Criss Angel closing?

[Jason England]

My brother works for the Cirque show Zarkana at Aria and they were told that Criss Angel's Believe will close for good on April 17th.

Anyone else hear anything about this?

Jason

[Richard Kaufman]

His services are required shepherding The Supernaturalists around the country.

[Tim Ellis]

According to a tweet....

Criss Angel ‏@CrissAngel Jan 20
My brand new creation is coming to @LuxorLV @Cirque 2016 Just Wait... #MagicRevolution

[Brad Henderson]

seems they already know when criss's latest effort is going to tank.

[Brad Henderson]

when did buying one's costume from hot topic make for a revolution?

[CraigMitchell]

Cirque reported the below in Oct 2015

"Criss Angel’s “Believe,” too, is set for a large-scale overhaul possibly by January, provided the budget and resources for those upgrades can be finalized this year. It was expected that “Believe” might be refreshened as early as November, around the show’s seventh anniversary on Halloween. But as Nadal said, “We’re looking at changes with Criss, sorting that all out, and I’d say probably January or February, hopefully, we can make some changes on that show with him.”

The show will remain titled “Believe” and in its current format at least through the end of this year. “We’d like to make significant changes to it,” Nadal said. “There are three more years right now on that (10-year) contract, and we need a big refresh. Criss has an amazing fan base, so you want to give them a reason to keep coming back again and again.”

http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-repor ... and-belie/

Cirque reported the below in Jan 2016:

“We’re going to be major overhauling the Criss Angel ‘Believe’ show with him. He’s bringing in all-new illusions, new lighting, new costumes, and we’re probably going to do a name change, too,” Jerry Nadal, Cirque’s senior VP of resident shows, told me.

“We’ll close in April for a couple of weeks. We already have a week dark, then we’ll close an extra week and a half and come back in early May. It will be 70 percent … new.


http://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2016 ... ve-o-bell/



Change is definitely afoot ... to what extent remains to be seen

[CraigMitchell]

Further news ...

"the show (Believe) has performed to paid audience counts hovering in the 40 percent range. Those numbers are beneath the standards and expectations of both Cirque and Angel. The new show will reportedly be employing far fewer stage techs ... about 20 less than the 74 who worked on “Believe.”

Angel is to be a figure in an “Unnamed Magic Show” ... at his Luxor theater."

http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-repor ... elieve-it/

So it would appear that Cirque are slashing even more costs - and minimising all expenditure for the balance of the contract. Will be interesting to see if The Supernaturalists becomes the "new" Criss Angel show at the Luxor ...

[Richard Kaufman]

I doubt the Supernaturalists will be the new show in Vegas: then they have to pay, what, 6 magicians instead of one?

[performer]

Big illusion shows are very costly and seem to be very popular in America. I don't remember seeing much of it in the UK although I may well be wrong. I have no idea why it is worth bothering with. I have seen exceptional entertainers hold an audience for the same length of time with a minimum of props and the entertainment value is just as good if not better. You really don't need lions and tigers and massive illusions to put on a good show. One man on a stage is enough. I have seen it time and again.

[CraigMitchell]

"I doubt the Supernaturalists will be the new show in Vegas: then they have to pay, what, 6 magicians instead of one?"

True but the major difference being that cast is 6 "non-starring" magicians who don't command anywhere near CA fees. Most would be very happy I assume for a stable monthly pay check - which would drop the per show amount even lower.

Also factor in the dismissal of the extra technicians, Cirque clowns and assistants - it could be possible.

If Criss was doing 40% capacity = 600 tickets @ modest $40 a head = $24 000 a night ...

Anyone have any idea on what the per-show performer pay is on The Illusionists ?

[Brad Henderson]

Steve Daly had a Facebook post claiming that the word is Cirque is out and Angel will be four walling the theater

[Ted M]

I predict the new show will be reborn as the Criss Angel Thumb Tip Spectacular.

[Tom Moore]

Steve Daly had a Facebook post claiming that the word is Cirque is out and Angel will be four walling the theater

yup

[CraigMitchell]

http://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2016 ... ndfreak-l/

Believe is out ... "Mindfreak Live" is in.

Cirque is still producing ...

"Criss will be joined by a cast that includes some of the world’s most talented specialty artists. Their names will be revealed soon"

"Meantime, his other show “The Supernaturalists” will continue its tour with European and South American dates in August, then new U.S. and Canada dates — and expect another major announcement for the development of that show"

[Richard Kaufman]

Ugh, I don't believe it.

[John Signa]

Shouldn't that be

Ugh, I don't beLIEve it.