Las Vegas Weekly

December 14, 2009 · 5:21 PM

Exclusive: Criss Angel’s new Believe illusions; Mindfreak to return

By Robin Leach

Criss Angel performs in his Cirque du Soleil show Believe at the Luxor.

Photo: Tomasz Rossa/Cirque du Soleil

Mindfreak mega-magician Criss Angel has signed on for a sixth season of his top-rated A&E series. In an exclusive interview, Criss told me that filming will start in early spring after he’s integrated seven new extraordinary illusions into his Cirque du Soleil show Believe at the Luxor.

He has already been rehearsing all of them during the day and performing his shows at night. Now he’s waiting for Fire and Building Department approvals to add them into the show.

Luxor President Felix Rappaport confirmed the delay in adding the illusions. “We’d hoped it would be December, then January, but now realistically with the additional building changes and the show coming up to code in every aspect, all the inspectors say Criss can have everything in place for March in time for new marketing and promotion,” Felix told me.

The incredible illusionist pointed out: “It’s a tough, demanding schedule doing two shows nightly, and then working during the day to create, build and rehearse the new illusions.”

Details of the new illusions are being kept tightly under wraps. I can’t reveal the information yet, but, as you know, Vegas DeLuxe will have the news first once the approvals are in place.

I asked if Criss had time with all the work pressures for a new romance, and he laughed: “I am married to my work, and it’s become a regular 16-hour day. Sometimes 18 hours when we add in a third show to some of the weekend schedules. I don’t have time for much else, and I like being with my family when I have any free time at all.”

KLUC 98.5 FM toy drive

Criss broke away this past weekend to contribute to the local KLUC 98.5 FM holiday toy drive. He presented a large box of gifts and gave $10,000 to the gift card fund. In the past week, employees of XS, Tryst and Drai’s After Hours and the casts of Jersey Boys and Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular also have contributed to the toy drive.

“I don’t like being so public about things like this,” he told me. “I prefer being quiet and anonymous about what I do all year long for children in need of help. But this is a radio station promotion, so it’s inevitable it becomes public, but hopefully what I do will encourage others to volunteer, too, and do the same and more.”

Next year, he’s already working on his own Believe Foundation program for needy children and families. He plans a celebrity auction at the Luxor, and already Oprah Winfrey has donated autographed memorabilia. “We’ll have other celebrities taking part. A lot of people you know have promised to help us,” Criss said.

He’s also excited about the simultaneous progress of Believe and the new season of Mindfreak.

This weekend, Criss will celebrate his 42nd birthday, and there will be a special onstage presentation at the Luxor by hotel-resort officials. I’m told birthday cake will be handed out to all members of the audience attending the late Saturday show. Vegas DeLuxe will have a full photo report afterward.

“I never thought when I first came to Las Vegas that it was all going to turn out this way,” he summed up. “But as I tell the Loyals (Criss’s fan club) and I tell the fans and audiences every night, never stop believing. Believe you can win, and you will.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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