It’s been five years since Magic Mike Live made its electrifying debut in Las Vegas. Back then it was at the Hard Rock Hotel, which has transformed into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, but in August 2021, it reopened in a new, custom theater at Sahara Las Vegas. We caught up with executive producer Vincent Marini for a whirlwind recap of what it’s been like to launch the sexy, provocative and positive show, including its international productions and the TV series Finding Magic Mike.
Does it feel like it’s been five years since you helped launch Magic Mike Live in Las Vegas?
It’s hard to believe. Since then we’ve done shows in London, Berlin and Australia, then again in Las Vegas after the (pandemic), and it really doesn’t seem like that long ago when we were there with Channing (Tatum) putting the first show together. It’s surreal.
The show is really going strong these days at Sahara Las Vegas. Does it feel like Magic Mike has become the marquee entertainment offering at this iconic resort?
That is the idea. We spoke to a lot of different properties and had some unique opportunities, but I don’t know if there was another property where we felt like we could be the center of their universe. (Sahara) looked at this show that really is different and pretty unique among other shows in the city, and we all just felt like it was a perfect match. I think we’re in for a long and joyful run there.
How big of an impact did your HBO Max series Finding Magic Mike have on the popularity of the stage show?
Plenty of people want to see (TV show winners) Nate (Bryan) and Johnny (Dutch), but I think it’s more than that, it’s just taken the awareness of the live show to another level. The HBO show has opened people up that otherwise didn’t know about Magic Mike Live, and it’s had a huge impact on our success and hopefully the upcoming film and what will hopefully be a second season of that series will continue to do the same.
Film director Steven Soderbergh was in Las Vegas for the grand reopening of the show at Sahara Las Vegas, and then it was announced he would be working on a third Magic Mike movie with Channing Tatum. Did the live show help push that development?
(The filmmakers) have said the third movie in many ways is inspired by the live show. I know it inspired a lot of their thinking about how to structure it. I’m really excited to see what they have in store and they’re shooting the film now in the U.K.
How has the Vegas version evolved since it debuted five years ago?
There have been a lot of people recently coming to see it that I think otherwise may not have come, and they have a better understanding of what the message of the show is. It’s rare to find something that much fun that also has a powerful and empowering message. We do a pretty good job of exceeding expectations when you walk in that room, and I tell people it’s the most fun you’re going to have in 90 minutes. I’ve seen it hundreds of times and it’s still a lot of fun.
Sahara Las Vegas, 18+, 833.624.4265
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