Illuminarium at Area15 going dark for new show

The 360-degree venue that has staged “Wild,” “Space” and “Lite Brite” is going dark.

Illuminarium at Area15 is temporarily shutting down effective Friday. Plans are to reopen between October and December with AYA Universe. A company rep confirmed those plans Wednesday.

The venue is likely to be renamed AYA by its ownership group at HyperSpace Global, which has merged with Illuminarium in Las Vegas.

The incoming experience will be similar to AYA Universe in Wafi City, Dubai. The attraction will be broken into four Experience Zones: The River, The Source, Harmonia and The Pool. Storms of color, blooms of light, a robotic orchestra and waves of illuminated energy are the elements in the Dubai experience.

The HyperSpace Global creative team and studios in Dubai will create the Las Vegas attraction.

As the website says, “AYA doesn’t exist within our known universe. It is a hidden sanctuary beyond the stars, inviting travelers to explore its vibrant worlds. Visitors can play, wander through light-filled gardens, and uncover mysteries while experiencing its wonders.”

This is the sort of sentiment from which Area15 was created.

Sitting just to the west of the main Area15 complex, Illuminarium has been running the aforementioned shows in rotation since opening in April 2022. “Amplified,” the Rolling Stone-licensed, rock photo retrospective, has already closed. Call it a classic rock “fade-out.”

Sing it

Crystal Robinson-Wesley has been promoted to vice president of marketing and entertainment at the Palms. The move was announced on Wednesday, with Laura De La Cruz promoted to assistant GM and Janice Fitzpatrick hired as vice president of finance.

We met Robinson-Wesley about a decade ago as a fabulous backing vocalist in Frankie Moreno’s band. As mentioned when Boyz II Men rocked The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in August, Robinson-Wesley is married to that band’s drummer, Terry Wesley.

Boyz II Men return to The Cosmopolitan on Aug. 14, 15, 21 and 22. I think they refer to this type of tandem as a power couple.

‘Left unacknowledged’

Linda Thompson was in attendance for hundreds of Elvis Presley shows when she dated the King from July 1972 until December 1976. She took in the L.A. premiere of “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” on Feb. 18 at TLC Chinese Theatre, saying, “I was reminded of why I fell in love with him.”

Thompson said she told filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and editor/producer Jonathan Redmond after the screening that the movie was “beautifully done, but I did mention that there are so many more years that were left unacknowledged.”

The massive 1973 event, “Aloha From Hawaii,” is not in the movie. The footage Redmond worked with was from “Elvis: That’s the Way It Is” in 1970 and “Elvis on Tour” in 1972. The film from the finished documentaries was far superior, and more plentiful, than anything available from other Presley performances.

But even with the focus on just those two eras, Thompson said, “It is kind of amazing.”

A Lucky streak

Brian Thomas played Lucky the Leprechaun at O’Sheas casino for 17 years until October 2020. Thomas is busy once more, hosting a St. Patrick’s-themed slot tournament at Paris Las Vegas on Saturday, the St. Baldrick’s-St. Patrick’s event at Nine Fine Irishmen at New York-New York on March 14, the St. Patrick’s Day party at NY-NY on March 17, and the St. Paddy’s event at Morongo casino near Palm Springs, California, from March 18 to 20.

“It’s a Mini Tour,” Thomas says. Pour this man a green brew.

Eastside memories

At this writing, the Eastside Cannery might be the Rubble Inn. Demolition is scheduled for early Thursday morning.

The Eastside Cannery might not have had a glorious run, or even a long history, just a decade. But I have to acknowledge a fine live-music venue: Marilyn’s Lounge. I caught The Fab, the city’s beloved Beatles tribute band, a few times at the venue. Long before the fateful pyro party, the place shook with “Birthday,” “Twist and Shout” and “Revolution.” May it RIP.

Tease this …

A pop-culture phenomenon and influential Las Vegas entrepreneur will be honored by a long-standing Las Vegas arts institution this year. Check back by the end of the week …

Cool Hang Alert

Simply known as the Powerhouse Band —led by keyboard great Uli Geissendoerfer and featuring Blair Clark on vocals, Charles McNeal on sax, Derek Jones on bass and Ryan Rose on drums — plays Maxan Jazz at 7 p.m. Friday. R&B, Latin, jazz styling and some soul from this superior outfit. A $40 F&B minimum, no cover. Go to maxanjazz.com for intel.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.