Las Vegas Weekly

September 18, 2008 · 3:25 PM

Fun facts about the inner workings of Believe

By Robin Leach

Photo: OSA Images

Crow Men, from Believe. You'll know what they are, and what they do, when you see the show.

*The cast comprises 22 people including three musicians and one singer.

*There are three rabbits with human performers inside: one small, one medium and one that stands upside down on its ears.

Photo: OSA Images

Cast members of Believe, in rehearsal.

*There are also rats, moles, birds and sinister giants that are built from human bodies – a hybrid of the performer’s body and the creature.

*The completely robotic rabbit that delivers the pre-show announcements is equipped with 11 servos linked to the theatre’s sound system.

*One huge robotic flower delivers the aerialist playing the part of Kayala.

*The creation of the Gold Frame that shapes the main stage involved the talents of 30 sculptors, moldmakers and painters over a period of three months.

Photo: OSA Images

A gown from Believe.

*There are seven rabbit characters on the carved gold frame, the largest, the center clock rabbit, measures10 feet-by-10 feet, 6 inches. The Gold Frame contains automations, special effects and lighting.

*There are humorous references to magic and illusion in the sculpture of the frame with motifs of rabbits and saw blades replacing the traditional egg and dart architectural molding, as well as bunnies in straitjackets on the plinths.

*The crumbling architectural proscenium facade opening is 60-by-35 feet, with layers of wallpaper, brick, plaster, rubble, vines and remnants of architecture.

*There are more than 8,000 linear feet of laser cut vines (made of synthetic material) in three different patterns on the proscenium and the blue patina wall.

Photo: TVT

Criss Angel, with members of the Believe cast.

*Smoke machines and lighting devices have been built into many of the puppets. The puppets utilize many space age materials such as carbon fiber composites and various super lightweight structures.

*Lightweight materials for the show’s many masks make it possible for the dancers to perform wearing them even though some extend two feet in front of them.

*Twenty Christie Roadster S+20k projectors are used onto two seamless screens. The upstage screen is 30 feet-by-60 feet (rear projection only) The downstage screen is 20 feet-by-32 feet (front and rear projection)

*There are two manually operated projectors on custom pedestals with custom joystick controls much like a camera for the zoom and focus.

— From Vegas Deluxe

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