Jennifer Hudson sings several musical
numbers opening night. (Getty Images)
Las Vegas is internationally known for its spectacular hotels and casinos, A-list entertainment, award-winning restaurants, high-end shopping, and endless attractions that draw visitors from across the globe. Vintage downtown Las Vegas, with classic hotels and historic Fremont street, is on the verge of a renaissance unlike any in the past several decades. With the opening of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts downtown this weekend, Las Vegas is being thrust onto the international stage as the single most important development in cultural arts the city has ever seen.
VEGAS REPORT had the pleasure of attending the opening night ceremony to experience first hand the majesty and opulence that decades of work by the community has garnered. Located in downtown’s 61-acre urban development, Symphony Park, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is a public/private partnership that is the new centerpiece of cultural life in Las Vegas, offering a unique blend of performances by resident companies, as well as first-run touring attractions. The 5-acre campus features three performance spaces, Reynolds Hall, the 2,050-seat main showroom, Boman Pavilion’s 258-seat Cabaret Jazz, and 250-seat Troesh Studio Theater.
TV & stage star Neil Patrick Harris hosted
the star-studded show. (Getty Images)
The opening night black-tie gala performance was a star-studded event produced and directed by George and Michael Stevens, the team behind the annual Kennedy Center Honors. The show was recorded for a television broadcast later this year. Hosted by television and stage star Neil Patrick Harris, the evening featured legendary performers from various genres including country, pop, rock, and Broadway. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval opened the show playing a commissioned musical score against the backdrop of a historic video of the Las Vegas area and Hoover Dam, the inspiration behind the architecture of The Smith Center. Highlights of the evening included Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson, country legends Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and Martina McBride. Singer-songwriter Carol King played classic tunes including an awe-inspiring rendition of "Every Woman" with Hudson and McBride. Gospel singer Mavis Staples had the audience cheering the moment she started singing, and her performance was a highlight of the evening.
Train lead singer Pat Monahan brought the house down with current rock hits while American rock legend John Fogerty revisited classics including "Proud Mary," and brought the audience to their feet. Broadway was well represented with stars from the Great White Way including Tony winner Brian Stokes MItchell, Laura Osnes, Cheyenne Jackson, Sherlie Rene Scott, Montego Glover, and Benjamin Walker. American Ballet Theater dancers Marcello Gomes and Luciana Paris performer several show-stopping duets choreographed to classic Sinatra songs. Closing the show was Jennifer Hudson with a rendition of "Take Care of this House," backed by a 60-person strong choir.
Smith Center president, Myron Martin; Reynolds Foundation
chairman Fred W. Smith, Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Smith Center, Don Snyder. (Getty Images)
The audience was filled with Las Vegas dignitaries, politicians, celebrities, and donors of The Smith Center including Mayor Carolyn Goodman and husband/former Mayor Oscar Goodman, legendary magic duo Siegfried and Roy, Harrah's comedy magic headliner Mac King , local singers Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton, and more. President Myron Martin introduced the building's namesake, Fred Smith and the Reynolds Foundation, as well as Board of Directors Chairman Don Snyder. During the telecast filming, the well appreciative audience stood and applauded the men behind the project as they were introduced. “Tonight we celebrated more than the opening of The Smith Center,” said Myron Martin, President and CEO of The Smith Center. “We celebrated this community’s commitment to the arts and to creating something important and lasting for the people who live here and for generations to come.”
Check out the stars as they arrive at the theater in our photo gallery.
