The Box, Simon Hammerstein’s theatrical nightclub in New York, is known for delighting and bewildering crowds with its mix of burlesque babes, circus acts, celebrity clientele and other assorted freakazoids.
Now Hammerstein has unveiled his next act — a venue named The Act, in fact — in Las Vegas, a city known for a level of decadence and debauchery that makes New York clubs seem tame.
“The Act is a nonstop dance party with the show layered on top,” Hammerstein says of his club in the Shoppes at the Palazzo on the Vegas Strip. “People in Vegas aren’t coming here to network in a local scene — they are coming to rage.”
The Act has a performance area that’s about three times the size of New York’s Box, but it’s still small compared to many of Sin City’s mega-theaters and clubs. Hammerstein thinks he’ll make up for that in showmanship, “wacky and weird” shenanigans, and performers that interact with the crowd.
“When you go to a Broadway show, you feel like you’re a fly on the wall,” he says. “For us, it’s the audience feeling like they’re part of the show. It’s about breaking the fourth wall, having the dancers in the crowd.”
And what does he envision as the perfect night out at his new club?
“One that you couldn’t actually remember, save for the stains on your collar,” he says.
But in this age of “Instagram or it didn’t happen” in Vegas, there should be a lot of photographic evidence of what went down. (Also, Vegas nightlife really needs to get over this whole collared-shirt thing.)
Hammerstein, who now lives in Vegas, has proven to have staying power in a flighty nightlife industry. The Box opened in early 2007, and it’s still a hot destination — with an outpost in London as well — that keeps evolving.
“The great thing about having a show is that it changes every night,” he says. “You can come back and see a whole different show with a different type of music. The show allows us to keep re-inventing your night. It’s exciting to never know what to expect.”
Party on
Live it up for less during the long New Year’s weekend in Vegas! The Palms is offering a special “All Access NYE Weekend Party Monster Pass,” which grants guests front-of-the-line entry to four events: Kelly Rowland on Dec. 29, ?uestlove and DJ Jazzy Jeff on Dec. 29, Iggy Azalea on Dec. 30 and Travis Barker with Yelawolf on New Year’s Eve. The pass is $155 for guys and $110 for gals. That’s a lot of party for a little dough. palms.com — Lisa Keys