‘Mystère’ forever: Cirque du Soleil’s original Las Vegas show celebrates 30 years

Saturday, December 2, 2023 11:33 AM
  • Geoff Carter, Las Vegas Weekly

Mystère, Cirque du Soleil’s first non-traveling, permanent show, opened at Treasure Island on Christmas Day, 1993. For three decades, it has thrived in a city where few things are non-traveling or permanent. It is Cirque’s longest-running production—not just in Las Vegas, but worldwide.

That alone is worthy of recognition, but Mystère’s achievements don’t end at its longevity. Without this trailblazing production, Cirque likely wouldn’t have six shows on the Strip today. Without Mystère’s long tail, it’s likely we wouldn’t have seen such theatrical residency shows as Celine Dion’s A New Day… and Katy Perry’s Play. And without Mystère, we wouldn’t have the best scene in Judd Apatow’s 2007 comedy Knocked Up, in which Seth Rogen’s character flees the show in a psychedelic, mushroom-induced freakout.