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Tags: Snapshot / Viva Elvis / Shows / Cirque du Soleil / Aria / CityCenter / → All Tags
Best Thing About Viva Elvis? The VE Shop
Spend your money with these nice people, not at the Box Office
As you might have gathered yesterday, we weren’t the biggest fans of Viva Elvis. But one thing we forgot to put on the “what we liked” list yesterday, is the VE shop.
We checked it out back in January, and it was fantastic. Of course, it has every Elvis CD, t-shirt and bit of kitsch you could possibly want, like the Memphis-made cashew crunch Elvis used to eat at Graceland:
Tags: Viva Elvis / Openings / Shows / Cirque du Soleil / Aria / VegasChatter Reviews / CityCenter / → All Tags
The Only Reason We'd See Viva Elvis Again Is If We Were Playing Cirque Bingo
Sorry, Elvis
So. Viva Elvis. If you were reading our tweets on Friday night, you’d have seen that we went to the officlal premiere (along with Gene Simmons, Priscilla Presley, Justin Long and oodles of other celebs – apart from Paul ‘The Flake’ McCartney who was a no show (probs for the best - scroll down). You’d also have seen that we really weren’t taken with it.
Before we carry on, it’s only fair to say that we don’t count ourselves as big Cirque fans. In fact, we haven’t seen any of the other Cirque shows in Vegas, though we have elsewhere. While we love the signature acrobatics, we aren’t mad on spurious plotlines (like in Varekai).
We have, though, seen enough of Cirque to know what to expect, we are big Elvis fans, and we know what we like in a show. And, yeah, we just didn’t like this – and from where we were sitting*, we weren’t the only ones. Let’s take it from the top - we’ll tell you what we liked, and then what we didn’t.
Tags: Shows / Viva Elvis / Cirque du Soleil / Elvis / Aria / CityCenter / → All Tags
'Viva Elvis' Still Has Big Blue Suede Shoes to Fill
When VegasChatter caught a glimpse of Viva Elvis last month, we knew we couldn't make a solid judgment based on a preview of four songs. Yet five weeks later, after seeing the full show, we're afraid Viva Elvis is still not quite living up to its potential.
While we loved the costuming, sets and storyline, the production came up kinda short in the "Cirque" factor and felt more like a musical than an on-the-edge-of-your-seat, za za zsu (to quote "Sex and The City"), over-the-top show.
Sure, it was very entertaining, but were we blown away? Not really. Would we pay $100+ per ticket to see the show. Highly unlikely. We love the King and yes, this show does pay homage to his life and legacy, but this Cirque interpretation is a far cry from what they’ve done with The Beatles LOVE, "O" or even Zumanity.
Tags: Elvis / Viva Elvis / Cirque du Soleil / CityCenter / Deals / Shows / → All Tags
'Viva Elvis' Tickets are $75 for The King's 75th Birthday
If you didn't know it, this Friday is practically a holiday in Las Vegas--it's Elvis' (would-be) 75th birthday! So in addition to the geeks and porn stars flooding the Strip, there will no doubt be Elvis' swaggering around town.
But what better way to celebrate The King than by seeing the new Cirque du Soleil show, Viva Elvis?
Via the Cirque Twitter, we found out that they are offering 75 tickets at $75 a piece on Friday, January 8th. The offer also comes with the new CD, "Elvis 75".
Regularly, tickets start at $87 each. But since the show is still in previews (the grand opening is not until next month), at least you aren't paying full price to see it. We were just "meh" on the sneak preview we saw but it's hard to judge from four songs.
Go here for the special coupon for the $75 tickets.
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Was There Gay Bashing Going on at Criss Angel's 'Believe'?
According to LA Times columnist, Richard Abowitz, there was. In a column for his new blog, Gold Plated Door, Abowitz reports that when an audience member used the word "faggot" during one of "Believe's" non-magic magic tricks, Criss Angel was unapologetic even when members of his dance troupe, already suffering from having to work in the Strip's worst show, complained that it was offensive.
Here's how it all went down, according to Abowitz:
Here is the trick in question from when I saw “Believe”: an audience member is asked by Angel to come up with any word. Angel claims that thanks to a special bond between himself and the audience member (homophobia?) he has scribbled that word in a sealed box on a whim. To prove this, Angel has the sealed box lowered, and the audience member’s spontaneously imagined word is then spooled out on paper in large hand written letters for the entire audience to read.
Tags: Viva Elvis / Cirque du Soleil / Show Reviews / Shows / Aria / CityCenter / CityCenter Grand Opening / → All Tags
Viva Elvis Still Has a Whole Lotta Rehearsing To Do
It's not fair to judge a show based on a preview of only four numbers. It's just not. So the sneak peek that we received yesterday for the Viva Elvis show is probably not going to be the same as what theater-goers on February 19th, the show's grand opening gala, will see. But folks with tickets on Friday will probably see a version close to this. And we are a little worried about that.
But let's take it from the top. The Viva Elvis theater is spectacular. It's new, it's got incredibly high ceilings and the seats are red and plushy with cup-holders, almost like giant Laz-e-Boys. Elvis' TCB with lightning bolts logo (which is found all over Graceland) is found all over this theater from the door handles to the TCB belt buckles that the ushers wear. (TCB? Taking care of business.) The souvenir shop outside the theater has everything you could want of Elvis memorabilia.
The feeling is very much like the frenzy that fans feel at LOVE at The Mirage, the Cirque du Soleil show about The Beatles. Even in the media preview with just a smattering of folks in the audience, the anticipation was high.
