For an athletic, acrobatic, fast-moving take on a traditional circus-style production, head to Celestia at The Strat. With talented performers, original music and a 30,000-square-foot tent on the Las Vegas Strip, the show is a perfect easy-access, all-ages show for summer. Celestia plays like a greatest-hits collection of familiar circus acts—hand-balancing, contortion, aerialists and even the Wheel of Death—with no breaks in the action and a decidedly family-friendly tone. And with tickets starting at $29, Celestia provides an affordable alternative to most of the Strip’s major production shows.
Executive producer Brian Burke is also a creative producer for America’s Got Talent and two standout Celestia acts have appeared on the popular TV competition, father-daughter balancing duo Sergey and Sasha and the Sandou Trio Russian Bar. The title character, “a girl made of stars,” and two playful clowns serve as guides through an enchanting and occasionally romantic world full of colorful characters who fly through the air, flip across the stage and sometimes work their way into the audience. Proximity is an advantage for this show, especially when the crew rolls out its house-made Wheel of Death and its two fearless inhabitants hover above you. Other high points include a ballet-trapeze hybrid and an aerial straps performer who duels with an army of agile acrobats. Overall, it’s a brisk and cinematic new contribution to the Vegas showscape, packing a lot of fun into 70 minutes.
The Strat, 7 & 9 p.m. Sun. & Fri.-Sat., 7 p.m. Wed.-Thurs., $29-$89 plus tax and fee. 702.380.7777
