‘Viva Elvis’ may be last new show for a while

A lot of people are hoping Cirque du Soleil’s “Viva Elvis” will be good for a lot of reasons.

In fact, the only people I heard who are rooting for failure (secondhand, so I quote it only in jest) are part of the team at “Criss Angel: Believe.” They want “Elvis” to stink “so we won’t be the worst show in town anymore.”

Beyond the obvious interests of those vested in Cirque or CityCenter, here’s a reason to relish and savor the grand opening of “Viva Elvis” on Feb. 19.

This is pretty much it for a while.

No more new shows are on the horizon, at least not on the level of investment that draws national attention.

Sure, new things always come along. At the start of last year, we didn’t know about Garth Brooks or Frank Caliendo. And the Colosseum at Caesars Palace will need new anchor acts to fill the dates Bette Midler frees after her final show today.

A big name or two will get some attention. But even if he or she doesn’t wear a hoodie and strum an acoustic guitar like Garth, the commitment will likely be less like Celine, more like Carlos (Santana) at the Hard Rock: a few weeks each year, with some nice video instead of pricey sets and dancers.

Some day, we might even see more than a poster promoting “Tamara” at The Venetian. It’s an interactive “living movie” where people follow characters around through gun and sword fights. But if you’re waiting for that, you already waited two years since reports in January 2008.

We all know what shows attract big attention for the city. The next full-on, original creation probably will be a Michael Jackson-themed Cirque, continuing a streak of shows branded with musical icons. (Original thinking is something of which this town is seldom accused.)

The Jackson show probably will replace “The Lion King” at Mandalay Bay, giving the Disney musical a respectable run while work gets under way at Cirque’s home base in Montreal.

This year is supposed to bring two giant, news-making productions. But, alas, neither will have an address on Las Vegas Boulevard. Producers of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” — with music by U2’s Bono and The Edge — delayed a Feb. 25 opening while scrambling to raise more money for the $50 million-plus production.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom” sequel, “Love Never Dies,” has a reported $13 million in advance sales for its London opening in March.

At one point, Lloyd Webber publicly floated the idea of simultaneous openings in three or four major cities. As far as I know, no one in Las Vegas stepped up with an offer. Did any casino even have the money to?

Like everyone else who’s broke right now, Las Vegas entertainment will have to make do with what it has for a while.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.