What's the Future for Broadway Musicals in Las Vegas?

Now that the latest Broadway theatrical production Bat Out of Hell has closed, I'm wondering if any "musical" type of production has a chance for a long-range residency on the Strip. I remember decades ago going to see a version of Gypsy at the Plaza (must have been early '80s) and since have seen productions such as Mamma Mia, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Rock of Ages, Million Dollar Quartet, Hairspray and Jersey Boys. These days, I occasionally get lucky and see a production at the the Smith Center or catch a short run at a resort like I did with Bat Out of Hell in October. Is that the future of stage productions for Vegas?

Based on your long experience, you pose a perceptive question.

The trend for Broadway in Vegas has been moving away from the Strip for quite some time and it was greatly accelerated by the Smith Center’s opening in March 2012. Its Reynolds Hall was designed with large-scale Broadway shows in mind and they can run there anywhere from a week to a month. That’s a far more sustainable business model than putting down roots at a Strip resort, which used to entail multi-year commitments and customizing of the theatrical space.

Now the bus-and-truck shows can brake at the Smith Center and if the show flops (it rarely does), the exposure is minimal. If it’s a hit, it can always be brought back somewhere down the road.

Making a Broadway-style show the tentpole of your casino entertainment regime is a hugely expensive and risky commitment. Once it’s there, you’re stuck with it, as MGM Resorts discovered the hard way with Viva Elvis and R.U.N., two Cirque du Soleil bombs that forced MGM to take a massive write-off, and Caesars Entertainment learned with Bat out of Hell and others.

Even if a Strip-based musical is popular, there’s no guarantee it will break even financially. Phantom of the Opera played at the Venetian for six years and still lost money, mainly because casino owner Sheldon Adelson wanted big upfront payments rather than a percentage of the gate. Nor does lightning strike twice. ABBA-powered musical Mamma Mia ran at Mandalay Bay for five years and 11 months … but when it was resurrected at the Tropicana it died a speedy death.

Then there are those big-ticket shows that have neither longevity nor box-office clout. Chicago, which inaugurated Mandalay Bay’s theater, was a money-loser. Luxor fared worse still with Hairspray (which it had taken in preference to Wicked), a benchmark bomb in Vegas theater. Then there was Notre Dame de Paris, which opened Paris and closed soon thereafter.

You mentioned seeing Gypsy at downtown’s Plaza, back when Glitter Gulch was the center of the action. The Plaza’s is a relatively small venue, easier to fill than the gaping showrooms of the Strip casinos, where management needs to put thousands of bodies in seats every night.

Except for Jersey Boys, which was a durable performer at two different casinos over eight years, most of the shows you mention would fall into the succes d’estime category, winning critical respect, but not financial success. The Lion King didn’t have the expected durability, eventually making way for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson extravaganza, One, while Million Dollar Quartet had a distinctly done-on-the-cheap flavor to it.

If Broadway on Broadway itself entails playing to tough crowds, Broadway in Vegas’ economics may be even more daunting. New York City’s Theater District is one of its top tourist draws. In Las Vegas, theater is a sideshow to the crap tables, high-priced restaurants, and nightclubs. Also, with the exception of extremely rare phenomena such as Mamma Mia, almost all musicals are cut down into the intermission-less 90-minute "tab" format, meaning you’re getting cheated out of the full Broadway experience despite paying Broadway prices.

Not even jukebox musicals are a safe bet, as the financial troubles of Bat Out of Hell indicate. Nor did the occasional presence of creator Lin-Manuel Miranda keep Freestyle Love Supreme from folding at the Venetian last month following an abortive 11-week run.

No, Broadway on the Strip is an almost-golden era of the early 2000s that we'll look back on with nostalgia and a tinge of regret. It's likely not to be repeated.

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Wild Bill Feb-17-2023

WOW!

What a brilliant answer. This is why I read QoD every day, even when I don't think I'm interested in the question. The depth and breadth of LVA's perspective are unparalleled and to those of you who continue to insist that the content is diminished, all I have to say is, open your eyes.

Jeff Feb-17-2023

Broadway musicals, Vegas style

Harry Shearer, the writer comedian (The Simpsons, Spinal Tap, SNL), said this about the abridged versions of Broadway musicals on the Strip: "It's amazing. They give you dinner and a show and get you up and out in an hour and twelve minutes. I don't know how they do it."

