Are you someone who has never been to Las Vegas before? It can be quite a new and fascinating experience for someone when they attend a Las Vegas show for the first time. After all, Las Vegas shows are unlike any other shows in the country or world.
The only thing is that some shows are better than others, especially for newbies. That is why you should attend shows made for broader audiences and appeal to multiple age groups. There are many wonderful must see shows for newbies in Las Vegas. You just have to learn what they are and then add them to your travel itinerary for your first trip to Las Vegas.
Top 10 Must See Shows For Newbies In Las Vegas
What are the best Las Vegas must see shows for newbies? Everyone has a different show style that appeals to them, such as comedy, magic, dancing, and music. But the funny thing is that many of the must see shows contain multiple entertainment elements in them. The shows are appealing because they offer more than one way to be entertained.
Do you want to learn more about them? Below are the top 10 best Las Vegas must see shows for newbies:
1) Cirque du Soleil Shows
The number one Las Vegas must see shows for newbies are Cirque du Soleil shows because it is the biggest production company in the city. Cirque du Soleil is best known for the unique circus acts and acrobatic stuntwork often seen in its productions. After producing resident shows for nearly 30 years in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil’s shows have some of the highest demand among all the rest.
The six current Cirque du Soleil shows available to see in Las Vegas are Mad Apple, Ka, O, Mystere, The Beatles LOVE, and Michael Jackson ONE. They are all must see shows for newbies in Las Vegas, but for different reasons. The Beatles LOVE and Michael Jackson ONE are musical tribute shows to the legendary British rock band and legendary king of pop, respectively. Mad Apple is also a tribute show, but it honors the nightlife of New York City in all its glory.
The three Cirque du Soleil productions with completely original storylines and settings are Ka, O, and Mystere. They have elaborate set designs, jugglers, fire breathers, mystical lighting, dramatic performances, unique characters, beautiful productions, and extravagant costumes. Anyone coming to Las Vegas for the first time will be blown away by the production quality of any of these Cirque du Soleil shows.
2) Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group has been making headlines for more than 20 years. The blue bald men perform the 105-minute show at the Blue Man Theater of the Luxor Hotel. They don’t utter a single word the entire time, but they entertain audiences in other ways using props and percussion. Think of the Blue Man Group as artistic and creative individuals blending science, music, and art to amaze audiences of all ages.
There are lots of reasons to see the Blue Man Group. Not only is it one of the most popular afternoon shows in the city, but it is also one of the top family friendly shows in Las Vegas as well. Blue Man Group has no age restriction for admittance because the entertainment appeals to everyone. The performers incorporate educational fun and amazing tricks to make the show entertaining to children and adults.
The three blue bald men might look scary on the surface, but they are not frightening people at all. Instead, their comedic performances involve playing makeshift instruments, visually stunning acts, and quick-change illusions. Audiences will witness vibrant colors, unforgettable music, and interactive theatrics that will make them love the blue-skinned performers by the end of the show.
3) America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live
Everyone has heard of the reality television show “America’s Got Talent.” It is the show where various ordinary Americans demonstrate their supposed unique talents on television in front of the rest of the country. The television show will bring you the good and bad contestants, along with a panel of judges deciding which ones get to move on to the next rounds of the show and which ones are eliminated.
America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live skips past all the untalented contestants and brings you all the previous winners and finalists of the television show. It is always great when Vegas must see shows for newbies are based on something familiar to people, such as the America’s Got Talent television show. However, the live Las Vegas version of the television series is among the top shows in Las Vegas because audiences can see all the best talent from the show in one location.
Some past winners and finalists appearing at the live show include magician Dustin Travella, singer Kodi Lee, artist Lea Kyle, circus artist group Duo Transcend, singer Jimmie Herrod, and duo knife-throwing team Deadly Games. You have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness all these talented Americans together at the Luxor Theater of the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.
4) Tournament of Kings
Tournament of Kings is a unique and special Las Vegas show in numerous ways. For instance, if you’ve ever had a fantasy of sitting in a medieval arena and being treated as a king while watching knights battle it out for your viewing pleasure, then your dream will come true at the Tournament of Kings. It offers a dinner and show in Las Vegas where you can feast like a king and watch an arena battle as if you were in the Middle Ages. When will you ever get another opportunity to do that?
All guests of Tournament of Kings are entitled to a hearty dinner while they watch the arena battles. The dinner includes a choice of lemon pepper roasted potatoes, an apple square, a slow-roasted Cornish hen, a fresh dinner roll, corn on the cob, and various vegetarian-friendly and vegan food choices. Tournament of Kings is one of the few dinner shows where you actually get to eat during the show rather than before or after the show. Plus, the food choices are much better too.
You can see the Tournament of Kings at King Arthur’s Arena of the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. There is no age restriction despite the medieval-style action taking place in the arena. But since there is no blood or gore, it is still age-appropriate for children and adults.
5) Jabbawockeez
Jabbawockeez is a comical show with performers wearing double-face masks and demonstrating dancing skills unlike any you’ve ever seen. Their incredible 75-minute dance act helps tell audio and visual stories through classic and new signature dance moves. The dance choreography has been mastered to near perfection in this act. If you have seen their dance moves before, you’ll get to see their most famous scenes and skits once again.
There are not many must see shows for newbies in Las Vegas where masked dancers entertain audiences for over an hour. But once you finish watching this show at the Jabbawockeez Theater of the MGM Grand Hotel, you’ll want to watch it again and again. Any Las Vegas newbie will appreciate the athleticism and mystery behind one of the most inspiring dance troupes in the city.
