Criss Angel News

MGM MIRAGE RESORTS: MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, ARIA, Crystals, Luxor, Monte Carlo, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Bellagio, The Mirage and New York-New York

MGM MIRAGE RESORTS: MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, ARIA, Crystals, Luxor, Monte Carlo, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Bellagio, The Mirage and New York-New York

MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA ROBIN WILLIAMS Robin Williams, one of the most gifted actors and comedians of our time, returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Dec. 5.

Cirque du Soleil performers from KÀ, Mystère and CRISS ANGEL Believe welcomed the newest members of the Cirque family to Las Vegas on Saturday. The cast of the new show based on the life and music of Elvis were treated to a Cirque-style greeting at McCarran Airport. The performers have been rehearsing for the past few months at the Cirque du Soleil Creation Studio in Montreal and are now relocating to Las Vegas for rehearsals on stage in the new theatre at ARIA Resort & Casino in CityCenter. The show is set to open late 2009.

After making its mark on the entertainment scene in Las Vegas, Orlando, and cities around the world, Cirque du Soleil has set its sights on Los Angeles for a special day of performances in celebration of the company's 25th anniversary.

Broadway veteran Loni Ackerman (Evita, Cats, The Magic Show, No, No, Nanette, and George M!) is set to star in Gentleman's Wish, a new dramatic comedy by Lawson Caldwell receiving its world premiere in the 2009 Midtown International Theatre Festival. Holly-Anne Ruggiero (resident director of Jersey Boys on Broadway) is serving as director on the production, which will run from July 30th to August 2nd at the Main Stage Theatre in the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex.

After making its mark on the entertainment scene in Las Vegas, Orlando, and cities around the world, Cirque du Soleil has set its sights on Los Angeles for a special day of performances in celebration of the company's 25th anniversary.

Carrie Fisher set box-office records at Berkeley Repertory Theatre with her hilarious solo show, Wishful Drinking. Then it became a New York Times bestseller and played to sold-out crowds on a six-city national tour. Now Fisher returns to Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre, her last stop before the show bursts onto Broadway! This limited run - 15 performances only - begins July 9 and ends July 23.

Broadway veteran Loni Ackerman (Evita, Cats, The Magic Show, No, No, Nanette, and George M!) is set to star in Gentleman's Wish, a new dramatic comedy by Lawson Caldwell receiving its world premiere in the 2009 Midtown International Theatre Festival. Holly-Anne Ruggiero (resident director of Jersey Boys on Broadway) is serving as director on the production, which will run from July 30th to August 2nd at the Main Stage Theatre in the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex.

Carrie Fisher set box-office records at Berkeley Repertory Theatre with her hilarious solo show, Wishful Drinking. Then it became a New York Times bestseller and played to sold-out crowds on a six-city national tour. Now Fisher returns to Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre, her last stop before the show bursts onto Broadway! This limited run - 15 performances only - begins July 9 and ends July 23.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Jonathan Reinis, Jamie Cesa, Eva Price & Berkeley Repertory Theatre, is proud to present the Broadway premiere production of Wishful Drinking, created and performed by Carrie Fisher and directed by Tony Taccone at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St).

Saturday night at the Mirage Hotel and Casino there was a bright spot...That beacon of light was Terry Fator.

It's a tough one, trying to write about Cirque du Soleil's new offering in Las Vegas, Criss Angel Believe.

Thousands of Live Design Professionals Attend LDI 2008; this year's strong attendance reaffirmed LDI's status as the leading US tradeshow and conference for live design professionals. LDI 2008 was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, October 20-26, 2008 and featured professional training, new product introductions, and the industry's award presentations.

Tickets on sale today for preview and regular performances of CRISS ANGEL Believe, the new Cirque du Soleil production set to open at Luxor Las Vegas.

