Animal Magnetism

Kirk Baird

Friday, April 25, 2003 | 4:44 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: April 27, 2003

For nearly 35 years illusionists Siegfried & Roy have been the kings of the Strip.

And, says their manager, of the world.

"In the beginning of our 14th year, approaching 5,750 live shows for 10 million people, and grossing over $1.5 billion, we have reason to believe that the public has made Siegfried & Roy the singularly most successful live spectacle on the planet," said Bernie Yuman, longtime manager of Siegfried & Roy.

But how will the duo's popularity translate into prime time? We'll find out in fall 2004, when the illusionists' computer-animated series debuts on NBC.

The focus of the just-announced "Father of the Pride" is on Siegfried & Roy's famous white lions and tigers, although the duo will appear in the show -- in animated form. In addition, Siegfried & Roy, along with Yuman, will share executive producer credit.

In an interview conducted over e-mail, the Las Vegas Sun recently asked Siegfried and Roy about the new show, along with their thoughts on the newest attraction on the Strip, Celine Dion.

Las Vegas Sun: When were you first approached about the series, "Father of the Pride," and what were your thoughts?

Siegfried: In December of last year, close to the holidays, our friend Jeffrey Katzenberg (one of the principals of DreamWorks) approached us about a new and innovative opportunity. Jeffrey explained that after watching our performance time and again, he wondered what our animals were thinking and what it felt like to be a part of the Siegfried & Roy animal family.

Roy: Interestingly enough, that is something that has crossed my mind many times. I have wondered what goes into the thought processes of my white lions or white tigers or any member of my animal family. What are they thinking about when traveling from The Mirage Secret Garden to their onstage performance? What are they thinking about when traveling from The Mirage to their home at the Jungle Palace or their 100-acre sanctuary? The moment I heard the idea, I knew this would be a big winner.

Sun: How much involvement and creative input will you have in the series?

Roy: As with anything we do, we'll be active participants -- totally involved. No one knows the white lions better than I do. I've raised them, nurtured them and understand them. Animals have no prefabricated thoughts ... they say it as they see it. They respect me and let me know when I cross the boundaries, and I do the same for them. We want this to come across in the series. Jeffrey has asked Siegfried and me to sit with the writers and recount some of the great experiences that we have had.

Siegfried: We have stories that span four decades of experiences with our animal family. Having these integrated into this series will certainly bring new light to the public's perception of our lives while giving the animals a chance to speak about world affairs, politics, entertainment and other topics. This series is based on the point of view of the animals, which gives us an amazing opportunity for satire and poking fun at anybody or anything.

Sun: Since "Father of the Pride's" focus is on lions, will you also appear in the show? If so, will you lend your voices to the series? If not, any idea and/or preference who would "play" Siegfried & Roy?

Roy: This show is about our animal family. We will certainly appear in the show and we are excited that our imagery and likeness is being translated to animation. As only Jeffrey Katzenberg can explain, voices belong to actors. From "Lion King" to "Beauty and the Beast," from "Prince of Egypt" to "Shrek," he has used a variety of actors spanning the spectrum, including Woody Allen and Eddie Murphy.

Siegfried: Jeffrey is selecting the best actors for our voices because our live performance schedule and other responsibilities don't allow us the time to act our way through each and every episode in what we anticipate being a long-running series. We are creating illusions that work for the animated series, new concepts and new angles for the writers to work with.

Sun: Will "Father of the Pride" be more for children or adults -- or a mixture? And will the show address social issues?

Roy: "Father of the Pride" is a prime-time NBC comedy series. It certainly will be satire at its best. We believe it will have broad appeal, whether young, middle-aged or somewhat older. But this is certainly not a children's animation series. It is a sophisticated program aimed at hitting a prime-time audience. What better way to bring commentary to the world than through the eyes of an animal?

Siegfried: It's pretty obvious that one of our white tigers or white lions certainly can get away with saying whatever they want a lot quicker than any human being. This immediately brings to the table philosophy, politics, entertainment and current events.

Sun: Very few animated series have had much success in prime time. Is that a concern?

Roy: We believe that the reason NBC has made the largest commitment of any network to any studio in their commitment to DreamWorks for 13 episodes is because we have something that is original. The public will judge, and we believe the reception will be great. "Father of the Pride" couldn't be in better hands.

Sun: What are your thoughts on Celine Dion's new show, "A New Day ... "? Can the Strip handle another mega-production? Also, does the singer's new show raise the bar in terms of production for the other Las Vegas shows?

Siegfried: Celine Dion opens a new door to let entertainment in Las Vegas grow. We have made our mark in this city, and Celine should do exactly the same thing. A performer can never really be satisfied with their accomplishments. They have to go over the top to reach their audiences' heart.

Roy: The better the new shows are, the better it is for Las Vegas. With something close to 40 million visitors a year, it is exciting for new, fresh entertainment to have the opportunity to take their place on the roster.

Besides, we enjoy having a gorgeous diva performing next door to us. What a purr-fect neighbor.