Interior Designs! Las Vegas! HELP!
 

I am headed to Las Vegas for a convention, and to get ideas for a musical theater that I am the Interior Designer on. We are designing a old fashioned "grand" gilded theater, and I've never done this type of project. I have only been looking at pictures. I am working on it all: colors, theater, grand lobby, two bars, dressing rooms, furniture,etc; I need ideas! I am wanting to design some of the space a modern re-interpretation of classic 'jewel box' theaters. Can anyone think of specific places, rooms, bars, hotels? I know, Bellagio, Venetian...but any other ideas?

I have 3 weeks to conceive my plan of attack on "sin city"...

Interesting project (from another designer who has done a couple theatre projects).

To be honest I think you're going to get more ideas downtown. The strip is much more about modern glitz and themes than about that "red velvet/crystal/gilded traditional" look I think you've got in mind, although I'm not getting a clear image of your "modern re-interpretation of it". You'll see things at the Horseshoe and others downtown which will probably come closer. Also I'm thinking on the strip of the Barbary (dreadful hotel, but the right decor).

I can't picture anything about Bellagio that speaks to this. Well, maybe some ideas at The Venetian. And Caesar's Palace.

See you've helped me already! Can you meet me in Vegas Patrick? lol.

I was thinking the same thing Patrick suggested; downtown.

The very first thing that came to mind was Atlantic City. Very over the top ornate.

Hey, send me the tickets and I'm there!

Beachkomer,

Why Las Vegas? When I hear "old fashioned grand gilded theater" I think of some of the old Broadway theaters.

How about New York?

I had the same thought. What about some of the great old theaters in the east? There's a great one in Atlanta, the name of whcih escapes me. And, then there are the little gems like the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT.

I am going to a design show in Las Vegas, so I am going to take in some "interiors".

Yes, the theaters in NY are the best, and one of them is the theater owner's favorite. I can't remember the name of it off hand.

A team of architects and the owners also toured four theaters in Chicago.
(I wasn't "on board" yet).

Not all the areas will be gilded and fancy, due to the budget, so I am trying to get ideas to dress up some of the support spaces without breaking the bank. Combining colors/textures/fabrics, etc; I have suggested to co-designer (he's the architect) that we paint the dome similar to the cloud ceiling in the Venetian, in St. Mark's square. He agreed.

I will now be visiting Vegas with all these theater spaces in mind to gleem ideas....

HowardR--You're probably thinking of the Fox Theater in Atlanta

You can get snippets of its interior if you go online www.foxtheater.org

Yes, the Fox Theater is it. I remember walking through the facility feeling as if I had been swept back into another era.

Ok, after some false starts, I found the website: www.foxtheatre.org
with the "artsy" spelling...lol...
Wow! That's beautiful. I like the rich colors. It's so incredible.

Here is another one in the mid-west:
http://www.fabulousfox.com/default.asp
The King Tut tomb was discovered around the time of the Atlanta Fox project (?) and many people were facinated with this unearthed culture, according to the Atlanta website. The St. Louis theater is very exotic as well.
I'm glad people are saving these incredible buildings! Support the arts!

Go to the La Femme show at MGM. The jewelbox of a theatre is modeled precisely (or close to)after the Paris Crazy Horse club.

I second Tess' suggestion of the La Femme theater at MGM. An elegant jewelbox indeed, and an elegant and beautiful show, which I think could appeal to either sex or any sexual orientation. Ignore the pans of those used to traditional American girlie or showgirl shows. (My bi female companion and I both enjoyed it greatly.)

While at the MGM, you might examine the huge, lobbylike casino (they have several) which is the first one you enter off the Strip or from the bridges to the Tropicana and New York New York. I found it very imposing, and not just for the enormity of its space.

And since you have already favorably noted the King Tut influence, don't overlook the interior of the Luxor for ideas. The theme is carried off with sometimes surprising taste and detail. I was especially impressed with the check in area, and I also have heard the high-end restaurant, Isis, is done beautifully.