Vegas Popular

Launch plans for the official announcement of 'Mindfreak' magician Criss Angel's new Cirque du Soleil spectacular at the Luxor later this year have begun. Cirque's marketing officials with new team members assigned specifically to the magic project met with the pyramid's top-executives next week to lay out the initial promotional campaign. I've learned that there's a staggering record-breaking $200 million earmarked for the production and launch of the magic show.

I'm reliably told that sometime in the next 4-6 weeks that Cirque's top creative team from Montreal will join conjuring king Criss and Luxor President Felix Rappaport for the official announcement here in Vegas and simultaneously unveil the premiere date for later this year, or early next year! It's a full green-light, high-speed ramp-up to take advantage of the extraordinary success of his 'Mindfreak' series on A&E, which is getting the highest ratings in the network's history.

Cirque's marketing folks have been running market research and monitoring the stunning sales of his merchandise in the new Criss Angel store at the Luxor. "He's the hottest biggest star in show-business at the moment. He appeals to all ages but with the key demographic of 18-39 Criss comes out number one," one Cirque executive told me. "Some of his loyal fans call him the new Houdini and believe he's much more than just a magician; they think he can actually perform miracles. We want full speed ahead to propel his momentum even further forward."

Criss, who creates all his own illusions, has admitted to me that the magic he performs is both risky and dangerous. Among the stunts he's pulled off: lived through 3-million volts of electricity, vanished from a speeding car, walked down a building sideways, been buried alive, suspended by a helicopter with 4 fish-hooks and, for the new season of 'Mindfreak,' actually "walked unsuspended" in the roof of the Luxor pyramid and dodged death while handcuffed to a car as another one sped towards him in a 90 mph collision. Although he claims to only need three hours sleep a night, he spends two hours daily, six-days-a-week in the gym to stay physically and mentally fit for the illusions. He's a good buddy and even invited me to turn-up on two of this season's new 'Mindfreak' shows!

Click here or above for links to all our recent Luxe Life coverage of Criss, including his "roast" and his arrival and first interview at the Luxor, plus the breakdown of the production costs of the new show. Production costs for the most recent Cirque show, the Beatles 'LOVE' at the Mirage soared somewhere between $135 and $165 million! Even Cirque's 'KA' extravaganza at MGM Grand hit $125 million to stage! "Cirque simply wants the best magic show in the world," I have been told. "They are committed to delivering the most incredible illusion show ever created, and they're backing it up with a $200-million initial budget." Criss and his magic team have already begun the initial design phases of the illusions to be built. "Since money is no object here, Cirque simply wants it to be real magic," Cirque which has also begun planning a new spectacular to replace 'Mamma Mia!' at Mandalay bay after summer '08 apparently sells over $1 million in box-office tickets every day for its five current Vegas shows.

One little known fact it was Criss who created the visual effects for Cirque one time partner and now rival Franco Dragone for his show 'Le Reve' at the Wynn!

ELVIS AND CIRQUE STILL ON
Luxe Life is always happy to clear up misinformation when it comes to rampant rumors. We finally got word from Cirque officials about our story on Monday about the rumored breakup of the Elvis/Cirque du Soleil deal for their proposed joint 2009 show at City Center and we're happy to now tell you Elvis and Cirque are still together! Our friends at Cirque advised: "Regarding the Cirque du Soleil Elvis production at City Center, just to let you know all systems are go with that project, so the rumors you heard were incorrect."

LEGENDS

I hopped over on a quick round trip to see longtime friends, Joan Collins and Linda Evans opening in their new comedy "Legends" written by James Kirkwood at the Wilshire Theatre in LA and when the two delicious divas appear for the finale in their familiar red, low-cut Nolan Miller gowns audiences go wild. It's adelightful romp with some wicked one-liners. Everybody howls when Joan asks Linda if Dallas stars, Victoria Principal and Linda Gray were actually the same person! Backstage and at dinner in the Peninsular Hotel afterwards celebrating our mutual pal Max Bryer's 85th birthday Joan told me that she's hoping to visit Vegas for some much needed r 'n' r when the tour concludes, and drum up interest to perform her own one-woman show here!

The girls look gorgeous, the jewels sparkle and shine and the fight-scene where they smack each other with pillows and pull off each other's wigs is hysterical. Not quite the famous mud-scene from the last episodes of Dynasty, but just as riotous. Both actresses began their acting careers as school kids and they are still going strong after a long lifetime of movies, TV and stage shows. Joan, who was awarded an OBE by the Queen for her charity work is patron of the International Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities and has her own wing at the Children's Hospital of Michigan and the Shooting Star Hospice for terminally ill children. Linda, an avid environmentalist, at the request of Presidents Reagan and Bush served as spokesperson for the "Take Pride in America" campaign. It's a great, fun night of frothy theater, so catch the dynamite Dynasty dolls when they show up on tour in your town!

