By Debbie Hall
On the Las Vegas Strip, Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas doesn’t just unfold on a stage—it pulls you straight into another world. The visuals are bold, the imagination runs wild, and the production’s sweeping sense of scale turns a night out into something closer to stepping inside a living dream. Suitable for a wide range of ages, the show offers an immersive experience for families, couples, and solo adventurers alike. At the center of that magic is award-winning puppet master Michael Curry, whose larger-than-life creations help bring the show’s fantastical universe to life.
Curry, who serves as producer and character designer and leads Michael Curry Design, was handpicked by legendary producer Bernie Yuman and producer/director Baz Halpin. Together, the trio spent five years shaping Awakening into a spectacle that blends cinematic storytelling with live theatrical innovation. The result is a production where every visual element—from towering creatures to intricate stage mechanics—works in harmony to create a fully immersive experience.
Performed on a one-of-a-kind 360-degree prismatic stage and narrated by Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins, Awakening surrounds audiences in a kaleidoscope of color, movement, and sound. Designed to be accessible and engaging for all, Awakening fuses illusions, original music, choreography, and grand-scale puppetry into a sensory experience that captivates from every angle.
At its heart is IO, a reluctant hero drawn into an epic journey to confront the forces of Light and Darkness. This story of connection, courage, and hope aims to resonate emotionally, inviting audiences to feel inspired and connected through a modern, heartfelt narrative.
For Curry, the production represents the culmination of more than three decades at the forefront of live entertainment. Known for redefining puppetry and visual storytelling, he has worked spanning theater, opera, film, Broadway, Olympic ceremonies, and theme parks. This innovative approach to storytelling and spectacle offers exciting opportunities for industry professionals and potential collaborators seeking to push creative boundaries. He has earned multiple Emmy and Drama Desk Awards and collaborated on some of the most iconic productions in modern entertainment.
His résumé reads like a global tour of creativity. For Disney, he co-designed the groundbreaking puppetry and masks for The Lion King alongside Julie Taymor, and later brought beloved characters Sven and Olaf to life in Frozen. He teamed with Halpin again to create Katy Perry’s unforgettable lion for the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show and has contributed to projects ranging from Olympic Opening Ceremonies to The Metropolitan Opera, Cirque du Soleil, and Universal theme parks.
With Awakening, Curry set out to create something that matched both today’s technological possibilities and modern audiences’ emotional expectations.
“The technology can leave people behind, and you can lose track of a story. You can lose the simplicity of a connection to the heart. We talk about heart and story a lot. I must say, my characters are really that glue that takes the big spectacle stage and connects it to the human body,” said Curry.
“Our costuming is like scenery, structural costuming, and it’s a very unusual sort of vibe to our costuming. My characters continue that vibe, and they’re aesthetically important and our masterworks.”
Characters foster a sense of connection that reminds audiences of the power of human stories amid spectacle, encouraging warmth and engagement. That balance—between spectacle and soul—is what makes Awakening stand out in a city known for going big. It’s not just about what audiences see, but what they feel.
The result is more than a show—it’s an experience. One that invites audiences to step into a dreamlike universe where imagination reigns, storytelling resonates, and every detail is designed to leave a lasting sense of wonder long after the curtain falls.
Awakening performs at Wynn Las Vegas Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and is dark on Wednesday and Thursday. For more information, visit wynnlasvegas.com/entertainment/awakening. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
