Channing Tatum’s “Magic Mike Live” revue will bring its sex-positive, interactive magic to Times Square this fall, with women’s experience foremost on the agenda.
The show will open Oct. 8 in a 425-seat, specially designed “immersive” venue that’s part nightclub and part theatrical space, crammed with bars, lounges and every conceivable type of seating arrangement, according to the show’s creators. Its spot at the corner of West 47th Street and 8th Avenue was once occupied by the Copacabana nightclub.
This version of “Magic Mike Live,” inspired by the film franchise based on Tatum’s experience as an exotic dancer early in his career, is tailored specifically for New York City. Instead of focusing on the performers, the 360-degree action centers on the audience — specifically, the women — with cornerstones of confidence, celebration and empowerment.
“We’re going to turn the gas up a little bit and make it a little hotter, just pour some gasoline on it,” Tatum told The Associated Press. “It’s New York. So you’ve got to throw everything at it.”
To that end, 13 chiseled male dancers will perform songs, aerial acrobatics, comedy and other acts, encouraging consensual audience participation lubricated with free-flowing drink service. Performers dance onstage, festoon the rafters overhead and cavort throughout the room in a 90-minute extravaganza.
“What if your night out was built around women asking for more, and getting it?” the “Magic Mike Live” site asks. “More fun, more attention, more freedom, more of everything you came for.”
The show promises the “ultimate girls’ night out,” complete with “jaw-dropping dance moves” and “hilarious moments” designed to “ignite the magic within.”
“Magic Mike Live” has captivated audiences in Las Vegas and London for some time, and now New York will benefit from a decade of fine-tuning, Tatum said.
“When we were coming up with the concept for our original show, we first came to the streets of New York City, where I hid in a secret confession booth we set up in Midtown and asked women what they really want,” Tatum said in a statement. “Not just in a show, but in life. They shared some deeply powerful things. That insight helped us create our shows in Vegas, London and all over the world. With 10 years of experience and surrounding ourselves with a team of strong and creative women, we’re now coming back to where it all started in New York.”
Tickets begin at $59 and are currently on sale at MagicMikeLive.com. VIP upgrades, including luxe seating, lounge access, signature cocktails, personal concierge service and an exclusive meet-and-greet with the cast, are also available.
With News Wire Services
