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POSTED: Sunday, April 18, 2010

This is a story about superlatives. It's about mind-boggling special effects; lavish sets and costumes; and phenomenal feats that push the body to its mental and physical limits. Las Vegas shows don't just entertain; they awe and astound.

From dazzling pyrotechnics and gravity-defying acrobatics to multimillion-dollar wardrobes and choreography that requires dancers to double as contortionists, these seven shows on the Strip prove just about anything can happen onstage with talent, money and imagination.

 

'KA'

According to ancient Egyptian belief, “;ka”; is the spiritual double, the essence of life, of every person. It's a fitting name for Cirque du Soleil's epic story of royal siblings, Twin Brother and Twin Sister, who must overcome numerous dangers to restore peace in their kingdom.

“;KA”; is arguably Vegas' most extraordinary spectacle, largely due to its unconventional stage. The audience faces what appears to be a bottomless, smoke-filled chasm. Artists enter and exit from above, around and inside this mysterious abyss. They perform in the air and on five lifts; two enormous platforms (one tilts and turns, the other slides in and out like a giant kitchen drawer); and an elaborate four-level post-and-beam structure that extends from the stage throughout the theater.

Archery, swordplay, “;capoeira”; dance, martial arts, puppetry and pyrotechnics (including 120 30-foot-high fireballs) highlight the Twins' adventures. Among “;KA's”; other marvels are a man-powered flying machine; a luminous 80-foot snake; a beach made of 350 cubic feet of granular cork; forest dwellers who glide among trees on bungees; and the terrifying Wheel of Death—circular “;cages”; that spin around a common axle. The performers' movements determine its speed, balance and rotation.

In the battle scene, 16 warriors march up a platform that's perpendicular to the ground. Cirque du Soleil accomplishes the impossible through technical wizardry—in this case, the artists control individual high-speed winches via a joystick and wireless remote built into their costumes.

IF YOU GO ...
» Where: MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
» Shows: 7 and 9:30 p.m. nightly except Sunday and Monday
» Tickets: $69-$150
» Info: 866-774-7117 visit or http://www.ka.com
» Note: Guests must be at least 5 years old.

 

'Le Reve'

“;Le Reve”; (”;The Dream”;) unfolds in a spectacular theater-in-the-round whose centerpiece is a 1.1 million-gallon pool measuring 68.5 feet in diameter. Eighty-six performers from 17 countries display their grace and athleticism in this whimsical water world. All of them are scuba certified; most are gymnasts, swimmers and circus artists who have competed in national, world and Olympic events.

An artist falls more than 80 feet into the pool, eight synchronized swimmers perform a tango in red high heels, 22 aerialists soar gracefully through the air at one time—these are just a few of “;Le Reve's”; spellbinding numbers. Sixteen scuba divers and a complex network of cameras, lights and breathing systems ensure the safety of the cast.

The show has a library of 6,000 custom-made audio effects (only 60 are currently being used). Sounds only heard a few seconds often required weeks of work; for example, the call of the caribou in one scene was developed from a variety of creatures, including whales, birds and cats.

Weather changes with the touch of a button. “;Rain”; pours from the ceiling in one act. Another requires more than 125 pounds of fine nontoxic soap shavings each week to create “;snow.”; Such is the wondrous fantasy that is “;Le Reve.”;

IF YOU GO ...
» Where: Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South
» Shows: 7 and 9:30 p.m. nightly except Wednesday and Thursday
» Tickets: $99-$179
» Info: 888-320-7110 or visit http://www.wynnlasvegas. com/#entertainment/ lereve
» Note: This show is appropriate for guests age 5 and older. All seats are no more than 12 rows from the stage (the first two rows in all sections are designated as the Splash Zone). Those purchasing the $179 VIP Indulgence package receive premier seating, a bottle of champagne, chocolate truffles, strawberries and sneak peeks backstage, underwater and above the stage via personal TV monitors.

 

'Zumanity'

Billed as “;The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil,”; “;Zumanity”; is a cabaret-style production that explores the adult themes of seduction, eroticism and intimacy without inhibition. Even for Vegas this is daring stuff; be forewarned—it's not for anyone who's easily embarrassed or offended.

