Ben Stevenson's Dracula to be performed by the Nevada Ballet Theatre

Gothic Grandness begins the Halloween season at The Smith Center for The Performing Arts on Oct. 6-9.

Audiences will be transfixed from the first bite by this haunting world of temptation and its otherworldly battle between good and evil. The Gothic grandness at the heart of Dracula stresses high-flying action. In this production, four dancers fly through the air in an otherworldly display of power and grace. Audiences roared with delight in 2018 when Dracula put Las Vegas under his spell, and Dracula has returned in 2022.

Click here to check out the trailer.

Audiences will be transported into a dark, foggy set; creepy classical music; over-the-top costumes; and Ben Stevenson’s choreography set to the music of Franz Liszt. The passionate love triangle at the center of this iconic tale is set to sweeping movement, ingenious stage effects, and dark, rich coloring to envelope all in its haunting world of evil temptation.

In this ballet version of Dracula, Ben distills the essence of the novel, retaining key characters and dramatic situations. Some of the elements of the novel were amended to tell the story in the language of ballet as well as more theatrically compelling. The ballet takes place entirely in Transylvania, with the first and third acts transpiring in Dracula’s castle and the second act in the village.

Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, presented by the Nevada Ballet Theatre, will be performed at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave, Oct. 6-9. For more info, visit nevadaballet.org. Click here for tickets.

Zephyr – A Whirlwind of Circus to be performed at UNLV

Photo courtesy of Cirque Mechanics

Cirque Mechanics Launches Tour of New Production at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on Sept. 24

The UNLV Performing Arts Center (UNLV PAC) will welcome Las Vegas’ own Cirque Mechanics as they present Zephyr—A Whirlwind of Circus at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 as a part of its 46th season. Zephyr—A Whirlwind of Circus is the company’s newest production and is being launched exclusively in partnership with the UNLV PAC. The show is an emotive and exhilarating tale about our choices for our planet and its resources, featuring a performance windmill as the multi-functional mechanical centerpiece of the story. Witness the unrelenting tug-of-war between man and nature in the name of progress as the artists harness human power, instead of wind, to generate an awe-inspiring, energetic acrobatic experience. Each time Cirque Mechanics takes the UNLV PAC stage, audiences are thrilled and amazed by the matchless skill and innovation of its creators, acrobats and groundbreaking storylines framed by remarkable machines and devices.

In Zephyr—A Whirlwind of Circus, performers will fly, balance, float on air, and defy gravity in an exhilarating circus, taking audiences on a journey with the beauty and efficacy of that timeless and ingenious process inspired by the creative team at Cirque Mechanics’ latest theatrical circus show for all ages. Traditional circus acts from contortion to hoop diving, hair hang to foot juggling, will be presented with modern and distinctive whimsy and theatricality.

Cirque Mechanics was founded in 2004 by Las Vegas residents Chris and Aida Lashua, after the success of their collaborative project with the Circus Center of San Francisco, Birdhouse Factory. Cirque Mechanics quickly established itself as a premier American circus, with its unique approach to performance, inspiring storytelling, and innovative mechanical staging. Stories are wrapped in circus acrobatics, mechanical wonders, and a bit of clowning around. Learn more at cirquemechanics.com.

The UNLV Performing Arts Center is the original home for the arts in Southern Nevada; it opened in 1976 and celebrates its 46th season in 2022-2023. It hosts a variety of performances and events and is home to self-produced events plus productions of the Nevada Conservatory Theatre, UNLV School of Music, UNLV Dance, and the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus, among many other community arts presenters. The UNLV PAC also hosts various Clark County School District fine arts festivals and concerts. Visit pac.unlv.edu.

Thanks to the partnership between these two community arts organizations, the UNLV PAC is offering a free student matinee to 1,500 Las Vegas area students at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 23. Additionally, Cirque Mechanics and the UNLV PAC are planning learning opportunities in partnership with the UNLV departments of dance, theatre, and the entertainment engineering and design program. Single tickets are available as well as PAC Only Packages for the 46th season may also be purchased by telephone at 702-895-ARTS (2787), online at pac.unlv.edu or at the PAC box office from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. When purchasing a ticket or subscription package, consider making a donation to the Performing Arts Center to provide local students the opportunity to work with all the outstanding artists.

Eat More Art Vegas adds Social Media Manager Narée Asherian to a growing team

Narée Asherian, a talent on stage and off, will focus on outreach to artists and orgs.

You may have had your spirits lifted by her incredible singing voice as a critically acclaimed lead on the Las Vegas stage, or perhaps you cheered her on as Miss Clark County or the 3rd Runner Up of Miss Nevada last month; but Eat More Art LLC is proud to call Narée Asherian our new Social Media Manager and Content Creator.

Asherian is truly a Vegas Born Talent in our Vegas Born Arts community, having trained with the impactful and impressive Positively Arts as a youth before giving back as one of their mentors to kids through the arts. An exceptional student, she is an alumnus of UNLV with a degree in Marketing.

She is not one to rest on her laurels, and in between trips around the country to audition and train, she participated and placed in the 2022 Miss Nevada pageant while executive producing her first local, independent film project to be announced in early 2023.

Ms. Asherian's experience with pageant promotions, and joyful approach to the hard work the arts demand are an exciting addition to Eat More Art LLC's growing team of creative services which include publication of EatMoreArtVegas.com, consulting for NGO's, and partnering with public programs such as the Arts and Economic Prosperity Study (AEP6) for the City of Las Vegas Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, and Americans for the Arts.

Sarah O'Connell, the founding Principal Director of Eat More Art LLC and publisher of Eat More Art Vegas says she and Managing Editor Debbie Hall are excited for the future as the work telling the local southern Nevada arts story couldn't be more important. "I have followed Narée's career from an early age because she has impressed us all from day one. Her work advocating for the victims of the Armenian Genocide is valuable to our socially conscious cultural consulting as well. Debbie and I can't wait for her help to advance our advocacy for the local Creative Economy, and enhance our presence on social media."

Follow Narée Asherian at these accounts in addition to @eatmoreartvegas:

https://linktr.ee/nareeasherian

֍TikTok: @naree_asherian

֍Performing @naree_asherian

֍Main @miss_asherian