Las Vegas Weekly

July 9, 2009 · 1:04 PM

Lord of the Dance reportedly to close after less than three weeks

By Robin Leach

Lord of the Dance at Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Joe Hall

Less than three weeks into a special nine-week Las Vegas engagement, producer Michael Flatley has apparently decided to end the run of his Lord of the Dance spectacular. If rumors are true, then the dance musical extravaganza is the latest casualty in a string of shows that have collapsed at the Steve Wyrick Theatre in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops, and Sunday will reportedly be its final performance.

Michael’s cast and crew of 50 are said to be in tears, packing their bags to return home after this weekend. They’d hoped that the Fourth of July holiday weekend business would pick up and save the show. Michael himself told me backstage two nights after the opening that he hoped there would be solid summertime audiences to keep it running into the fall.

We were planning to run this story yesterday when we first heard the rumors but wanted to give the producers breathing room to find a new location at the 11th hour. But after a 24-hour delay, they have reportedly decided that the show must end after Sunday’s performances.

Here’s a clip on YouTube of Michael dancing with his two traveling troupes when he secured a world record for staging the most tap dancers onstage at one time:

It’s believed that Michael spent more than $250,000 on staging Lord of the Dance, which opened here June 25. This morning, his official Web site still had tickets for sale for tonight through Aug. 16. However, I’ve been reliably told that “it’s over” -- ticket sales simply have been underwhelming.

Elvis Presley impersonator Trent Carlini also called it quits at the Steve Wyrick Theatre recently, and there were “serious” problems with another entertainer in recent weeks, too. Other shows also have experienced short runs there.

Magician Steve Wyrick spent $34 million to build his theater where he performs his own Real Magic show nightly. His Web site promotes two performances, at 7 and 9.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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