NEW SHOW PREMIERE

Former Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes (above) has now revealed plans for his new musical that he's taking from Vegas to London and then New York. "It's making history in that nobody ever develops a musical in Vegas and takes it to Broadway; its always the other way around," he commented. In an exclusive Luxe Life interview Clint revealed his "Breathe" musical will open for a 2 or 3 week run on May 21 at the Judy Bailey Theater on the UNLV campus. "Rehearsals resume again February 15 and then the plan is to take it directly to London for the summer after the Vegas debut," he told me exclusively. "We're thrilled about the way its all going. It's based on the true story of my parents and begins in 1944 and covers six decades. I'm realistic that it will be a tough challenge taking a show from Vegas all the way to Broadway via London but am very optimistic. It'll be fantastic to hear Vegas views on it when we debut here."

SET IN CEMENT RECORD
An unidentified World of Concrete conventioneer hit a $682,310.93 Wheel of Fortune jackpot at the Riviera Hotel and Casino yesterday afternoon.

WHERE'S PAULA AND RANDY?

A new interactive 'American Idol' attraction featuring wax models of Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds in The Venetian. It allows tourists and residents alike to perform in the on-stage area just like contestants on the live Fox TV show. They sing and perform using a special headset/microphone on the new Karaoke video game and the interactive display provides the judge's verdict. But missing in action are Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Turns out that Madame Tussauds carried out a popularity poll and to save money on the design and manufacture of all four stars they picked just the top two vote getters!

Meantime, the two of them have similar business interests in Vegas, as do Simon and Ryan. Cowell is into real estate investments out at Lake Las Vegas and Seacrest has financial investments in nightclub and restaurant operations here. Now Paula is the ambassador of entertainment for the Silverton Hotel & Casino and looks like Randy will carry out similar duties at the Hilton. The former bass guitarist for Journey won't be performing however. Instead he'll be producing a series of concerts there when Barry Manilow takes his vacation breaks! Incidentally we'll chat to Paula about her summer plans for the Silverton when we catch-up with her this Saturday night when she's named 'Woman of the Year" at the Nevada Ballet's annual Black and White fundraiser gala in the Wynn.

XCITING XOTIC X-GIRLS

There's nothing like a perfect picture of a pretty lady to brighten the Luxe Life day! And here's Yulia in her first photo for the new X-Girls Burlesque show re-opening at the Flamingo on February 12. Photographer Matt Stabile just shot the launch photo layout and we didn't want to waste anytime getting the first photo to you. Next week we'll be back with the entire shoot and gorgeous girls lineup as they get ready for opening night!

ANOTHER CHUCK KNOCKOUT
Ultimate Fighting's reigning light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (right) is partying all over town, still on the high of beating rival Tito Ortiz in the recent showdown. Now "The Iceman" is celebrating a unique Warner Bros. movie promotion. Come March 9 the new action adventure flick '300' will be released depicting the Spartans as the original ultimate fighters of ancient Greece. Our rugged Vegas hometown hero will lend his name and likeness to several promotions for the R-rated movie, which has graphic battle sequences, plus some sexuality and nudity of course! It's the epic novel of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against a massive Persian army. They faced insurmountable odds but drew the line in the sand for democracy- sounds like the earlier version of some of Chuck's conquests inside the Octagon! Chuck will make a series of personal appearances across the country for the movie in the first of its kind sponsorship.

STRIP SCRIBBLES
Congratulations to our pal Penn Jillette who appears nightly with his silent partner Teller in their Rio magic show on the news from NBC that his intriguing 'Identity' game show has been renewed and will resume in March...just how outrageous is the bling-bling on rappers becoming? Security at the OPM nightspot in the Forum Shops at Caesars we're told that Brandy's brother, singer Ray J, wore $500,000 in diamond jewelry underneath his white fur coat when he showed up to party but Pittsburgh Steeler Joey Porter may just have outshone with the 10 bottles of $900 Cristal champagne he sent to the ladies dancing around him! .

TONIGHT'S TIP
It's a nightclub kind of evening when Supersonic returns to Moon with The Funkler (Michael Fuller), who leads Chris Garcia, and Tomcraft in the hi-energy all-night party. Over at Tabu in MGM Scooter joins IT industry night resident DJ Jose 2 Hype.

TOMORROW'S TEASE
Pick the Pussycats! Luxe Life joins Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin as she auditions the eight, smoking-hot dancers who will be the star attraction at the new sexy pleasure pit casino at Caesars Palace. We've also got a unique face-to-face with Monty Python's Eric Idle and his 'Spamalot' star John O'Hurley who will play King Arthur.

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