Las Vegas News Briefs – May 2018

The VOID, the global leader of a new category of immersive location based experiences, has teamed up with ILMxLAB to create Star Wars™: Secrets of the Empire. Using state-of-the-art VR technology, The VOID will transport guests deep into the Star Wars universe where they can walk freely untethered, see, touch and interact with the environment that blends the physical with the virtual world. Under the orders of the rebellion, teams of four guests must work together to infiltrate an Imperial base disguised as stormtroopers where they’ll navigate through to steal critical intelligence with help from familiar Star Wars characters along the way. Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire opened to fans, travelers and locals alike in April and is located at St. Mark’s Square at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas. For more information, contact Michelle Ravelo PMK∙BNC for The VOID, michelle.ravelo@pmkbnc.com or Sara Ryan, Allied Integrated Marketing for GGP, ggp@alliedim.com.

Multi-platinum recording artist and global icon Gwen Stefani is heading to the Las Vegas Strip with her exclusive headlining residency show, “Gwen Stefani – Just a Girl,” inside Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino beginning Wednesday, June 27, 2018. Gwen Stefani, Live Nation Las Vegas and Caesars Entertainment have also announced their partnership with Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, where $1 of every ticket purchased to “Gwen Stefani – Just A Girl” at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will be donated to the non-profit organization. Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is a Las Vegas-based nonprofit organization that provides medical treatment to children facing a number of life-threatening conditions. The donation will also allow Cure 4 The Kids Foundation to move into a state-of-the-art building, increasing the number of exam rooms and improving the patient treatment experience. For more information, contact Talia Rothman, Caesars Entertainment, trothman@caesars.com.

During the galactic premiere of OPIUM on April 8, the crew of the Orbital People Mover 4.2 (OPM 4.2) blasted off on their inaugural interplanetary flight from the planet Uranus, successfully landing at the OPIUM Theatre at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Earth. On its maiden voyage, the starship’s passengers were treated to a stellar performance by an irreverent ensemble crew of fools, many showcasing their peculiar talents – from sword swallowing and singing, to feats of danger, wonder, extreme athleticism, and more. The thrilling, at-capacity premiere flight was met with wild applause and a standing ovation by the ship’s passengers upon touchdown. OPIUM performs Monday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. with no performances on Tuesday. For more information, contact Thomas Judd, Kirvin Doak Communications, tjudd@kirvindoak.com.

A one-of-its-kind hotel performance gym opened May 1 at the Plaza Hotel & Casino.

The new 5,000-square-foot fitness center by the popular downtown Las Vegas gym, REAL RESULTS will offer athletic sports style training, including group classes and personal training, as well as traditional workout equipment, dynamic group classes led by experienced certified trainers, and private one-on-one training. REAL RESULTS’ signature group cross-training and yoga sessions will be offered both in the new fitness center and on the recreation deck of the Pool at the Plaza, weather permitting. Conventions and special events at the Plaza can take advantage of customized activities, like “Detox to Retox,” private group and team building classes, and pre/post conference classes. The REAL RESULTS Gym will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit https://plazahotelcasino.com/hotel/real-results-gym.

MGM Resorts International announced the release of “UNIVERSAL LOVE,” a collection of reimagined wedding songs for the LGBTQ community, celebrating the enduring and overwhelming power of love and music to unite. “UNIVERSAL LOVE” offers six newly recorded versions of iconic love songs that give same-sex couples a soundtrack for their own love stories and feature pronouns changed to reflect the world of LGBTQ relationships. The album includes boundary-changing songs from some of today’s most-beloved artists. The album features stellar artists from Bob Dylan, Kesha, St. Vincent, Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab, Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, and Valerie June. The compilation album was produced by MGM Resorts in conjunction with global advertising agency McCann and will be distributed by Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music. “UNIVERSAL LOVE” is available on all streaming platforms. For more information, contact mgm@sunshinesachs.com.

