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Best of Las Vegas 2008 : Entertainment : Best Performing Arts Group

Reader Pick
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE
Grace, poise, beauty, body control — these are all qualities we don't possess, so we fiercely begrudge anyone who does. The gall of Nevada Ballet Theatre to educate the community on the majesty of the art of dance with world class performers turning in exquisite stagings of everything from "Don Quixote" to the annual seasonal standard "The Nutcracker." And here we thought the latter was just some new Rob Schneider movie about a guy who tests athletic supporters for a living. But you readers are far better people than we are and have the good taste to recognize these fine artists. The Las Vegas Philharmonic plays a gnarly version of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" in second place.

Staff Pick
ONYX THEATRE COMPANY
953 E. Sahara Ave.

It's in the back of a leather shop, and its productions are every bit as titillating as those crotchless chaps you picked up last weekend with the matching slave mask. The leading light in Vegas alternative theater, Onyx's offerings are wild-eyed and diverse, and tend to have more sharp edges than a set of steak knives. There's the annual Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, raucous screenings of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" — with the emphasis on audience participation — improv comedy, the "Wayward Ways" vaudevillian variety show as well as exceptional stagings of works such as Harvey Fierstein's "Torch Song Trilogy (Act III)."


Comments (10)

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Mayse wrote on February 17, 2009 03:43 PM: Onyx is a "theater space". Atlas (the top, by the way), Insurgo, Signature, Stage Door, Good Medicine, Found Door- those are companies who do "theatre". How can a space be the best "performing arts group"?

My two cents...Atlas!


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Michael wrote on February 07, 2009 12:06 PM: Wow,

Mike you are harsh.

Dude, We wish we had the budget UNLV has, however we do well enough, Let's see, Review Journal's Best of Las Vegas

2 years running!

Thank You.


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Michael wrote on February 07, 2009 12:04 PM: Wow,
Mike you are harsh.
Dude, We wish we had the budget UNLV has, however we do well enough, Let's see, Review Journal's Best of Las Vegas
2 years running!
Thank You.


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Breon wrote on January 30, 2009 10:31 PM: Too bad this isn't how you vote! Silly kids! Just for the record though, Insurgo is the best in town. Hands down!


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Sara Fontaine wrote on January 23, 2009 02:56 PM: Atlas theatre ensemble!


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T. J. wrote on January 22, 2009 05:09 PM: Hey Mike, good theatre is happening all over. Try Found Door theatre, Insurgo Theatre Movement, The Beckett Festival, or Atlas Theatre Ensemble on for size. There is ground shaking art happening in Vegas and your missing it while your watching the same old self serving dirge of misanthropic rehash they've been producing for the last ten years at NCT. My vote is for INSURGO, They produce most of the good theatre presented at the ONYX. Insurgo is the art, Onyx is just the space. If you enjoy tired theatre go to NCT, if you enjoy provocative theatre join the movement.


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esoterica wrote on January 21, 2009 08:10 PM: Atlas Theatre Ensemble rocks my world.


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BreAnn Oneil wrote on January 21, 2009 04:55 PM: ATLAS THEATRE ENSEMBLE!!!


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Jamie Carvelli wrote on January 21, 2009 04:34 PM: Atlas theatre ensemble


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Mike wrote on January 15, 2009 09:10 AM: Why don't you try UNLV's Conservatory of Theater sometime? If you enjoy GOOD theater, this is pretty much the only place in Vegas.