Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Angel’s retooled ‘Mindfreak Live!’ bows at Luxor

New ‘Mindfreak Live!’ by Criss Angel

APWI

The new production ‘Mindfreak Live!’ by Criss Angel at the Luxor.

Click to enlarge photo

Criss Angel and Chloe Crawford at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on Friday, March 18, 2016, in downtown Las Vegas.

The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is one of the three Starbucks outposts at Luxor, and in the glow of the Blizz sign across the way.

This is journalism at its finest, folks. Real Ernie Pyle stuff here.

Tonight we are to experience the formal unveiling of Criss Angel’s "Mindfreak Live!” This is the magic extravaganza supplanting the long-running “Believe” at the Criss Angel Theater.

I have not seen any version of the new production, based on his A&E TV series “Mindfreak,” which ran 2005-2010, from I but do know that Angel has been working feverishly (the best way to work, outdistancing tirelessly) on the show since last fall. I’m most interested in the development of the show’s billed co-star, Chloe Crawford, who abruptly left her husband, Planet Hollywood’s Sin City Theater afternoon magician Murray Sawchuck, to join Angel and his production empire.

Angel has consistently referred to Crawford as the “next big thing in magic,” and she has changed her look to a Goth-black leather-tattooed approach (her wrists are inked with interlocking C's). As for the staging of this show, there are also to be new effects of great scope and technical advancement (including a new way for Angel to levitate above the stage) in the upgraded production.

“Mindfreak Live!” should run through the end of Angel’s original 10-year contract with Cirque du Soleil, which expires in November 2018. Cirque is still a promotional partner, but the creative direction in this production is all Angel’s.

Otherwise, Angel’s fans and family have been relieved to hear that his 2-year-old son, Johnny Crisstopher, is in remission from leukemia. The son of Angel and Australian model and recording artist Shaunyl Benson was the inspiration for Angel’s new charity, the Johnny Crisstopher Children's Charitable Foundation, which is raising funds and awareness to battle childhood cancer. The first event benefitting that charity, H.E.L.P (Heal Every Life Possible), is set for Sept. 12 at Angel’s theater. To donate to this cause, go to www.crissangel.com/donations and give to your heart’s content.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow Kats on Instagram Instagram.com/JohnnyKats1.

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