Closures of Mad Apple and Awakening mark a transition for Strip entertainment, Las Vegas Weekly column says

What happened

Two large Strip productions have closed within weeks of each other. Cirque du Soleil ended its newest show, Mad Apple, in September, and Wynn closed its large-scale spectacular Awakening this month, according to a column by Brock Radke, managing editor of Las Vegas Weekly.

Radke wrote that both shows had impressive runs, given that they launched four years ago, when the post-pandemic Strip was already contracting in several areas. He argued that the closures are significant but do not signal the end of Vegas shows.

Why the show market is shifting

The column points to several forces changing entertainment on the Strip. Radke listed The Wizard of Oz at Sphere, the continued growth of big-venue music and sports events, and an economic malaise slowing tourism as contributors.

He described the shift as a different path for live entertainment rather than the end of the road. Ross Mollison, founder of Spiegelworld, told the publication it is "just the continuing evolution" of the city's entertainment market.

Other recent closures

Mad Apple and Awakening are not the only recent losses. Cirque du Soleil's The Beatles LOVE wrapped in 2024 after the Mirage was sold to make way for a new Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas Weekly reported. Spiegelworld closed DiscoShow in January of this year after it debuted at the Linq in 2024, and it closed OPM in 2023 after almost six years.

Shows still running

Spiegelworld still operates Absinthe at Caesars Palace, which has run since 2011, and Atomic Saloon Show at Palazzo, running since 2019. Mollison told Las Vegas Weekly that Atomic Saloon is doing better now than at any time since it launched.

How long Vegas shows last

Radke noted that some productions have lasted decades. He cited Jubilee at 35 years, Mystère at 32, O at 28 and Tournament of Kings at 36. He suggested Jubilee's long run reflected a time when the city was not changing as quickly.

Mollison pointed out that in other entertainment markets, including Broadway, a run of four, five or six years is considered strong. He said Spiegelworld took a big swing with DiscoShow and that it did pretty well, but not well enough.

The challenge of original productions

Mollison said original shows created for Las Vegas offer the greatest potential return but also the greatest difficulty. He told the publication that it took years to get Absinthe going, because it was not branded elsewhere.

He contrasted that with Sphere, which he said does not need its own brand because acts like U2 and The Wizard of Oz bring their own. Mollison credited James Dolan with creating a new category with Sphere, saying people everywhere ask him for tickets.

What producers say it takes

Mollison said success requires having the idea, seeing the opportunity and being ready if a show fails. "We were an overnight success over the course of five years," he told Las Vegas Weekly.

Radke wrote that a new hit does not require spending billions of dollars or securing major music rights. He described the current period as both a sad time of change and a time of opportunity for Strip entertainment.

What to watch next

• The planned Hard Rock Hotel on the former Mirage site, which the column says led to the closing of The Beatles LOVE.
• The economic slowdown in tourism that Las Vegas Weekly cited as one factor reshaping Strip entertainment.
• The continued growth of big-venue music and sports events and Sphere's The Wizard of Oz, which the column links to the shift.
• Spiegelworld's continuing productions, Absinthe at Caesars Palace and Atomic Saloon Show at Palazzo.