Vegas Close Up | “Alice” - A Steampunk Concert Fantasy

By Jake Klein
Photos by Jake Klein unless otherwise noted

“Alice” - A Steampunk Concert Fantasy

 “Alice” - A Steampunk Concert Fantasy took place the evening of January 12, 2016 inside the Brooklyn Bowl at the LINQ in Las Vegas.

In order to understand how far this show has come we need to explore where it all started - with a simple children’s book.

That book was the first book a young 7 year old Anne Martinez read, and from that point on it was, and still is, her favorite book. Fast forward some years. Anne earned her master’s degree in show creations. She would later use this degree along with her favorite childhood fantasy, to help create a show. One day, in the early 2000’s Anne was exposed to a new movement called Steampunk.

Anne Martinez and dancers

It wasn’t long after that Anne started to think how she could use the look and feel of steampunk with her passion as a singer/entertainer and turn that into something amazing. Anne took her concept to her friend and dancer, choreographer and musician Ryan Kelsey. With her communication of a framework and a dramatic line to follow, he and Anne began to create the show. The show then needed music. For that, they reached out to the man they knew could make it happen; David Perrico who has a long list of credentials as music director/arranger/trumpet player. David worked with Ryan and Anne to get their vision, and then he added his own incredible spin on the music to bring it to life. Starting with a small production of only 4 dancers and two singers, the show has now grown in two years to consist of 7 dancers along with powerhouse lead singers, Anne Martinez and Ashley Fuller.

Anne Martinez with full cast.

The venue “Brooklyn Bowl”, in itself , has an ambiance of a New York bar meets a Vegas showroom, meets a glow in the dark modern bowling alley. As I entered the room I could see the giant dance floor and stage that is so well known around Vegas, but something was different for sure. That something was theater style seating. The stage, known for being used by famous bands and DJs, now had a theater type feel and look to it. I could tell we were in for a show, not just a concert.  As others began to fill the room you could hear and feel the excitement.  Some audience members really got into the “THEME” and dressed in their steam punk outfits. One gentleman, who was dressed from head to toe was Las Vegas’ very own famous historian, actor, TV star, president and founder of The Steampunk Imaginarium, Doc Phineas.

As the room went dark and music began to play we were treated to a 30 minutes pre show. First up were three separate dance performances which were choreographed to heart pounding music. Both acts involved dancing down the isles, in some cases dancers used the bodies of audience members to lean on or to add emotion to their moves.  Suddenly the lights on the stage came on to reveal large rings hanging from the ceiling. As the live music started, 2 beautiful acrobats began to spin and contort their bodies in rhythm to the music. At one point they both used the same ring, presenting a spectacle of limbs stretching, and body parts extending, giving us a vision, almost like a chandelier that constantly changes shape. Once again the room’s light went dark.  A spotlight lit up just a small section of the stage and a man dressed in steampunk garb stepped into the light and began to tell a story; a story about Alice. For the next 75 minutes we are taken on a journey of lights, vocal, dance, theatrics, acrobatics, and emotional steampunk fantasy.

Anne Martinez, Ryan Kelsey and Ashley Fuller

Alice cast

Anne Martinez aerial acrobatics

Karley Cottrell and Jenn Franklin

Stage lighting

Anne Martinez and Fog Machines

Dance number

In the humble opinion of this writer, if you want to experience a show unlike anything you have ever seen, then this is a must see show for you.  I would easily add, it will not only be a huge success here in Las Vegas but worldwide, perhaps even on Broadway, in New York.

Additional performances of “Alice” - A Steampunk Concert Fantasy are scheduled for Wednesday, February 24 and Wednesday, March 23 inside the Brooklyn Bowl.