New and Long-Running Adult-Themed Shows Pay Tribute to Vegas History

Despite the family-friendly allure of circus acts, afternoon magic shows and mini golf, modern Las Vegas was conceived for, designed for, and, most importantly, has always been managed for an adult audience.  And notwithstanding the misguided marketing campaign of the 1990s that beckoned to families with theme parks and other attractions, the family market has essentially been an afterthought here. Las Vegas visitors want to see and do grown-up things that aren’t available in their hometowns, and that’s why adult-only shows have always been a draw here, dating way back to titillating, grand productions like Lido de Paris and Jubilee.  And although those large-format production shows are long gone, their spirit lives on in these classic and new revues that continue to stimulate Sin City’s visitors.      

Fantasy – Luxor Hotel & Casino

With the recent distinction of celebrating 25 years on the Las Vegas Strip, Fantasy has outlasted competitors and wanna-be’s alike to achieve impressive longevity in a town that reinvents itself regularly.  Creator, producer and choreographer Anita Mann’s talented touch has kept the show fresh, sexy and relevant over the years, with a format that not only appeals to single guys, but also to couples looking to spice up their night.  In a series of vignettes that evoke multiple fantasies, the show’s talented topless dancers perform to pop hits in the arena-style Atrium Showroom at Luxor, while an aerialist’s gorgeously-choreographed silks routine lends an artistic flair to the production.  But what really puts this show in a class of its own is emcee Lorena Peril, whose sexy persona, powerhouse vocals and flirtatious-yet-funny banter ensure that patrons leave this Fantasy fully satisfied.  

The Empire Strips Back – Rio Las Vegas

Few movie concepts are held as sacrosanct as the Star Wars franchise, and maybe that’s why the creators of The Empire Strips Back take such pleasure by riffing on the classic with a sexy, irreverent production. It’s essentially old-time burlesque updated for the 21st century, with the alluring dancers always leaving something to the imagination. And thanks to Nevada’s permissive parody and tribute laws, the show’s producers are able to present most of our favorite Star Wars characters in novel, sensuous interpretations. An overly exuberant emcee riles up the crowd, emphatically urging them to “get loud” – to which they willingly comply – while introducing each successive act. And although the female performers draw the most hoots and hollers as they peel off layers of storm trooper gear, it’s actually Jayd’n Harris as Han Solo who steals the show with the best dance moves here, and possibly even in a galaxy far, far away…  

Absinthe – Caesars Palace 

When the creative-yet-perverse minds at Spiegelworld set up a tent outside Caesars Palace almost 15 years ago, they couldn’t have dreamt that the irreverent, profane Absinthe would still be running today. Guided by The Gazillionaire, a gold-toothed smartass who introduces a series of acrobatic acts and banters with hopelessly-clueless sidekick Penny Pibbets in a hilarious thread that runs throughout the show, Absinthe is edgy, occasionally filthy and immensely entertaining.  According to the press materials, “The Gazillionaire dredged every broken-down circus, dive bar and detention center from Tokyo to Toledo in search of the world’s most sensationally talented, seductively beautiful artists.”  And in a rare Vegas instance of the experience actually living up to the hype, The Gazillionaire pulls it off. For in the center of the intimate tent, death-defying acrobatic acts, profane comedians and wild scenes play out, none more impressive than the high-flying “Chicks on Sticks,” a sway pole act that is unlike anything we’ve seen before. 

X Burlesque, X Rocks, X Country – Flamingo Las Vegas, Horseshoe Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas

Three shows that could be easily interchangeable were it not for the themes, the “X” series of late-night revues playing at the Flamingo, Horseshoe and Harrah’s offer the perfect package for a guy’s night out:  beautiful women dancing to various genres of popular music in various stages of undress. And although the X Rocks, X Country and X Burlesque titles may give the impression of an X-rated show, their relatively tame nature assures that some things are still left to the imagination. Ultimately, these late-night shows are a sexy tease that could easily be described as a strip club with upgraded production values – and no lap dances.  

Atomic Saloon Show – The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

In another instance of Spiegelworld’s no-fear approach to thematic revelry, Atomic Saloon Show lays waste to nearly every pre-conceived notion of the Old West, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of good taste. Madam Boozy Skunkton and her sultry crew invite the audience to saddle up for a debauched journey through the intimate saloon, which at times feels a little too close for comfort. But that’s the idea, after all. Not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for prudish types, Atomic Saloon Show is an only-in-Vegas original. Like its sister production, Absinthe, the show features comedy and jaw-dropping, unique acrobatics that move the relatively thin – but who cares? – story along.