MGM GRAND THEATER

LAST NIGHT A MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBER INVITED ME TO GO WITH HER TO SEE STEELY DAN AT THE MGM GRAND THEATER.

YOUR TICKETS ARE CHECKED, IN ROPED OFF LINES. THE USHERS CHECK YOUR TICKET WITH A SCANNER AND OFF YOU GO THROUGH THE COPPER COLORED DOORS INTO THE GREAT ENTRANCE WAY OF THE THEATER. THERE WAS NO PAT DOWNS (ELECTRONIC CHECKING) LIKE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ENTER THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA.

THE WALLPAPER ON THE WALLS IS A GREY BEIGE AND WHITE HORIZONTAL STRIPES. THE RUGS ARE A RED ORANGE AND STREAK THEME. WE TOOK THE ESCALATOR TO THE RIGHT UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR. ON THE RIDE UP ARE GLASS BALLS OF GOLD AND WHITE OF DIFFERENT SIZES THAT HANG FROM THE CEILINGS. ON THE WALLS THERE ARE THE SAME BALLS MOUNTED IN FRONT OF THE WHITE RECTANGULAR WALL LIGHT FIXTURES.. WHEN WE REACHED THE SECOND FLOOR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US WERE ROPED OFF LINES TO THE REFRESHMENT COUNTER. TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AT SOME DISTANCE AWAY WERE TWO BARS. ON THE OUTER ENDS OF THE SECOND FLOOR ARE THE REST ROOMS. THE WALLS ON THE EXTREMITIES ARE PAINTED A PALE YELLOW.

A USHER CHECKED OUR TICKET AND TOLD US WHAT HALLWAY TO GO DOWN TO GET TO OUR SEATS. WE WERE ON THE UPPER LEVEL. THE SEATS WERE RED, PLUSH AND QUITE COMFORTABLE. THERE IS NOT MUCH ROOM BETWEEN ONE ROW OF SEATS AND THE SEATS IN ROWS IN FRONT, SO GETTING IN AND OUT OF YOUR ROW AND WALKING PAST SITTING PATRONS IS QUITED DIFFICULT.

THE STAGE WAS A DARK NAVY BLUE COLOR. IN FRONT OF THE STAGE WERE A FEW FRONT ROW ON THE BOTTOM SECTIONS WERE BLACK. I BELIEVE THEY ARE FOR HIGH ROLLERS AND TRIBAL MEMBERS. THE VIEW OF THE STAGE FROM THE UPPER LEVELS WERE EXCELLENT. THE SOUND SYSTEM WAS TERRIFIC. THE LIGHTING ON THE STAGE WAS FANTASTIC.

THE AUDIENCE WAS MOSTLY PEOPLE IN THERE FORTIES TO SIXTIES. STEELY DAN IS A BAND FROM THE SIXTIES. EVERYONE OF THE BAND'S MEMBERS IS A PERFECTIONIST, THEY ARE THE VERY BEST AT WHAT THEY DO. THEY COULD WORK ANYWHERE. THE MUSIC WAS CRISP, CLEAR, AND VIBRANT. THE ONLY COMPLAINT WAS THAT IT WAS HARD SOMETIMES TO HEAR THE LEAD SINGER PLAYING THE LYRICS. ONE TICKET HOLDER SAID HE HAD HEARD STEELY DAN IN BOSTON AND THAT IT WAS MUCH BETTER THERE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH BETTER IT COULD BE, LIKE I SAID I THINK IT WAS TERRIFIC AND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AGREED.

THEY SAY THE THEATER HOLDS SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE. WHEN IT COMES TIME TO LEAVE AFTER THE SHOW, THE CROWDS ARE TIGHT TRYING TO GET OUT. EVEN WITH EVERYONE USING THE ELEVATOR, THE ESCALATOR, AND THE STAIRS, IT WAS STILL VERY SLOW GETTING OUT.

TWO OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING: 1) IF DURING THE PERFORMANCE YOU NEED TO SMOKE, THE USHERS STAMP YOUR TICKET AND YOU CAN GO OUT INTO THE CASINO AND SMOKE AND 2) THE THEATER PUMPS THE MUSIC FROM THE SHOW, IN THE THEATER, IN TO THE CASINO WHILE THE THEATER PERFORMANCE IS GOING ON. THE SYSTEM OF STAMPING THE TICKET MIGHT BE WORKABLE AT THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA (WHERE INSTEAD THE ARENA STAFF HAVE YOU GO TROUGH A SIDE DOOR OUTSIDE IN TO A PARKING LOT AREA TO SMOKE).

THERE ARE MANY THINGS AT THE MGM GRAND AT FOXWOODS. THAT REMIND ME OF LAS VEGAS. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO TIP YOUR HAT TO MGM GRAND, FOR BUILDING A FIRST CLASS THEATER EXPERIENCE AND A FIRST CLASS OPERATION. WELL DONE. IF YOU GET THE CHANCE, YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.