Las Vegas Weekly

February 23, 2010 · 2:02 PM

Priscilla Presley admits nerves and tears over Viva Elvis

By Robin Leach

Priscilla Presley and her son Navarone Garibaldi on the blue carpet for the Viva Elvis world premiere at Aria in CityCenter on Feb. 19, 2010.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Priscilla Presley has candidly admitted that she’s had fears and nerves about opening Viva Elvis with Cirque du Soleil in a down economy. She’s also confessed to shedding tears over the intimate home videos she shared with the production to show to audiences.

I talked with Priscilla about her nearly four-year involvement with the spectacular that made the journey from its creative inception to the world premiere at the Elvis Presley Theater in MGM CityCenter’s Aria last Friday night.

She told me: “It’s finally here, after a lot of work, a lot of concerns, a lot of fear. You know the economy is down. Is this the time? A lot of work went in to bring it to this, and everyone is here, and the fans and all the publicity and all the buzz, which has been great. It is like Elvis is here again, and it is true when you see the sign Elvis is back because this is a tribute to him like he would have never ever expected. I think if he were here today, in his very shy way, very humble, he would be saying, ‘Thank you very much.’ ”

Priscilla has made many suggestions and recommended changes with the show. She flew to the Montreal headquarters of Cirque du Soleil and sat in on readings, script sessions and rehearsals. She attended rehearsals and previews here in Las Vegas. Cirque officials have said that she has had a lot to do with the shaping of Viva Elvis.

She commented: “Yes, I am very excited about what it has evolved to. It has had a lot of progress. I think it is a lot tighter. You know it was a work in progress and I think probably still will be. The public will give feedback on what they like and what they don’t like just like on every show that goes on. I know they have made some changes since I was last here two weeks ago. I have heard that they have had some standing ovations, and I heard that people are really blown away. I am excited about that. I am nervous, but I am excited, you know we are all so close.

“My daughter, Elvis Presley Enterprises, and myself, we are all so close to this project that we want it to be successful. Lisa Marie was going to be here, but the dates, as you know, have changed a few times. So she was not able to cancel out what she was doing personally, but she will be here in full force when she gets back home. Trust me.”

I tried to be sensitive but had to ask if she cried every time she saw the show and if it brought back intimate moments and memories of her married life to the King of Rock and Roll.

She graciously responded: “I think the home movies, the footage of him going into the Army, saying goodbye to his mother. They are the most touching. They are the scenes that make me cry. Gosh, I haven’t seen that footage, Robin, in so long. To see it in this show and how it is depicted, it is quite emotional. I will cry again tonight probably, especially with all the fans and the public cheering.”

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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