Video: CRISS ANGEL Believe

LAS VEGAS, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets on sale today for preview and regular performances of CRISS ANGEL Believe(TM), the new Cirque du Soleil production set to open at Luxor Las Vegas. CRISS ANGEL Believe starring Criss Angel will open for preview performances September 1 and hold its Gala Premiere September 12, 2008.

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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.

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."

"I invite you to see my live show experience, you won't believe what is in store for you. I guarantee that this show will blow your mind, reinvigorate the way you think about magic and reawaken the child that lives in us all," said Criss Angel. "Nothing like this show has ever been created or even attempted before. The collaboration with Cirque du Soleil and Luxor has been incredible. You will Believe!"

"With CRISS ANGEL Believe, we are aiming to bring magic into a new realm. Currently in this creation process we feel as playful and excited as children in a gigantic toy store," explained Serge Denoncourt, Director and Co-Writer of CRISS ANGEL Believe.

"Criss and the team at Cirque du Soleil are part of the Luxor family," said Felix Rappaport, President and COO of Luxor. "We are delighted Luxor will be the permanent home for CRISS ANGEL Believe and we look forward to unveiling this exciting production for our guests.

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 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Please consult the most current show schedule at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel or http://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 prices:
    Ticket prices: $150, $125, $99, $79, $59 plus tax.

    To reserve tickets:
    By phone: 800 557 7428

Online: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel or http://www.crissangel.com

In person: At the Luxor box office at Luxor or any of the MGM MIRAGE box offices in Las Vegas.

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.

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.