Awakening - brand new 'magical' Vegas spectacular

[CraigMitchell]

Awakening - a brand new 'magical' Vegas spectacular opens in Nov. at the Wynn

Bernie Yuman ( of S&R fame is producing )
Paul Kieve is illusion designer

When Anthony Hopkins narrates - you know money was not an object ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0W4jLxHij0

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 40605.html

Some great behind the scenes segments on the Wynn youtube channel and interview with Kiev here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9x6ElzUPA

"most technologically advanced show being done on the planet"

...

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wynn Las Vegas introduces a new era of entertainment when the resort premieres Awakening on Nov. 7, 2022. An unprecedented spectacle, Awakening immerses audiences in a custom-designed 360-degree theater, the Awakening Theater. The show is conceived and created by Bernie Yuman, Baz Halpin and Michael Curry, and narrated by two-time Academy Award®-winner Anthony Hopkins.

Awakening Debuts at Wynn Las Vegas Nov. 7, 2022

"Every so often, the bar for spectacle in Las Vegas is raised," said Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts. "State of the art lighting, sound, and stage technology, coupled with intricate storytelling, glamorous costumes, and large-scale puppetry will make Awakening and the Awakening Theater stand out as true innovation in theatrical entertainment and raise that bar for Las Vegas, once again. I am deeply proud of the team that has so carefully crafted this one-of-a-kind experience."

Awakening invites audiences to join the quest of a heroine and her two fellow travelers as they seek to reunite two lost lovers. Infused with modern day myth and magic, the show comes to life through a combination of dramatic choreography, technology, fantastic creatures, and a custom sound system designed to showcase its breathtaking original musical score.

"I've been fortunate to work with many of the greatest artists in the live entertainment space, but with Awakening I had the opportunity to explore completely new territory," said Baz Halpin, Producer and Director of Awakening. "I've always been fascinated with the 360-experience and the intimacy that it creates between the audience and performers. It allows for a level of immersivity that brings the theatrical experience to life. Our theater at Wynn has afforded us the ability to create something unlike anything else in entertainment. Awakening is a Las Vegas spectacle on an epic scale."

The theater features 1,600 seats, each within 75 feet of center stage and equipped with a sound system that envelops audiences through WynnSonic featuring PHBX Technology™ – a technology that creates 3D sound. Elaborate set designs are showcased as the journey unfolds across a 60-foot prismatic stage, made of dichroic glass and custom LED screens. More than 300 costumes, inspired by haute couture, bring the five unique and visceral worlds of Awakening to life.

Harnessing the talent of a renowned creative team, Awakening promises to be an adventure of spectacular proportions.

"Awakening will redefine the Vegas spectacle and will bring technology in entertainment into the 21st Century," said Bernie Yuman, Executive Producer/Producer of Awakening. This is a groundbreaking collaborative effort between Wynn Las Vegas and our creative team in the entertainment capital of the world. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for anyone fortunate enough to see it."

"This show makes it possible for people to escape into a world that pushes the boundaries of entertainment," said Michael Curry, Producer and Character Designer of Awakening. "The puppetry and designs speak to the magnitude of Awakening as every scene takes the unbelievable and makes it real. The transformational stage acts as a character itself, allowing vast changes – from giving viewers the impression that they are submerged underwater to floating in a world in the clouds. These worlds come to life with imaginative characters and creatures unlike anything audiences have seen before."

Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas premieres on Monday, Nov. 7. Tickets are on sale now and available at awakeninglasvegas.com. Showtimes are 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday.

[AJM]

So, a Cirque type thang.

[Joe Lyons]

The first time I saw the Cirque du Soleil was one of the most magical experiences I've had.

[Tom Moore]

From my understanding it's closer in concept to an old school vegas spectacular than cirque in that it is dance and performance based rather than circus act based

[AJM]

But will it put ‘bums on seats’?

[Jack Shalom]

The talent?

[AJM]

The talent?

And a very good point - apart from the Cirque type shows, I would have thought that a successful LV show would need a ‘name’ on the marquee.

As fine an actor as he is, a recording of Sir Anthony Hopkins’ voice ain’t going to make this show a success in my view.

But then, what do I know?

Max Bialystock

[Richard Kaufman]

Looks like pseudo-pretentious twaddle.

[Edward Pungot]

“Paul Kieve is illusion designer“
That was enough for me.
I stopped reading after that.

[Jonathan Townsend]

The Magic of Puppets

Michael Curry’s award-winning work on The Lion King on Broadway forever elevated the art of puppetry; he raises the bar again with Awakening.

https://www.wynnlasvegas.com/entertainm ... aAgdQgQMgw

Puppets!

[CraigMitchell]

"Looks like pseudo-pretentious twaddle."

Someone's not invited to media night

Time will tell. This 'pseudo-pretentious twaddle' has some of the best creative talents in the business. I'm excited and hope they deliver.

[CraigMitchell]

Richard called this one.

Awakening is a hot mess with zero emotion and absolutely no connection to the audience. Fancy lights and some clever staging does not an award winning show make.

Most disappointing is Paul Kieve’s contribution - or lack thereof. With near unlimited budget - we get stock standard box illusions done poorly in a confusing narrative quagmire. There’s been no attempt to move magic forward bar for one illusion - the final appearance of a character on an empty stage which more closely resembles a Star Trek holodeck it’s that visual. The rest is nothing but unmet expectations.

And in so many respects resembles the Emperors New Clothes. The creative team was so good that someone forgot the most critical part of the entire equation … why should the audience care. There was the sum total of four applause moments in the entire 80 minutes. For the balance, a passive audience scratching their heads hoping for some level of thrill, excitement, angst or conflict … anything to make them feel something for what was unfolding before them.

They really have managed to achieve the impossible of spending $150 million on a performance that is instantly forgettable.

In contrast - Blaine across the street has some frogs, thread and a needle - and holds 3000 people transfixed at the edge of their seats.

Awakening’s box office has been so anemic that mere weeks after opening, the show will already be closing in Jan for two weeks for retooling. A Herculean task awaits …

[Richard Kaufman]

I just returned from a trip to Japan. Visited Tokyo Disneyland and went on the new "Beauty and the Beast" ride. The transformation of the beast into the prince was amazing: from a prone position, the beast floated upward to a vertical position and, while slowly turning, it transforms into the prince. You should hear the audience gasp!

[Jack Shalom]

Richard, does that Disney illusion use real people, or are they mannequins throughout?

[Tom Moore]

They're not humans (although ironically it could be) as it's part of a show scene that has to repeat 46 times per hour, 12 hours a day.
Video's don't really do it justice as the whole ride was designed to be viewed with human eyes not flattened by a camera but there's a good PoV here https://twitter.com/Attractions/status/ ... ec8uo7z9dw

[Richard Kaufman]

Jack, they're sophisticated robots, called Audio Animatronic figures.