Westgate Las Vegas Adds Two New Elvis Concerts

1969 LIVE! The King Returns opens July 31 at 7 p.m. in the International Theater. Travis Powell, described by Westgate as an internationally acclaimed Elvis tribute artist, headlines the show with a nine piece backup vocal section and eight piece band built to replicate the original 1969 concert down to the setlist.

1970 LIVE! That's the Way It Was debuts October 24. It's a new production inspired by the 1970 documentary that was shot in the same theater, recreating the music, fashion and energy of Elvis at the height of his Las Vegas run rather than restaging a single specific night. Westgate is also selling VIP tours of the International Theater for $69 around the July 31 weekend, for anyone who wants the history lesson along with the show.

The International Theater is not a themed re-creation somewhere else on property. It's the actual room, inside what was the International Hotel before Westgate took it over, where Elvis played the 1969 season that's credited with kicking off the modern Las Vegas residency format everyone from Adele to U2 is still using today. The 1970 documentary that inspired the second show was filmed in that same space.

Westgate's Dawn Rawle, senior vice president of marketing and entertainment, put it this way in the announcement: "No destination in the world has a more authentic connection to Elvis Presley than Westgate Las Vegas." She described the productions as living celebrations of entertainment history rather than standard tribute shows, which is the pitch here. You're not just watching an impersonator, you're watching one in the actual theater.

Westgate built out a full slate of programming around the July 31 to August 1 weekend, not just the concert. That includes Karaoke with the King in the Cabaret Theater, a complimentary Living Legends Series with people connected to Elvis's actual run, free live entertainment scattered around the property, a Blue Hawaii pool party, and Elvis themed food, drinks, spa and salon offerings, along with hotel packages tied to the weekend.

July 31 is close enough to plan around now, and it lands on a Friday. October 24 gives you a lot more runway if you'd rather build a fall trip around the newer show instead. Westgate sits just off the Strip on Paradise Road near the convention center, so this is an easy add on for anyone already in town for a trade show or convention, not just a dedicated fan trip.