Georgia Entertainment Scene
Georgia Entertainment Scene

NeNe Leakes starts 10-day run as host of Vegas 'Zumanity' show

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil) LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil)

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil) LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil)
By
June 29, 2014

NeNe Leakes, just a few weeks after finishing up "Dancing With the Stars," took on a fun 10-day role starting on Friday in Las Vegas hosting "Zumanity —The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil." Here are some photos taken opening night.

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil) LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil)

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

To USA Today, she described her role as "the Mistress of Sensuality." "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star's gig is normally filled by a drag queen.

"I'm hosting the show," she explains. "It's very tough, and it's very demanding. So it's a lot of dialogue, and when to enter and exit and the timing." Leakes has been working with the Zumanity cast and artistic director Ria Martens on these elements.

A provocative cabaret-style production, "Zumanity" is on the cutting edge of contemporary, adult-themed entertainment and blends playful innuendo with daring eroticism inside the intimate theater, according to Broadway World.

This is the first time in 30 years Cirque du Soleil has incorporated a celebrity into its production.

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil) LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes performs in 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil)

Credit: Rodney Ho

icon to expand image

Credit: Rodney Ho

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes (R) and her husband Gregg Leakes attend a perforamnce of 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil) LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes (R) and her husband Gregg Leakes attend a perforamnce of 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil)

Credit: Rodney Ho

icon to expand image

Credit: Rodney Ho

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes interacts with a member of the audience during a performance of 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil) LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes interacts with a member of the audience during a performance of 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil)

Credit: Rodney Ho

icon to expand image

Credit: Rodney Ho

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes takes a bow following a performance of 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil) LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 27: Actress NeNe Leakes takes a bow following a performance of 'ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil' at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on June 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil)

Credit: Rodney Ho

icon to expand image

Credit: Rodney Ho

About the Author

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

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