The performers wear masks because they don’t want to be identified based on race or ethnicity. The show’s creators want the audience to see the performers as one and the same without any disparity whatsoever. That way, you can focus all your attention on the impressive dance movements and nothing else. Feel free to take your family to the show because there is no age restriction for admittance.
6) David Copperfield
David Copperfield is one of the world’s most famous and highest-earning magicians. His name has become synonymous with magic and illusions ever since the early 1980s when he started to make a name for himself. Copperfield’s claim to fame was making the Statue of Liberty disappear on live television. He also walked through the Great Wall of China from one side to the other on television as well.
For over four decades, Copperfield has continued to wow audiences worldwide. But, if you dream of seeing him perform live, you should attend his Las Vegas magic shows at the David Copperfield Theatre of the MGM Grand Hotel. Each show is 70 minutes of inspiring entertainment featuring Copperfield’s most famous grand illusions and magic routines.
For instance, you’ll see Copperfield split his torso in half and put it back together again. You’ll also see him levitate in mid-air over the audience without any visible wires. Of course, the reality is that ultra-thin wires carry him above the audience so that no one can see anything other than his floating body. It is truly an incredible illusion to witness live in person. So if you get the chance to come to the MGM Grand Hotel, check out the David Copperfield show because you won’t want to miss it.
7) Mat Franco Magic Reinvented Nightly
Mat Franco Magic Reinvented Nightly is an 80-minute presentation of clever magic tricks, such as sleight-of-hand card tricks. Mat Franco is best known for winning the ninth season of the reality TV show “America’s Got Talent.” His charismatic personality only adds to the entertainment value of his magic tricks. That is why his performances are must see shows for newbies in Vegas at the Mat Franco Theater of the LINQ Hotel.
The Mat Franco Theater is an intimate showroom where guests can be close to Franco and his incredible magic tricks. They can witness his sleight-of-hand talent up close and still be left stunned while trying to figure out how he did them. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the show because the magic is suitable for everyone. So bring your family and friends to Mat Franco Magic Reinvented Nightly because you’ll all have a great time.
In addition, Mat Franco likes to talk about personal stories of his early days as a magician and how he got to be where he is today. You may find his personal stories fascinating because he is a wonderful storyteller with an inspirational story to tell. By the time you leave the Mat Franco Theater, you may be convinced that Mat Franco may be a real-life wizard.
8) Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller is a legendary magic duo with more than four decades of experience entertaining audiences with magic tricks. Penn is the narrator who explains the tricks, while Teller is the mute who performs most of the tricks with physical comedy added. Together, they deliver a perfect combination of comedy and magic that is sure to entertain you and your entire family.
It doesn’t get much better than Penn & Teller when it comes to Las Vegas must see shows for newbies. Penn & Teller have been an inspirational duo to many young magicians who came after them. They perform all kinds of tricks throughout their 90-minute shows at the Penn & Teller Theater of the Rio Hotel. These tricks include knife throwing, needle swallowing, and making a goldfish materialize. And, of course, you can expect to see some classic sleight-of-hand card tricks.
Penn & Teller are known outside of Las Vegas too. Perhaps you remember them from their hit television shows “Penn & Teller: Bullshit!” and “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.” Many Americans across the country got to witness the magic talent of Penn & Teller for the first time by watching their shows. Now you have a chance to see them live and in person in Las Vegas.
9) Shin Lim
Shin Lim is a talented young magician who acquired his initial magic skills from watching tutorials from other magicians on YouTube. He gives YouTube fame a whole new name because he took his newfound magic skills and used them to build a career for himself as a professional magician. Soon after, he built upon his taught magic skills by developing original magic tricks of his own.
You might already know Shin Lim from winning on “America’s Got Talent” and also on the rare show “America’s Got Talent: The Champions.” Shin was so good that he beat other defending champions with his awesome magic tricks. The best part is that he was under 30 years old when he made all these accomplishments. Now you can come to the Mirage Theatre of the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas and witness his famous magic tricks in person.
Shin Lim delights audiences with his ability to manipulate objects and perform advanced sleight-of-hand card tricks. It is a family friendly show with magic tricks suitable for people of all ages to witness. Therefore, you and your family should definitely attend Shin Lim’s magic show the next time you’re in Las Vegas.
10) Criss Angel Mindfreak
Many people would agree that Criss Angel Mindfreak belongs on the list of best must see shows for newbies in Las Vegas because it is unique, creative, and highly entertaining. Criss Angel is a master illusionist and magician who has become one of the most popular entertainers in the city’s history. His unworldly magic tricks have gained him international attention and made his name synonymous with Las Vegas.
Criss Angel Mindfreak has over 75 different illusions in his bag of tricks to showcase to his audiences at the Criss Angel Theater of Planet Hollywood Resort Hotel. One of his most famous tricks is casting himself inside a light beam as it hovers over a pyramid. Oh, and he can also walk on water too. How many other Las Vegas magicians can do the same thing?
The 90-minute magic production features innovative technology that creates an immersive experience for audiences and transfers them into a different reality. However, audience members need to be at least ten years of age or older to attend his show because some of his magic tricks are rather elaborate and dangerous. Remember, Criss Angel is the same guy who shackled himself inside a small water-filled torture cell and managed to get out of it within 24 hours. So you can expect to see some crazy magic stunts at his show at the Criss Angel Theater.
Conclusion
Now you have a complete list of the best must see shows for newbies in Vegas. If you can see at least one or two of these shows during your trip to Sin City, you’ll have incredible experiences you can share with your friends and family back home. It is okay to start as a Las Vegas newbie because everyone starts that way the first time they visit the city. But after your trip, you’ll feel like a Vegas expert who wants to come back again for more thrilling entertainment and fun.
