29 Oct Top 3 Cirque du Soleil Shows in Las Vegas
Top 3 Cirque du Soleil Shows in Las Vegas
Vegas has some of the best shows in the world—and they’re all concentrated on one street (well, most of them). In a previous post I ranked some of the best Vegas shows using these categories:
- Cirque du Soleil
- Magic
- Adult
- Headliners & Concerts
- Comedy
- Hypnosis, Mind Reading, & Psychic
- Las Vegas Production & Variety
Cirque du Soleil: The Rankings
I rated Cirque du Soleil* shows the following way:
#1- Zumanity
#2- Le Rêve (not a Cirque show, but similar and should definitely be considered if visiting Vegas)
#3- Michael Jackson: ONE
#4- “O”
#5- The Beatles: LOVE
#6- Mystère
#7- KÀ
* Only shows I’ve seen have been rated.
Honesty Time
I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge Cirque fan. Obviously, the performers are amazingly talented and thank God for the show because where else would these crazy people work? But when I leave the theater I often feel exhausted and it’s a little like sensory overload. So much crazy sh!$ happens all around you for 95 minutes that it’s easy to lose focus on individual performers. And at some point in the show, you stop seeing them as humans who are flying through the air with no safety or harnesses and you almost become…well, jaded and easily unimpressed.
And I like to be easily impressed. I like to be awestruck by people’s amazing talents. And when there are 100 (and sometimes more) unique, one-of-a-kind performers on stage, I guess they all kind of become average. And that sucks. I also like some semblance of a story or plot and Cirque shows are always minimal on that front.
Knowing that, it’s probably easy to understand why Zumanity is my number one pick, well, at least after you read my review about the show. And why Kà is my least favorite.
#1 Zumanity
Note: Zumanity is an adults-only show. Children under 18 will not be permitted.
Knowing that Zumanity is an adult-themed Vegas show, you can assume that there will be raunchy humor and, well, undressed boobies (lots of them actually). If you aren’t into that kind of thing, I cannot stress enough how this is not the show for you. Please don’t embarrass yourself by going to this show and getting offended because the very things they advertise are the things you aren’t comfortable with.
Located in New York New York, Zumanity’s own sexual thrill ride beats out the infamous roller coaster that drapes the casino’s facade. Created as a departure from the standard Cirque format, Zumanity features erotic song, dance, and acrobatics. This departure is actually what I love most about the show. I tend to find the loose attempts at plot and storyline of other Cirque shows boring and would prefer it be scratched altogether. With each act, Zumanity creates a new, mostly erotic, world to discover.
As with other Cirque shows, you want to arrive early to watch the pre-show which all feature some sort of clown/comedy act. Zumanity’s pre-show is no different, but the comedic approach is less creepy French weirdness and more middle-school boy locker room. It is both raunchy and hilarious. Don’t take yourself too seriously and let your inner middle-school boy shine—it’s finally time for him to reemerge.
Seating Tip:
Zumanity features an intimate venue so there’s no bad seat in the house. However, if you don’t want to end up as part of the show, avoid booking the first three rows. My husband got drawn up on stage for the Scotch Baggies act and it was hilarious.
Ticket Pricing & Dates:
Tickets start at $69 and go up to about $125. Zumanity does not have shows on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
#2 Le Rêve – The Dream
Save 20% on tickets to Le Reve! It’s really hard to compare Zumanity and Le Rêve because they are really different. If you are in the mood for a more classic Cirque performance (and are okay with it not being Cirque) Le Rêve is definitely what you should see. Especially if (and I can’t stress this enough) you are uncomfortable with sexual humor and innuendo, orgy simulations, homosexual situations, have children with you, etc. If that is you, please see Le Rêve. Le Rêve has been voted the “Best Production Show” in Las Vegas for seven consecutive years. Its incredible aqua theater-in-the-round has no bad seat and no seat is further than 40 feet from the stage. The storyline is easy to follow (unlike most Cirque shows) and the music is gorgeous and memorable. During Cirque’s water show “O” I kept checking my watch thinking “when will this be over?” Le Rêve kept me fascinated the entire time; I actually remember my contacts drying out because I had my eyes peeled the entire time. I didn’t want to miss anything—not the crazy high dives, the breathtaking aerial feats of strength, the fire and water shows, or the mesmerizing synchronized swimmers. Even with my eyes peeled, I know I missed something amazing, so I can’t wait to go back soon.Seating Tip:
No seat is more than 40 feet from the stage. There is a splash zone and, of course, those are the cheaper seats. Sitting further back is probably better because you can really take the whole venue in, and they use it all.Ticket Pricing & Dates:
Tickets start at $115. Dream seating (starting at $175) includes a private HD video monitor with backstage and behind-the-scenes views during the show. Also, for my more A-list readers, the Wynn offers a dive package where you can view the show from inside the one million gallon tank. Click here for a behind the scenes video from Vegas.com. Price upon request. Le Rêve performs every night except Wednesdays and Thursdays.#3 Michael Jackson: ONE
Michael Jackson’s ONE is a wonderfully entertaining show for any MJ lover. As with almost all Cirque shows there is some crazy loose storyline that makes no sense at all but, like Lebowski’s rug, it’s supposed to tie the whole thing together. I watched this intently and had no idea that this was what it was all about:
“The show’s plot is centered on four ‘misfits’ who set out on a journey into Michael Jackson’s world and music. By journey’s end, they personify Jackson’s agility, courage, playfulness and love. These values are represented with his white gloves, white socks and black shoes, hat and sunglasses.” Wikipedia
For MJ: ONE, I can totally overlook this attempt at storytelling and just jam out to some awesome Michael Jackson. Each seat in the theatre has three speakers–left, right and center–so every person is in their own little world.
The performance literally surrounds you as aerialists, acrobats, and dancers use the main stage as well as the two walls on the side, the air above you, the aisles, oh and a gigantic video screen. You’ll be thrown back in time as the choreography is set in front of everything from archival footage to anime cartoons.
This show is loud (like really loud), with dancers performing songs MJ fans (and nonfans) will know and love. There are fewer acrobatic stunts but more dance choreography, more memories, and fewer WTF moments than other Cirque shows.
** Interesting Note: Jamie King, Michael Jackson: ONE director and story creator, was one of four dancers on MJ’s Dangerous world tour before going on to direct tours for Madonna, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion and others.
Ticket Pricing & Dates:
Tickets start at $69. Michael Jackson: ONE performs every night except Wednesdays and sometimes Thursdays. What do you think of my ranking of Cirque shows in Vegas? Let me know what you think in the comments! Do you like Cirque shows or can you get overwhelmed like me?
If you’re heading to Vegas, let me know! I’m happy to throw out some less-touristy suggestions on places to eat and drink and other shows to see.
Resources to help your Travels
As always, everything on this site is completely free. If you found this post (or anything on YouFoundSarah.com) useful, I’d be grateful if you considered using the affiliate links below. I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. These are the services Drew and I love to use ourselves when we plan our travels. Thanks for your support!
— Sarah
Booking.com – For booking hotel rooms.
Tours by Locals and GetYourGuide.com – For finding high-quality tours around the world.
VRBO – For renting homes across the world.
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About Sarah
Sarah hails from the land of fried chicken, sweet tea, buttered biscuits, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet…Alabama! She loves exploring undertouristed locations — places that you wouldn’t automatically think “I’ve always wanted to go there!” Of course, we’ll always have Paris, but what gets Sarah really jazzed is finding those diamond in the rough cities and sharing them with you. Read more…
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