Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy Tickets to Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas
Awakening, the brainchild of Baz Halpin, Bernie Yuman, and Micael Curry, arrived with much fanfare in 2022. This show replaced Le Rêve, which closed in 2020 after 15 successful years at the Wynn. Le Rêve was very popular, and everyone was excited about a new, Wynn spectacular. Unfortunately, it opened to mixed reviews but it’s been through several revisions to become a fun and unique show option on the Las Vegas strip.
About the show
The latest version of Awakening is a must see!
The original show was extremely artistic and a little dark. Anthony Hopkins was the storyteller, and he set a serious tone of doom and gloom. The show was billed as a battle between light and darkness but they never really battled, which was confusing for the audience.
The creators went back to the drawing board to rework some scenes and bring some clarity to the show, and the new show began with a monologue explaining the story. The show characters remained the same, and this iteration was more tweaks than rebranding.
The show continued to have lackluster reviews, so the team went back to the drawing board and collaborated with Mandy Moore to rework the show. They now seem to have the right mix of storyline, dialogue, musical numbers, drums, and acrobatics. The show begins more upbeat and draws you into the story. And in this iteration, Sir Anthony Hopkins imparts wisdom opposed to doom and gloom.
If you’ve seen Awakening before, you should definitely go back and see this version. And if you haven’t seen it at all yet, Awakening 3.0 should definitely make it on your itinerary!
Storyline
Mild spoilers ahead! Keep reading only if you want a preview of the show before you go and to learn some family-friendly tips about each section. If not, skip down to the sections below for information about ticketing, seating options, showtimes, and concessions.
The main character’s name is IO, and she is tasked with gathering together the crystals from Light in three different realms: water, earth, and air. The combination of these crystals is supposed to unlock the heart of Darkness so she can be reunited with her true love, Light. This reunion will save the world from the wrath of Darkness.
IO has two assistants in her quest - Boo and Bandit. They also provide comic relief throughout the journey. The show has some laugh-out-loud lines in addition to amazing choreography and acrobatics.
The first stop on her quest is the Black and White Ball – a grand ball hosted by Darkness. In this scene, Darkness is introduced with an impressive choreographed dance sequence. Here, IO steals the orb from Darkness’ scepter. This gives her the power she needs to find the other elements.
The next stop is the water realm. The audience is transported to an underwater, Disneyesque scene with huge floating whales and bright colorful sea life. This scene also includes a mermaid musical number. Fortunately, IO is successful in acquiring the water crystal and moves to the next realm.
The Earth realm scene is dark. The images on the screen evoke memories of the flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz. There is also a large mastodon puppet that parades across the stage in a threatening manner. The stage is covered in what appears to be fallen leaves. These leaves gather together and rise into a faceless being who hands IO the earth crystal. This scene can be a little intense, so just be prepared for that if you’re bringing younger family members.
Finally, IO arrives in the air realm. Fair warning - this scene has felt awkward in all three versions. It has a seductive vibe, which turns out to be weird when, in the end, you learn who Light is in relation to IO. The costumes seem inappropriate, and the biggest complaint we hear about this part of the show is that it doesn’t feel appropriate for kids, so it might be a good time to fit in a bathroom break until this scene is over. In the end, IO gets the crystal from Light after another Broadway-style music number.
At the end of the show, IO unites the crystals. This allows Light and Darkness to remember the love they had for each other, and the show ends with the rising of a large phoenix.
Tickets
Price Range: $$$$ | Website
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the Wynn Box Office. Guests must be at least 5 years old to attend this show, and all guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Although kids aged 5 and over are allowed to attend, it’s important to keep in mind that this particular show may not be appropriate for all children. The show contains loud noises, pyrotechnics, smoke, and strobe lighting, and the air realm scene also includes revealing costumes and sexual innuendoes. You know your family best, so be sure to take all of this into account before buying your tickets.
If you’re flexible with your schedule, stop by the box office on the day of the show to check for day-of-show promotions or discounts.
Seat Selection
This may sound hard to believe, but there truly isn’t a bad seat in this theater! The theater is completely round, and the performers play to all areas.
Each section has unique pros and cons. The first three rows (A-C) in each section are right up front. In these seats, you get to connect with the performers, often making direct eye contact with them. However, you can lose some of the impact of the large puppets and panoramic views in these particular seats.
The next two sections include rows D through I. These seats are in the middle and offer the best of both worlds – you can still see the faces of the performers, yet you get more of a panoramic view of the performance. This perspective is nice for the acrobatic and high-wire acts.
The next two rows (J-K) are the “cheap” seats. However, as previously mentioned, since there are no bad seats these are actually a great value! The last row – row L has larger seats with more room in between and accommodates those with mobility issues.
There’s no intermission, so you may want to select seats on the end if anyone in your party may need to use the restroom during the show.
Showtimes
Most nights, there are two shows – the early show is at 7:00 pm and the late show is at 9:30 pm. The show runs 80 minutes long with no intermission. There is no introduction or encore, and unlike many other shows on the Strip, this show starts on time. Try to be in your seat 5 minutes before showtime so you do not miss any of the action.
If you can stay up late, consider attending the 9:30 pm show. These tickets tend to be a little less.
Concessions
There is a concession stand inside the theater. Prices are high (think $7.00 for a bag of candy), but no more so than other theaters on the Strip. Popcorn, candy, and cookies are available for purchase and there are several drink options (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). However, you can also bring in your own beverage if you prefer.
Keep in mind, most seats in the Awakening Theater do not have cup holders. For younger attendees, consider drinks with a lid or cap to avoid spills.
The Wynn has awakened Awakening with this latest iteration. The show combines elements from some of the most popular strip shows, including Cirque-style acrobatics, Broadway caliber musical numbers, and even gives a nod to the Blue Man group’s drum fascination. Older kids should enjoy the changing tempo of the show, the daredevil acrobatics, and the larger-than-life puppetry - it should be a hit for everyone in the family!