Caesar's Magical Empire

"The Art of Play" 

Fast Facts
Caesar's Magical Empire is located in
Caesar's Palace 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas

Dinner seating 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Tickets are priced as a single-priced dining/entertainment experience (allow 2 1/2 to 3 hours), including
: Three -course dinner (salad, choice of entrees with wine, dessert, soft drink, coffee)
Exploration
Live entertainment in two theatres
Taxes
Gratuity

Ticket Price - $75.50

Individual Reservations:
Phone 702-731-7333 or 800-445-4544 FAX 702-731-7643

Group Reservations 24 or more people:
Phone 702-866-1147 - Michelle Young

Free tours Tuesday - Saturday, 11a.m. - 3:30 p.m. tour participants are offered $10 discount on reservations for early (4:30 - 6:00 p.m.) dinner seating.

Open to guest's age 5 and older (Children age 5-10 half-price)

Okay, so you are in Vegas, wondering where you can go to find magic, grand scale illusions, special FX, cocktails, and a 3 course dinner, without running all over town. "No way", you say? Well, not only is there a single place that fills each of those needs, but it is a must see for any haunter visiting the gambling capital of the world! 

Hidden in the middle of Caesar's Palace Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada there is a little known extravaganza called Caesar's Magical Empire. This elaborately themed, magical experience, combines mystery, fine dining, and grand-scale illusions all in unique mythical surroundings. Designed by Landmark Entertainment Group of North Hollywood, California, Caesar's Magical Empire is a 66,000 square foot multi-arena complex which took one year to design and two years to build. The Empire opened its doors on June 18, 1996, and while not heavily advertised, the extravagant dinner theatre's success has come from 'word of mouth,' boasting of an 86% customer return rate. 

The Empire

The experience begins in a Roman foyer, which is located just inside a 32-foot-high gabled pediment. Here guests enter the Chamber of Destiny, an environmental illusion that transports them to a catacomb maze, which leads to one of the ten 24 seat-dining chambers, each named for a Roman God. Once you arrive at your dining chamber you are treated to a wonderful three-course meal that includes beverages, dessert, and continuous magical and comedic entertainment. However, the evening is far from over. 

After the meal, the journey continues to the Sanctum Secorum, a vast, seven-story-high magical realm. Giant statues, broken bridges, bottomless pits, are all arranged under a stately rotunda. Located around the sides of the Sanctum are two, not always as they seem, beverage lounges. It is in these two lounges that the consultation of Milt Larsen from Hollywood's Magic Castle, is easily detected. The Grotto Bar, located in a cave shaped like a dragon's mouth, includes an invisible pianist who loves to take requests, and two of the funniest skeletons a person could ever hope to meet. Habeus and Corpus love to banter with each other, sing a song or two, and bring a chuckle to those living patrons seated in the Grotto. Across the rotunda strange things happen in the Spirit bar, caused by a mysterious poltergeist called Maximus Maven. With a haunting resemblance to world-renowned mentalist Max Maven, the tenant poltergeist enjoys spooking guests with interactive magical wonders. 

If the Spirits give you a little chill you can always warm yourself at the center of the Sanctum Secorum where Luminaria, a thunderous pyrotechnic show, is performed several times nightly. The Wizards of the Empire even seem to control even the element of fire itself as they create a huge tornado of flame. 

Other aspects of this architectural wonder are two live-entertainment theatres. The Secret Pagoda is an intimate 72-seat close-up magic theatre, where magic of the current entertainer is easily enjoyed. This 18 minutes show emphasizes audience participation in an intimate yet richly decorated oriental setting. And the Sultan's Palace, with double the seating of the Pagoda, brings some of the most famous names in the world of Magic up close. This 35-minute multi-cast performance includes large-scale illusions performed only feet from your amazed eyes. 

Wizards, Centurions, and Roman Goddesses

It takes 200 employees to keep this highly detailed entertainment experience running smoothly. Brian Dixon, of Dixon Entertainment Arts, oversees all of the non-food-related aspects of Caesar's Magical Empire. His staff includes all of the Magicians that perform in the dining rooms each night, the world famous Magic Acts that are brought in to work in the Theatres, and all the massive staffing needed to control the Special Effects. During our visit we were able to sit and talk to a few of the staff many whom have been there since the first day it opened. "This is a real family group" stated Michelle Segnello public relations, " It has been fun from the start and we have all grown together through the years". Michelle went on to say that most of the staff could do it all and that it would not be surprising to find her helping with a Special Effect that might not be working, or a entertainer helping with lighting. She tells of an evening when everything had to be done manually. "Everyone knew what had to be done and they did it" she says, "We all worked together like a family and got the job done". 

When it comes down to the technical details Victor Junger, known as the 'House Genius,' is the main theatrical technician and is responsible for keeping everything up and running. A one-time roady for such musical greats as ZZ Top and Boston, Victor now finds himself the master of the third largest show control system in the world. "I have been here from the start and in these past three years things just keep getting more interesting" Victor says as he listens to his always busy two way radio. As he toured us through the massive show control room he told us how everything is constantly changing and that there is always something new to keep his interest. 

Other key members of the staff family are the dining room and roaming magicians, including Terry Head, who has been with the empire since 1996."I have enjoyed every minute" he tells us smiling during one of his breaks "the show is 60% scripted and 40% ad-lib, and it is always improving." Doing three shows a night five nights a week that entail not only magic but comedy, Terry sees himself as an entertainer and not just a magician. He has done shows in French and German, and says the hardest groups are those that understand very little of what is being said, because it is hard to gauge how much they are enjoying themselves. 

Magician Scott Hitchcock, whom we met as he strolled through the Sanctum Secorum (and who, somehow acquired this writers watch), told us of the enjoyment of being able to entertain so many different people every evening. How the atmosphere, with its hand sculpted statues and some authentic 300-year-old artifacts, only heightens the magical experience. 

Art as Play

Later in the evening, when we were able to pull him away from the job of making all this work, we asked Brian Dixon how would he describe this form of entertainment? "Very simply! I call this the Art of Play," explained Dixon, "We are constantly planning new things, working on bigger shows, keeping it new". 

After a wonderful meal, two magic shows, the Luminaria and the roaming talent entertaining in the two bars, the magical evening at Caesar's Magical Empire draws to a close. As a final event, the guest's pass through the Infinity Hallway where the spirit of Ceronomus bids them farewell and sends them back to reality… in the form of a lovely gift shop. There is no doubt in my mind, that as you leave, you will already be planning on your next visit to this wonderful world where the Art is Play. 

Kathy Marcrum is owner of the Dragon's Head Inn, a charity haunt in Sonoma, California. She can be reached at mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com

Halloween In Caesar's Magical Empire

The Saturday and Sunday before Halloween 1999 Caesar's Magical Empire opened their doors to the children of Las Vegas for a event called Safe Street. The children were allowed to roam the dining area in search of treats, and then were entertained in the Sanctum Secorum by several magicians. Beverages were served in the webbed cavern adding to its spooky nature. This was a huge success and will be held again during Halloween 2000!