Lance Burton to stay 6 more years on Strip

Published Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | 5:59 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | 6:37 p.m.

Wayne Bernath

Lance Burton.

Legendary magician Lance Burton may be known to make things disappear, but his show won’t be vanishing any time soon.

The performer announced today that he has agreed to keep performing at the Monte Carlo though 2015.

The casino’s president, Anton Nikodemus, said he was “thrilled” that Burton extended his contract as a headliner with the hotel for another six years.

Burton, meanwhile, said he’s just happy to have a job.

“I’m very very happy to be employed,” he joked. “I always contend that in show business that if you’re employed, then you’re successful.”

Yet after 13 years as a Monte Carlo headliner, several TV specials and a long-established reputation within the magic community as one of the industry’s greats, Burton’s success is hardly called into question.

Burton, 49, has been appearing at the Monte Carlo since it opened in 1996. Today’s announcement came just days after his 13-year anniversary with the casino, on June 21.

Still, the illusionist has not appeared onstage since May 7, when he broke his foot during a show.

After five weeks of doctor-ordered bed rest and additional rehabilitation time, Burton is ready to retake to the stage.

“I’m feeling real good,” the Louisville, Ky., native said. “I’ve been waking for a couple weeks now.”

“I have to wear this special boot,” he said, adding, “I’m looking forward to wearing a normal shoe.”

He is expected to return to his namesake theater on Tuesday, after getting the final OK from his doctor later this week.

Burton said audiences can expect the same Burtonesque show – and my “same,” he means “evolving.”

“The show … has been evolving through the years,” he said.

“A couple weeks ago … I was looking at the list of tricks that I did in the show at the time (the it opened in 1996) and I compared it to the list of tricks we do now and I was shocked at how different it was,” he said. “The show today is now 50 percent different than it was when we opened … 50-60 percent different.”

“Even I didn’t realize how much it has changed,” he said.

“I expect that process to continue,” he said, noting, “I’m working on some new stuff right now.”

The night before the magician resumes his five-nights-a-week performance schedule, WGN will air the first of four Lance Burton TV specials.

“Most of them were recorded here at the Monte Carlo hotel,” Burton said.

The specials will appear on Cox cable channel 16 on July 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 6 p.m.

Assuming he gets the green light from his doctor, Burton will being a new, Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule of 7 p.m. shows next Tuesday, on July 7.