Major changes are underway at Criss Angel’s Believe

Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Criss Angel on the blue carpet for the Viva Elvis world premiere at Aria in CityCenter on Feb. 19, 2010.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 | 11:21 a.m.

It appears that significant and major changes are underway at Criss Angel’s Cirque du Soleil show Believe at the Luxor, as we have previously reported. Late Saturday, I tweeted the news that the dancers were told at show time that as of this week, they would be appearing in only the revenge sequence “Homage” dedicated to all the rabbits that have perished in magic tricks through the years.

The dancers also were told that in mid-April, some seven major new illusions will be incorporated into the show so that Believe will eventually have 30 magic segments in all with its new look. As a result, the dancers have been told that their run in the show will then slowly come to an end.

Cirque has confirmed my weekend report, and in a statement that the dancers’ contracts will not be renewed after July, added that they hope to place the dancers in the other six resident Cirque shows on the Strip. Felix Rappaport, president of the Luxor, where Believe is a resident show, said a new marketing campaign for Believe is being planned for mid-April to emphasize the changes as Cirque’s traditional fixation process finalizes the makeover.

Vegas DeLuxe will continue to follow this developing story as we learn further details of the changes and plans Criss is making to the production.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.