Choreography, music amp up show’s sex appeal
By Nina King
Rio, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.; visitors are also invited to star in this celebration for $12.95. 702.777.7777
One of the best values in Las Vegas has to be Show in the Sky at the Rio, although that moniker is perhaps a little inaccurate. Show in the Sky actually incorporates three separate elements: a sexy, rocking stage show, a parade of Mardi Gras style-floats overhead and a flair bartending exhibition.
The free stage show, presented hourly Thursday through Saturday nights in the Masquerade Village portion of the resort, is actually three 20-minute shows that rotate through the night. A relatively recent redesign of the production imparted a sexy edge, with music, costuming and choreography combining to create dynamic shows. You might catch a West Side Story-style show or a guys vs. gals dance showdown. Some of the sexy costumes even come from designers at DKNY and Victoria’s Secret. The musical scores of each show create another layer of interest, with a variety of musical genres and songs like “Beware the Dog.”
After the stage show winds down, look up! Several classic floats travel up and down the Masquerade Village as the music keeps pumping. Cast members hop aboard for the journey, tossing beads out into the crowd. And guests can even get in on the fun and ride with dancers around the perimeter. (It’s $12.95 to ride, with some restrictions.)
When the floats disappear behind a wall panel,
get ready for the flair. A pair of talented barkeeps begins a little show of their own on the opposite
end of the village, tossing bottles and executing amazing pours. Surrounding the village are several shops, restaurants and even the Chippendales Theater, plus the Village Seafood Buffet, giving showgoers plenty to do between incarnations. With so much here, you might just find yourself staying for the night.
