For the first time in the 45-year history of Ocean City casinos, a year-round live entertainment and dining residency is coming to the Boardwalk.
The iconic Warner Theater is being revived inside Caesars Atlantic City to host The Hook, the latest creation from Spiegelworld, the producers of the Las Vegas hits Absinthe, Atomic Saloon Show, and OPIUM. Alongside The Hook, Superfrico, described as an Italian American psychedelic restaurant, and a quartet of uniquely-themed bars will debut in conjunction with The Loft this summer.
Ross Mollison, founder of Spiegelworld and “showman extraordinaire,” provided a behind-the-scenes tour of his latest creation as construction crews worked to bring his vision to life. The 422-seat theater and 150-seat restaurant are being purpose-built to provide guests with a unique experience that pays homage to Ocean City’s rich history, according to Mollison.
The opening day has been set for June 50, and tickets are already available to the public.
Via banks of this East Lake to coast line of the Ocean Ocean
Spiegelworld has been entertaining audiences in Las Vegas for over a decade, but its roots can be traced back to New York City and spiegeltent shows at the South Street Seaport. For Ross Mollison, producing a show in Ocean City feels like a return to the company’s East Coast origins.
Creating The Hook and Superfrico within the space at Caesars and the former Warner Theatre is a significant upgrade from performing in a waterfront festival tent, as Caesars announced earlier. However, there were challenges in repurposing the nearly 100-year-old frame of the old Warner Theatre.
Mollison acknowledged that designing the space was a difficult task, but they were able to overcome the obstacles and create a venue that could accommodate everything they wanted for the shows.
“It was a challenge to design,” Mollison said. “The process was to fit everything we wanted inside that space.”
A good number of strategies to indulge on the Hook, Superfrico
Mollison’s creativity seems to be boundless, and the result is something that will be highly unique and unlike anything else in Atlantic City. Superfrico will offer a dining and entertainment experience that is both complimentary and distinct in its two accessible bars.
The Horse Ski Bar, located inside, and the Bouncer de Piste, located outside, serve as Mollison’s tribute to the host city of the show. These bars will provide different atmospheres and experiences for guests to enjoy.
Two other bars, which are yet to be named, will be situated in the theater and dining area. Mollison expressed his satisfaction in ensuring that guests will never be thirsty during their visit.
Superfrico’s first dining room, called Backdrop, is located directly by the stage, allowing guests to enjoy the performances of The Hook while dining. The second dining area, known as the Dressing Room, offers a more intimate setting. The walls of the third dining room, Aviary, feature artwork curated by Mollison himself, showcasing his personal taste.
Looking Western world for signs on Ocean City demonstrate
While Mollison remained intentionally vague about the specifics of The Hook as a performance, he emphasized that mystery and surprises are part of the show’s allure and contribute to ticket sales. It’s worth noting that Spiegelworld productions, including The Hook, are intended for mature audiences only.
To get a sense of what to expect, Spiegelworld’s Vegas productions can provide some hints. Absinthe, which has been running outside Caesars Palace since 2011, has been described as part cabaret, part slapstick, and part comedy. The ever-evolving show has been hailed as “the No. 1 greatest show in Vegas history” by the Las Vegas Weekly in 2016.
OPM, a space-themed show, premiered in 2018 at The Cosmopolitan. The Atomic Saloon Show made its debut at the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian the following year.
Superfrico, the latest addition to Spiegelworld’s repertoire, began entertaining guests at The Cosmopolitan in 2021.
David Danzis is a lead writer for PlayNJ, a platform covering the New Jersey gaming industry. He is a New Jersey native and a graduate of Rutgers University. With a background as a newspaper reporter for the New Jersey Herald and Press of Atlantic City, David has received statewide recognition for his coverage of politics, government, education, sports, and business. Currently, he serves as PlayNJ’s Ocean City “insider” and an expert on casinos, gambling, and online gaming. David resides in Mays Landing with his wife and twins, and when he’s not enjoying time at the beach, golfing, or snowboarding, he can be found passionately supporting his favorite New York sports teams, including the Yankees, Jets, Rangers, and Knicks.
