Mall show offers flurries of cheer

Shopping center's holiday spectacle features snow

The Fashion Show mall has kicked off the holiday season with a Christmas show offering some Las Vegas spice.

Running through Dec. 24 and sponsored by Discover Card, this year's "Discover the Magic" features dancers, fashions and loads of local celebrities, not to mention Santa Claus, who makes his entry in a Cadillac.

Another arguably interesting feature of the show is the indoor snow.

As a finale, snow begins to fall after stars such as Clint Holmes, Rita Rudner, the casts of "Mamma Mia!" and "Jubilee!" and Lance Burton's show make cameo appearances.

Wyatt Foley, general manager of Triumph Entertainment, producer of the show, said it cost a noteworthy sum to make the snow a reality. But nothing was going to keep the group from accomplishing the feat for onlookers and holiday shoppers.

"We've made a couple of tweaks to it from a musical standpoint since it starts out talking about how it never snows in Las Vegas for the holidays," Foley said. "We went to local weather forecasters and got their participation and created a video segment. They start off saying it will be same old, same old for Christmas -- clear skies and sun."

Forecasters decide to contact Santa Claus to see if he could help them make it snow in the desert. Through the North Pole and down the Strip he goes, until he makes his debut in a 1960 Cadillac convertible.

Foley said the show, which opened to shoppers Nov. 19, is creating a stir among adults as well as children.

"Fashion Show wanted a show that would appeal to all ages, appeal to young children as well as adults," he said. "When we started last year, the intention was to do something like the Radio City Rockettes in New York. It kicks off the season in Las Vegas, and that's why we added talent from the Strip."

This year's videotaped segment added the Sirens of TI and cast members from "Mystere" and "We Will Rock You."

Foley said the goal is to continue to add new talent as the show becomes a tradition year after year.

"It's kind of a who's who of Las Vegas entertainers," he said.

Former "Jubilee!" and Fashion Show dancer Amelia Bruff said the best part of the show is the looks on people's faces after they see it snow. Many of the dancers in the show used to dance or currently dance on the Strip in a different show.

"As dancers, we're kind of there to make Santa Claus look good," Bruff said. "We're sort of like his decorations. It's so great to see the kids, but it's the adults that say it's such a great show."

The "Discover the Magic" is presented in the mall's Great Hall at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays until Dec. 24, except for Sundays, when the last performance will be at 6 p.m.

In addition to "Discover the Magic," Southern Nevada Cadillac Dealers will sponsor "Holiday Fashions," a fashion show featuring clothing and accessories from select Fashion Show retailers. "Holiday Fashions" will continue every Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 24. Show times are 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Fashion Show will be open this holiday season 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 19. The week of and the week after Christmas, hours will be extended from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, Fashion Show will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. and will be open New Year's Day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.


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