I recently had the opportunity to check out a new show here in Vegas- Dirk Arthur Wild Magic. His new show is at the Westgate Resort & Casino located just slightly off the strip. We’d actually never been there before & we were excited to check it out! We picked up our tickets & sat down front & center to enjoy the show! I’d be a liar if I didn’t say one of my favorite parts was the huge, metallic curtain- which my husband rolled his eyes at me for. But I loved the patterns & ombre colors while we waited for the show to start!
With a thrilling array of spectacular illusions featuring majestic cats, master magician Dirk Arthur presents Dirk Arthur Wild Magic! Performing in the International Westgate Theater, this fast-paced show interweaves comedy with breathtaking big cat magic, beautiful dancers and large-scale effects. Dirk has long been a leading advocate for the preservation of endangered species and for the humane and proper care of all animals. During the show, audiences will experience Dirk’s love for his animals as they are treated with the utmost respect and gentleness. He uses his platform to raise funds for various animal care and conservation programs. In fact, a portion of all merchandise sales are donated to organizations that promote awareness and education regarding the importance of wildlife preservation.
If you’re anything like me, you might be a bit wary of shows featuring animals. They can be a bit uncomfortable for an animal-lover to watch. This wasn’t the case at all! The animals weren’t props here at all- they were handled with respect & admiration. You could really tell the cats adored him & the other humans. In fact, one sat on her rump until she got a bit of extra lovin’ which made all of us in the audience coo with jealousy. Big cat kisses? New life goal!
There were 4 main lovely lady assistant/dancers who absolutely rocked this stage. They opened or closed every new theme & were wonderful to watch. If you went through dance like myself, you could tell these were trained professionals who really loved to perform! & the costumes? Fabulous! Along with his lovely gals were a select few extra performers & while I won’t ruin the surprise- they were absolutely fantastic! A great way to take a break that keeps your audience engaged. Plus his magic was fun & above all, entertaining as a spectator.
His original illusions include a floating car, a lightning fast appearance of a 44-foot long Amtrak Train and he was the first magician in history to make a helicopter appear! This helicopter illusion has since been widely copied and become a staple of many other magicians, although none can do it quite as well as the originator.
Arthur is known around Las Vegas as one of the most successful magicians in town. He also appeared on television on “NBC’s World Greatest Magic”, “Late Show with David Letterman” and his own widely acclaimed primetime special “Big Cat Magic” on the Animal Planet network.
Dirk is definitely the front man but I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you his big exotic cats steal the show. Not to say they’re alone- Dan the duck was also a fun animal to watch along with doves, chickens, & rabbits! Beautiful, playful, & extremely rare- the audience feels special to spend a bit of time with them. There was actually an informative extra video touch after one scene talking about his cats, how he helps educate the public, & other interesting tidbits including some Animal Planet clips. He has kept as many as 14 big cats in a remote habitat near Las Vegas & they looked like they had so much fun! We got to see some up in the mountains with the snow & others splashing in the pool. He also plans to use his stage show as a way to educate students in Clark County about the cats used in his act which is ad added bonus!
You can attend the show by buying tickets online here at the Westgate Box Office or by calling (800) 222-5361. You can see the show Monday through Saturday at 4pm at the Westgate International Theater.
