Nevada is an entertainment mecca, with a wide variety of theater options and styles available to visitors. The state's entertainment is unique in the way the shows of Las Vegas and Reno cross the lines that traditionally separate dance performances, musical performances, and plays. Many of the most popular shows in Vegas incorporate elements from all genres of entertainment, such as singing, dancing, comedy, special effects, acrobatics, impersonation, and more. Reno and Vegas are obvious entertainment choices, but they aren't the only place to stir up some fun. In addition to the explosion of entertainment available in these cities, other spots around Nevada offer venues in which to experience more traditional staged theater.
"Off-Vegas"
The Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company is a regional theater company. Affiliated with Western Nevada College, the company produces several musicals each year in Carson City. Running shows like Thoroughly Modern Millie, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Guys and Dolls, the company is extremely popular. The company creates high-quality costumes and sets, which are then rented out to other theaters around the country. Also in the Carson City area is the Carson Valley Community Theatre. This theater offers dinner theater with many of its shows.
The Nevada Shakespeare Company, located in Reno, is the only non-profit professional equity theater in the state. The company is dedicated to producing new works and non-traditional productions of classical Shakespeare and other classic works. The theater company also operates a successful Shakespeare in School program that offers many children their first taste of theater.
Reno is also home to The Actory, a performing arts organization; Gothic North Theatre, a community organization; and Bruka Theatre, an organization that produces children's theater, musicals, classics, and contemporary shows. The largest facility in Reno is the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, a 1,200-seat facility that hosts a Broadway series, the Nevada Opera, and the Reno Philharmonic.
In the smaller towns of Nevada, there are several theatrical performing groups as well. Virginia City is home to the Virginia City Theatre Muckers; Wells has the Wells Community Theatre; the Curtain Call Community Theatre of Churchill County is located in Fallon; Incline Village is home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival; and the Silver Stage Players are in Elko.
Las Vegas Theatre
In addition to the splashy Vegas shows, there are several traditional style-theaters producing quality shows in the city. The Nevada Conservatory Theatre, located in Las Vegas, is a professional theater training program affiliated with the University of Nevada. The company produces a classic season in the Judy Bayley Theatre, running shows by such playwrights as Noel Coward, Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Bertolt Brecht, and more. The Black Box Theatre is the setting for the Second Season Series and includes plays that are more experimental and edgy in nature.
The Asylum Theatre is located at the Winchester Cultural Center and is dedicated to producing new and original plays. The company stages both full productions and readings of new works. The theater accepts submissions of new works by contemporary playwrights and produces these works during the season.
The Las Vegas Little Theatre is southern Nevada's oldest community theater. The group produces a variety of shows by well-known playwrights and runs a Mainstage and Black Box series each year. Las Vegas also is home to the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center.
For high-quality theater on the Las Vegas Strip, try Le Theatre des Artes at the Paris Hotel, the Mandalay Bay Theatre, the Onyx Theatre, the Mirage, Luxor, Harrah's, and most other large casino resorts, which are generally have in-house productions. Recent productions on these stages include musicals and plays like Mamma Mia, Spamalot, Ragtime, Hamlet, Sweet Charity, Shag with a Twist, Hairspray and The Producers.
In addition to plays and musicals, the Vegas casinos and hotels run a variety of cabaret and revues, ranging from the sophisticated, to the comedic, to the absurd. The Riviera and the Colosseum at Caesars Palace offer cabaret shows such as Bette Midler, An Evening at La Cage, and Barbara and Frank: The Concert that Never Was.
When it comes to revues, there are always a variety of shows running, often with look-a-likes. For those who enjoy dinner theater, shows like Tournament of Kings at Excalibur and Ba Da Bing at Club SEVEN fit the bill. In addition to traditional theater, the downtown Vegas clubs and the many Strip hotels and theaters offer traditional Vegas shows, complete with music, dancing and the ubiquitous Vegas Showgirl. Other live entertainment available includes magic shows, comedy, improv, circus acts, and much more.
For visitors to Nevada who enjoy live stage entertainment, there are few states that can compete with the sheer diversity and amount of performances available. Around the state, a mix of college theater, community theater, and professional companies offer traditional styles of performance nearly year round. Inside the glitz of Las Vegas, visitors can find Broadway style productions, community theater, musicals, cabaret, and more. Any theater lover visiting the Silver State is sure to find plenty of top-notch entertainment to enjoy.
