Whether you’re watching a comedy show, enjoying a stage play, singing along to your favorite band or artist, or catching an experimental theatre event, there’s just something about a live arts experience that can’t be beaten. There can be little doubt that dancing, singing, drama, and storytelling are best witnessed live, pulling us into the spectacle head first, and without any protest at all. Unlike cinema, which is fantastically entertaining in its own right, live acts have a way of involving their audiences that the silver screen can’t replicate, and we, the paying public, just can’t get enough – particularly if it means we’re breathing the same air as our favorite stars and stage idols. They’re so close, we can almost touch them!
With so many wonderful live acts the world over, where can you find the very best in our own country?
Denver
If you’re looking to laugh, head to Denver; the city boasts a booming comedy scene that’s given rise to numerous careers over the years, and there’s simply nowhere better to discover the freshest faces and funniest talents. Comedy Works, the Bovine Metropolis Theater, the Oriental Theater, and the Bug Theatre are just some of Denver’s premier comedy venues, while the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse and Denver Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant combine entertainment, refreshments, and some of the finest foods you’re likely to sample across the comedy scene.
Las Vegas
If you’re looking to find the biggest stars and the most spectacular acts, the weirdest and most wonderful stage shows, and the most dazzling displays of talent on the planet, then head to Las Vegas at least once in your lifetime. Thanks in part to the dedication of entrepreneur Steve Wynn, Las Vegas has become the world’s premier entertainment destination, with live acts, stage shows, comedy performances, and circus troops appearing to adoring crowds night after night. From Beyoncé and Britney, to Cirque du Soleil and David Copperfield, anyone who is anyone has appeared on a stage in Vegas.
New York City
The home of Broadway and numerous venues, big and small, New York City is a haven for fans of comedy, live bands, musicals, and straight and experimental theater. If it’s happening live, the chances are it’s happening in New York, and with 41 theaters across theater district, you’re going to be spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding where to head. Famous Broadway shows include The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Wicked, Hairspray, and The Sound of Music, though there have been literally hundreds, if not thousands, of shows, including family productions, musicals, and dramas, shown across the stages of NYC since the mid-18th century, when theater was established in the city.
Alternative destinations
From Portland’s hipster scene and Tennessee’s links to rock ‘n’ roll, to New Orleans’s ties to jazz and blues and Minneapolis’ connections to rap, these cities are renowned for their musical roots. They offer fantastic venues and numerous record stores where your favorite tunes are immortalized. Head to any of these locations for a taste of the old and new sounds you love.
If you love live acts, and adore nothing more than catching your favorite musicians and bands, musical theater, and comedy in the flesh, do make it your mission to visit any of these fantastic destinations. Better yet, tell us where you’ve been in search of the ideal live act and let us follow suit. I can’t wait to hear about your comedic, musical, and scripted adventures.
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