Justin M. Bowen

Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil hold a press conference Friday in preparation for the premiere of “Believe.”

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Fri, Oct 31, 2008 (5:52 p.m.)

After five weeks of practice, practice, practice, it’s time to party, party, party.

“Criss Angel Believe” opened for preview performances on Sept. 26, and tonight, after three delays and a flurry of rumors that the show wouldn’t open at all, Cirque du Soleil’s sixth permanent Las Vegas-based show will make its public debut.

Angel and his cast will give two performances tonight, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., before joining an exclusive poolside party that the Luxor and Cirque du Soleil are throwing for them.

“I think there’s something to be said about the setting of the party,” Luxor chief operating officer Felix Rappaport said of the extravagant staging that has been erected for the party. “The only thing I’m concerned about is the weather.”

While he kept most of the party details under wraps, he promised that organizers have some surprises for the hotel’s resident magician.

Rappaport said the party will include a magical “homage to Criss” – but he wouldn’t divulge further details of the special accolade.

The large white sheet that was draped down part of the west-facing wall of the Luxor pyramid will be part of the tribute.

“It will be something you wouldn’t expect,” Rappaport said.

A collection of VIP guests will walk a special Halloween night “black carpet” before the 7 p.m. show. The festivities will get underway by the pool after the first performance concludes, though Angel and his cast won’t join the fun until after the second showing of “Believe” is given.

Both of tonight’s performances of “Believe” have been sold out for weeks, but those who got their hands on tickets will be invited to join in the celebrations afterward.

The partying will likely go all night – though Rappaport said it would be “short by Cirque standards.”

Rappaport still remembers the “Zumanity” kick-off party that was held on a New York New York rooftop in 2003. That one went all night, he said, and didn’t stop until Cirque founder Guy Laliberté asked him, at 10:30 a.m., to call him a limo.

“It was getting too hot,” Rapport recalled with a laugh.

The “Believe” poolside festivities will end at 4 a.m. Saturday but that doesn’t mean the fun will stop before the sun comes up. Remaining revelers are expected to move the party inside after the clock strikes 4, as the hotel’s nightspot, LAX, will host the official after-party.

Angel’s older brother, J.D. Sarantakos, said the whole family is in town and gearing up for the special Halloween event.

“I think it will be an event that will go down in history,” Sarantakos said. “To have it here at the Luxor on Halloween is such an honor, a privilege.

“It’s going to be a gala event (that) will be remembered for years to come.”

In addition to the three dozen or so celebrities who will attend the premiere, several of Angel’s aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends have flown in for the occasion, including Angel’s aunt Stella, who taught him his first magic trick when he was 7 years old.