Vanessa on TV: Casinos.com Offers Expert Insight on Vegas Show Closures

^{When a couple popular shows on the Vegas Strip announced coming closures, the Las Vegas NBC affiliate turned to Casinos.com for insight and perspective. (Screenshot: KSNV News 3)}

LAS VEGAS – KSNV News 3 Las Vegas reporter Steve Wolford turned to Casinos.com News Writer Vanessa Alves-Johnson for his story on two Las Vegas Strip shows preparing to take their final bows – Cirque du Soleil’s “Mad Apple” at New York-New York and “Awakening” at Wynn Las Vegas.

Wolford asked if these closures are just another phase in entertainment turnover that Vegas has been through before, or if there was something more to it.

Vanessa explained that the two closures do not necessarily mean live entertainment in Las Vegas is dying. It is just changing.

She also reminded viewers that there’s a “human side” to these shows ending their runs, which she learned about by speaking directly with performers whose lives and careers were suddenly turned upside down.

A “Mad Apple” performer she interviewed talked to her about what it's like to have to go on stage while not knowing what comes next, and an “Awakening” cast member shared his recollection of the deafening silence when the whole crew was told they had only seven weeks before the $150 million production would close for good.

The Sphere-sized elephant in the room is that audiences increasingly want bigger, more immersive and more shareable experiences. Vanessa pointed to venues such as Allegiant Stadium as proof that live entertainment is still thriving, while explaining that social media is helping drive demand for exclusive experiences people can immediately post online.

“Having Allegiant here is a great sign that live entertainment isn’t dead,” Vanessa said.

That may be good news for mega-venues and high-tech attractions, but it creates a much tougher fight for traditional Strip productions competing for the same visitors, attention and entertainment dollars, she said.

Wolford also interviewed radio DJ and social influencer Heather Collins, aka RaisedinVegas, for his story. She expressed similar concern for the impact bigger shows are having on the “Vegas ecosystem as a whole.”

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