To soar with his charity, Criss Angel needs a lift

It is one thing to float across a Las Vegas stage as if untethered. But Criss Angel is being reminded that in the real world, you need real support.

Angel’s charity project, the Johnny Crisstopher H.E.L.P. (Heal Every Life Possible) organization to battle pediatric cancer, is almost upon us. The charity show is set for Monday night at Criss Angel Theater at Luxor, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction. The live auction is at 7 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by an all-star variety show hosted by Tony Orlando.

That Angel has thrown all of his ample energy behind this philanthropic project is a given. The man knows only one gear – overdrive – working through Sunday night and Labor Day on just a few hours sleep to handle event details. He’s recently launched his new stage show, “Mindfreak Live,” and is also editing an hour-long special to air around Halloween on A&E, titled ‘Trickd” and starring many of his celeb friends – Andrew Dice Clay, Gary Oldman, Steve Aoki, Randy Couture and Paris Jackson (Michael Jackson’s daughter) among them.

But the charity is a different sort of endeavor for Angel, who was devastated in October when told his son had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Now 2, little “J.C.” is in remission after treatment in Australia, where he lives with his mother, Shaunyl Benson. Both are expected to be on hand for Monday’s night’s show. Meantime, Angel has been busy spreading the word across social and mass media, assembling the event and wrangling the celebs.

It is a huge chore, and at the moment Angel’s energy has outpaced the financial support of the event. Of the $1 million set as a goal, $100,000 has been raised. As for ticket sales, as Angel said in a phone conversation Monday afternoon, “Plenty of seats are available.” (To participate, go to crissangel.com/donations.)

The word is out. That much is achieved.

“We have gotten awareness about the event beyond my wildest dreams, but it’s disappointing that has not turned into ticket sales or donations,” Angel said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. “It is such a huge need – only 4 percent of money raised for cancer research goes to pediatric care.”

Those scheduled to perform or appears onstage include Orlando, Clay, Jerry Lewis, Siegfried &Roy, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, members of Imagine Dragons, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, Lance Burton, Tom Green, Terry Fator, Blue Man Group, members of Cirque du Soleil, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Vince Neil, skating siblings Emily and Billy England of “Absinthe,” juggling great Kris Kremo, Taboo of Black Eyed Peas and cast members from Angel’s “Mindfreak Live” show.

The next step is to transfer that star power to real support. Angel mentions the music video recorded by Snider, an acoustic version of “We’re Not Going to Take It,” that has amassed about 6 million views combined on Facebook and YouTube. “If everyone who watched that video would give 50 cents, we would be far past our goal,” says Angel.

THE SCENE AT SLS

The Foundry at SLS has gained traction as a popular music haunt. No surprise there, given the hotel’s partnership with booking behemoth Live Nation. The 1,600-capacity hall is busy through November with Boyce Avenue (Sept. 16), Garbage (Sept. 22), Jessie Decker (Oct. 8), Bush (Nov. 4), Lauryn Hill (Nov. 12) and Lukas Graham (Nov. 18).

Notice something about that list? All music. An educated assessment from The Johnny is we will see the room expand its scope and book a comedy residency, something with a famous brand, by the end of the year.

John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.