“Wannabe” by the Spice Girls was a turning point in ’90s music. Up until its release in 1996, the charts had been dominated by male-dominated Britpop bands. Not only was the song a runaway hit, it led to a slew of similar girl-power anthems. The band was relatively short-lived in comparison with others of the time (they released three studio albums, the last one in 2000), but its impact remains an indelible and long-lasting one.
Given that The Spice Girls have had two reunion tours since their heyday (one in Las Vegas), they would seem ripe for a Las Vegas residency (and plenty here have been clamoring for it). But visitors to Vegas don’t have to wait for that particular Spice of life, thanks to Spice Wannabe—The Spice Girls Tribute, where the look and music of the quintet lives on in living color.
The show itself is a touring one, the latest date being at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina. “It was amazing,” said creator/co-producer Casey McConachie, who plays Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton in the show, in a Las Vegas Magazine interview. “It was such a good show. It was probably our biggest crowd that we’ve had so far.”
Spice Wannabe has certainly experienced much success in Las Vegas over its lifespan, debuting at South Point and selling out at Silverton Casino Lodge in February 2023. The current version launched at Excalibur last summer. “The hype around it was already building and growing,” said McConachie. “July was amazing. First night, second, every show … it was so much energy, so many people coming out to see it because it was a limited engagement. We didn’t know if we were going to stay past July, so people were coming and dressing up.”
All cast members needed to not only look like Spice Girls, but needed to be able to sing and dance—no mean feat. And mission accomplished. “The little kids are watching us, not understanding we’re a tribute show,” McConachie said. “They think that we are the group. It’s really cute to see how they’re screaming at the top of their lungs.” –Las Vegas Magazine Staff
Excalibur. excalibur.mgmresorts.com
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