2/13/2023
Broadway Las Vegas / Performances and Artists
When The Smith Center team weighs the yearly decision of which productions to include with its Broadway season, one question remains a top priority.
“From our standpoint, the question always is, ‘is it a solid, well-produced, entertaining show?’” says Paul Beard, program advisor with The Smith Center.
And this year, the team found eight highly acclaimed productions that earn a resounding “yes” to that question – all of which have become top favorites on Broadway.
The Smith Center’s anticipated 2023-2024 Broadway Las Vegas® Series includes iconic classics, the newest blockbusters fresh from the Broadway stage, and beloved hits returning by popular demand.
Below, Beard sheds light on why Southern Nevadans will want to experience each of these dazzling Broadway productions.
Beetlejuice
August 29 to September 3, 2023
Summary: Adapted from the 1988 cult-classic film, this musical about a family’s quirky interactions with the dead has earned widespread acclaim for its jaunty tunes, epic set design and riotous humor.
Paul’s Take: “This is such a fun show. It offers incredible special effects, including a giant sand worm, and it’s also a show that families can enjoy together. This musical tweaks various plot and character elements from the movie, which will keep it fresh and surprising for fans, yet its big laughs and animated songs will also make it highly entertaining for newcomers to this story.”
Les Misérables
Summary: Returning to The Smith Center by high demand, this beloved adaptation of Victor Hugo’s epic novel follows French peasant Jean Valjean on his journey to redemption.
Paul’s Take: “This is one of the most iconic Broadway musicals for a reason – with its compelling story and fantastic music, this is as good as theater gets. It’s hard to think of another show that was rendered more effectively for the stage. Just thinking of moments in this show, like the end of the first act, gives you goosebumps. We’re bringing this back to give more people the privilege of seeing it for the first time – and also because we know many people want to see it again.”
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations
Summary: Tony winner for Best Choreography, this musical follows The Temptations' extraordinary climb from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Paul’s Take: “Of course, this show offers the instantly recognizable hits of The Temptations, like ‘My Girl’ and ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now,’ which are classic Motown. The Temptations were the definitive performers when it came to this kind of music. And this musical also adds the backstory of the group members’ lives, showing us where the music came from and the sources of inspiration for their amazing body of work. It’s a great story.”
Chicago
Summary: Broadway’s longest-running American musical, this dark comedy follows aspiring vaudevillian star Roxie Hart after she murders her lover and is arrested.
Paul’s Take: “The fact that this show has been running on Broadway for 25 years proves how it has stood the test of time. It’s set in Chicago’s jazz age, and the musical’s energetic songs and big dance numbers are full of sizzle that follow that style – like ‘All That Jazz.’ This show also has an exciting story that gives it universal appeal. I know audiences will have lots of fun.”
Funny Girl
Summary: This uproarious musical comedy follows the talented Fanny Brice on her journey from a bit player in vaudeville to a Broadway star.
Paul’s Take: “Everybody knows and loves the showstopping songs from this musical, like ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ and ‘People,’ and this is one of those comedies that keeps audiences laughing all the way through. This is also a fresh title that’s never played at The Smith Center before, so it gives our audiences a new experience. The recent revival of this musical broke box-office records on Broadway, which shows how strongly audiences respond to it.”
Come From Away
Summary: Returning to The Smith Center by popular demand, this heartfelt musical portrays the true story of when 38 planes carrying 7,000 people were diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001.
Paul’s Take: “So many people wanted us to bring this show back, so they could have the chance to share it with their friends and families. You wouldn’t think this story would lend itself to becoming a classic Broadway musical, but the creators found a way to do just that, with joyful songs and by using the cast to play many different roles. And it’s so uplifting. It’s a show about humanity rising to its full potential. Your heart just swells when you experience this musical.”
Girl from the North Country
Summary: Featuring the songs of music icon Bob Dylan, this poignant musical portrays a group of strangers and their struggles during the Depression at a boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota.
Paul’s Take: “This is one of the most magnificent shows I’ve ever seen. It has a beautiful, dramatic structure, the story and dialogue are incredibly clever, and it has a resourceful way of recycling Bob Dylan’s music to create a powerful effect. You don’t have to know these are Dylan songs to fully appreciate the dramatic flow they create on stage. But if you are a Dylan fan, it will just make you smile to hear a Dylan song you thought you knew and understood, that is now reimagined in a very effective way."
Peter Pan
Summary: Based on E.M. Barry’s beloved play, this musical brings to life the whimsical adventures of Peter Pan, who whisks the Darling children away to the magical Neverland.
Paul’s Take: “There is a very talented creative team putting this show together, and they are taking this tried-and-true story and putting it back on stage in a very exciting and unexpected way. Most people when they think of ‘Peter Pan’ as theater, they think of Cathy Rigby in an almost campy production, and this show’s team is taking that as a point of departure. There will be a lot of surprises, and the production values are very high. It will not be your grandfather’s ‘Peter Pan.’ This will be so large-scale and entertaining, it will not only be a great introduction to theater for kids, but it will also be a thrill for adults, too.”
Single tickets for Beetlejuice, Les Misérables, Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, and Chicago are on sale now. The remaining titles will go on single ticket on sale this fall.