By Robin Leach

Published Tuesday, March 3, 2009 | 6:27 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, March 3, 2009 | 6:30 p.m.

Britneyspears.com

Britney Spears' Circus.

Scott Doctor

Criss Angel

When pop princess Britney Spears rehearsed for her comeback appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards a few years ago -- before the public breakdown -- she turned to "Mindfreak" magician Criss Angel. They were even linked romantically by tabloids when they were seen together several times in Los Angeles, including being spotted together late nights in hotels.

Criss denied the rumors, saying they were working on adding magic tricks to her comeback performance. At the last moment, Britney ditched the illusions and stuck to a short song and dance routine for “Gimme More,” which was panned by fans and critics alike.

Now as Britney kicks off her Circus Tour tonight in New Orleans with The Pussycat Dolls, she has added the trickery that Criss first introduced her to years ago. However, she’s more the magician’s assistant than the conjuror!

Comedy illusionist Ed “The Misfit of Magic” Alonzo confirmed in an interview with E! Entertainment: “She’s actually getting inside the big boxes. If I do a trick, she doesn’t just hold the props. I am slicing her up. Some of it is pretty scary, but she gets right in there with no reservations.”

Before magic, Ed appeared as an actor on Saved By the Bell as the owner of Max’s diner. He added: “Right away, she got into the boxes and into the magic contraptions to learn the stuff, and she's so excited about this tour and all the elements that are in it."

Britney will include the magic maneuvers when Circus hits the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 25. Ed says fans will love the show, which he describes as a big Vegas production show on the road. No word if Criss will be able to jump across the Strip to catch Britney’s show and the illusions he taught her.

“We’re going to be doing the classics of magic but a little high-tech,” Ed continued. “We’ll be doing a little dissection, transposition, a vanish and an appearance. There are some complicated things that she is doing that you would think a contortionist would have to do, or a trained magician’s assistant. She’s a dancer, so it really makes sense to put her in the magic. It works, and she’s really, really good at it.”

“It’s going to be an amazing concert for people to watch. It’s like watching a big Cirque du Soleil high-tech circus, but with a really focused star in the middle of all of it.”

Britney Spears’ 2009 Circus Tour

Here’s the official set list for Britney’s 2009 Circus Tour as posted on her blog a short time ago:

CIRCUS

Perez/Parade Intro

Circus (Funky Remix)

Piece of Me

Thunderstorm Segue

Radar

HOUSE OF FUN (Anything Goes)

Martial Arts Segue

Ooh Ooh Baby/Hot as Ice

Boys

If U Seek Amy

Me Against the Music (Bollywood)

FREAKSHOW/PEEPSHOW

Everybody's Looking for Something Segue

Freakshow

Get Naked

Britney’s Hotline

Breathe on Me/Touch of My Hand

ELECTRO CIRC

Break the Ice Segue

Do Something

Slave

Dancer Solo Segue/Heartbeat Segue

Toxic

Baby One More Time (Remix)

ENCORE

Womanizer (Extended Remix)

Circus Reprise: The Bow