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Milestones and Memories Part 3 - Farewells

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Milestones and Memories Part 3 - Farewells

In the final edition of "Milestones and Memories", we say goodbye to shows that have closed their doors forever...

It's quite a bittersweet feeling when a part of Las Vegas history is erased. Whether it's the implosion of a casino or the shuttering of a once-popular restaurant, its legacy remains but the absence lingers. The same applies to production shows, especially those that touched our emotional core.

AGT SUPERSTARS LIVE at Luxor The troubled LUXOR Theater has gobbled up another show. But at least this one was worth seeing.

After the one-two curses of Criss Angel's BELIEVE/MINDFREAK LIVE and Cirque du Soliel's R.U.N, it was rumored that sage was burned to clear evil powers from the venue. And it seemed to work, until the second half of AGT SUPERSTARS LIVE's third season.

My colleague Scott Roeben (Vital Vegas) often states that things making money don't close. The huge cast expense of AGT SUPERSTARS LIVE was just one factor in the large-scale production's demise. Changing tastes towards non-headliner residencies is another, as you'll see below.

VEGAS 411 attended the final performance on May 11th, and it was sad to witness the end of such a dynamic gathering of talent. Cast members met in the lobby afterward for a final farewell while crew members began dismantling the stage props. As with casino implosions, evidence of a show's existence is quickly scrubbed away when it closes. On-property signage, city-wide advertisements, and website listings immediately disappear. All that's left is the memory.

BELLE DE NUIT at Venetian's VOLTAIRE

While the shuttering of AGT Superstars was a bit surprising, this one was doomed from the start. BELLE DE NUIT is the worst-named show in Las Vegas history. People couldn't say it, they didn't know what it meant, and the artwork above gave you no clue as to what the heck it was. Frankenstein, a chick on a phone, and some dude in a top hat? Nah, I'm good.

BELLE DE NUIT presented the Vegas version of a French fashion show...except its clothing wasn't for sale. The so-called production offered nothing but pretty young people (many androgynous and cross-dressers) strutting around without purpose. They mounted a stripper pole, played with their phones, and dressed like dogs, vampires, and astronauts. What the serious f*ck?

I doubt a single tear was shed by anyone except for cast members when this one got the pink slip. As with everything else at VOLTAIRE, BELLE DE NUIT was a blatant money grab. It was created as a series of pre-headliner warm-up acts, not a ticketed production. Yes, they wanted you to pay for time-filler.

Obnoxious, arrogant VOLTAIRE appears to be succumbing to its own "greatness". Along with the closure of BELLE DE NUIT, Jason Derulo's much-hyped residency was yanked after just a few performances. As of this writing, the venue is dark until early August. The "new entertainment experience" is being promoted as an event space until then. Don't expect this place to last.

It may be distasteful to wish failure on a business enterprise, but that's exactly what VOLTAIRE deserves. Poorly run, obscenely over-priced, and physically dangerous (see my related article here), this luxury trash dump needs to go. And pretentious BELLE DE NUIT was the perfect way to start. Gurl....bye!

DITA LAS VEGAS at Horseshoe Casino

Hats off to the feathers and headpieces of Las Vegas showgirls and boys. DITA LAS VEGAS was a charming throwback to the joys of JUBILEE!, the historic production that entertained thousands of visitors between 1981 and 2016. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/10113114/20240605_222921.mp4"][/video] Performed in the same theater and utilizing many of Jubilee's costumes, DITA LAS VEGAS gave a contemporary spin to the classic revue. What it lacked in narrative cohesiveness was offset by a genuine vintage Vegas vibe that felt earned, not appropriated.

A common gripe from viewers and critics was that star Dita Von Teese remained silent throughout the performance. She never addressed the audience or introduced individual acts. Cast members told me that the burlesque superstar was an absolute joy to work with and they treasured the opportunity to be in this valiant effort. It's nice to know that incoming celebrities can treat our local performers with dignity. Nicely done, Dita! As a footnote, there's talk that DITA LAS VEGAS is being shopped to Venetian for a possible revival at VOLTAIRE. The joining of these two could make sense...if VOLTAIRE could figure out how to properly manage itself and not rake every paying customer through the coals.

THE BEATLES LOVE at Mirage

Oh, the irony. One of the greatest names in rock music is being shown the door by a new rock-and-roll-themed regime. Yes, The Mirage has been taken over by Hard Rock Hotels, and their renovations will require a complete shutdown. Say farewell to Cirque du Soleil's The Beatles LOVE.

LOVE was the first full collaboration between Cirque and an existing intellectual property...in this case, Apple Records Corp. and The Beatles. Its success led to various similar ventures (Viva Elvis, Criss Angel BELIEVE, Michael Jackson ONE, James Cameron's AVATAR) with varying degrees of success. But none reached the artistic perfection of LOVE, whose Beatles-inspired visuals meld perfectly with the Fab Four's lyrics and music.

Reports suggest that post-pandemic numbers have softened, making it impractical for Cirque to rebuild LOVE's custom-designed theater from scratch at another location, Cirque du Soleil's grip on Las Vegas has loosened, too, dropping from a high of eight resident shows to five after LOVE's closure. KA is rumored to be limping toward its final battle, as well.

Tickets for The Beatles LOVE final shows are currently on sale here. At the time of publishing, only handicap-companion seats remained for the last performance on Saturday, July 6th, 2024. VEGAS 411 bids a fond farewell to the cast, crew, and creatives behind this landmark piece of Las Vegas entertainment. Congratulations on eighteen wonderful years of LOVE.

SamNovak
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Sam Novak serves as the Deputy Editor and columnist for Vegas411.com. With a career spanning several years, Sam has established himself as a candid and insightful voice in the city’s entertainment scene. His column, “Vegas Unfiltered,” is renowned for its unvarnished critiques and in-depth analyses of Las Vegas shows, celebrities, restaurants, hotels, and emerging trends. Sam’s commitment to providing readers with genuine insights has solidified his reputation as a trusted authority.