Criss Angel Comes To 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                 Éric 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.