New details emerge about Triumph and Cheap Trick’s Beatles show

Leila Navidi

Robin Zander sings during “Sgt. Pepper Live” featuring Cheap Trick Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 | 4:14 p.m.

Secrets of two new Las Vegas spectaculars are slowly leaking out, and of course Vegas DeLuxe has the details first. There’s been extraordinary interest in Triumph headed to the Las Vegas Hilton this fall because magic duo LaRaf say the illusions are new, unique and never seen before. They’re keeping the breakthroughs secret and under tight security.

“It’s not magic as you know it,” I was reliably told. “It’s radically different, and they’ve managed to make the miracle of time travel happen onstage. Some of the other illusion imagery is right inside the actual audience inches away from what happens, so they are enveloped in it.”

I’ve learned that tickets will go on sale this month, with rehearsals to start in two Las Vegas facilities in August. Dancers and other cast members have already signed on, but they’ll be separated for distinctly different rehearsals so as not to be able to spill any secrets until the October opening gala.

The production is said to be one of the most ambitious ever onstage here, and although I know the plotline, I can only reveal some of it here for now. In the timeless tale of the battle between good and evil using time-travel techniques, LaRaf is able to use locations and scenes from the past, present and future.

Despite the veil of secrecy draped over the multi-million venture, I’ve learned that one scene to start the travels features a spectacular production number where a section of a Ferris wheel with people onboard disappears to be taken back in time.

I also know that one act is a re-creation of the Chicago World Fair in 1883 with its amazing technological achievements. Those inventions and sciences changed the world forever with Thomas Edison’s DC electric exhibits for General Electric and the rival Nikola Tesla AC system for Westinghouse when the public was introduced to electric illumination power.

Everybody associated with the production has signed confidentiality agreements. LaRaf refuses to talk about the show yet and refers inquiries to the fiery pyrotechnics YouTube teaser campaign that has episodes posted about the evil that lurks in the Andromeda Galaxy.

I’m also hearing that local students will participate for one portion of the production. Vegas DeLuxe will continue to report on this major entertainment attraction as we learn more details.

CHEAP TRICK’S BEATLES SHOW

I can now confirm that Cheap Trick will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Band, and that British recording engineer Geoff Emerick, who masterminded The Fab Four’s Revolver, is staging the rockers’ six-week run of interpretative concerts at the Paris starting June 11. The album, the eighth by The Beatles, was released June 2, 1967, after 129 days of recording.

Cheap Trick will perform on a 12-foot-high elevated orchestra stage with three turntable entranceways. Producer Bill Edwards said: “It is an energetic and spectacular interpretation of an album that was absolutely groundbreaking when it was released 43 years ago.” The Beatles never performed the album in its entirety, so it’s coming to life for the first time on The Strip.

Geoff started work at EMI Studios in 1962 at age 15 as a tape copier, but under the mentoring of George Martin became one of The Beatles’ most trusted sound architects. Although he broke away from the group because of disputes when he was recording Abbey Road, he rejoined them for The White Album. Geoff’s contributions to Sgt. Pepper persuaded Cheap Trick to join with the Grammy winner to ensure that the sound was accurate.

Geoff’s book Here, There and Everywhere from 2006 details the intricacies of The Beatles’ recording sessions, and you can follow the Sgt. Pepper Live updates at Twitter.com/sgtpeppervegas.

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