In addition to the incredible acrobatics, aerial stunts and hand-balancing acts for which Cirque du Soleil has become known, “;Zumanity”; features a multicultural variety of dance genres, including flamenco, waltz, tango, African, modern, even striptease. The cast is a stark contrast from Cirque du Soleil's usual array of young, lithe, beautiful people. They come in all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities and genders, and drag diva Christopher Kenney is Edie, the emcee.

“;Zumanity's”; set design incorporates hundreds of projected photographic images of the performers in everyday situations, sans costumes, stage makeup and show personas. Each image is layered with two or three others to make a mesmerizing montage of faces, arms, legs, lips and torsos that constantly changes in sync with the music and motions of the artists.

More so than any other Cirque du Soleil show, “;Zumanity”; is character-driven, and its costumes reflect this individuality, running the gamut from the barest of outfits in black and white to elaborate gowns flaunting brilliant colors. Look for wonderful textures—furs, feathers, velvet, leather and lace—and curious interpretations such as latex overcoats and metal undergarments. They're bold, outside-the-box visual statements that complement “;Zumanity's”; provocative themes.

IF YOU GO ...
» Where: New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South
» Shows: 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. nightly except Monday and Thursday
» Tickets: $69-$129
» Info: 866-606-7111, http://www.zumanity.com
» Note: Guests must be at least 18 years old.

 

'Donn Arden's Jubilee!'

The longest-running show in Vegas and the last of the topless revues in the country, “;Jubilee!”; will celebrate its 29th anniversary in July. Seventeen set changes are made on a stage that measures half the size of a football field and 15 stories high from the bottom of the orchestra pit to the roof.

Costumes sparkle with 8,000 miles of sequins and thousands of pounds of rhinestones made of Swarovski crystals. In fact, if you were to weigh all the jewels—from rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches to the glittering accents on the costumes—they would weigh more than 5 tons!

Sets for “;The Sinking of the Titanic”; act, including an exact replica in miniature of the ill-fated luxury liner, were reproduced from historic photographs. Ten pounds of explosives, 22 cylinders of carbon dioxide, 1,200 pounds of dry ice and 5,000 gallons of recycled water from a holding pool, overhead tanks and an intricate PVC piping system produce smoke, fire and floods for the dramatic sinking of the ship in each performance.

IF YOU GO ...
» Where: Bally's Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South
» Shows: 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. nightly except Friday
» Tickets: $52.50-$112.50 including taxes and fees
» Info: 800-237-SHOW (7469) or visit http://www.ballyslasvegas.com (go to the entertainment link)
» Note: Guests who are at least 13 years old may attend the 7:30 p.m. show on Saturday, which is “;not topless.”; Guests for all other performances must be at least 18 years old. The “;Jubilee!”; backstage tour is available Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 a.m. It highlights the technical and historical aspects of the show and enables guests to see the gorgeous costumes up close. Tickets are $17 per person ($12 when purchased with a “;Jubilee!”; show ticket).

 

'The Beatles LOVE'

Beatles fans won't want to miss Cirque du Soleil's enchanting magical mystery tour. Sir George Martin, the legendary group's original producer, and his son Giles selected 120 songs (including big hits as well as interesting but lesser-known numbers) for the show's soundtrack, which snared two Grammy Awards in 2008. More than 6,300 speakers (including three in each of the 2,013 seats) comprise a surround-sound system that producers describe as “;IMAX for the ears.”;

Seats in the custom-built theater wrap around the stage; the closest ones are less than three feet from the action. Costumes—many fashioned from everyday materials such as foam, plastic and lights—echo the surrealism of tunes such as “;Octopus's Garden,”; “;I Am the Walrus”; and “;Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”;

Close to 600 props include finds from antique stores and junkyards along with handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces. Of particular note are two 35-foot-tall paper puppets, two 32-foot-long remote-controlled trains, a piano that emits bubbles and a 90-pound, fiberglass Volkswagen Beetle that costs as much as the actual car. Because the Beetle has no internal parts and its 11 panels are held together with magnets, performers easily break it apart in the “;A Day in the Life”; sequence.

