By Melissa Arseniuk

Published Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 9:22 a.m.

Updated Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 5:36 p.m.

The Beatles: LOVE

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While the recession may be bad for business, it sure is great for Cirque du Soleil-loving locals.

The latest deep discount to hit Vegas in this tough economic climate is for the Beatles-inspired Cirque du Soleil spectacular, “Love.”

While Paul McCartney once sang, “You can’t buy me love,” Beatles fans obviously have to buy tickets to see “Love.” Thankfully, that price just dropped significantly.

Seats to the Fab Four-themed showcase at the Mirage usually range from $99 to $150 apiece, but are being slashed by up to 40% for local residents during the promotion.

This is the first time Cirque has discounted tickets to the show since it opened in 2006.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever done this,” the show’s public relations manager, Cara Luttrell, said. “It’s a very popular show … (But) we’re finding some of the shows aren’t selling as well in advance as they used to be.”

“It’s really a way of taking care of locals on slower dates,” she concluded.

While “Love” is widely believed to be the second best-selling Cirque show, behind “O,” tickets to the 90-minute showcase have just been slashed to attract local theatergoers and, in the process, fill seats.

From March 15 through May 31, locals will enjoy up to 40 percent off the purchase Category 1, 2 or 3 seats. The tickets, which would regularly sell for $99 - $150, range in price from $60 to $90 during the promotion, plus taxes and fees.

Residents must call 702-531-3873 to enjoy the discount, and may purchase up to six seats at a time. Valid local ID is required to both book and pick-up the tickets.

This announcement comes on the heels of promotions for “KÀ,” “Zumanity,” and “Mystère,” which offered locals Category 2 or 3 tickets for just $49 on select days. (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at “KÀ”; Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at “Mystère,” and Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at “Zumanity.”)

Without the discounts, the seats ranged from $79 to $129. (Category 1 tickets for “Zumanity” were also included in the promotion.)

That deal, however, ends Sunday.

After that, those with and without local ID can enjoy 25 percent off tickets to “Mystère,” for performances on March 15 – 18, and 22 – 25.

“Criss Angel Believe” is also offering deep discounts. According to the Luxor box office, students are being given 35 percent off up to two tickets without any day or category restrictions. Unlike most sales, that promotion is slated to run indefinitely.

Seniors ages 55+, meanwhile, can get 25 percent off their ticket purchase until May 31.

To go find the best deals on “Believe,” however, ticket buyers need to head online. Angel’s fans are being given 40 percent off all tickets purchased through the magician’s official Web site, http://www.crissangel.com.

The undisputed champion of the Las Vegas Cirque show circuit, “O,” is the only show not currently offering deals on tickets.

Are the seat sales indicative of a sluggish economy or, worse yet, Vegas’ doomed future? Probably not.

Deep discounts are nothing new at Cirque. “Mystère,” for example, gave locals two-for-one tickets in 2005, and half price seats from Dec. 2006 through Feb. 2007 – long before the word “recession” was a widely-accepted part of the nation’s economic lexicon.

Still, the discounts certainly don’t hurt, and are being welcomed with open arms by increasingly cash-strapped locals and tourists alike.

Casino Web sites often offer discounts to their resident shows – Cirque productions and others – that aren’t available over the phone or online. As such, thrifty entertainment lovers should check with individual hotel Web sites before booking their tickets to make sure they get the best deal.