the music is original. One thing for sure; it is deliriously fun and goofy. There is nothing like it anywhere and you will either think the show is great ...or lousy. There seems to be no in-between. Most think it is worth the money. Show schedule: Monday through Sunday (7 days) at 7:00 p.m. Additional 10:00 p.m. show on Saturday. Ticket Prices: $88 (rear balcony), $110 (rear orchestra) and $126.50 (front orchestra/front balcony.) Some of the $126.50 seats near the stage are called "poncho seats" which means you may get wet!  Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable and seats are assigned on a best available basis. Need help with tickets? Contact the resort conciegre by e-mail at concierge@venetian.com or at (702) 414-4300.  Read review here.

Broadway musicals...

"Mamma Mia!" - At the Mandalay Bay - (877) 632-7400 or (702) 632-7580 -
This smash-hit Broadway musical features twenty-two of hit pop group ABBA's greatest songs. The story is about a soon-to-be-wed daughter and her search for the identity of her unknown father on a Greek island. Show schedule: Monday to Thursday at 7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 5 and 9 p.m. (Dark Friday.) Ticket prices: $45, $75 & $100 (plus tax); $10 discounts for seniors (62-plus) for 5 p.m. Sunday. Read review here. And another review is here.

“Avenue Q”  - At the Wynn Las Vegas - (888) 320-7123 or (702) 770-7000.
New York City’s Broadway is not only place to see the latest big musicals -- Las Vegas looks like it is about to become its west coast equivalent.  The 2004 Tony Award-winning musical “Avenue Q” recently opened for an exclusive run at the new 1200 seat $40 million custom-built state-of-the-art theater at Wynn Las Vegas where it is intended to be a long running show.  "Avenue Q" is about a Princeton college grad who travels to New York with big dreams, but because of little money, he can only afford to live on "Avenue Q." The plot thickens as he finds and loses a job, apartment, girl friend and discovers what life is really all about.  Described as a raunchy, potty-mouthed Sesame Street on steroids.  Children are not permitted, but teenagers are allowed.  Adult storyline, "Avenue Q" addresses such issues as sex, drinking, and surfing the web for porn.  Reviews have been very good!  Show schedule: Tuesday to Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.  Tickets: $88.00 (Balcony) and $99.00 (Orchestra.)  Tickets can also be purchased online. You can find a review here.

Hairspray! - At the Luxor - (702) 262-4400, (800) 557-7428 - Beginning Feb. 6, this winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical performs at 7 p.m. with an additional show at 10 p.m. on Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun.  Dark on Wednesdays. (90 minutes, no intermission.)  Tickets: $96.50, Mezzanine: $74.50 (includes fees.)  Set in Baltimore in 1962, Hairspray is the story of plain-jane plus-size Tracy Turnblad, who is going to do whatever it takes to dance her way onto TV's most popular show, "The Corny Collins Show".  A big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, Tracy has only one passion - to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, and overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity.  Hairspray the Musical is based on John Waters' 1988 film classic.