Review + photos: Pop tart Ariana Grande’s super-sweet show at Mandalay Bay 

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Review + photos: Pop tart Ariana Grande’s super-sweet show at Mandalay Bay

Ariana Grande performs at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in Las Vegas.

Ariana Grande performs at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in Las Vegas.

It’s a little odd to describe Nickelodeon actress-turned-singer Ariana Grande as beautiful and sexy, as the Boca Raton, Fla., native stands 5 feet tall and is 22 years old — but could easily pass for a preteen, makeup and provocative outfits notwithstanding.

But there’s no denying, ex-boyfriend Big Sean and doughnut shop scandals aside, that pop tart (it’s a compliment, sincerely) Grande is a talented singer and dancer, and she proved it in spades Saturday night during her “The Honeymoon Tour” stop at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

The heavenly “Honeymoon” production had everything — pyrotechnics galore, male and female dancers, a cellist and violinists (so fancy), costume changes (barely there outfits that were either black or silver and shimmery), and LED screens and stages with landscapes, skies and space — as well as Grande yelling throughout the night, “Come on, Vegas!”

While the events center was not sold out, the mostly preteen crowd made up for it with its ear-piecing screams — also heard at One Direction concerts and other boybands of past and still present (Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block) — that were still at volume 10 after nearly 90 minutes.

The production is over-the-top bass and visuals, and the band is terrific, but they nearly drown out the sassy Grande. Less can be more, and Grande is the star — but sometimes you wouldn’t know it.

Grande’s homage to Whitney Houston, with “I’m Every Woman,” and Madonna, with “Vogue,” was executed perfectly. Too bad, like, 90 percent of Grande’s fan base, sadly, doesn’t know Houston and Madonna’s iconic music.

And to the seat jumpers Saturday night and every night: Don’t. Especially if you’re going to be rude and obnoxious.

Saturday night’s setlist included “Bang Bang,” “Hands on Me,” “Best Mistake” (in which Grande descended from a cloud like an angel), “Break Your Heart Right Back” with a sample of Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out,” “I’m Every Woman”/“Vogue,” “Be My Baby,” “Right There,” “The Way,” her “classic,” in her own words, “Pink Champagne” from 2013, a new arrangement of “Tattooed Heart,” “One Last Time,” “Why Try,” “My Everything” in a white gown atop a white piano, “Love Me Harder,” “All My Love,” “Honeymoon Avenue,” “Break Free” and the encore “Problem.”

Singer-songwriter Prince Royce, 26, was one of the better opening acts I’ve seen in recent years. In fact, the audience, including yours truly, wanted more after his all-too-short 40-minute set.

Royce, perhaps a bit too sexy for the preteen crowd, quipped that it was 106 degrees in Las Vegas, so it was silly of him to be wearing a black leather jacket. So … he took it off, much to the delight of the crowd, leaving behind a black tank top, black jeans and his guns.

His set, which included four band members, four female backup dancers and a costume change into all-white, included “Dangerous,” “Extraordinary” (“I love love songs,” he told the crowd), and the 1998 “classic,” in his own words, Usher’s “Nice and Slow.”

After a few lines of The Weeknd”s “Worth It” from the “Fifty Shades of Grey” soundtrack, Royce chose a young girl from the audience to join him onstage as he serenaded her with “Lucky One” and also caressed her face and took her hand. Her name was Sage, and she was 11. Um, awkward?

Royce also performed in Spanish, then sang Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” and finished his high-energy dance show with audience selfies and “Back It Up,” his collaboration with Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez, going shirtless and throwing out red roses to the audience.

This young, racy royal is ready for his own headlining tour. Thanks to Erik Kabik for his photo gallery of Grande.

Don Chareunsy is the Las Vegas Sun’s entertainment and luxury senior editor and has been a journalist for nearly two decades.

Robin Leach of “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous fame” has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past 15 years giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Sun Entertainment + Luxury Senior Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino is a unique destination resort set on 120 lush acres on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort offers three distinct hotel experiences: Mandalay Bay, a AAA Four Diamond award-winning hotel, with 3,211 luxurious rooms and suites reflecting a modern tropical ambiance; Four Seasons Hotel, a AAA Five Diamond hotel-within-a-hotel, offering 424 rooms and suites; and the stand-alone all-suite THEhotel which will be redesigned and rebranded Delano Las Vegas in late 2013. Mandalay Bay boasts an 11-acre tropical pool paradise, featuring real sand, a wave pool and the only climate-controlled, poolside gaming in the city. Other property highlights include world-class entertainment at the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center, award-winning dining by celebrity chefs and restaurateurs, Shark Reef Aquarium and the 1.7-million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Mandalay Bay’s offerings also include BATHHOUSE Spa, House of Blues Concert Hall and restaurant, and The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, a collection of unique boutiques and restaurants. In 2013, Mandalay Bay will become home to a resident Cirque du Soleil production based on the music and choreography of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

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