Courtesy Chris Davis Studio
Bat Out of Hell – The Musical
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Finally, a new show is slated for Paris Las Vegas. “Bat Out of Hell – The Musical,” featuring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits, is set to open an ongoing residency at the Paris Theater on September 27, leading into the production’s return to London’s West End at the Peacock Theatre in February of 2023. Described as a “Rocky Horror, Romeo and Juliet celebration of star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of the tracks caught in a city teetering on the brink of disaster,” the book musical is directed by Jay Scheib with choreography by Xena Gusthart, musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set and costume design by Jon Bausor and Meentje Nielsen and Vegas casting by Louanne Madorma. Steinman incorporated songs from Meat Loaf’s iconic “Bat Out of Hell” albums, including “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.” The show is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl and Tony Smith with executive producer Julian Stoneman and managed in Las Vegas by Base Entertainment, which has recently launched “Amystika” at Planet Hollywood and “An Evening with Whitney” at Harrah’s Las Vegas. It’s been quite some time since an established production show has taken up residency at Paris, and it’ll be exciting to see how this fall opening impacts the Strip landscape.
Resorts World has announced its new Summer Nights Concert Series set for the Resorts World Event Center, not the same venue as the Resorts World Theatre that houses residencies from Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan. The first show in the series will be the previously announced 98.5 KLUC Summer Jam on June 1, starring Charlie Puth. Next up will be Jamey Johnson on June 11, Anuel AA on July 1 and Young the Giant on July 9. Tickets for the newly announced concerts go on sale this Friday, May 13, at rwlasvegas.com, and more events are expected to be announced soon.
The Silk Sonic machine keeps on rolling. The Grammy-winning duo has added a slew of summer dates to its residency show at Dolby Live at Park MGM, nine concerts August 3-19. The boys are back on the Strip this week, starting on May 13. Other Vegas event announcements this week include: Grammy-winning R&B artist Thundercat plays Brooklyn Bowl on July 25; Reunited Mexican music icons Los Bukis have chosen Allegiant Stadium as one of their few stops on the Una Historia Cantada Tour and will perform there on August 12; Carlos Santana also added more residency dates for 2022, extending his show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay into the fall with multiple performances running from September 14 thought November 13; Enrique Iglesias will take another turn in Las Vegas for Mexican Independence Day weekend, scheduling concerts on September 16 and 17 at Resorts World Theatre; and rock legends the Scorpions, a band that just completed a limited engagement at Zappos Theater, will return to the Strip for their Rock Believer North America Tour at Michelob Ultra Arena on October 21.
Cirque du Soleil’s “O” has reintroduced its premium VIP package La Grande Expérience at Bellagio, now on sale for $500 including all taxes and fees at cirquedusoleil.com/o. The experience includes a pre-show reception, a guided video tour, a meet-and-greet with “O” artists and perfect views from a VIP suite with private cocktail service. Guests also take home a Champagne flute and photo with the cast. It’s a spendy experience even at the current sale price, but as Ferris Bueller once said, “It is so choice,” and if you have the means, I highly recommend it. I was able to take La Grande Expérience before the pandemic shut down the Strip and it remains one of my most memorable Vegas showgoing experiences.
Tickets are on sale now for the eighth annual Tyler Robinson Foundation Rise Up Gala, set for September 23 at Resorts World. The nonprofit organization created by Imagine Dragons continues to raise funds to battle pediatric cancer, and this year’s gala will once again feature actor and comedian Joel McHale as host with other live entertainment (besides the obligatory Dragons performance) to be announced soon. Individual tickets and corporate sponsorships are available with more information at trf.org.
Comedian and actress April Brucker launches “April in Vegas,” a weekly YouTube show focused on entertainment and the Vegas industry, from the English Hotel in the Arts District on May 14. Hotelier Steve Dennis serves as co-host as Brucker brings in local artists, producers and “cultural renegades” for compelling conversations. The premiere episode features Elyse Elaine, star and producer of “Womanopoly,” and Miral Kotb, creator and producer behind “iLuminate.”
