Some destinations draw masses with important history or awe-inspiring architecture. Las Vegas’ special appeal? It’s fun, a place to park your everyday stresses and indulge in food, drink and a damn good time, which is exactly what you’ll find at these shows and venues. From the whimsical performance art of Blue Man Group to the stand-up talent at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, hilarity is guaranteed with these nine headliners and productions.
1. Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding
Drunk priests, stripper girlfriends, pregnant bridesmaids. The audience plays invited guests at this big Italian wedding, digging into family-style fare from Buca di Beppo while the actors put on a show that makes the standard reception look downright sedate. (Bally’s, 702.777.2782)
2. Tape Face
Eyes darkly lined and lips taped shut, this New Zealand performer charmed judges and fans on America’s Got Talent. Now he’s brought his quirky blend of prop comedy to the Strip, leaving crowds cackling by giving them a very creative silent treatment. (Harrah’s, 702.777.2782)
3. Marriage Can Be Murder
Someone’s dead and you’re on the case at this downtown dinner theater, where an eccentric hostess leads guests on the search for the killer among them between bites of a three-course meal. (The D, 702.388.2111)
4. Blue Man Group
The cobalt crew have been delighting all-ages crowds for years with a mix of music, performance art and marshmallow acrobatics. Perhaps most impressive, they’ll leave you laughing without saying a word. (Luxor, 702.262.4400)
5. Jerry Seinfeld
Depending on when you were born, you’ll either know him from his self-titled ’90s sitcom or his Netflix series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Either way, you don’t need us to tell you how funny he is. (Caesars Palace, 866.320.9763)
6. Absinthe
Prudes need not attend this raunchy variety show, where the Gazillionaire and his merry band of miscreants put on a show full of jaw-dropping feats, R-rated jokes and occasional audience participation. Sit in the front row at your own risk. (Caesars Palace, 855.234.7469)
7. George Wallace
After spending a few years touring and appearing in films, the longtime Strip star is back in the desert with a new act that finds fresh material in his everyday life, modern lingo and the evolution of Las Vegas. (Westgate, 702.732.5111)
8. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club
The Everybody Loves Raymond star has his own joint at MGM Grand, an old-school venue where guests kick back in tufted leather booths while visiting headliners work the stage. Check the calendar to see who’s in town, and keep an eye out for the big guy himself, who usually plays two weeks per month. (MGM Grand, 866.740.7711)
9. Terry Fator
“America’s Got Talent” champion Terry Fator returns to the Strip in a new show at New York-New York.
One part puppet show, one part musical impersonation, Terry Fator’s unique style of ventriloquism combines three talents into a single act that’s full of laughs, hits and mouthy dummies. (The Mirage, 702.792.7777)
