Courtesy Raiding the Rock Vault

“Raiding the Rock Vault” at the Rio.

By Brock Radke (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Many of the largest entertainment companies in Las Vegas are chiming in on the Gov. Steve Sisolak’s lifting of certain restrictions this week and the new rules that will allow shows to return to theaters soon.

Wynn Las Vegas, which permanently closed its 15-year-old production “Le Rêve” in August but could conceivably present concerts and comedy shows again at the 1,500-seat Encore Theater, released this statement: “The governor’s directive increasing the size of gatherings is a positive step for our city. We share in his enthusiasm to take a phased approach to ensure the long-term safety of Nevada, and are working on an in-depth plan to welcome back large groups in a safe and reliable fashion.”

Cirque du Soleil, which produces blockbuster stage shows at Treasure Island, Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand, the Mirage and Mandalay Bay, responded with this message from Senior Vice President Eric Grilly: “We are encouraged by the next phase of the governor’s reopening plan, which includes live entertainment. At this point, we are continuing to plan for our shows to return safely to our theaters and for capacity limits to increase to a point where it is financially viable to resume performances.”

From MGM Resorts’ George Kliavkoff, president of entertainment and sports: “Entertainment is in our DNA. We welcome the governor’s decision allowing for the beginning of a return for the entertainment industry in Las Vegas. We will take some time to review the specifications of the executive directive and plan for how to best proceed with getting shows back onstage, employees back to work and audiences back in their seats, the way it is supposed to be!”

And from Caesars Entertainment’s Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment: “Live entertainment is the lifeblood of Las Vegas, and we are confident through our carefully constructed health and safety plan, along with the collaboration of our entertainment partners, we can move quickly to successfully reopen theaters when approved to do so to ensure the entertainment capital of the world is also the safest. Caesars Entertainment applauds the efforts of Governor Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick and our other officials who have worked tirelessly to support the hospitality industry in this unprecedented time. We encourage them to continue to boldly lead by example to show that through thoughtful planning and the cooperation of guests, we can see live entertainment where it belongs, back onstage.”

It’s clearly going to take a while for producers, performers, crew members and casino executives to create the safety plans for each entertainment venue where Vegas makes the magic happen, get those plans approved and get back onstage. It’s possible that smaller shows and showrooms could return to action quicker, and the smaller number of people involved in stand-up comedy shows at Strip venues like Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at the Linq Promenade and the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana appears to qualify that category of Vegas fun as quick and convenient.

But this is pure speculation at this point. It’s hard to say when shows will reopen even though they’re technically allowed to do so, and the more important question is not when but how.

Sir Harry Cowell, producer of “Raiding the Rock Vault,” has been stuck in London since mid-March when Las Vegas shut down and international travel became challenging, to say the least. His scorching classic rock tribute show opened in Vegas seven years ago at the Las Vegas Hilton and has hopped to the Tropicana, the Hard Rock Hotel and most recently to the Rio, one of a small handful of casino resorts that remain shuttered.

“I don’t think people in Vegas or America understand that the borders are closed, so we Brits can’t come to visit,” Cowell says. “I can’t come home. These are very odd times. Getting a phone call in the middle of the night and hearing what the Governor said was exciting and wonderful news, but [reopening] is not what I’m seeing here. We’re locked down and we’re not opening.”

Cowell has spent his life traveling the world as a musician, record producer, band manager and show producer, living mostly in Las Vegas since 2013 with “Rock Vault.” He says he’s desperate to return to Vegas but is concerned and uncertain about the short-term future of his show and others.

“I don’t see the show opening this year, to be honest, because I don’t think there’s enough people going to be in Vegas to see the show. I need to be in the market at least three months before to open it anyway and I’m stuck here, can’t get back,” he says. “If you look at something like comedy, you might be able to make that work, one person onstage. But my band onstage? That room [at the Rio] is so small. I need to be selling out to make it work and … I’m not convinced there are enough people coming [to Vegas] to sell the show out.”

From his perspective in the U.K., Las Vegas entertainment will only thrive again when international travel is flourishing, visitation ramps back up and the complete spectrum of show offerings are up and running. “We need the big ones, the Cirque and [David] Copperfield, and then we get that audience to come out on their extra night in Vegas and see our show,” Cowell says. “We need entertainment back as a whole. I don’t know many people who would fly into Vegas to see ‘Rock Vault.’

“I think I see things differently, globally, and I’m English. There is a worry about America right now but it doesn’t mean Europeans don’t like America. It’s just there at this moment. Europeans love America and love Las Vegas. It’s going to come back around, we just don’t know when. But when it does happen, it’s going to happen quick.”