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AWAKENING Celebrates 1,000 Shows

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AWAKENING Celebrates 1,000 Shows

VEGAS 411 attends a landmark performance of Wynn's mega-production...

Has there ever been a major Vegas production as divisive as AWAKENING? Wynn/Encore's follow-up to LE REVE - THE DREAM is a visual and technical marvel, yet its narrative, characters, and acting remain weak...very weak. People seem to either love it or despise it. Still, it's a must-see experience.

After an extremely rocky launch, the show went dark in 2023 to facilitate a major revamp. You can follow our chronicle of the saga here, here, and here. On Monday, May 5th, the show celebrated 1,000 performances with a $77 special that brought out fans, the curious, and many industry professionals. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10211355/20250505_213735.mp4"][/video]

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10211334/20250505_220931.mp4"][/video] The production also launched a third ad campaign this spring, wisely focusing on a fan-favorite underwater sequence...and that awesome whale. The approach, along with late-show discount prices, seems to be putting butts in seats.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10211244/20250505_215702.mp4"][/video] [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10211303/20250505_223948.mp4"][/video]

While there have been a few minor tweaks since my last viewing, including yet another pair of sidekick characters, AWAKENING should follow its predecessor's path. The mega-expensive production needs to ditch its convoluted storyline and lackluster songs. And please, hire different acting coaches and scriptwriters. Dialogue is just awful. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10211404/20250505_222559.mp4"][/video]

The cast, crew, and amazing designs deserve a narrative befitting the talent involved. In its current state, characters endlessly dance-fight in circles, snatching MacGuffins to complete a lame quest. The tone is completely schizoid, jumping from whimsy to horror to romance to musical theater to circus to adventure with no rhyme or reason.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10211314/20250505_224816.mp4"][/video] [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10211214/20250505_224918.mp4"][/video] In this period of disappearing/downsizing productions and economic strife, AWAKENING deserves credit for pushing forward. Congratulations on 1,000 performances.

AWAKENING performs at Wynn Las Vegas. Showtimes are Friday through Tuesday at 7 pm and 9:30 pm. The show is suitable for mature children, with scary images and adult themes. Tickets start at $100.20 (plus taxes/fees) for certain performances. Get more information here.