As I entered the SAXE Theatre to a sold-out, mixed crowd of young and mature viewers, I was unsure what “Vegas! The Show” would have in store for me for the remainder of the night. But to my pleasant surprise, I was instantly captivated and amused by the group of dancers, entertainers, magicians, and showgirls—outfitted in beautiful attire adorned with Swarovski crystals—who all wowed the audience. “Vegas! The Show” can be viewed as a tribute to some of the most talented and well-known artists who helped to put Las Vegas on the map—from the Rat Pack to Elton John.

I was especially impressed by the performance of two identical-twin male tap dancers as they easily captivated the audience. Their choreographed tap-dance number performed with such skill and ease had me daydreaming of the 50s. And the talented performers who were seen onstage from this point on were nothing short of spectacular. I truly adored hearing a rendition of Gladys Knight and The Pips’ classic “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Reva Rice. For a moment, I envisioned Knight at Circus Circus singing to a sold-out audience in the early 70s.

The show continued with interesting set changes as the audience is then introduced to the early beginnings of The Rat Pack, featuring Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin. Ted Yancey sings Sammy’s famous “Candyman” while the crowd, catching candy thrown from colorful and amusing costumed female dancers, follows along joyously. The audience is quickly reminded by Yancey’s explanation, however, of the challenges that Davis faced while performing as an African-American during this time, when Davis was “still ushered through the back of the building.”

“Vegas! The Show” impressively brought a sense of both reality and fantasy to the stage by reminding us that Vegas was not only created by the entertainers, but also by the everyday people who supported such great shows as this one. For my first time in Las Vegas, I was more than pleased to have had the opportunity to watch this show and be entertained for a little more than an hour of my time. This is definitely a show that I will see again.