MGM Grand Hotel/Casino
Las Vegas, NV

BROADWAY'S BIGGEST STAR HEADLINES IN LAS VEGAS' BIGGEST SHOW

A Winning Combo: Tommy Tune Adds Dancing Dazzle to Spectacular "EFX"

LAS VEGAS, NEV. -- With his singular brand of style, charisma and sensuality, Broadway's preeminent song and dance man Tommy Tune has dazzled audiences since his January 15 debut in the Las Vegas stage spectacular "EFX" at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino -- The City of Entertainment. Tune replaced David Cassidy as the star of the show.

Tune's new role in "EFX," created to showcase the diverse talents of the celebrated nine-time Tony Award winner, unfolds with him embarking on a fascinating adventure, wherein each member of the audience is invited to join in his dream-like journey. Orchestrated by the show business conglomerate that is Tommy Tune - actor, singer, dancer, choreographer and director - Tune's arrival on the "EFX" stage was tailored to showcase his myriad strengths as an entertainer.

Tune plays himself on a journey through the world of "EFX". In the show's dramatic opening, Tommy and his signature "top hat" rise from the stage to greet the audience. At 6'6", the towering talent's stature is a striking counter point to the show's cutting-edge special effects. During one scene, Tune performs a melodic, strangely exotic tap number with each step echoing hypnotically throughout the theatre. Reflected in all of the artful master's revisions is the premise of a dream-like journey.

"Everyone dreams," says Tune. "And I've lived my life in constant pursuit of my dreams, including the one to headline in a big Las Vegas spectacle. So appearing in 'EFX' is actually a dream come true for me. I'm very, very excited!"

And it seems that Tune is in a habit of making all his dreams come true. He is the only person in theatrical history to win Tony Awards in four different categories and to be saluted with two Tony's two years in a row. His work on Broadway includes such hits as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Seesaw, Nine, My One and Only, Grand Hotel, and The Will Rogers Follies.

"We are elated to have Tommy join the MGM Grand family," said Richard Sturm, senior vice president of MGM Grand Worldwide Entertainment. "While the thrill and experience of the show remains true to the original, Tommy adds a new dimension to "EFX" that makes the most of his extraordinary talents."

During its phenomenally successful two-year run with Cassidy, "EFX" was named the city's best production show in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's annual Best of Las Vegas poll. Cassidy left the show to pursue other projects including the promotion of his new solo album "Old Trick, New Dog."

The critically acclaimed "EFX" opened in March 1995 with Tony Award-winning star Michael Crawford. The show takes its name from the stage and film industries, where "EFX" stands for the special effects that give a production its magical punch. "EFX" introduces audiences to worlds beyond reality - including realms inhabited by the great wizard Merlin; the legendary circus showman P.T. Barnum; the grand illusionist Harry Houdini; and the famous time-traveling author H.G. Wells. MGM Grand spent $45 million on the production and another $30 million on its permanent home, the "EFX" Theater, which features 6,000 lights, 85,000 watts of stereo sound, NASA computer technology and enough electricity to power 1,440 homes.

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