The iconic Caesars Palace Las Vegas has launched a dynamic new brand campaign with a fully integrated, sharable narrative video, sweepstakes and room package, showcasing how every guest who visits the reimagined resort is treated ‘Like a Caesar.’ The centerpiece of the campaign, the video showcases a character known as Caesar indulging in the resort’s world-class amenities, including the pool, nightlife, spa, dining, shopping and more. Building off the resort’s rich legacy of trailblazing innovation and opulent offerings in the center of the Las Vegas Strip, the film pays homage to the resort’s rich history while showcasing its distinctive experiences in an approachable and humorous way. The ‘Like a Caesar’ campaign follows exciting developments at Caesars Palace. Now through December 28, 2018, guests can live ‘Like a Caesar’ by indulging in a range of experiences and packages at Caesars Palace.  For more information, contact Erica Johnson-McElroy, Caesars Entertainment, ejohnsonmcelroy@caesarspalace.com.

The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas are celebrating the spirit of Venice with a new seasonal display that features one of the world’s oldest Venetian gondolas. The historic gondola, thought to be constructed around 1850, is considered by experts to be one of the best surviving examples of Venetian gondolas from that time period. The impressive specimen spans 36 feet and is nearly 5 feet wide. The original 1800s furniture is still featured on the gondola, as well as the etched glass windows and hardware. To commemorate the artifact’s arrival to the resort, the gondola is displayed among a collection of hundreds of flowers in the atrium gardens, affording great “Instagrammable moments” around the gondola. For more information, contact Elaine Chaivarlis, The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas, Elaine.Chaivarlis@sands.com.

Opening in July at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, “A Mob Story” will entertain audiences with an original production that tells the “tale of how the Mob made Las Vegas, and how Vegas took down the Mob.” Created and directed by legendary producer, Emmy and Golden Globe award winner, Jeff Kutash, “A Mob Story” is the most realistic portrayal of the mob ever presented on stage, as told by the last Godfather, former Colombo family capo, Michael Franzese. A true “made man,” Franzese will provide an unprecedented authentic journey into the secret world of the mafia as the show’s host. Former city of Las Vegas Mayor and illustrious mob attorney, Oscar B. Goodman will be an ambassador to the show with special appearances. Tickets are on sale now for the limited engagement show featuring stunning 180-degree visual effects and world class choreography set to today’s popular music, influenced by wise guys, gangsters, and mistresses to the mob. For more information, contact Amy E. S. Maier, Faiss Foley Warren, amy@ffwpr.com.

One of Hollywood’s most iconic stars is coming to the Las Vegas Strip in “Marilyn! The New Musical,” an original musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. The show will open at Paris Las Vegas with preview performances beginning May 23 and a grand opening June 1, just in time for Marilyn’s birthday. Written, directed and produced by Tegan Summer, CEO of Prospect House Entertainment, in partnership with Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Estate of Marilyn Monroe, the new musical will feature acclaimed Broadway actress Ruby Lewis as the resident Marilyn Monroe. “Marilyn! The New Musical” features 20 original musical numbers as well as classics like “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” For more information, contact Talia Rothman, Caesars Entertainment, trothman@caesars.com.

International Market Centers (IMC), owners and operators of World Market Center Las Vegas, announced a partnership with the City of Las Vegas to construct a new 350,000-square-foot Expo Center on the World Market Center Las Vegas campus. The new Expo Center will provide state-of-the-art exhibition and meeting space in the downtown area for corporate and private events, meetings and tradeshows, as well as service the Las Vegas Market furniture, gift and home décor trade events that attract roughly 100,000 attendees annually. The cost of the Expo Center will be approximately $76 million of which the City of Las Vegas will contribute $30 million through a TIF (tax increment financing) note. Construction is slated to begin in the next 12-18 months and will take approximately 18 months to complete. For more information, contact Cindy Hodnett, International Market Centers, chodnett@imcenters.com.