The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas to Set a New Standard in Entertainment With The Real Deal! (United States)
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The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas to Set a New Standard in Entertainment With The Real Deal! (United States)
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Category: Worldwide - United States - Industry economy -
Trends / Expert's advice
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-07-22
New Show To Feature Poker Superstars Interacting With Audience Members In A
Live, Daily, High-Tech, Fun-Filled Extravaganza
The Real Deal!, the first ever live,
interactive poker-themed stage show, will debut in The Venetian Showroom at
The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas this fall, according to a
joint announcement by entertainment industry icon Merv Adelson (no relation
to Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Venetian's
parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.) and the resort. Working in
partnership with the world's most renowned poker professionals, the show
will introduce a new paradigm in entertainment, establishing a completely
original live show format that combines humor, the latest in wireless
technology, and abundant prizes in wildly-fun, fast-paced action that will
entertain poker enthusiasts and non-players alike.
The Real Deal!, the first ever live,
interactive poker-themed stage show, will debut in The Venetian Showroom at
The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas this fall, according to a
joint announcement by entertainment industry icon Merv Adelson (no relation
to Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Venetian's
parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.) and the resort. Working in
partnership with the world's most renowned poker professionals, the show
will introduce a new paradigm in entertainment, establishing a completely
original live show format that combines humor, the latest in wireless
technology, and abundant prizes in wildly-fun, fast-paced action that will
entertain poker enthusiasts and non-players alike.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080721/LAM041)
"The Venetian sets the standard for entertainment in Las Vegas and we
are excited to add The Real Deal! to our existing line-up of world-class
shows," stated Jason Gastwirth, vice president of entertainment for Las
Vegas Sands Corp. "When looking for a new concept to add to our
entertainment lineup, we searched for an entirely new experience that would
promote audience participation while incorporating well-known personalities
that shine beyond the bright lights of the Strip -- we found that in The
Real Deal!."
Staged in The Venetian Showroom as part of The Venetian's extraordinary
lineup of entertainment offerings, The Real Deal! will empower the audience
to participate both on-stage and from their seats through the use of
wireless touch screen devices. The Real Deal! will use a revolutionary
multi-player platform with interactive content in conjunction with
technology from TimePlay Entertainment, Inc. Playing both against and
alongside the pros, audience members will earn points to vie for prizes
ranging from The Real Deal! logo'd merchandise to spectacular home
electronics and more, including a chance to win a $1 million grand prize.
The Real Deal! roster of poker pros represents a Who's Who of the sport
and includes the legendary Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth,
Jr., Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Eli Elezra, Jennifer Harman, Phil
Laak, Scotty Nguyen, and Todd Brunson. The pros will participate in shows
each month, taking on Vegas visitors of all poker skills and experience.
Combined, the The Real Deal! professionals have won 8 World Poker Tour
Championships (WPT) and 35 World Series of Poker TM (WSOP) bracelets,
amassing over $48,000,000 in tournament prize money.
"Never before has poker been so integrated with entertainment," said
Merv Adelson, the inspiration behind The Real Deal!. "The popularity of
poker is unquestioned, as is the viability of live game show experiences in
Las Vegas. The Real Deal! will keep guests laughing and give them the
unique chance to get into the heads of the world's best pros as they share
tips and strategy throughout the fast-paced game. We know it will quickly
become a hot ticket."
Casting is underway for the show host, and the producers are talking
with well-known comedians who they feel will bring an energized blend of
humor and poker information to the audience while keeping the action
moving. The chance to take on poker's superstars without having to risk big
money is more than enough to drive interest, but The Real Deal! goes far
beyond the action on the stage, appealing to both poker aficionados and
those who have never thrown a chip in a pot.
Participating audience members will play along during the on-stage game
with a wireless handheld console. The large collection of prizes will be
awarded to individuals based on their game performance, such as their play
of the virtual "ninth hand." However, there will be many other random
winning moments! For example, audience members will be able to wager on
simple instances that will occur during play, such as the suit of cards
dealt on the flop. Every show, audience members will also have the chance
to draw for a Royal Flush and win ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
An elimination process will result in the chip-leading pro, the final
surviving amateur, and the point leader from the play-along audience, on
stage for a three-handed finale.
"Poker fans have been able to view and enjoy professional poker action
for years on television," said Doyle Brunson, The Real Deal!'s lead poker
professional. "This is different. Everyone in the audience can be in the
game and compete with the pros and other guests. It is a
one-of-a-kind-poker experience."
The creation and production of groundbreaking entertainment is nothing
new to Adelson and the members of the production team. Adelson, co-founder
of Lorimar Telepictures and former vice chairman of Time Warner, Inc., put
together an elite team headed by executive producer Gary Smith, an
eight-time Emmy(R) Award winning producer and director of esteemed live
shows including the Tony Awards and The Emmy(R) Awards, Producer Bill Nuss,
who has written and produced over 300 hours of network primetime
television, Chief Operating Officer Gary Adelson, a veteran Hollywood deal
maker and producer, and Erick Brownstein, a highly regarded creative
strategist and new media marketer, as Director of Technology.
The Real Deal! will entertain six days a week at The Venetian Showroom
in Las Vegas, with shows at 4 pm and primetime performances on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays. In addition to general tickets, a limited number of VIP
packages will be available for each show that include an opportunity to
meet the poker stars after the show.
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