With pyrotechnics and multi-media displays, Celine Dion's show "A New Day…" is truly a Vegas spectacular. In fact, the director of Cirque du Soleil hits like "O," Franco Dragone, originally produced the show. The Canadian songstress brings down the house five nights a week at the Colosseum, making her concert one of the most exclusive. As Bellagio's Chief Concierge says, "There are two shows that immediately come to mind when I think about the hardest tickets to get in town. The first is Cirque du Soleil's 'O' at Bellagio and the second is Celine Dion's 'A New Day…' at Caesar's Palace." Now that's a glowing recommendation.
For more information: www.harrahs.com
Ensconced in his "intimate" concert venue, Club 3121, this member of rock royalty presides over his huge catalog of hits every Friday and Saturday night. During performances, Prince has been known to show off his musical talents with improvised guitar solos and extended jam sessions with his band. Plan for a lavish dinner at the club's restaurant, 3121 Jazz Cuisine, for $350 per person.
For more information: www.harrahs.com
The man channels the legends -- all 300 or so of them. Comedian and singer Danny Gans is known for his impressions of hundreds of pop singers, rock stars, jazz greats and soul divas. Even if you haven't heard his name, everybody in Vegas has, since he's one of the most popular performers on the Strip.
For more information: www.dannygans.com
Since opening in 2005, "KA" has stunned audiences with its gravity-defying, acrobatic take on martial arts and choreographed combat. Add inventive puppetry and a coming-of-age story about a boy and a girl on a journey, and you have a show to beat all Cirque du Soleil shows -- which it's doing at the box office. Fun fact: All the seats in the theater have built-in speakers on the headrests.
For more information: www.cirquedusoleil.com
Not quite a concert and not quite the typical acrobatic performance of other Cirque du Soleil shows, "Love" uses The Beatles' music to tell a story of the '60s, the legendary band and the songs themselves. Bellagio Chief Concierge Tammi Furce describes the production as "a musical tribute to The Beatles that really envelopes the audience in a vivid, powerful experience with aerial performances, extreme sports and freestyle dancing." A "soundscape" of hits like "Strawberry Fields" and "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," the show comprises 27 different scenes, each melding various songs for a retrospective of the band's history together.
For more information: www.cirquedusoleil.com
The longest-running Broadway production in Vegas, "Mamma Mia!" has been filling the seats since 2003. Cast member Rick Negron, who plays Sam, says it has been so successful because "in Vegas, word of mouth is especially important." Its universally appealing theme of love and family plus the score of ABBA hits have made the musical one of the top shows not only in "Broadway West" but all over the world.
For more information: www.mandalaybay.com
Since it's February 9 opening, Mel Brooks's runaway Broadway success has been getting rave reviews, which may prove that it has the mettle to become a long-running production, unlike other musicals like "Avenue Q" or "Hairspray" which closed after stints on the Strip. David Hasselhoff in the role of cross-dressing Roger DeBris lends the show some campy star power, and who can resist laughing at the former "Baywatch" hunk in a sparkly evening gown?
For more information: www.harrahs.com
Combining the wit of Monty Python and a Grammy-winning score, "SPAMALOT" was a huge success on Broadway and on its national tour. The buzz surrounding the musical is sure to translate into a Vegas showstopper when it opens in the special Grail Theater at the Wynn on March 8. Actor John O'Hurley stars and award-winning filmmaker Mike Nichols directs.
For more information: www.wynnlasvegas.com
This is a classic Vegas experience that has over 25 years of sequined showgirls under its gaudy belt. It's the quintessential song-and-dance revue with a stage full of 100 Bob Mackie-clad, topless ladies kicking their way through numbers that include "The Sinking of the Titanic." The show may be campy, but it's also a multi-million dollar production with an enormous stage and extravagant sets and costumes.
For more information: www.harrahs.com
The gorgeous ladies of The Pussycat Dolls have become their own brand. Formed in Hollywood with original cast member Carmen Electra, the group has spawned a hit record with "Don't Cha" and their own club, The Pussycat Dolls Lounge, set inside Pure nightclub. Their 21st-century brand of burlesque attracts celebrities like Eva Longoria and Denise Richards, who do special stints with the dance troupe. In January, Caesars further capitalized on the show's exploding popularity, opening The Pussycat Dolls Casino with tables and girls dancing in cages.
For more information: www.harrahs.com