[email protected] Feb-17-2023

Memories

I was lucky enough to see Chicago at Mandalay Bay with Ute Lemper, Chita Rivera, and Ben Vereen.  It was fabulous, higher quality than many of the traveling productions.  But, as you say, the economics didn't work.

I also saw Mama Mia, and while not as good as the production I saw in Toronto, it still was very entertaining.

Both were full productions, not cut down to "Vegas- size".  But that was because Mandalay Bay for awhile tried to be a true theater experience.  

Sorry they didn't work (much like the fabulous Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at the Venetian), but I'm glad I got to enjoy them while they lasted!

Pamela Burke Feb-17-2023

Queen!

You overlooked “We Will Rock You”, that ran at Paris for quite awhile. It was amazing!  Featured music by Queen and was a great play. I was lucky enough to be there on opening night and sat behind Roger Taylor and  Brian May, who were there to assure the music’s integrity. Awesome show - hope you saw it.

O2bnVegas Feb-17-2023

The Producers

We saw The Producers when it ran at Paris years ago, enjoyed it, thought the Paris showroom was one of the best as far as seating/visibility.  And if memory serves, Nathan Lane was in it.  Don't know how long it lasted and never have been picky, appreciated free shows which most were for us.

Also, ditto what Wild Bill said.  So much great information on every QoD!

Candy

Kevin Lewis Feb-17-2023

More like excerpts

I've gone to see many musicals, at many different venues. They all have plots and dialogue (though those are often thin or silly). The best ones actually tell a story rather than just being a framework on which to hang a bunch of songs. The Vegas versions, though, eliminate 90% of the dialogue and are just a litany of the songs (and not all of them, either). Yet, you're paying as much for these abbreviated versions as you would in New York.

That's why it's never worked.

Hoppy Feb-17-2023

Broadway or Not Broadway

I was in the audience, recently, for Mad Apple.It was energizing - a real boost! That is not considered Broadway?

rokgpsman Feb-17-2023

Viva-not Las Vegas

The audience Vegas caters to now doesn't want to spend the time sitting to see a show like a musical, no matter how entertaining it is. Most of the masses of young adults coming in droves just want to party at niteclubs, dayclubs, swimming pools and do a zipline. Their thing is to be seen with others their age, taking selfies and drinking as much alcohol as possible. The age demographic for Las Vegas visitors has shifted downward to the "reality tv" type of crowd. Us middle age and older visitors will continually be challenged to find entertainment we like, whether it's in the showroom theater or even in the casino games that are offered. We've always been told Vegas constantly changes but I didn't think it would be in this way. I'll spend my money on nice shows, concerts and gambling games where I have a fair chance. But that's getting a lot harder to find in zipcode 89109.

Raymond Feb-17-2023

Theater In Vegas

If you like theater, you don't come to Las Vegas for it, as you know it will probably not be done to Broadway standards (such as they are), including all the cuts made to jam a 2-hours-plus show into 90 minutes.  If you don't like theater, you won't care about the show and won't want to waste your time.

I'm a theater person, and I stopped even looking at "Broadway" shows in Vegas after watching a couple of them.  I want either something DIFFERENT or something DONE WELL, and from what I saw and from what I've heard, "Broadway in Vegas" offered neither.

There are lots of great shows in Las Vegas.  I see at least a couple of them every time I'm in town and almost always enjoy them (Iluminate was the highlight last trip).  I see no reason to see watered-down book shows.

pivoss Feb-17-2023

Re: Hoppy

Hoppy- no, in this usage, "Broadway" is a literal term. We're talking about productions that played on/off Broadway in NYC, and ostensibly were successful enough there to get a shot in Vegas. 

Mad Apple never played in NYC, it is a Cirque production custom-created for Vegas.

Doc H Feb-17-2023

musicals = elvis

I think the QOD answer is correct, musicals or plays or broadway and any form of it, whatever one wants to call it, is a dying thing. Like Elvis impersonators who have largely went the way of the dodo bird in las vegas and beyond because of a simple reason, age. I think except for some uncommon exceptions, the core audience of musicals and elvis was and is oldsters, frankly a generation that is dying out or not out and about anymore. The up and coming generations don't care for it. EDM and music festivals, DJ's, concerts and so on is where the interest and money is in Las Vegas and the nation as a whole.

gaattc2001 Feb-17-2023

Don't forget Starlite Express at the Hilton....

1993-1997, in Elvis' old showroom. We saw that; and even trimmed down a little, it was passable. They even had characters from the show on the casino chips.

Question of the Day - 17 February 2023

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