15 Best Production Shows In Las Vegas For 2024
Las Vegas production shows are the heart of entertainment in Sin City. The term “production show” prefers to any show involving the work of producers, directors, writers, stagehands, choreographers, and performers. Production shows are not improvised because lots of planning and coordination go into them, including numerous rehearsals.
You may be thinking, “What is so great about production shows in Vegas?” Well, they aren’t your average production shows. The entertainment groups that work in Las Vegas go above and beyond the call of duty to entertain their audiences. You can expect to see elaborate stunts, mystifying illusions, hilarious comedy, and other surprises all combined into one show.
The Top 15 Production Shows In Vegas
Production shows are not mere standup comedy acts or cheap illusions. Instead, they are the best shows in Vegas because the performers and crew work tirelessly to give the audiences something much bigger and better. All production shows in Las Vegas have something unique to offer their audiences. You will find that out very quickly as you watch different shows during your trip. Below are 15 best Las Vegas production shows.
1) The Beatles Love
The Beatles was a legendary British rock band from the 1960s. Their beloved songs stand the test of time and continue to be popular well into the 21st century. It only makes sense that some Las Vegas production shows would dedicate themselves to The Beatles and its remarkable band members. One of which is the famous production show “The Beatles Love.”
The Beatles Love is an excellent example of comedy, nostalgia, magic and music combined into one show. Even if you are not familiar with the original Beatles band, you will be highly entertained by everything this show offers audiences. It is performed by another group of legendary entertainers called Cirque du Soleil. They do a fantastic job of bringing the classic Beatles back to life in a new and fun way.
If you know anything about Cirque du Soleil, you know that Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil shows are adored in the city. Cirque du Soleil is one of the most recognized and skilled performance groups to ever come out of Vegas. Their combination of acrobatics, magic, and comedy is simply surreal. You will see plenty of aerial stunts and impressive choreography when you watch The Beatles Love in person.
The Beatles Love blends acrobatics and stunt work with classic history and music. Cirque du Soleil uses music to showcase 1960s themes, such as the Vietnam war, a Volkswagen Beatle, lava lamps, courtyards, buildings, and all sorts of props and sets that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
You can see The Beatles Love in the LOVE Theater at the Mirage Hotel. Audience members can be at least five years old or older.
2) Mystère
Where else can you see a blend of acrobatics and gymnastics than in a Cirque du Soleil performance? Their show “Mystère” is one of the best Las Vegas acrobatic shows that you can see in the city. The acrobatic performers dress in strange and unusual costumes as they glide around and mystify the crowd with their movements.
You’ve probably never seen stage sets quite like theirs before. The Mystère set features an inflatable snail, multicolored lights, a giant baby, and bird people covered in feathers. Imagine seeing these three production elements at the same time. You and your entire family will enjoy the mystery, action and suspense that Mystère has to offer.
Cirque du Soleil is the master at creating surreal realities for their audiences. If you’ve ever seen their other shows before, then you’re already familiar with their talent. Mystère may not have a clear storyline, but that is the fun of the show. Each audience member can interpret the storyline in a unique and personal way.
Mystère can be seen at Treasure Island. The production includes an international cast featuring 67 of the most creative and talented artists in the world. Their athleticism, courage, and speed are something to be admired. You’ll see why when you are there in person to witness this magnificent show.
3) O by Cirque du Soleil
O is a Las Vegas water show that you will remember forever. You will love O if you enjoy watching acrobatic divers and synchronized swimmers give a surreal performance inside a large pool with 1.5 million gallons of water. Think of the act as a theatrical romance combined with an aquatic fantasy world. You’ll see a guardian using an upside-down umbrella to sail on the water and a pyromaniac combusting into flames, all in one act.
Cirque du Soleil is the only entertainment group that could pull off such an extensive aquatic adventure in front of a large crowd. The group has performed O since 1998, so they have been doing this for a long time. The international cast of performers are some of the best performers in the world. But you won’t be able to tell who they are individually because they’ll be dressed like marine characters the whole time. That is all part of the alternate universe they create.
The audience is positioned close to the pool but not close enough to get splashed. So, you can enjoy seeing the performers splash around in the pool without you having to get wet yourself. But they do more than splash around because they create magical and illusionary visuals within the water. You’ll be guessing the entire time how they did the stunts that you see.
You can see the O at the O Theater in the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas. Kids as young as five years old can attend the show.
4) Michael Jackson One
Michael Jackson One is better than the typical impersonator shows in Vegas. Cirque du Soleil brings legendary singer Michael Jackson back to life with pyrotechnics and holographic technology. The 3D holographic imagery gives you a glimpse of the real Michael Jackson at various stages of his singing career, including when he was a child singer of the Jackson Five.
