Vegas entertainment made its name with its showrooms, though its glory days are somewhat behind it, gone with the Rat Pack themselves. For a long time, Vegas headliners were something of a joke; only those on the downhill side of fame were thought to play here. But with all the new performance spaces -- and high fees -- offered by the new hotels, Vegas suddenly has some respect again, especially, on (of all things) the rock scene. Both the Hard Rock Hotel's The Joint and the House of Blues are attracting very current and very popular acts who find it hip, rather than humiliating, to play Sin City. However, the classic Vegas showroom itself does seem headed the way of the dinosaurs; many of the hotels have shuttered theirs. As for the remainder, one is pretty much like the other, with the exception of the Hard Rock and HOB (hence their detailed descriptions), and in any case, audiences go based on the performer rather than the space itself. Check with your hotel, or those free magazines in your room, to see who is in town when you are.
Major headliner showrooms in Vegas include the following:
Aladdin Center for the Performing Arts -- In the Aladdin Resort & Casino, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. 877/333-WISH [333-9474] or 702/785-5555)
Las Vegas Hilton Showroom -- In the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Rd. (tel. 800/222-5361 or 702/732-5755)
Mandalay Bay Events Center -- In Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. 877/632-7400 or 702/632-7580)
MGM Grand Garden Events Arena -- In the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. 800/929-1111 or 702/891-7777)
MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre -- In the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. 800/929-1111 or 702/891-7777)
Orleans Showroom -- In the Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. (tel. 800/ORLEANS)
Note also that Mr. Wayne Newton, who really is Vegas, is currently playing the Stardust on a regular basis, about 40 weeks out of the year.
Wayne Newton's Top 10 Favorite Lounge Songs--Wayne Newton is the consummate entertainer. He has performed more than 25,000 concerts in Las Vegas alone, and in front of more than 25 million people worldwide. Wayne has received more standing ovations than any other entertainer in history. Along with his singing credits, his acting credits are soaring -- one of his more recent credits is Vegas Vacation. Make sure you catch him playing at the Stardust. No trip to Vegas is complete without seeing the "King of Las Vegas."
1. "You're Nobody, Til Somebody Loves You" (You don't have a body unless somebody loves you!)
2. "Up a Lazy River" (or "Up Your Lazy River!")
3. "Don't Go Changing (Just the Way You Are)" (The clothes will last another week!)
4. "Having My Baby" (Oh God!)
5. "The Windmills of My Mind" (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)
6. "The Wind Beneath My Wings" (Soft and Dry usually helps!)
7. "Copacabana"
8. "When the Saints Go Marching In"
9. "I Am, I Said" (Huh?!)
10. "The Theme from the Love Boat" (or "Would a Dinghy Do?")
Headliner Stadiums--Three arenas are worth a special mention since they often feature major entertainers. Sam Boyd Stadium, the outdoor stadium at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), has been host to such major acts as Paul McCartney, U2, the Eagles, and Metallica. Thomas and Mack Center, the university's indoor arena, has a more comprehensive concert schedule, including such names as Van Halen, Michael Bolton, and Celine Dion, as well as such shows as Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. Circus. Both are located on the UNLV campus at Boulder Highway and Russell Road (tel. 702/895-3900). Ticketmaster (tel. 702/474-4000) handles ticketing for both arenas.
