Las Vegas Weekly

June 16, 2010 · 8:49 AM

Photos: Sir Richard Branson joins Viva Elvis cast onstage

By Robin Leach

Sir Richard Branson backstage at Viva Elvis in Aria on June 15, 2010.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Sir Richard Branson joined the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis in Aria last night as part of the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic flights between London and Las Vegas. The party kicked off at Gold Lounge at Aria in MGM’s CityCenter. While at Gold, Richard mingled with VIP guests including Aria President Bill McBeath and cast members from Viva Elvis.

Moments before the show began, Richard was fitted with a leather jacket and given direction about his role onstage -- a cameo during the show-opening “Blue Suede Shoes” -- and a ride on a pink Cadillac in front of 1,800 theater guests.

Viva Elvis cast members greeted Richard’s Virgin Atlantic plane as he arrived yesterday afternoon from London with burlesque queen Dita Von Teese on the tarmac at McCarran International Airport.

Richard’s schedule today in Las Vegas includes a press conference at the Bellagio.

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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