Cirque du Soleil hosts a news conference today to announce what is expected to be a new Luxor show featuring magician Criss Angel.
A couple of things were revealed in advance. The show won't open until 2008, though Cirque officials say the theater won't be gutted and rebuilt virtually from scratch, as older venues were for "Ka" at the MGM Grand or "Love" at The Mirage. Headliners and weekend concert acts are booked at least through mid-April in the Luxor theater that hosted "Hairspray" last year.
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The new show will be overseen -- from Cirque's end at least -- by Gilles Ste-Croix, who has been with Cirque since its street-festival origins and recently served as co-creator of "Love."
Angel, 39, is the musician-turned-illusionist who stars in "Mindfreak" for the A&E cable network. The TV show got a head start on promoting the live production by basing its current third season of production at Luxor. Angel already has his own gift shop in the casino.
The Cirque venture has been the Strip's worst-kept secret since at least July. "We're working in secret locations on secret things," Angel noted in December. The TV show's intensive production schedule is probably what delayed the live component. The current TV season wraps production in mid-April and debuts on A&E June 5; the fourth season starts shooting in early fall. ...
Producer David Saxe says he has the Japanese production show "Matsuri" lined up to replace The Scintas at the Sahara in late May after the show band bows out May 12. Also known as the "Muscle Musical," the acrobatics show played the Riviera last year and is virtually a guaranteed draw for Asian visitors. Saxe says the sale of the Sahara shouldn't change anything there for at least a year. ...
From Tiny Kiss to wacky wigs, the Spandex remains the same. Over the past few weeks, Beacher's Rockhouse at the Imperial Palace quietly morphed into the Rockhouse Bar & Nightclub.
Jeff Beacher, the promoter best known for Beacher's Madhouse at the Hard Rock Hotel, had his name disappear from the Strip-front enterprise very quietly, at least when compared to the late August block-party opening that drew 5,000 people and Paris Hilton. Jonathan Fine, originally an investor, stepped up as the managing partner. Scott Janco, formerly of Jillian's downtown, is general manager.
The club is "very effective" as a seven-night dance operation with a casual atmosphere, Janco says. On Monday, the club will test the waters for live entertainment with Metal Shop, the '80s spoof staged by Perfect World Entertainment, the folks that gave us Boogie Knights.
"We want to experiment before we start getting into more bands," Janco says of the room that hosted the little-people Kiss tribute under Beacher's watch. ...
Chris Cornell, formerly of Soundgarden and Audioslave, Big & Rich and Army of Anyone -- featuring Richard Patrick of Filter -- headline the free entertainment on Fremont Street kicking off the Vegas Grand Prix on April 6. The international flavor of the event is reflected by including the Teddybears, a Swedish band that is big overseas but little-known stateside. ...
"Forever Plaid" closes at the Gold Coast on April 1, but the cast won't be out of work long. The Las Vegas-based production moves to the Sycuan Casino near San Diego the week of April 9.
The cast will include current and longtime "Plaid" members J. Greg Davis, Douglas Frank, David Humphrey, Kevin McMahon and Dale Sandish.
A trek through Palm Springs on the way there or back could work in other Las Vegas expatriates. Mimi Hines headlines the Palm Springs Follies through May 20; Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders operate Buddy Greco's Dinner Club and perform nightly in Cathedral City. Kenny Kerr and James "Gypsy" Haake, formerly of "Boy-lesque," now star in "Make Boy-lieve" at the CopyKatz club in Palm Springs, and Kerr performs a one-man show at midnight there on Saturdays. ...
Lake Las Vegas Resort will have another season of six outdoor shows, with the performers on a floating stage at the MonteLago Village retail area.
Chris Isaak launches the series on May 11, followed by John Legend on May 18 and classical pianist Lang Lang with a 35-piece orchestra on June 2. June 30 brings Three Dog Night, apparently reuniting all three original singers; Chuck Negron usually tours the casino circuit separately from the group that still uses the band name.
After a two-month break from the heat, the series returns with Nevada Ballet Theatre on Sept. 8 and Kenny G on Sept. 29. ...
"American Idol" contestant Jasmine Trias has been extended one more week with the Society of Seven at the Flamingo. She now wraps her engagement on Sunday and Lani Misalucha returns on Wednesday. ...
Oops! An item last week about Delisco's CD launch had the listening party wrong by one night. It's on March 29 at Barcode, 5150 Spring Mountain Road.
Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays. Contact him at 383-0288 or e-mail him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com.
