I’ve been eyeing advertisements for “O” for at least a decade. I remember being intrigued by the show the last time I was in Vegas, ten years prior. So this trip, I finally splurged on tickets to “O” at the Bellagio and enjoyed every minute of it.

Getting There

“O” is located inside its namesake theater in the luxurious Bellagio casino. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, the famous dancing fountains out front might.

The tickets themselves were expensive, but I used my go-to spotlight.vegas website to purchase them. I did a cursory check, and they were the best-priced (I’ve yet to find a scenario where they aren’t). Within 10 minutes of my purchase, a representative called to confirm I’d received my tickets and answer any outstanding questions.

I walked into “O” on the heels of seeing “The Awakening“, and it was hard not to compare the two right out of the gate. The “O” theater setup was cool, but initially a little underwhelming. The venue itself reminded me a lot of the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, but with much more comfortable seating. Unlike the Fox’s cramped, creaky rows, “O” has seats with actual leg room, cup holders, and all the creature comforts.

The Magic of Water

“O” is water-themed, and that’s what drew me to this show. A swimming pool is built into the stage, and the actors engage with it constantly through swimming, diving, emerging, and disappearing for frightfully long periods. Divers are stationed at the bottom of the pool with breathing apparatuses so the performers can remain submerged for impossibly long stretches, leaving the audience collectively holding its breath.

The Vibe: Cirque Meets Gothic Romance

The story has this hauntingly dramatic feel, kind of like “Cirque du Soleil” meets “Interview with the Vampire”, meets “Phantom of the Opera”. There were multiple moments where the main character gave me Lestat vibes. Another detail I loved: box rooms housed the orchestra and live singers. The music was melodic, charming, and deeply atmospheric. It felt like a water-based Italian opera: lush and sweeping, but never overwhelming. I was transported to Venice without ever having walked its streets. The show radiated authenticity, with an operatic melancholy poised to capture the audience’s hearts.

The aerial performances were graceful, heart-stopping, and delightfully abundant. Carousel horses drifted through the sky, rising and falling, light as air. Synchronized swimmers morphed into unexpected shapes, at one point entrancing the audience by forming an alligator’s tail. Between the sets, mimes carried the transitions, and I soon found myself anticipating their short acts.

Comparing “O” and “The Awakening”

Both “O” and “The Awakening” are Cirque du Soleil, but they’re very different flavors. “The Awakening” is richly immersive and mesmerizing, with non-stop action. It’s an easy hit if you love high sensory environments, but a bad choice if you suffer from seizures. “O” is more poetic and operatic. It’s a water-driven, Italian dreamscape that’s less about sensory overload and more about mood, movement, and atmosphere.

My suggestion? See them both so that you don’t have to choose.

Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at the Bellagio is enchanting, and I’m glad I finally got to experience it. It was, after all, cheaper than a trip to Italy, though it stirred up a fierce yearning to travel there. I left the show with Italy on my mind and a dreamlike vision of Venice lingering behind my eyes.

Thanks for Reading!