There are approximately 63 performers and dancers on stage as Michael Jackson songs play in the background. But it isn’t just dancing and singing that you will see and hear. Cirque do Soleil incorporates stunning acrobatics into their visual and technological stage act. With a combination of innovative holographic technology, pyrotechnics, music, dancing and acrobatics, you’re surely in for a delightful time.
The Michael Jackson One show is available at the Mandalay Bay Theatre of the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. You won’t find a better hotel with a better show on the Las Vegas Strip. Even though Michael Jackson may not be around anymore physically, his music and imagery will last forever. Cirque do Soleil breathes new life into Michael Jackson’s legacy by integrated their talent with the talent he left behind.
When you leave the Mandalay Bay Theatre at the end of the 90-minute show, you’ll be doing the moonwalk out the door. That is how pumped with Michael Jackson nostalgia you will be from the show.
5) Ka by Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil creates the most popular Production Las Vegas shows imaginable. Ka is one of the most beloved Cirque du Soleil productions because it features everything you love about the company’s shows. It has action, adventure, acrobatics, death-defying stunts, high-production value, and an original storyline. You and the rest of your party will have 90 minutes of non-stop entertainment when you see the Ka show in the Ka Theatre of the MGM Grand Hotel.
Ka showcases the traditional good vs. evil storyline in a modern and sophisticated way. The Ka Theatre was explicitly designed for this production because it contains two huge floating and moving platforms that can turn entirely vertically. These platforms help increase the thrills and excitement of the suspended fight scenes throughout the show. Your heart will be pounding with joy from beginning to end.
Not all the action and stunt scenes are 100% airborne, though. One of the most popular stunts of the show features “The Wheel of Death” on the ground. A daredevil performer projects himself to death-defying heights while attempting to avoid the Wheel of Death on the ground. However, if the performer falls into the Wheel of Death, it would mean his demise. Will the daredevil be able to survive during the intense battles in the story? There is only one way to find out.
The current showtimes for Cirque du Soleil’s Ka show are 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM on Saturdays through Wednesdays. The minimum age for admittance is three years or older.
6) Mad Apple
Cirque du Soleil’s Mad Apple is one of the newest Las Vegas production shows at the New York-New York Theater of the New York-New York Hotel. It is a full-blown tribute to the exciting and wild nightlife of New York City. Cirque du Soleil’s creativity is certainly reflected in the entertainment quality because it features magic, comedy, dancing, music, circus performers, and high-flying acrobatics. The show has everything you would expect from a Cirque du Soleil production in Las Vegas.
Comedian Brad Williams is the star entertainer of Mad Apple. First, he introduces this non-stop joyride through the nightlife of New York City. Then you’ll witness about 80 minutes of fabulous entertainment acts, thanks to the dynamic mixture of comedians, dancers, musicians, circus performers, acrobats, and magicians. There is something for everybody at this show.
The most impressive performer is the female acrobat who projects herself through the air by the locks of her hair. Meanwhile, the Lady Gaga hit song “Born This Way” is performed in the background. This female acrobat has the strongest and most luscious locks of hair you will ever see. They can make her spin at high speeds in the air or allow her to move gracefully.
The current showtimes are 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM on Fridays through Tuesdays. The minimum age requirement is 16 years or older. The thrills begin as soon as you step into the theater. Mad Apple has 30 minutes of pre-show entertainment before the main show begins. The pre-show entertainment consists of several “Wow” moments you won’t want to miss.
7) iLuminate
iLuminate features immersive and sophisticated wireless lighting technology that does a fantastic job of blending with the dancing and music of this 75-minute show. There are few production shows in Las Vegas that can demonstrate such technological sophistication. iLuminate is an electrifying production with LED light technology for a fantastic and unique visual experience. Dancers will disappear and reappear out of the blue, and musical instruments will float midair. What else could you ask for from a Vegas production show?
iLuminate has dancing, comedy, and awesome effects combined. America’s Got Talent named iLuminate as the “Best Act in America, thanks to its unique and imaginative production. The creativity of the production helped it become a finalist contender on America’s Got Talent. The amazing thing is that iLuminate is one of the newer shows Vegas has to offer. And yet, it has already gained massive popularity amongst locals and tourists who’ve seen the show.
If you have never seen iLuminate in Las Vegas, you may have seen it on television shows in the past. iLuminate has appeared on “The X Factor,” “The Voice,” “Good Morning America,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and “Dancing with the Stars.” It has also guest starred with famous singers and artistic groups like The Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, and Chris Brown.
The current showtimes for iLuminate are 8:00 PM on Monday and Wednesday and 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday on select dates. The show is at the STRAT Theater of the STRAT Hotel in Las Vegas.
