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Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular
Wed, Sep 23, 2009 (4:30 p.m.)
Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular plays nightly at the Venetian.
Photo: Tom Donoghue
Plush, dark and all a Romantic could hope for—and every night they cry as the Phantom loses the girl, as he must. Phantom was an institution before it was a Vegas show. But it opened in 2006 at the Venetian after the Broadway West bandwagon had begun to lose its wheels. Eventually there was a string of failures: Hairspray, Avenue Q, Spamalot. Even with the opening of The Lion King this year, no one talks about Broadway West anymore.
The Details
- Monday, Saturday, 7 and 9:30 p.m.
- Tuesday-Friday, 7 p.m.
- $69-$150, The Venetian, 414-9000
- Read More
- Hanging with the phans (09/23/09)
But even back in 2006 there were so many nerves about the huge amount of money invested into this production that the name was changed from Phantom of the Opera to Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular to reflect that this was indeed a Vegas show, not simply Broadway in Vegas. Good move, though it was a name change that Andrew Lloyd Webber hoped would be reversed.
The show has survived the collapse of the Broadway West model, a nightclub revolution that pulled people’s money away from showrooms and, now, the recession. But the tourists keep coming, because “spectacular” is also the correct word for this production, which equals Webber’s overheated music with aggressive stagecraft, including fireworks, as well as an extraordinary chandelier and the re-creation of an opera house complete with mannequin spectators. Though it’s cut down considerably in length from the Broadway show, many who have seen both think Vegas offers the better Phantom. Certainly there is no other show on the Strip that brings together an engrossing plot connected to so many special effects and then adds to that brooding stage sets that are equaled only by the best of Cirque.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
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