It's now official that Cirque du Soleil will present 'Mindfreak' magician Criss Angel in a $100-million+ magic spectacular as first reported in LUXE LIFE. The news is imminent and a countdown of just four days has begun.

LUXE LIFE has learned that invitations will be issued to TV crews and journalists within 24 hours to meet at the Luxor on Thursday, Mar. 15 at 2PM for the actual announcement with Cirque executives from Montreal and Luxor president, Felix Rappaport, along with other MGM officials also in attendance.

Its a double bonanza weekend for Criss because he also got the news that his top-rated A&E series 'Mindfreak' has just been renewed for a fourth hit season and he has with just three more weeks of programs to film for the current season where has has been based at the Luxor for the filming of the new series.

The current TV season of shows is wrapping on a really high note. On Thursday, Criss finally achieved his most incredible illusion by levitating some 22 feet above the giant light beam of the Luxor for just over 10-minutes. "That was about four months in the making," he said. "It was amazing being up there and literally looking down at traffic seeing me and almost crashing to a halt in disbelief."

One of Criss' TV producers told me, "At first we thought the giant 800 watts of candle power would fry him. After all, there are thousands of moths, insects and birds fried up there. But the bigger problem was the ultraviolet -- that's the danger from the sun to burn your skin. The last seven weeks were very intense working it all out so he wouldn't be burned alive and at the same time not blinded and so we could see it with the cameras."

Criss added, "Not only did I wear a special protective suit under my clothes but I had to put on special goggles so my eyes wouldn't be harmed, but it was the greatest experience of my life. I'm thrilled we were able to make that magic."

Then at the weekend, Criss (here with Vince Neil) who has been called the Houdini of the 21st Century pulled off one other amazing magical miracle. As cameras and spectators watched in awe, he used the glass elevators at the Luxor to mid-air switch himself and a group of passengers from one lift to the other!

"I'm beat though," said Criss. "I'm exhausted. I'm operating without full sleep. This is dangerous. But we must finish the series with the very best illusions in the world today. I just have to keep pushing to make everything better and more sensational.My fans deserve the best possible magic. This is something I have worked for all my life and I will never let them down."

He's now also got the official new live show go ahead to start planning. LUXE LIFE has learned from other sources that Cirque has tentatively set a February 2008 debut at the Luxor and construction will begin at the theater there within the month. Cirque's artistic team has taken the Times Square show that Criss presented there at World Wrestling Executive Vince McMahon's Manhattan theater for a brief run. That dramatic thematic magic show featured various fairy-tale animated characters and Cirque's entertainment masterminds have worked with those as the basis for his new spectacle.

Criss won't talk yet about the show or even confirm Thursday's press announcement. But you can follow the story in our previous LUXE LIFE exclusives about the proposed magic show and his surprise birthday roast!

Less than two months ago LUXE LIFE also forecast that the official confirmation would come this week. Cirque's management has conducted several months of exhaustive extensive market research studies on Criss's phenomenal fan appeal, the surprising strengths of his merchandise sales and the state of magic shows in Vegas in preparation of the new mega-magic show.

LUXE LIFE will continue to bring you all the breaking news developments as Cirque prepares its sixth show on the Vegas Strip. The super-sized Angel production will follow in the successful steps of 'Mystere' at TI , 'O' at Bellagio , 'Zumanity' at NY-NY, 'KA' at MGM and the most recent 'LOVE' musical with The Beatles at the Mirage. LUXE LIFE has already broken the news that Cirque also has a seventh Vegas show in the pipeline and will partner with showbiz mogul Robert X Sillerman's Elvis Presley corporation for a spectacular on the King of Rock and Roll to be unveiled in a brand new theater at the currently under construction City Center -- MGM's giant 65-acre site between the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo with some 10,400 hotel suites and condo-apartments set out over four different architecturally designed towers.

Criss has been severely cautioned by his family and close friends to cut down on the ever increasing dangerous stunts and illusions he's masterminding. LUXE LIFE had the exclusive story and interview just two weeks ago about how he nearly drowned when a trick went wrong after 'Bounty Hunter' Doug Chapman used 100 feet of rope to tie the magician to a chair and threw him into the deep-end of the Luxor swimming pool. Click here for the report in which Criss admitted: " I was less than 10-seconds from drowning and certain death."

LUXE LIFE has just learned of an issue at the Silverton shark tank involving Criss and medical personnel. Stay tuned.

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