8) Criss Angel Mindfreak
Las Vegas magicians all have their unique styles of trickery and illusionism. Criss Angel is undoubtedly no exception because there is no other magician quite like him anywhere. He has spent more than a decade entertaining audiences with his magic and illusions. Criss Angel Mindfreak is extra special because it utilizes cutting-edge technology to assist with the magic and illusions. You’ll see pyrotechnics, moving lights and visual effects that are out of this world.
You can see Criss Angel Mindfreak at the Criss Angel Theater in Planet Hollywood Las Vegas. Criss Angel brings more than 75 of his most famous signature illusions to each show. But, perhaps his most renowned illusion is his levitation trick. You will see Criss levitate inside of a light beam over a large pyramid. It will keep you guessing and wondering how he did the trick because it is something you won’t see anywhere else.
You will get an interactive experience as soon as you step into the lobby of the theater. The interactivity will continue throughout the end of the show and upon your departure from the theater. There is no doubt that you will be “mind freaked” after the show. Audience members have to be at least ten years of age or older. The show is not adult-oriented, but the illusions might be too much for someone younger than ten years old to process.
9) Blue Man Group
The members of the Blue Man Group are not your typical Las Vegas comedians. They may look strange and unusual at first glance, but wait until you see them perform live. Just imagine a wild light show with music, humor, theatrics, and blue mute aliens all rolled into one setting. The act consists of extraordinary makeshift instruments, fast-changing illusions, and the original Blue Man signature music track.
Audiences have been watching the Blue Man Group for over 25 years, yet they never get bored with them. Where else can you see alien-like beings with blue skin? Whichever plant they come from, it must be a planet where performance arts is mandatory. The Blue Man Group is one of the few production shows in Vegas that can entertain audiences without using their voice.
The Blue Man Group performs at the Luxur Hotel in Las Vegas. They will make you laugh without uttering one word. Their style of comedy is original and abnormal but not obscene or inappropriate. In other words, there is no adult-oriented comedy, so it is perfectly acceptable for families and children to see it.
10) Tournament of Kings
The Tournament Of Kings is a production with a Medieval theme. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the Middle Ages before, the Tournament of Kings will make the experience more fun and exciting than it would have been if you were there. Only one location is suitable to host the Tournament of Kings: The King Arthur’s Arena in the Excalibur Hotel Las Vegas with 900 seats.
Audience members are treated to a dinner feast as they watch singers, dancers, knights, and jousters perform for their entertainment. You will be made to feel like a real king from the Middle Ages because only royalty received such treatment in those days. The arena is comprised of different sections, with each section representing a different country. You don’t have to be from that country necessarily, but you’re supposed to cheer on a chosen “king” of your particular section.
All kinds of exciting activities take place in the arena. For example, you will see knights battling with their swords and jousting on horseback. Think of it like a gladiatorial fight in the middle of an arena with audience members eating and cheering them on. Meanwhile, you’ll get to eat a Medieval-style food dish consisting of Cornish hen, corn on the cob, dinner rolls, and lemon pepper roasted potatoes.
The Tournament of Kings does a great job of bringing back the Middle Ages. It is probably the only time you’ll ever be made to feel like a king in the 21st century. The best part is that there are no age restrictions, which makes it a family-friendly show.
11) Jabbawockeez
Jabbawockeez is the definition of Las Vegas family shows. The performers all have white alien faces with blank expressions on them. But when they whoop out their dance moves, they energize the entire audience and get them to move to the music. They will keep you and your family members laughing with excitement and joy from beginning to end.
The alien dancers are hip-hop dance artists who are well synchronized and coordinated in their moves. Get ready for their interactions with audience members because they love to do that too. Their interactions are fast, funny and innocent, so it is entirely appropriate for younger audience members.
Jabbawockeez achieved national recognition after winning the 2008 season of the reality television show “America’s Best Dance Crew.” The entire dance crew loves freestyle dance because it brings originality and creativity to their acts. While other dance crews like to dance to music in a coordinated manner, Jabbawockeez uses dance as a form of artistic expression. This makes each individual dancer stand out from one another. Their visual representations of the background music are unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Jabbawockeez is at the Jabbawockeez Theater of the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. In 2010, Jabbawockeez headlined at the MGM Grand as the first dance crew on the Las Vegas Strip. They have since performed at the Luxor Hotel and Monte Carlo Hotel before returning to the MGM Grand.
12) V: The Ultimate Variety Show
Do you want to see production shows in Vegas with lots of energy and excitement? V: The Ultimate Variety Show is a non-stop adrenaline booster for 75 minutes. The performers are so fast, fun and impressive that your heart will be pumping with excitement the entire show.
V: The Ultimate Variety Show consists of dancers, skaters, jugglers, gymnasts, comedians and magicians. Fortunately, the show does not have a complicated storyline despite all these different performers being part of it. What’s even better is that some of the audience members will get selected to come on stage and face the wrath of comedic insults.
