Awakening is the current marquee theater production at Wynn Las Vegas.àIt is set in a 360-degree theater and includes illusions, music, dance and puppetry. It replaced WynnâÂÂs long-running show, La Rêve, following five years of development and $120 million in production cost, including a custom-built 60-foot stage for theater in the round, with custom LED screens built into the stage.àThe showâÂÂs recorded narration is provided by Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins and led by producers Baz Halpin, Bernie Yuman and Michael Curry.
The show follows La Rêve as WynnâÂÂs marquee show in Las Vegas.àIt launched following âÂÂextensiveâ renovations to the Awakening Theater at Wynnàthat include a glass stage and custom LED screens. At a $120 million investment, the show is the single most expensive production put on by Wynn.àProducer Baz Halpin, who also worked on UsherâÂÂs Super Bowl halftime and the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, described the teamâÂÂs goal as to create the "most technologically advanced show on the Strip."
According to the showâÂÂs creators, Awakening is an 80-minute show that âÂÂtells the epic tale of IO, a reluctant heroâ who "braves the trials of unique worlds on her quest to reunite Light and Darkness."àThe show is set in a 360-degree theater in the round with dichroic glass and embedded lights and screens, resulting in a "kaleidoscope of light" effect.àEach of the 1,600 seats has individual stereo speakers, for a total of 3,200 speakers of surround sound.
Awakening features a cast of 60 artists, with a total of more than 300 costumes inspired by haute couture. It is produced by Baz Halpin, Bernie Yuman and Michael Curry in a team with "multiple Emmy and Tony award winners." Choreographers include Mandy Moore, Phillip Chbeeb, Kevin Davis Jr., Tracy Phillips, Alex Suarez, Zoi Tatopoulos and supervising choreographer Nolan Padilla.
The original score was created by Emmy-nominated composer Brian Tyler.ÃÂ The score includes music inspired by electronica, hip hop, reggaeton and dancehall. It is played through a system that includes two speakers at each of the 1,600 seats in the theater, for a total of over 3,200 speakers.
Animatronics, including large-scale puppetry, were designed by Michael Curry. The show includes "elaborate, oversized pieces" of puppetry, including "a larger-than-life whale floating through the air."
The showâÂÂs producers claim that the show incorporates at least three "illusion techniques" "that have never been seen before."
In 2024, Halpin invited Mandy Moore to refresh the show following their joint work on the Eras Tour.
The USA Today said that AwakeningâÂÂs "producers set out to make a show that was unlike anything else in Las Vegas."àThe Las Vegas Review JournalâÂÂs initial review called the show "powerful" and noted that the dancers "impressively mix traditional styles with the showâÂÂs powerful light-and-sound technology." A separate review called it "lavish, ambitious and adventurous."àThe Las Vegas Sun called it "next bar-setting Las Vegas entertainment spectacle."
The show was named "Best Production Show" by the Southern Nevada Hotel Concierge Association.àIt was also named âÂÂone of the best Vegas showsâ by US News and Travel and Leisure.
Official website - awakening.com
Wynn Las Vegas - wynnlasvegas.com