Tags: Viva Elvis / Cirque du Soleil / Aria / CityCenter / CityCenter Grand Opening / → All Tags
CityCenter Gets 'All Shook Up' with Viva Elvis Press Conference Today
The Viva Elvis wrap on the Harmon Hotel, opening date TBD.
And so it begins again. While the grand opening for the Aria Resort and Casino is not happening until tomorrow (there's a press conference in the morning and a fireworks extravaganza at night), Cirque du Soleil will be hosting a press conference this afternoon to show off their newest Vegas show, Viva Elvis.
Founder Guy Laliberté, CEO Robert FX Sillerman and Priscilla Presley will be on hand to comment on the creation of the show and the show's cast is expected to give a sneak peek performance.
After that, folks will head on over to the GOLD Lounge at Aria, a nightclub run by the Light Group that pays homage to the life and times of Elvis Presley. Yes, signature Elvis Presley cocktails will be served here.
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Viva Elvis Tickets Are Now Available for Pre-Sale
Finally! The ticket floodgates have been opened for Viva Elvis, the new Cirque du Soleil show opening inside the Aria Resort and Casino at CityCenter on DECEMBER 18.
We got the word via our Cirque Club newsletter but tickets can be yours on the Viva Elvis website. And if your budget for fancy acrobatic performances will be downsized in 2010 we say go and see Viva Elvis while it's in the preview performances as tickets will be slightly cheaper. Here's the breakdown:
Preview performances from December 18th through January 28th:
·
Category 1 USD $149.38
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Category 2 USD $128.75
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Category 3 USD $108.13
·
Category 4 USD $86.68
Regular performances as of January 28th and forward:
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Category 1 USD $175.00
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Category 2 USD $150.00
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Category 3 USD $125.00
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Category 4 USD $99.00
Tags: Viva Elvis / Cirque du Soleil / Aria / CityCenter / Shows / Openings / → All Tags
'Viva Elvis' Keeps Us Waiting Still
We've seen some new show posters for the Viva Elvis Cirque du Soleil show that's debuting in December at the Aria Hotel and Casino but there's still no exact date or ticket price for the show. (Update: Norm Clarke says Cirque will make an announcement soon as to when tickets will be available.)
However, Aria will open on December 16th and at this point so it's safe to say that Viva Elvis will open shortly after that. The opening date is listed as "December" so that means they have until December 31st to fulfill the promise.
As for costumes and set design, we're still in the dark although the cast did visit Graceland to get a better feel for the life that Elvis led. In the meantime, here's a more in-depth description of what to expect:
Created in the image of The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – powerful, sexy, whimsical, truly unique and larger than life – the show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodies the freedom, excitement and turbulence of his era.
Significant moments in his life – intimate, playful and grandiose – blend with the timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the charts. Viva ELVIS focuses on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas and the entire world of entertainment: Elvis Presley.
Our only request is that they don't bring out the giant wheels for the acrobats to jump on top of as it spins around. We sincerely feel we will see a show where one of these guys comes crashing down and we don't want it to be Elvis. Then again, a giant wheel in the form of a gold record could be awesome.
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What Sort of Changes Are Brewing at Criss Angel’s 'Believe'?
So, we came across a really fascinating story about Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte’s upcoming, I’m-so-rich-I-can-blow-$50-million trip to outer space today in the Las Vegas Weekly. The story was also about Laliberte’s barely contained enthusiasm about the new Elvis/Cirque show, but what really caught our eye was this throwaway tidbit:
Cirque’s resident Las Vegas Senior VP Jerry Nadal, who also is overseeing changes for Criss Angel’s Cirque show Believe at the Luxor, said: “Elvis will be a biographical structure, with appearances by characters based on his wife, Priscilla Presley, and his manager, Col. Tom Parker….”
Yeah, yeah, yeah – we know the part about the Elvis show being biographical (a first) and featuring players from Elvis’ inner circle (that equates to biographical, no?). What we’d really like to know more about is what, exactly, is being done with Angel’s show and when can we expect to see the new look?
Tags: 9-9-09 / The Beatles / LOVE / The Mirage / Cirque du Soleil / → All Tags
All You Need Is 'LOVE' To Complete Your Beatles Obsession
If you're a diehard Beatles fan then you've probably already got your copy of The Beatles Rockband video game as well as your very own 16-disk set of the entire Beatles song catalog, completely remastered for the 21st century, both of which were released today. So there's only thing left to do now--go see LOVE at The Mirage.
The Cirque Du Soleil show (set entirely to the music of The Beatles) runs only Thursday-Monday so it doesn't quite fit in with the 9-9-09 celebration but tickets are open for tomorrow night starting at $102.85 for the 7pm show.
Strapped for cash now that you've shelled out over $300 for the video game and the remasters disk set? Pop by the Hard Rock and admire their Beatles Collection. We're sure the new Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip will also have plenty of memorabilia for you to stare at. Just beware of the girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
Tags: Cirque du Soleil / CityCenter / Elvis / → All Tags
Drum Roll Please: Cirque du Soleil’s Elvis Show Has a Name
The theater at Aria where the Elvis Cirque Du Soleil show will perform.
Well, they haven’t actually officially announced the news yet, but sleuth Vegas journalist/budding show producer Steve Friess put two and two together and posted on his blog that the name will be Viva Elvis. Seems Cirque is still remaining mum, but the show’s director told him it was so, and Friess subsequently determined numerous iterations of the Viva Elvis URL have been snapped up.
So there you have it. Not too creative, maybe, but snappy and to the point.
The show’s cast transitioned from the Montreal headquarters to Vegas last month and has begun its final rehearsals for CityCenter's most hotly anticipated entertainment feature. Still no opening date or ticket info has been released, but we anticipate that it won’t be long now.
What do you think of the show’s name? Let us know!
