CLUEX Reimagines Cult Classic with Immersive Burlesque Twist at Notoriety Live

By Debbie Hall

Las Vegas welcomes a bold new theatrical hybrid with the arrival of ClueX, now in residency at Notoriety Live on the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas. Inspired by the beloved Clue, this genre-defying production merges burlesque, parody, and interactive storytelling into a singular stage experience.

Helmed by producer, writer, director Simone Skold, ClueX has undergone a decade-long evolution—from its origins as a small-scale revue to its sold-out 2024 engagement at Vegas Theatre Company. Now fully reworked for a Las Vegas residency, the production emerges as a refined and electrified spectacle designed for the demands of a Strip-adjacent audience.

What distinguishes ClueX is its structural unpredictability. Audience members actively participate by voting to determine the murderer, making each performance feel unique and exciting, and emphasizing their role in shaping the story.

This element of chance extends to the performers themselves, who remain unaware of the final outcome until the reveal, creating a dynamic interplay between structure and spontaneity.

Musically underscored by a live band, the production balances tonal contrasts: ominous atmosphere, rapid-fire wit, and sensual choreography. The pacing is brisk, yet layered, allowing both parody and mystery to coexist without sacrificing momentum.

"The band adds a vibrant energy to the room and to the burlesques. Performing to tracks is fine, but compared to live musicians, it is stale. The band also gives us freedom in pacing, especially in the Pool Boy Tango, where we play off one another for timing. In addition, they help make the entire experience Cinematic with their suspicious and playful underscoring," said Skold.

"Just like in a film, the music almost single-handedly defines the tone of the scene. As characters in ClueX sneak around the mansion looking for evidence, the band plays versions of tracks from the film's original scores, all orchestrated by the super-talented Isaac Tubb, keeping us firmly in the realm of suspense and mystery. Once the burlesques begin, we break out of the darkness, strip down to our sparkly underthings, and the music takes us on that journey. Each song is tailored to the character's own story, and the fourth wall completely disappears."

The visual language of ClueX is equally integral to its storytelling. Costume and hair designer Jason Bennett, of Time After Time Designs, crafts pieces that function as narrative devices as much as they do as aesthetic statements. Drawing from the iconography of the original film, Bennett elevates each look into a theatrical transformation—garments engineered for reveal while maintaining structural elegance.

"The costumes have leveled up. Jason Bennett has built new looks from the ground up, including thousands of rhinestones and countless hours of work. Each character is wearing something that is not only built to be stripped in creative ways, but also full of details and callbacks to the original movie. These are some of the most beautiful costumes in Vegas, and it makes all the difference," explained Skold.

Beyond entertainment, ClueX explores themes of class, power, and politics, inviting adults to reflect as they enjoy a provocative and engaging show. Neither strictly play nor traditional burlesque, ClueX offers an immersive experience that invites audience participation, making viewers feel like active contributors to the evolving story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNNWX_o7zTE

As Skold's long-gestating vision reaches its most realized form, ClueX stands as a testament to the creative possibilities that emerge when genre boundaries are not just blurred—but entirely rewritten.

The show contains mature themes and is recommended for 18 and older, ensuring an engaging and appropriate experience for guests.

ClueX will perform at Notoriety Live, 450 Fremont St., Suite 380, on the Fremont Street Experience through April 25. The venue offers accessible seating, accommodations and parking. For more info, visit cluextheshow.com and click here for tickets.