'CRISS ANGEL Believe' was unveiled today as the name of the highly anticipated new Cirque du Soleil production set to open at Luxor Las Vegas. CRISS ANGEL Believe starring Criss Angel will hold its Gala Premiere September 12, 2008, with preview performances beginning September 1, 2008. Tickets go on sale today exclusively to the fans: Criss Angel Loyals, Cirque Club Members and Luxor Insiders. Tickets will be available to these groups online at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel and http://www.crissangel.com. The Name On his death bed, legendary magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini told his wife the following; 'After my death, many people will claim that they are still able to communicate with me. If their claims are valid, they will be able to tell you a code word - that word is BELIEVE.' Criss Angel is recognized as one of the most provocative artists in the world today. In an attempt to pay homage to the late/great Harry Houdini, Criss chose 'Believe' as the title for this unprecedented live experience. The Show CRISS ANGEL Believe will be a haunting exploration deep inside the inventive mind of mystifier Criss Angel as he hovers between the land of the living and a surreal world uniquely woven together by the distinctive imaginations of Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil. Unlike traditional magic-themed shows, CRISS ANGEL Believe transcends any preconceived notion of what it means to be emotionally engaged by the arts of mysticism and illusion. Imagine a fantasy, an allegory, a highly theatrical tableau of mood, reverie and emotion set against a backdrop of dreamlike darkness and light. Criss Angel stars as a surreal, enigmatic Victorian Noble. Along a path of imaginative exploration, he encounters Kayala and Crimson, two women who represent different aspects of femininity, four bizarre Ushers, who will introduce the audience to the baroque theater of Criss's mind and a high-energy troupe of characters and dancers who mix a multitude of styles into a high-energy visual feast, punctuated by moments of grace and sensuality. The stunning illusions in CRISS ANGEL Believe will not be presented as standalone elements, but as interdependent components using heightened imagery, fantastical creatures and impossible feats of legerdemain, all of which will be integrated into the dazzling, colorful fabric of the story. CRISS ANGEL Believe will be presented in a custom-built theater at Luxor Las Vegas. Preview performances begin September 1 and the Gala Premiere will be held Friday, September 12, 2008. The Creative Team: Guide Guy Laliberte Senior Vice President, Creative Content Gilles Ste-Croix Original Idea, Co-Writer, Illusions Designer and Star Criss Angel Director and Co-Writer Serge Denoncourt Director of Creation Pierre Phaneuf Associate Director of Creation Christiane Barette Set Designer Ray Winkler Costume Designer Meredith Caron Composer, Musical Director and Arranger Eric Serra Choreographer Wade Robson Lighting Designer Jeanette Farmer Images and Projections Designer Francis Laporte Sound Designer Jonathan Deans Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer Jaque Paquin Acrobatic Performance Designer Andre Simard Props and Puppets Designer Michael Curry Make-up Designer Nathalie Gagne Illusions Department Director of Illusions John Farrell Show Schedule: CRISS ANGEL Believe will be performed Friday through Tuesday with no shows on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Beginning September 1, there will be two shows nightly at 7p.m. & 10p.m. Please consult the most current show schedule at www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel and www.crissangel.com. Schedule is subject to change without notice. The preview period will be from September 1 - September 11, 2008. The Gala premiere is scheduled for September 12, 2008. Regular performances will begin September 14, 2008. Ticket Information: Tickets are on pre-sale to Cirque Club members, Criss Angel Loyals and Luxor Insiders starting April 17, 2008. Ticket prices: $150, $125, $99, $79, $59 plus tax. All preview performances* will be discounted 25 percent. *Preview performances for CRISS ANGEL Believe begin September 1 and run through September 11. During these performances, the creative team is in the very final stages of production. The audience's reaction and participation is an important step in this process. The artistic team of CRISS ANGEL Believe reserves the right to interrupt the performance to make adjustments as necessary. Schedule is subject to change without notice. To Reserve Tickets: During the pre-sale period tickets will be exclusively available to Criss Angel Loyals, Cirque Club members and Luxor Insiders. These groups can purchase tickets online at: www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel and www.crissangel.com Following the pre-sale, an announcement will be made outlining when tickets will go on sale publicly. The trademark Criss Angel Believe is owned by Angel Productions Worldwide, Inc. and used under license. The trademark Cirque du Soleil is owned by Cirque du Soleil and used under license.

Magician Criss Angel will appear in a new Cirque de Soleil production, scheduled to open at the Luxor Hotel in summer 2008.

Robin de Levita, Dragone and The Firm have announced the creative team for CARMEN: The Musical, based on the classic 1845 novel by Prosper Mérimée, directed by Franco Dragone. With music by John Ewbank, and a book by Sarah Miles, a developmental staging will be work-shopped later this year, with a Broadway production targeted for the 2006/07 season.