2/1/2023
Performances and Artists
Las Vegas’ Resident Companies Attract New Audiences with Groundbreaking Performances
In recent years, Smith Center audiences have witnessed lurching vampire brides, epic films projected to live music, and singers wailing the “Beetlejuice” theme song from the rafters.
These include just a few of the thrilling surprises delivered by the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT), The Smith Center’s two beloved resident companies.
And audiences can expect far more to come.
Fearlessly reinvigorating their artforms, both resident companies continue to attract new audiences by diving into fresh, groundbreaking programming.
Their innovative productions include merging music with media, infusing pop culture into performances, showcasing glittering guest artists and performing anticipated world premieres.
“(Building our audience) is important because this is a performing art, and the audience is a part of that experience,” says Roy Kaiser, NBT artistic director. “It’s not really a huge part of the culture in this country, as it is in other countries, for children to start going to the ballet and opera and symphony when they’re 5. But I hope to change that.”
The Philharmonic Goes to the Movies
The Las Vegas Philharmonic has found a captivating way to hook new audiences: embracing pop culture.
Ticketholders flocked to the philharmonic’s concert that projected the classic horror film “Psycho” on a giant screen, as the orchestra performed the iconic soundtrack live.
And audiences of all ages — replete with costumes — packed the philharmonic’s performance of movie scores by Danny Elfman, who composed the whimsical music for cult classics like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Beetlejuice.”
The philharmonic regularly sells out its hugely popular concert of top scores by film composer John Williams — a show that returns in March 2023 — including the themes from “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones” and “Superman.”
And this January, the philharmonic sold out two performances of “Warner Bros. Presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony,” where the orchestra performed the lively, original scores for 16 famous Looney Tunes cartoons as they played above on an enormous screen.
“It generates such enthusiasm for live music,” Music Director Donato Cabrera explains of performing these fun yet deceptively complex scores. “(For example), John Williams can write a memorable yet simple melody that people can identify the characters of a film with very easily.”
Spotlight on Vegas Headliners and Stradivarius Violins
The philharmonic further swells its audience base by showcasing exhilarating guest artists – some of whom even call Las Vegas home.
The philharmonic’s “A Very Vegas Showcase” concert featured performances by top Las Vegas artists like Grammy-nominated vocalist Clint Holmes and “Jersey Boys” star Travis Cloer.
“This was a celebration of what makes Vegas so unique,” Cabrera says of the city’s vast pool of talent.
In December 2022, the Las Vegas Master Singers and four acclaimed vocal soloists performed with the philharmonic for a sold-out performance of Handel's Messiah. The philharmonic’s upcoming April concert will also pay homage to opera, by featuring powerhouse opera stars belting famous arias.
And the philharmonic made headlines by showcasing four world-class violinists on rare, Stradivarius violins during its three-day Stradivarius Festival, which included a sold-out concert in Reynolds Hall.
“There’s never been anything even approaching that before in Las Vegas,” Cabrera says. “There has never been, at any one time, a group of famous soloists playing a collection of the world’s greatest instruments in our city.”
Creating A Theatrical Experience
NBT also finds exhilarating ways to attract fresh faces to its audience.
This includes interweaving a wide variety of artforms to create a dramatic, theatrical experience.
NBT performed the juggernaut artistic work Carmina Burana on a grand scale, by featuring the company’s athletic dancers alongside a full orchestra and a 59-member chorus on stage.
“In that one performance, we introduced a lot of people to NBT who maybe only went to see the philharmonic before, or who were only fans of choral music before,” Kaiser says. “That kind of cross-over performance will go a long way to helping all of us grow.”
A Ballet Company Making History
On top of that, NBT regularly makes history by often performing all-new works.
This not only keeps the company’s repertoire endlessly fresh, but it also serves up performances that appeal to many tastes.
Each acclaimed choreographer who works with NBT draws from starkly different musical inspirations, and incorporates styles and techniques from across the vast spectrum of dance.
NBT’s February performance, for instance, includes the world premiere of a work by choreographer Sidra Bell, featuring ethereal movements inspired by “what’s happening today in the world,” Kaiser says. The same show includes a highly athletic, original piece by Trey McIntyre set to the music of Etta James, as well as a vibrant, energizing work by iconic choreographer George Balanchine.
“It’s a broad range of music influences and a broad range of choreographic styles,” Kaiser says. “I think these works will really resonate with people, and attract new people to our audience.”
Wizards, Red Queens and Flying Vampires
NBT further draws in crowds by presenting exuberant, contemporary adaptations of cherished tales.
These include “Alice in Wonderland,” “Dracula” and the upcoming “Wizard of Oz” in May. These productions entice audiences not only with familiar and accessible stories, but also with their extravagant costuming and use of special effects – such as the thrilling spectacle of flying vampires and explosions in "Dracula.”
“I’m hoping that (these recognizable titles) will attract people to the ballet who maybe don’t know we’re here, or don’t think they’d be interested in ballet,” Kaiser says. “I hope when they leave the theater, they go home and look at what we’re doing next.”
While always respecting ballet’s classic roots, Kaiser plans to constantly explore more ways to delight new audiences.
“Some people assume ballet’s not for them, because they assume it’s just girls in pink tights and pointe shoes and tutus, but there’s so much more,” Kaiser says. “We’re fortunate here, that we are able to bring in works by a variety of choreographers to show the depth of the artform and what’s available.”