An ‘Awakening’ to rouse senses at Wynn
“AWAKENING” is what happens after the dream, after a pandemic shutdown and at the dawn of a new era of entertainment at Wynn Las Vegas.
The show replacing “Le Reve” opens Nov. 7 at Wynn’s new Awakening Theater. Showtimes are 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays (tickets start at $125 at Awakeninglasvegas.com). The hotel announced the show, previously reported in this space Sept. 20, on Tuesday.
Lavish, ambitious and adventurous, “Awakening” is a $120 million project, including an overhaul of the “Le Reve” theater, which will remain an in-the-round experience.
The show is conceived and developed by former Siegfried & Roy manager Bernie Yuman, acclaimed producer-director Baz Halpin, and producer-designer Michael Curry. Two-time Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins narrates.
‘Awakening’ after ‘Le Reve’
The show steps in for “Le Reve,” which was a critical and commercial success at the hotel for 15 years. That show shut down with the Covidforced entertainment pause in August 2020. “Awakening,” which had been reviewing options dating back five years, saw an opening at Wynn.
As Halpin explained, the production team first pitched the show for the Encore Theater. When “Le Reve” closed, attention turned to that show’s venue, with its distinctive dimensions and 360-degree capabilities.
The initial promo clip recalls the best acts of Cirque du Soleil, and the show that “Awakening” is replacing, “Le Reve.” The latter show’s theater build-out alone had a $75 million price tag. Cirque’s “Ka” cost $165 million total. But “Awakening’s” creative team says it will be beyond even those landmark productions.
As illusion designer Paul Kieve says, “It surely must be the most technically advanced show on the planet.”
JOHN KATSILOMETES
A fast-paced story
The show’s cast numbers about 60 performers. A cutting-edge audio setup with 3D sound is being installed. This system is being integrated into each of the 1,600 seats.
Curry promises the costume designs, more than 300 in the show, are not just for the production but can be used as fashion inspirations. (How about pairing a pop-up boutique with this show?)
Curry — who, along with Julie Taymor, designed the puppets and masks for “The Lion King” on Broadway — will bring live-action puppetry to the show. The production’s puppets also were presented in “Disney’s The Lion King” at Mandalay Bay, which ran from 2010 to 2011.
A new soundscape is being developed for “Awakening,” composed by Brian Tyler (who scored “Transformers: Prime,” “Eagle Eye,” “The Expendables,” “Iron Man 3” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” alongside Danny Elfman). Several international dance styles are being interwoven.
New LED screens, a 60-foot prismatic stage and an actual scripted story are planned.
“There are characters, and it’s visual storytelling, in a dancing spectacle, but the actual meat of the dialogue is told by Anthony Hopkins,” Halpin said at a preannouncement breakfast session with Las Vegas media types at Wynn.
The main characters,
Bandit and Boo, fall in love, though they are not alike (Bandit is debonair; Boo is skittish). Then they fall out of love, through jealousy. Their companions set on a journey to reunite the two wayward ex-lovers. Pay attention, because the story is tied up in a 70-minute sprint.
Halpin’s introduction to Vegas was the Cher production at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in 2007 and 2008. His most recent big-fly show in town is Katy Perry’s “Play” at the Theatre at Resorts World. He is used to fancy, costumed, choreographed storytelling, even if the audience didn’t necessarily buy a ticket for a story show.
Yuman’s the man
Longtime Las Vegas entertainment fans, and fans of entertainment in general, will recognize Yuman’s name in the production. For 25 years he helped helm Siegfried & Roy’s record-breaking residency on the Strip. Yuman also had a hand in Muhammad Ali’s career — and still does, by wearing a Muhammad Ali “Athlete of the Century” ring on his right hand. Yuman served as a manager for Ali late in the boxing legend’s career. He also co-produced the Broadway musical “On Your Feet!” with Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
Framing his assessment of the production by invoking its title, Yuman says, “This show is an awakening for Las Vegas entertainment. We are all awakening, from the pandemic, from the dream. I have always said, you need to show people something in Las Vegas that they can’t find at home.”
Yuman certainly knows prominent figures in the entertainment culture, including Hopkins. “We have had a relationship for 25 years,” Yuman says. This dates to when the Welsh actor narrated the 1999 documentary “Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Box.”
This is not their first “Awakening”: Yuman was Hopkins’ best man at his wedding to Stella Arroyave in 2003. As is customary, the man has a flair for Vegas theatrics.
Cool Hang Alert
Staying on property, the dueling pianos are at the center of Encore’s Eastside Lounge from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Ex “Baz” and “Jersey Boys” keyboardist Chris Lash is the main performer most nights, including Wednesday through Sunday. David James, Scott Nicholson, Bonnie Mason and Brittani Washington are in rotation. No cover. Attire is resort casual; tank tops and swimwear are not permitted. But feel free to call out “Piano Man,” and odds are they will play it.