The Playgoer: Spamalot in Vegas

Custom Search

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Spamalot in Vegas

I don't know why I'm so fascinated by the growing prospects of theatre in Las Vegas. Sure, we're still just talking Broadway musicals and it's all about one crazy billionaire, Steve Wynn. The implications for non-profits, for art may be nil. But I sense something brewing, as if the gravitational force of all live entertainment is moving west. An overstatement for now, sure. But stay tuned...

Meanwhile, read here how Wynn has just agreed to build another theatre--this one for a sit-down of Spamalot. For a projected ten-year run. Unlike his exclusive deal for Avenue Q , Spamalot will also have a national tour--but not anywhere on the West Coast, including California! So all of Idle & Nichols' Hollywood friends will have to go to Vegas to see it. Remember, we're not talking Boy From Oz here. This is Avenue Q & Spamalot: two of the most theatrically respected commercial shows. (And Q, started in the non-profits, remember.)

That Wynn is crazy like a fox, I say...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Saying Avenue Q started in the non-profits is like saying Miramax produces independent films.

Spamalot and Avenue Q were critically respected in relation to their own (very, very modest) ambitions and the crass commercialism they evinced. They were hardly seen as significant cultural achievements.

Playgoer said...

Fair point... I only meant to distinguish these two shows from the purely commercial, purely shlock enterprises alongside them on B'way. If Wynn were importing "Mama Mia" or "Dracula: The Musical", it wouldn't be much of a story...Perhaps the most objective way to put this is that "Q" & "Spamalot", unlike other musicals, are shows with both high critical praise and snob appeal in addition to boffo biz.

Anonymous said...

Julia Roberts in another revival. Does anyone have any shame anymore?