• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, 11 hours ago

Oprah Winfrey says the idea for mounting a two-hour journey of light, sound and music at the Las Vegas Sphere came to her as she was watching a U2 performance in the famed globe-shaped arena.

The venue opened on Sept. 29, 2023, with the first of 40 U2 performances. Winfrey was in attendance on opening night.

Her own Sphere show, titled “Oprah Winfrey’s AHA,” is scheduled for three nights next year -- Friday, April 2nd, Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th.

" 'AHA' is a dream that came to me as I sat in awe at the opening night of U2 at the Sphere, mesmerized by the possibilities of how space could be used as a tool for creating greater awareness and understanding of ourselves and our connection to each other,” Winfrey said in a prepared statement when the project was announced this week.

Not only is the show a dream come true for Winfrey, but it is also “the culmination of what I’ve spoken about and worked towards my entire life,” she said.

The event is positioned in the press release as nothing less than a “journey of light, sound, music, storytelling, nature and shared humanity.” The release describes it as a “visual, musically immersive symphony of senses.”

At the Sphere, the one-time queen of TV talk joins a select group of performers who have had long, multi-show runs. 

In addition to U2, the other name-brand bands were Phish; Dead & Company, the band led by surviving members of the Grateful Dead; the Eagles, Kenny Chesney, No Doubt, Backstreet Boys and Carin León. Still to come: Metallica.

The Sphere has also been home to at least two “immersive” events, including an immersive version of “The Wizard of Oz.”

The giant sphere (actually a geodesic dome) is known for its dazzling light and sound capabilities. It is said to have 580,000 square feet of LED displays.

Winfrey, 72, will attempt to fill the vast space with a show that will feature herself, plus guests who will put on “groundbreaking performances,” said the press release.

The guests announced so far are multimedia recording artist Jacob Collier, poet Ocean Vuong, singer and composer Ajeet, and gospel singer Wintley Phipps. 

Winfrey hopes the inspirational show will produce “aha moments” -- hence the show’s title.

Presale tickets go on sale next Tuesday (Sept. 22) through Thursday (Sept. 24). General tickets go on sale on Friday (Sept. 25).