Las Vegas Weekly

December 16, 2009 · 11:08 AM

Photo Galleries: Viva Elvis preview; Priscilla Presley’s backstage tour

By Robin Leach

Cirque du Soleil gives a sneak preview of Viva Elvis at CityCenter's Aria Resort & Casino on Dec. 15, 2009.

Photo: Brian Jones/Las Vegas News Bureau

Our loyal Vegas DeLuxe reader Richard Corey provided us with his YouTube video of Priscilla Presley and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte’s comments at yesterday’s press preview of Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at the new Aria resort casino in City Center.

The show opens tonight in previews, giving the cast, crew, choreographers and directors nearly eight weeks of tweaking, tinkering and polishing before the official Feb. 19 gala opening. “During these performances, the creative team is in the very final stages of production for the show. The audience’s reaction and participation is an important step in the process,” a Cirque spokesman said.

Construction delays at the new theater and sign-off approvals with fire and building inspectors enforcing codes caused a monthlong delay for Cirque to let the cast rehearse there. Unfortunately, that also delayed their plans for the gala to coincide with Elvis’ birthday on Jan. 5.

We’ll have our interviews with the show’s director and writer Vincent Paterson and Gilles Ste-Croix, senior VP of Cirque’s Creative Content, later this week.

At yesterday’s press preview of six routines in an 18-minute excerpt, Cirque’s founder Guy Laliberte said: “On a creative level, it was extremely stimulating to draw our inspiration from this musical icon. Viva Elvis showcases the raw energy and pure talent of Elvis and highlights the exhilaration and beauty of his music on a grand scale.”

And Gilles continued: “The show’s acrobatic elements, set designs and other artistic components are part of an overall creative vision designed to showcase the timeless music of Elvis, his unique voice and his unequaled talent as a performer.”

Priscilla Presley added: “Elvis has always been in the forefront of new, contemporary entertainment and technology. I believe Viva Elvis continues this and reaches out and expands his legacy in a new, creative and exciting way. Priscilla was given a backstage tour of Viva Elvis.

Vincent commented: “The unique strength and power of Elvis was in his voice. I was greatly inspired by the originality and complexity of this musical legend. What I tried to paint in all humility is the show he might have created today.”

“It makes perfect sense that Elvis should live on in Las Vegas where his iconic status was cemented,” said Robert F.X. Sillerman, chairman of CFX Inc., the parent company of Elvis Presley Enterprises. “When we teamed with Cirque, we knew that any show they created would match Elvis’ larger than life presence. So we were pleased to open the vaults at Graceland and make available to Cirque historic archived materials, recordings and concert footage that would help them create a show that will carry Elvis’ legacy into the future. Elvis has come home.”

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Cirque du Soleil gives a sneak preview of Viva Elvis at CityCenter's Aria Resort & Casino on Dec. 15, 2009.

Robert and I chatted at length about the continuing plans he already has underway. “Vegas is very under-Elvised, and we are well along with our plans to add more Elvis to Vegas,” he told me exclusively. We will have that interview, which will make headlines, later.

Aria President Bill McBeath summed up: “We are an evolutionary destination designed to transform Las Vegas at its core. CityCenter is larger than life just like Elvis himself. We want to bring the element of fun to this centerpiece of CityCenter. Viva Elvis will bring The King of Rock and Roll back to Las Vegas for millions of fans and create a buzz that will enable his persona to attract untold numbers of new followers.”

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Priscilla Presley and Cirque du Soleil unveil Viva Elvis at Aria in CityCenter on Dec. 15, 2009.

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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