‘Viva Las Vegas’ to Elvis show cast
The next incarnation of Elvis arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday. Twenty-two of the 75 cast members of Cirque du Soleil's new Elvis show received a "Viva Las Vegas" welcome at McCarran's international terminal after a flight from Montreal, Cirque's headquarters.
Dressed in street clothes, members of the troupe were coming down an escalator near the baggage area when they heard the surprise greeting: a serenade of the theme song from Elvis' 1964 film by more than a dozen colorful characters from "Mystere," "Ka" and "Criss Angel Believe," three of Cirque's six shows in Las Vegas.
The new arrivals will have three weeks to find a place to settle before resuming rehearsals.
The remaining cast members will arrive over the next couple of days, including an Elvis actor who went to Memphis this weekend for Elvis Week.
Among the arrivals was dancer-actor Chris Houston, who is no stranger to Las Vegas.
Scotland-born Houston, 31, was a dancer in Celine Dion's show at Caesars Palace and joined her world tour after she left Las Vegas in late 2007.
When he isn't dancing he will play Vernon Presley, Elvis' father.
"I'm going from the queen of Montreal to the king of rock and roll," Houston said.
Production manager Mike Anderson said fans will feel Elvis' presence in the CityCenter theater. The show, directed by former Michael Jackson choreographer Vince Patterson, will feature dancers, acrobats, "a killer band and a lot of guitar elements," Anderson said.
Priscilla Presley, who married Elvis in Las Vegas in 1967, was among a VIP group that got a preview of the show last Wednesday. Also attending was CityCenter boss Bobby Baldwin and Robert Sillerman, who purchased 85 percent of Elvis Presley Enterprises in 2004 for $114 million.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
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SIGHTINGS
Jermaine Jackson and Shawn King at "Donny & Marie" (Flamingo) on Saturday night after having dinner together earlier at the hotel's Steakhouse 46. Jackson has spent a lot of time in Las Vegas this past week, raising speculation that he's working on a deal involving the Jackson family. ...
THE PUNCH LINE
"More Americans are using food stamps than ever before -- over 34 million. Which may explain Bravo's new show, 'Top Chef -- Boyardee Edition.'" -- Jimmy Fallon
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
