Everything you need to know about ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s’ move to Bally’s

It may be your easiest chance to leave the Strip with a cool million dollars since that whole Robert Redford, “Indecent Proposal,” seven-figures-to-spend-the-night-with-your-wife thing fizzled out.

For its 15th season, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” is moving its production from Stamford, Conn., into the old Jubilee Theater at Bally’s. As a result, producers are looking for Las Vegas contestants. Lots of them.

“Vegas always offers us a real diverse pool of people,” executive producer James Rowley says, “and that’s what’s so much fun.”

Unlike previous seasons when casting directors would come to town for a day, there are four batches of auditions scheduled from 2 to 7 p.m.: this Thursday through Saturday, July 11-15, July 18-22 and July 25-29. They’re first-come, first-served, and applicants are asked to line up in front of the Indigo Lounge at Bally’s. (For an application and more information, see www.MillionaireTV.com.)

You don’t necessarily even need to bring your thinking caps.

“That’s one of the big misconceptions about ‘Millionaire,’ ” Rowley says. “It’s not necessarily a game of smarts. What it really is is a game of range. So if you know a little bit about a lot of things, you will do a lot better than someone who is an expert on ‘X’ or ‘Y.’ ”

But the smartest — sorry, range-iest — people in the world don’t necessarily make for good contestants. Unlike that weird, ticketed “Price Is Right Live” show that played the same theater, with much worse prizes, a decade ago, “Millionaire” isn’t just being seen inside Bally’s. This one’s being broadcast around the country.

“So we need people who are energetic, who are fun, who are able to tell a story on camera,” Rowley says. “Because part of the show is the story of the person. So we want people who have interesting stories to tell but also who can communicate those stories. … That’s where you get invested as a viewer. If you don’t care about the player, you don’t care about the game.”

For a game show to be successful, though, contestants are only half the equation. Audience members are nearly as crucial. And there are plenty of restrictions for getting into one of the sessions that begin July 15. According to the show’s website: “Our dress code is upscale casual. We ask the audience to refrain from wearing all white or all black colors. Bright solid colors work best. No logos/writing on any clothing will be permitted. No hats, sunglasses, flip-flops, tank tops, cut-offs, shorts, T-shirts, baggy clothing, coordinating outfits or dark colors will be allowed.” (For tickets, see www.MillionaireTV.com, as well.)

Once you pass those hurdles, though, Rowley says there are definite perks to attending the three-hour, three-episode taping sessions. Eligible audience members will be allowed to audition. When time permits, producers will pick an audience member to answer one question for a chance to win $1,000. Also, owing to the hot lights, the air-conditioning will be cranked up to 11.

“Our ideal audience member is someone who likes games and enjoys this kind of show. But it moves fast, and it is a fun thing to come and watch,” Rowley says. “We like people who are demonstrative. We want people who are gonna laugh when it’s funny and clap when they should. But, really, it’s a fun, family-friendly easy way to spend an afternoon.”

And there will be many, many afternoons spent that way. Between July 15 and Sept. 1, the game show will be cranking out 175 episodes.

“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” has a history of shaking things up between seasons. When Meredith Vieira stepped down as host in 2013, she was replaced on an annual basis by Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews and, last season, “The Bachelor” host Chris Harrison. Harrison is sticking around, so the show is getting a new home.

“It was more of a creative move than anything else. It’s a great way to sort of give the show a new creative push. It gives the show a little more of an identity,” Rowley says. “When you’re somewhere like Vegas, you sort of want people to know that. And then it becomes part of the identity of the show.”

The plan is for Bally’s to be the permanent home for “Millionaire,” although the producers are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward future seasons.

But given the show’s propensity to shake things up, along with the Strip’s less-than-stellar track record of hosting game shows — “Let’s Make a Deal” at the Tropicana, “Hollywood Squares” at the Riviera and “Caesars Challenge” at, well, Caesars each only lasted a year — there’s never been a better chance to win a million dollars.

Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com. On Twitter: @life_onthecouch