Las Vegas Weekly

October 2, 2008 · 1:29 PM

Advance serving of Raw Talent Live at the Sahara

By Robin Leach

Fuego Raw Talent Live at the Sahara.

Fuego Raw Talent Live at the Sahara.

It could easily be described as one of the most ambitious live music shows ever brought to the Strip. When Raw Talent Live opens tomorrow (Friday) night at the Sahara, in a sense it’s a journey that began back in Communist Cuba. It wasn’t until many of the cast members defected to America that this new production could take shape. Sixty performers will utilize 700 costumes during the fast-paced 75-minute adrenaline-packed bilingual performance –- 30 percent of which will be in Spanish!

Audiences will be transported into a virtual world -– an interactive emotional rollercoaster depicting the passionate story of the “Laptop of Life,” (LOL) which holds the ultimate secret that the world is searching for! In a new entertainment format elements of raw dance, live original music -- from the sounds of Mozart to mosh, with a salute to salsa towards the end --- and the singing performances have all been combined into the most modern of high-tech digital imaging and visual illusion with 190 pre-recorded music tracks.

Fuego Raw Talent Live at the Sahara.

Fuego Raw Talent Live at the Sahara.

Producer Nicole Durr’s emerging video technology is so cutting-edge state of the art that it will also be used in the new Space3 nightclub opening at the Palazzo next spring!

You’ll find it an added bonus to log onto RawTalent.com to learn about the character profiles, performer blogs and the surreal world in advance of witnessing the spectacle. It’s where you’ll also find out about and its creator, a producer and director who prefers to go solely by the initials N.D.

She said: “With all of the intricacies involved in the show’s development, Raw Talent paves the way for the next generation of Vegas entertainment. It’s a Latin-themed spectacle that will be a show Brazilians, Argentineans, Cubans and Mexicans will be proud of. It’s a high-tech video spectacle that celebrates the Latino culture and unlike any other on the Strip. Some will be shocked by it -- but others will love it. Whatever it is becomes an inspiring new experience.”

N.D. spent many months negotiating with the Cuban government officials to win approval to stage the Havana Nights production, which played 400 shows in New York, Miami and then here at the since-imploded Stardust. It was there that the musicians, singers and dancers decided to defect and not return to their Communist country. They presented themselves at our downtown Immigration offices seeking political asylum and freedom -– which was eventually granted.

Fuego Raw Talent Live at the Sahara.

Fuego Raw Talent Live at the Sahara.

Fuego Raw Talent Live at the Sahara.

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