Of course, you don’t have to volunteer to go up on stage. You can have just as much fun watching other audience members face the comedians on stage. And if you see this show on different nights of the week, you’ll likely see different performers on stage each night. The production purposely switches the performers around to give the show more variety and mystery.
V: The Ultimate Variety Show is hosted in the V Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops of Planet Hollywood. The most famous performers of V are the Skating Aratas, who are a husband and wife team that perform dangerous stunts together. Your heart will be pounding as you watch them put their lives at risk for your entertainment.
13) Legends In Concert
Many production shows in Las Vegas try to bring back legendary superstars, icons and singers through holographic technology. However, the Legends in Concert does something even better because they use lookalike performers and the real voices of the legends together.
Legends in Concert is a tribute to the most outstanding music legends of the 20th century, such as Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, George Michael and Elvis Presley. It is one of the longest-running Las Vegas production shows because of people’s love for these stars. They want to see them brought back to life with performers who know how to move and act like them.
As you sit with the audience, you won’t even be able to tell the difference between the performers and the music legends. They do a great job of synchronizing their lips with the singing playing over them. If you’re feeling nostalgic for some classic singers that you know and love, then you should purchase tickets to attend the Legends in Concert.
Legends in Concert is available at the Legends in Concert Theater of the Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel (A Doubletree by Hilton). You have to be at least 12 years old or older to attend.
14) Menopause the Musical
Menopause the Musical was an off-Broadway production when it debuted in 2001. After selling more than 15 million tickets, they found a new home at the Harrah’s Cabaret of the Harrah’s Hotel in Las Vegas. It is an 85-minute show consisting of humorous middle-aged women making fun of their weight gain, memory loss, mood swings and hot flashes. If you love this kind of female humor, you will definitely want to check out this show.
Las Vegas production shows, such as Menopause the Musical, have adult themes to them. Even though the minimum age requirement is 14 years old or older to see the show, the humor probably won’t be appreciated by anyone too young. There are also numerous songs playing from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. But if you know teens and young adults who like girl humor, it might be an educational and humorous experience to let them see this show.
Menopause the Musical is the longest-running Las Vegas musical production in the history of the city. The group has performed their musical show for more than 16 years, so they have gathered a large fanbase within that time.
15) WOW – The Vegas Spectacular
WOW – The Vegas Spectacular is a show that you will remember forever. The show is featured in a 180-degree theatre at the Rio Showroom of the Rio Las Vegas Hotel, where audiences get to step into a world of fantasy and wonderment. You will see water walls, holograms, 3D media projections, vibrant theatrical lighting, brilliant choreography and impressive acrobatics. Meanwhile, you’ll hear thrilling and upbeat music while the action takes place.
There is a good reason why over 2.5 million people have seen Wow the Spectacular in person. The show has over 30 performers that can be seen dancing, flying and flipping around all over the place, doing stunts that no layperson would ever dream of doing. Your mind will be overwhelmed and amazed as you watch these performers from beginning to end.
The theater doesn’t stick the audience far away from the stage and the performers. Instead, you and the rest of the crowd will be right up against the stage to see the performers and stunts make their exhilarating moves. The best part is when the stuntpeople fly high in the air and then land on the ground perfectly as if they were weightless.
You will definitely be saying “Wow” the entire 90 minutes of this show. It is open to children as young as four years old.
The best production shows in Las Vegas is a subjective opinion. However, if you have reviewed the top 15 list carefully, you should have a good idea about which shows will be the most interesting for you. Otherwise, consider the reputations of the Vegas shows and the performers in them.
Many famous production performance groups have a long history in Las Vegas and around the country. Two examples of such groups are Cirque du Soleil and the Blue Man Group. If you see either of these groups involved in a production, it is guaranteed to be an excellent time for everyone.
Think about the level of comedy, magic, mystery, and acrobatics that you want to see in a production show. Also, are you traveling with children, adults or both? While many production shows in Vegas are family-friendly, some are geared more toward adults only. Keep that in mind as you book your itinerary for your trip to Vegas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have questions about Las Vegas production shows? If so, you might find answers to those questions below.
What are production shows in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas production shows are organized entertainment events that can include art, music, comedy, singing, acrobatics, dancing and anything else that could entertain people. Some production shows in Las Vegas have several of these elements combined. If you’ve seen production shows in other cities, then you’ve never seen production shows like the ones in Las Vegas.
What are the best production shows in Las Vegas?
The best production shows in Las Vegas are located on the Las Vegas Strip or somewhere close by. Everyone has their personal opinions about which production shows in Vegas are the best. We recommend Mystère, Blue Man Group and Jabbawockeez because they are so original and captivating to audiences. There is no doubt you will feel the same way when you see them live.
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