If terminology such as “body rolls,” “shirt rips” and “dolphin dives” mean something to you, you understand the language of Thunder From Down Under. The Australian male dance troupe first invaded Las Vegas in the late ’90s before talent impresario Adam Steck found a headlining home for the buff “blokes” at the New Frontier 24 years ago, then moved them into the Thunderland Showroom at Excalibur 12 months later.
With Thunder’s silver anniversary just around the corner, Steck, CEO of SPI Entertainment, can look back on an opportunity that he turned into a Vegas institution. “It’s been an unbelievable experience,” says Steck. “I’m so proud of being a part of it, how big it’s grown. It’s a household name. It’s an international name, and it will be 25 years on July 5, 2026.”
That’s 25 years on the Strip, as Thunder From Down Under was created by Steck’s partner Bill Cross and debuted in 1991. Steck and a squad of symmetrically muscled cast members accepted a Key to the Strip at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign in 2022 for the 20th anniversary, a highlight that could be eclipsed by quarter-century celebrations.
Steck cites celebrity audience members such as Sting and Trudie Styler, Demi Moore, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears as having witnessed the gyrating gentlemen in their native habitat. They’ve performed more than 11,500 shows at Excalibur and have torn an inestimable number of tops from their torsos.
They tend to be taller than average as well. “They’re big blokes, but not big big. Girls like them slender with ripped abs,” says Steck. “It’s a very physically challenging show for the guys. They don’t just stand there and take their clothes off. It’s fully choreographed. Lots of energy. Lots of acrobatics. They run around the showroom. They jump up on the tables. It’s a very kinetic, energy-filled room.”
It’s also filled with the screams of ladies overwhelmed by kinetic energy generated by group numbers that have the Thunderous Ones bouncing in unison, shining in the spotlight during solo turns or picking a random patron from the audience for an onstage personal dance. Steck tries to cater to every taste when casting, although it helps if they look good in a cowboy hat for the “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” number.
“Each guy brings a different style, a different flavor to the performance,” says Steck, who counts acrobats and champion breakdancers among the cast. “Some guys are really incredible dancers. Some guys are OK dancers with a lot of charisma. Everybody brings something else to the table.”
They also buy shirts in bulk, going through at least 10 a night seven nights a week. That doesn’t include the touring editions of the show. “We’re actually expanding into markets we’ve never been in before, like Europe.” says Steck. “We were just in the Netherlands. We played Austria. We have a U.K. tour coming up. Macau is a market we’ve been very bullish on … It’s really just expanding the brand to the far reaches of the world.”
Excalibur, 18+. 702.597.7600. excalibur.mgmresorts.com
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