Cirque du Soleil plans a new and hybrid Las Vegas show

Cirque du Soleil is planning a brand new, eye-popping show on the Las Vegas Strip this spring that appropriately flips its typical script.

"Mad Apple" will feature stand-up comedians, close-up magic and a live band playing pop music onstage alongside Cirque's famous acrobats in a new hybrid form of live entertainment.

The show, inspired by New York City's eclectic nightlife of jazz cubs, street buskers, comedy shows and live music, will replace "Zumanity" at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in May on the Las Vegas Strip.

"We really wanted to do something joyous and something celebratory," veteran producer Simon Painter told The Associated Press ahead of Feb. 22 unveiling. "It's basically a giant party, the greatest night out in New York."

"Mad Apple" will be Cirque's sixth Las Vegas show and the first all-new one since it emerged from bankruptcy protection with new owners. In 2020, it had to suspend its productions around the globe as the pandemic crushed live entertainment.

Visitors enter the performance space before the show to find a massive bar and are greeted by magicians. The bar then transforms into the stage and the show begins, the infamous Cirque clowns replaced by two stand-up veterans, Brad Williams and Chris Turner.

"I'm the first stand-up comedian to be a part of a Cirque show and doing traditional standup," said Williams. "That's really exciting to me because I do like doing things that I've never done before."

Usually, a Cirque show means pre-recorded whimsical and atmospheric worldbeat music, but not here. A live band with singers will stay onstage for most of "Mad Apple" performing hits by the likes of Billy Joel and Lady Gaga, including tunes by the Gershwins and notable jazz, culminating in ...