Archival photos and footage projected on two 2,000-square-foot screens and four 832-square-foot semitransparent screens chronicle the Beatles' rise in the 1960s from a small-time band playing Liverpool clubs to musical icons who took the world by storm.

IF YOU GO ...
» Where: The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South
» Shows: 7 and 9:30 p.m. nightly except Tuesday and Wednesday
» Tickets: $99-$150
» Info: 800-963-9634 or visit http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/love
» Note: Guests must be at least 5 years old.

 

'Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular'

More than 100 million people have seen Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed musical “;Phantom of the Opera”; since it debuted in London in 1986. The longest-running show on Broadway (22 years), it garnered seven Tony Awards in 1988, including Best Musical.

One of the stars of this fresh take on “;Phantom”; is in the spotlight less than three minutes. Phantom-philes know that's the fixture that first appears in the opening scene as an auction item—“;Lot 666, a chandelier in pieces.”;

During the overture, the 2,000-pound prop composed of 29,444 crystals swoops above the audience's heads in four pieces and assembles itself in midair. It took six months to construct the $5 million piece, which is named Maria after the late Maria Bjornson, the musical's original set and costume designer.

Other highlights: the opulent $40 million Phantom Theater, constructed after the Paris Opera House specifically for this show; a 12-foot-tall elephant made of fiberglass, steel and wood; a 12-foot-long boat that carries Christine and the Phantom to his lair beneath the opera house; and 102 elegantly attired, life-size mannequins sitting in the boxes and standing on the Masquerade staircase. Five of the 22 mannequins on the staircase move.

Technical whizzes operate everything in a tri-level labyrinth of lifts, traps, tracks, trolleys, audio and lighting control consoles, and more situated above, behind and below the stage.

IF YOU GO ...
» Where: Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
» Shows: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Monday and Saturday, 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
» Tickets: $72-$160
» Info: 866-641-7469 or visit http://www.phantomlasvegas.com
» Note: This show is recommended for guests age 10 and older. The $250 VIP Experience includes a Golden Circle ticket, souvenir program, backstage tour and “;meet and greet”; with the headliners.

 

'Viva Elvis'

The newest show on the Strip harks back to the good old days when ponytails and poodle skirts were in and the King of Rock 'n' Roll ruled the airwaves. Cirque du Soleil's homage to Elvis Presley features 30 hits from his award-winning discography, including the platinum singles “;Don't Be Cruel,”; “;All Shook Up,”; “;Heartbreak Hotel,”; “;Love Me Tender,”; “;Return to Sender,”; “;Are You Lonesome Tonight,”; “;It's Now or Never,”; “;Can't Help Falling in Love,”; “;Suspicious Minds”; and “;Hound Dog.”;

In “;Blue Suede Shoes,”; 30 dancers and 24 acrobats romp around a 10.5-foot-tall shoe. A trampoline is inside the shoe, the front of it is a slide and the laces are bungee cords and acrobatic bars. The steel prison for “;Jailhouse Rock”; weighs 45 tons, stands 39 feet tall and is driven remotely by a self-correcting navigation system.

Acrobats in “;Got a Lot of Livin' to Do”; perform an exuberant routine of leaps, somersaults, rolls and handsprings on a 75-foot-wide, 35-foot-high contraption that contains seven trampolines. Amazingly, this 30-ton piece is stored above the stage and “;flies in”; for this act.

Elvis' vocals are backed by a live eight-piece band and harmony by four live female singers. Add breathtaking acrobatics, riveting choreography and extravagant sets, and you have a remarkable tribute to the life and music of an American legend.

IF YOU GO ...
» Where: ARIA Resort and Casino, 3730 Las Vegas Boulevard South
» Shows: 7 and 9:30 p.m. nightly except Wednesday and Thursday
» Tickets: $99-$175
» Info: 877-25-ELVIS http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/vivaelvis
» Note: Guests must be at least 5 years old; those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer and Society of American Travel Writers award winner. Her column, “;Hawaii's Back Yard,”; is a regular feature of the Star-Bulletin travel section.