Eighteen months have passed since a live performance took place at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
All that is about to change when Gary Clark Jr. christens The Theater with an inaugural performance on Sept.11
“It is an honor to be the grand opening performer for Las Vegas’ newest entertainment venue,” Gary Clark Jr. said. “Las Vegas has so many iconic musicians and performance venues, and I’m excited to headline the first of many performances to come at The Theater and to be sharing this experience with my fans.”
The Theater at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a newly renovated 4,500-capacity venue. The $6.5 million effort features upgraded floor and bar aesthetics, remodeled luxury suites, a new main-floor VIP section, a state-of-the-art sound system and premier video technology.
“An amazing entertainer along with the improvements we put in the venue—we think it's going to be the ultimate experience for all of our guests,” venue general manager Chas Smith said.
“[Gary Clark Jr. is] a really fantastic musician, really relates to people,” Smith adds. “It's not something we're ready to come out and go absolutely crazy. It's a mellow kind of rock show...We wanted to do something that brings people together.”
Given the production is put on by AEG Presents, all patrons, employees and vendors are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event for entry. Beginning Oct. 1, that policy shifts to requiring everyone to be vaccinated.
See also: Here's What September Has in Store for Las Vegas
The Theater’s grand opening offers a day-to-night experience for guests, with a number of deals around the hotel’s various bars and restaurants and priority reservations at The Shag Room to keep the party going after the show. It also stays true to its promise as an intimate venue. Smith explains that unlike many arenas where you might be 200 feet from the performer and have to rely on screens, the further seat in the house is 110 feet away.
“We take a lot of pride in the fact that our venue, although it's a 4,500 cap venue, it's a smaller venue… [but] we're bringing these A-list acts to our venue where they would normally play an arena or an amphitheater somewhere else in a different town.”
After Gary Clark Jr., The Theater is ready to welcome a stacked lineup of performers. In just its first three months of being open, the venue is set to bring in Lady A, Porter Robinson, Dropkick Murphys and Machine Gun Kelly. The wide breadth in genre is all part of the plan to draw diverse crowds.
“Putting out the same genre day after day, it limits the opportunity, it limits the amount of guests that you can have come through our doors. It's been our goal all along to reach out and touch everybody from rock to country,” Smith said. Above all, his mission gets to the heart of live music.
“I enjoy seeing the faces when they come in and enjoy the music,” he said. “At the end of the night, when the house lights come up. Everybody's singing, they're happy. They're just completely energized from the experience.”
Tickets are available on AXS.com.
Photography by: The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas by Andrew Miller
