CRISS ANGEL:
Angel, Cirque say ‘Believe’ presented unique challenges
Justin M. Bowen
Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil hold a press conference Friday in preparation for the premiere of “Believe.” From left, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, Criss Angel and director and co-writer Serge Denoncourt.
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 | 1:50 a.m.
In Today's Sun
'Believe' sneak preview
Criss Angel and crew offer a first look at the new Cirque Du Soleil production, "Believe."
Robin Leach with Celebs
Robin Leach interviews celebrities on the "Black Carpet" at the premiere of "Believe" inside Luxor.
Criss Angel says he’s living the dream.
His $100 million Cirque du Soleil show, “Criss Angel Believe,” premiered Friday night and as he walked into his Luxor theater, Playboy bunny Holly Madison was on his arm.
“Fifteen years ago I dreamt it and today I’m living the dream,” the magician said during a news conference Friday afternoon. “It just goes to show you that anybody can live their dream if you believe. And it’s not a line, it’s what I believe.
“This is beyond my dreams,” he said.
His show’s director, Serge Denoncourt, said he was also a happy man hours before the premiere of Cirque’s latest addition to Las Vegas.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished on this show,” he said. “We are two happy men.”
“Very happy,” Angel added.
Guy Laliberté, the French-Canadian who founded Cirque du Soleil in 1984, was in town for Friday’s big premiere. He said during the news conference that Cirque’s first foray into the world of blending celebrity and circus was full of surprises.
“Cirque du Soleil doesn’t work with stars and there’s a reason why, because usually I don’t think it’s easy,” he said, although he said the crew had no problems working with Angel.
Laliberté said the development of “Believe” included lots of debating, arguing and learning.
“I found in the ‘Criss Angel Believe’ project … a great opportunity to explore a new artistic field in the field of magic,” Laliberté said. “Cirque du Soleil is always looking for new challenges, new artistic content.”
Denoncourt said it wasn’t easy to work Angel’s so-called “mindfreaks” into a live production -- especially the illusion that involves walking down a wall of fabric.
“I’m not lying -- it was a nightmare putting it on stage,” the director said.
Laliberté added: “To learn the world of magic was one of our biggest challenges, internally, creatively.”
Angel said there are only so many options one has when dealing with magic.
“You make something appear, you can make something vanish, you can make something levitate, you can cut it, you can put it back together, those are the physics of nature, that’s what you can do,” he said. “What I wanted to do, though, is present those concepts in a way that has never been presented on a stage before.”
Hours before “Believe” premiered to the world, the three men said they were proud of their collaborative effort.
“It’s just been an amazing whirlwind for me,” Angel said, “and I’m just so thankful.”
Discussion: 1 comment so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.
Post a comment
Spotlight
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas to close in May
- Pricey land buy on Strip a bit of a surprise
- Engineering marvel taking shape near Hoover Dam
- Harry Reid’s co-writer unloads while discussing polls, Obama quote
- Grim numbers show Nevada leads nation in suicides over 60
- UNLV back in the polls: No. 23 in AP, No. 25 in ESPN/USA Today
- MGM Mirage to leave N.J. in dispute over Macau partner
- Police: Legal runner returned to home, shot husband and wife
- GOP should blame itself for deficit, not Democrats
- The 10 best steakhouses in Las Vegas
Blogs
The Kats Report
A 3.5-day sprint, highlighted superflously at Flamingo with Las Vegas newcomers
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Horsford: No taxes now, but tax reform later (11 Comments)
Gibbons: Cutting the budget can help me raise money (8 Comments)
Gibbons: Lawmakers made State of State worse with taxes (4 Comments)
Ugly lawsuit between former garbage czar, ex-elected official continues in court Monday (7 Comments)
The Kats Report
The Fortune Ball speaks: Take the Saints on the money line
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
The Shootout could be a good indication of things to come (4 Comments)
Calendar »
- 9 Tue
- 10 Wed
- 11 Thu
- 12 Fri
- 13 Sat
-
Hugh Fink at the Riviera Comedy Club
The Riviera Comedy Club
-
The Automatic Tour at The Square Apple
The Square Apple
-
Rhumbar presents Pink Sugar Mondays
The Mirage Hotel and Casino
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati
























criss angel should be an inspiration to us all. I wish I could travel to Las Vegas to see Believe