Lin-Manuel Miranda Bringing New Show to Venetian Las Vegas

Posted on: September 13, 2022, 09:28h. 

Last updated on: September 14, 2022, 01:52h.

Corey Levitan Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas.

A new musical from Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda makes its Las Vegas debut with a Venetian residency beginning Nov. 10. Freestyle Love Supreme, directed by Thomas Kail, is an improvised hip-hop show that enjoyed a successful Broadway run from Oct. 2021 to Jan. 2022.

Performances at the Venetian’s Summit Showroom will run from 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturdays, and 7 p.m. Sundays. Starting at $57.45, Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today at venetianlasvegas.com.

Freestyle Love Supreme comically engages audiences, who are not only encouraged but expected to provide suggestions. Occasionally, they may even be brought on stage.

The show will run 90 minutes in its Vegas incarnation and stars Simone “Sims” Acosta, Andrew “Jelly Donut” Bancroft, Richard “Rich Midway” Baskin Jr., Jay C. “Jellis J” Ellis, Kaila “Kaiser Rözé” Mullady, Morgan “Hummingbird” Reilly and Dizzy Seine. Occasional guest stars will drop in — who might just include Miranda himself — but no one’s guaranteeing that.

From The Heights to Hamilton

Improv guru Anthony Veneziale and Miranda conceived the new show in 2004 during rehearsal breaks for Miranda’s first Broadway musical, In the Heights. It was performed multiple times over the years before debuting on Broadway. The Las Vegas cast recently toured the show to 11 US cities, ending last month in Pasadena.

Some of my most fulfilling creative moments have come from working on Freestyle Love Supreme, and I’m excited to see its next chapter unfold on the Las Vegas Strip at The Venetian Resort,” Miranda said in a statement. “This show consistently surprises the performers and the audience, and I’m certain the Las Vegas crowd will bring an added element of excitement that we haven’t seen before.”

Miranda’s most well-known work, Hamilton, won 11 Tony Awards in 2016, the most ever for a musical. These awards included Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical, among others. Miranda also was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work.

Miranda’s Broadway show, In The Heights, was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards and won four, including Best Musical. The film adaptation from 2021 was not nominated for awards, however.

Paying Homage

Musically, Freestyle Love Supreme pays homage to jazz saxophonist John Coltrane’s classic 1965 album A Love Supreme, with dues also owed to the soul, blues, and hip-hop. A range of vocals – from harmonic singing to freestyle rapping to beatboxing — are backed by tight tunes from keyboards and human percussion.

“Freestyle Love Supreme is an exciting addition to our entertainment lineup and furthers our commitment to providing new and unmatched offerings for our guests,” said Patrick Nichols, president and chief operating officer of the Venetian. “The show is completely driven by audience interaction, which provides an unexpected element and a new experience every night.”

Over the years, Venetian/Palazzo enjoyed success with Vegas-ized Broadway hits, including Phantom — Las Vegas Spectacular, Jersey Boys, and Rock of Ages.