Rio Hotel to turn The Venue into a multi-use entertainment hub

Rio Hotel & Casino is reworking The Venue in its Masquerade Village into a multi-use entertainment space with two showrooms, a Box Office Bar and rotating pop-up events. The first new production, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, is set to debut as The Venue reopens in mid-August, with more shows to follow.

Why it matters: - Rio Hotel & Casino is using The Venue to broaden its entertainment mix beyond standard showroom programming. - The new format is designed to combine live performance, dining and nightlife in one place, giving visitors more reasons to stay on property. - The move supports Rio’s push to position itself as a year-round destination for locals and tourists.

What happened: - Ivory Star Productions announced changes to The Venue showroom in Rio’s Masquerade Village on Aug. 18, 2026. - The Venue is being converted into a multi-use entertainment space. - The redesigned space will include two showrooms, an immersive dining component and a Box Office Bar. - The Venue will reopen in mid-August. - Faaabulous! The Ultimate Drag Brunch Show will return in a new noon time slot when The Venue reopens. - Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding will be the first new production to debut.

The details: - The two showrooms will each carry a distinct atmosphere for live productions. - The Box Office Bar will host rotating themed pop-up events throughout the year. - The venue will also feature specialty cocktails, live music and exclusive activations. - Ivory Star Productions said guests should expect immersive brunches and dinner experiences paired with performances. - Additional details on Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and other productions are expected in the coming week. - Ivory Star Productions owns The Venue. - Rio Hotel & Casino is part of the Destination by Hyatt brand. - Rio is located one block off the Las Vegas Strip on Flamingo Road. - The property has more than 2,500 suite-sized guestrooms, including 1,500 newly remodeled suites in the Ipanema Tower. - Rio’s casino floor spans 117,000 square feet and includes 800 slot machines and 40 table games. - The resort also has a 3-acre pool area and 220,000 square feet of convention and meeting space. - Rio’s entertainment lineup includes Penn & Teller, WOW – The Vegas Spectacular, The Empire Strips Back and Comedy Cellar. - More information is available on Ivory Star Productions and Rio Hotel & Casino.

Between the lines: - The rework leans into a growing Las Vegas trend: venues that blur the line between show, dinner and social gathering. - Rotating themed events can keep the space active even when no full production is running. - Rio appears to be competing for longer guest dwell time, not just ticket sales. - John Bentham said the goal is to create a space where entertainment starts before the curtain rises and continues after the show ends.

What's next: - More productions and venue details are set to be announced in the coming week. - Guests should see a steady rollout of themed pop-ups, specialty drink menus and other activations over time. - The Venue’s success will depend on whether the mix of dining, events and live shows can draw repeat visits throughout the year.

The bottom line: - Rio is betting that immersive dining and flexible entertainment spaces can help make The Venue a new anchor attraction on property.