When Donny Osmond starred in the 1991 London Palladium revival of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” famed director Steven Pimlott told the headliner: “The theater is a place where people come to dream in public, and you’re in charge of the dream.”
Osmond wrote down that comment and still adheres to it. The “Puppy Love” legend picks up the theme in a phone chat: “When people walk in, whether they’re sitting in the orchestra section, booths or at a table, the lights dim and — boom! — the show starts. It’s another world, another realm.”
Over the decades, whether with his brothers or sister Marie, Osmond has performed in some of Vegas’ most famous realms. Among them: the Las Vegas Hilton Theater (today’s International Theater at the Westgate), the long-ago disassembled Circus Maximus at Caesars Palace, the Flamingo Showroom (for 11 years in the Donny & Marie residency) and currently Harrah’s Showroom.
Venues such as Circus Maximus, the Copa Room at the Sands, the Crystal Room at the Desert Inn and the Versailles Showroom at the Riviera are part of Las Vegas lore. Over the eras, custom-designed theaters have largely supplanted one-design-fits-all showroom architecture. This has been especially true for Cirque du Soleil’s productions on the Strip, created specifically for the shows’ unique technology and staging.
But a few stately showrooms still stand. Some have been tweaked here and there. Others have been built more recently, but in the spirit of the classics. Our greatest hits list:
Flamingo Showroom
This venue remains true to its original design, dating to Wayne Newton’s days as headliner in 1963. Newton once said he liked the room because “You have the chance to build conversations, and friendships, with strangers at the tables.” The room is rife — rife, I tell you! — with baquettees.
Capacity: 728
Principal headliners: Piff the Magic Dragon, “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live”
Harrah’s Showroom
Where Sammy Davis Jr. and, later, Clint Holmes headlined, this is Donny Osmond’s baby these days, with a new sound and light system to his specs. But he maintains multiple levels of booths with proper seating near the front. An underrated showroom experience for a proven star.
Capacity: 535
Principal headliners: Osmond, “MJ Live” tribute to Michael Jackson
International Theater at Westgate
The fabled Elvis showroom during his Vegas residency from 1969 to ’76. Barbra Streisand (who opened the room), Newton, Liberace, Tina Turner and Tony Bennett are among its scores of headliners. The venue was remodeled from its booths and tables design to a proper theater when Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Starlight Express” rolled into Vegas. The theater was modified once more, with a half-dozen booths returned, when “Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition —The Show — The Experience” opened in the spring of 2015. Leave it to the King to posthumously dial up a vintage redesign.
Capacity: 1,541
Principal headliner: Barry Manilow
Westgate Cabaret
The International’s sidesaddle showroom, formerly known as the Shimmer Cabaret in the Las Vegas Hilton days. It features VIP tables near the stage in a unique, moat-style seating area, and table seating throughout. It’s comparatively intimate, but with balcony seating. An often-underappreciated jewel box.
Capacity: 248
Principal headliners: Magician Jen Kramer, “The King Comes Home” Elvis tribute, “Soul of Motown”
Plaza Showroom
Refreshed and refurbished over the past few years, a gift from an otherwise ill-fated organized crime vehicle, “A Mob Story,” and as a result of the design of the wonderful variety show “Mavericks” from Amy Saunders. Cocktail tables and booths on every seating platform, clear view of the stage, LED technology, and chandeliers overhead. The room is vintage but upgraded to host NCAA Tournament viewing parties and even competitive eating competitions. Now we just need a show; we’d love to see Saunders back with a concept.
Capacity: 615
Principal headliners: TBD
Strat Theater
The second-floor room makes an old-school scene with booths on multiple levels, circular cocktail tables, a lot of space to roam for fans and, in the case of the “Rouge” adult revue, the cast. SPI Entertainment has upgraded the LED screens and sound setup. Another “reveal” experience where one wouldn’t anticipate a classic Vegas showroom.
Capacity: 600
Principal headliners: “Rouge”
Golden Nugget Showroom
Historic call here, as the venue where Frank Sinatra once headlined is much more of a proper theater than a showroom design. But the showroom still holds its original configuration from Sinatra’s headlining run from 1984 to ’89, the era when he recorded his “Live From Las Vegas” album. Even Ol’ Blue Eyes’ dressing room is still intact.
Capacity: 600
Principal headliners: Impressionist Gordie Brown; rotation of classic rock bands in the hotel’s Friday night series (Firehouse this Friday, Quiet Riot on April 10)
South Point Showroom
Perhaps you remember the nightclub Fever. It was in this space for 63 days in 2007, shortly after Michael Gaughan took over ownership of the resort. The venue was brought back to classic configuration, long tables, cocktail tables, booths and even bar seating. State-of-the-art LED, lighting and sound and affordability make it a locals favorite.
Capacity: 400
Principal headliners: the Righteous Brothers, Bronx Wanderers, Human Nature
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.