Mat Franco, the first magician to win NBC’s competition show America’s Got Talent, had a few words for AGT finalist Dustin Tavella after the two magicians performed together during the recent season 16 finale: “No matter what the outcome, you’ve shown America your true star power,” said the Season 9 champion and current Las Vegas headliner. “It’s unbelievable, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.”

What comes next is Tavella joining the resident ensemble of America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live. To paraphrase host Terry Crews, the best of the best from several seasons of both America’s Got Talent and spin-off program America’s Got Talent: The Champions have been assembled for the ultimate competition, which also serves as the next evolutionary step in Las Vegas’s variety show history.

Tavella joins singer Kodi Lee, winner of season 14, and comedian Preacher Lawson, who serves as host of the proceedings. Season 12 finalist Lawson was featured in The Champions alongside knife-throwing daredevils Deadly Games and elegantly attired, extrasensory perception performers The Clairvoyants, both standout acts from season 11. Season 13 performance artists Duo Transcend turn the stage into a circus ring with death-defying trapeze, diving and roller-skating skills, while season 6 semi-finalists The Silhouettes, who reappeared for The Champions and earned a golden buzzer, bring new meaning to the phrase “shadow play” with expressionistic techniques.

Dance group Light Balance is all about innovative expressionism, combining neon and LED technology with dazzling choreography. Hailing from Ukraine, Light Balance appeared on Britain’s Got Talent before coming to America and garnering a season 12 golden buzzer from Tyra Banks in 2017. They’ve spiced up subsequent AGT episodes with guest appearances and add flavor to the show that will appeal to fans of MGM Grand residents Jabbawockeez and Mandalay Bay’s Michael Jackson ONE.

Recently added to the lineup are season 16 golden buzzer picks Jimmie Herrod, a singer who made AGT executive producer and judge Simon Cowell a fan of the Annie song “Tomorrow,” and Lèa Kyle, a quick-change artist who absolutely floored judge Heidi Klum. It will be up to Lawson to mix the flavors and maintain the flow of the show, a task he demonstrated he was more than up for with his rapid-fire delivery of more jokes than a mind can process, and ability to hold his own while bantering with Crews.

AGT is becoming more than a jewel in Cowell’s crown of talent competition productions. With AGT growing deeper roots in Vegas with America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live, a solid pipeline of talent now leads from auditions to the Strip. It’s a path trailblazed by Franco, Terry Fator, Piff and Shin Lim. “It’s the pinnacle of anyone’s career there,” said Cowell of Las Vegas in the intro to season 16’s finale. What was once unbelievable for the co-headliners of America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live, as well fans who can’t wait to see what comes next, has become reality.

Luxor, agtvegaslive.com

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