From the start, “Awakening” was an outlier. This was a lavish production, owned by its host hotel, in a time when entertainment companies are downsizing.
So, it is not entirely a shock that the ambitious production at Wynn Las Vegas is closing. Its final show will be Oct. 10.
A statement from a Wynn rep: “Awakening will conclude its run on October 10 as we prepare a new production for the theater. We are immensely grateful to the talented producers, cast, crew and creative team whose passion, artistry and dedication brought the show to life night after night. Their work created something special, and we are proud of all that the cast and crew achieved during its run. The theater’s next chapter is already taking shape, and a new production will debut in 2027.”
The cast and crew were informed in a companywide meeting at Awakening Theater. The performers were offered a chance to audition for the new show. The cast is already speculating that robots will be incorporated into the next production.
“Awakening” opened as a replacement for “Le Reve” in November 2022 at a cost of $120 million.
The production has featured a cast of 60 international artists. The creative team was led by industry heavyweights Baz Halpin (who has directed Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour and Usher’s Super Bowl halftime show in Las Vegas), master puppeteer Michael Curry and Siegfried & Roy’s longtime manager Bernie Yuman. Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins furnished the story narration.
Performed in-the-round in a 1,600-capacity theater, the show featured extensive illusions, music numbers and choreography. Emmy-nominated composer Brian Tyler developed the score. A total of 3,200 speakers — two per seat — were installed in the theater renovation.
“Eras” tour choreographer Mandy Moore was brought in two years ago to work on the dance numbers. Acclaimed costume designer and celeb stylist Soyon An created more than 300 functional costumes.
Curry’s puppetry, with whales floating through a simulated oceanic scene, was a signature element in the show. The production developed a scene in which the lead character simply spins and vanishes from the middle of the stage in the closing segment.
But photos and video on social media consistently showed a sparsely populated theater. The show struggled to fill seats despite discounts and changes in showtimes.
“Awakening” was always in stiff competition with similarly scaled Cirque du Soleil shows such as “O,” “Mystere,” “Michael Jackson One” and “Ka,” not to mention the grandeur of Sphere, just next door.
In an era when even the boutique production “Mad Apple” at New York-New York can’t survive, the odds were always stacked against “Awakening.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.