Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

August 17, 2006

MGM MIRAGE Officially Announces Cirque Elvis Project at City Center

Posted by Hunter

MGM MIRAGE issued a press release today regarding a project with Cirque du Soleil based on Elvis Presley to be performed at the upcoming Project CityCenter. The entire text of the press release follows after the jump.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CKX, Inc., (Nasdaq: CKXE), its subsidiary Elvis Presley Enterprises and Cirque du Soleil have reached an agreement with MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) to create a permanent Elvis Presley show at the CityCenter hotel/casino, under construction in Las Vegas. The show is expected to open with the hotel in November 2009.

The deal announced during Elvis Week, the week in which we commemorate Elvis' untimely passing on August 16, 1977, marks the return of Elvis to Las Vegas, the site of some of the most remarkable performances of his illustrious career.

Cirque du Soleil's creative team is inspired by this new extravaganza. The creative combination of live musicians and singers, projections, dance and the latest in multimedia sound and lighting technology are stimulating and aim at offering an emotional bond with the audience. The show will bring Elvis back to Las Vegas for millions of his existing fans and create a buzz that will enable the persona of Elvis to reach untold numbers of new fans.

A design collaboration between MGM MIRAGE and six internationally acclaimed architects, CityCenter will open in 2009 on 66 acres between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts. At the heart of the action on the Las Vegas Strip, CityCenter will feature a soaring 60-story, 4,000-room hotel/casino, two 400-room non-gaming hotels, 500,000 square feet of retail shops, dining and entertainment venues and nearly 2,800 luxury condominiums.

Robert F.X. Sillerman, Chairman and CEO of CKX, Inc., commented, "I am pleased that during this time, when we remember Elvis Presley and celebrate his life, we are able to announce his return to Las Vegas, a place where he truly rose to iconic status. And with the remarkable creative talent of Cirque du Soleil, fans who saw Elvis perform, as well as those who never had a chance to see him, will be able to experience Elvis in an entirely new and exciting way. This will be the first step in establishing a twenty-first century presence in Vegas for the King."

Guy Laliberte, Founder of Cirque du Soleil, commented, "This new creative challenge is exactly what we strive at accomplishing in the development of our new productions. Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to be involved in CityCenter and we are particularly honored to be entrusted with this assignment. We are working closely with our partners to ensure the public will have an unforgettable encounter with the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis had a unique relationship with his adoring fans in Vegas and a large part of our mission is to recreate the excitement and the spirit of joy he generated here."

Bobby Baldwin, President and CEO of Mirage Resorts, an MGM MIRAGE operating division, said, "We are thrilled to partner with our friends and colleagues at Cirque du Soleil, who are known the world over for creating memorable entertainment experiences. With this show we will bring together Elvis, an icon of Las Vegas entertainment history, with CityCenter, a destination that represents the future of this remarkable city."

The announcement represents another step in the creative partnership between CKX and Cirque du Soleil. In May, the two companies announced an agreement for the creation, development, production and promotion of Elvis Presley Projects, featuring touring and permanent shows as well as multimedia interactive "Elvis Experiences" throughout the world. CKX and Cirque du Soleil expect by 2008 to open at least one touring Elvis show in Europe and/or Asia, and one "Elvis Experience" outside the United States. Beginning in 2009, at least one Elvis Presley Project will be opened in each of the next six years.

Categories: Business of Gaming, CityCenter, MGM Resorts International, Press Releases


Comments

Read archived comments (10 so far)
August 17, 2006 12:35 PM Posted by detroit1051

Hunter, you're quick! I just logged on to post the press release.

Friends who live in Las Vegas took a relative to see "Love" recently at The Mirage. They said it is the best show they have seen, better than "O" and other CdS shows. They liked the "minimal acrobatics" and said the theater-in-the-round has no bad seats. I'll see it next week.

August 17, 2006 1:53 PM Posted by mike_ch

I love KA/Mystere/O (in that order), but this is ridiculous.

On the other hand, it seems kind of predictible, since MGM decided to use that Luxor stage for second-rate music acts that won't fill up the concert hall at MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay. At least it means Luxor is finally getting SOME headliners instead of the revolving door of production shows it's had for about eight years.

August 18, 2006 2:22 AM Posted by Robbie M

Why can't people be more imaginative. First MGM Mirage replace or plan to replace almost show in their hotels with a Cirque show then after the Beatles and Love we get Cirque de Elvis what's next a Liberace themed show at the Monte Carlo or Cirque de Wayne Newton at the Luxor! Don't get me wrong I like Cirque but they just have too many shows on the strip. What I'd like to see is a big spectacular old vegas type show a kind of Jubilee for the 21st Century something which celebrates classic vegas entertainment without just copying on the Cirque shows are a hit lets do another one formula

August 18, 2006 4:50 PM Posted by John

Well, if you've read some of the articles in the Las Vegas Sun, Robbie, you'd know that, it is MGM Mirage's plan, to do just that. Something will replace Mamma Mia at Mandalay Bay, an "extreme-magic" esque show, revolving around Criss Angel at LUXOR (for now though, they have headliner at Luxor), then there are plans for a medieval-kids show at Excalibur, the only hotel, that may not see a Cirque show, is Monte Carlo. Of course, if anything, God forbid, happens to Lance Burton, there will be another show at Monte Carlo. You can also listen to some episodes of The Strip Podcast, they first broke the news on the Cirque du Elvis show.

Also, I guess the plan is to have 9 Cirque shows on the strip, by the end of the decade.

August 25, 2006 8:26 PM Posted by Steve

I've seen every vegas cirque show and this one was by far the worst. I found myself checking my watch after 40 minutes thinking to myself, what the hell is this?

I wasn't alone in thinking this. Mumblings heard throughout the theater after the show had the general consensus that cirque is losing its touch.

If Love was any indication of what the Elvis show will be like, then I'd rather put a match to $300 dollars and watch it burn. I'd be more exciting than this.

August 25, 2006 8:29 PM Posted by Hunter

To each his own.

I thought LOVE was up there with 'O' and 'Mystere' as my third fave CDS show.

I have no need to ever see 'Ka' or 'Zumanity' again and since I don't really care for Elvis, I am not interested in this new project.

But 'LOVE', I really liked. I love The Beatles.

January 4, 2008 5:41 AM Posted by Brian Quinn

Personally I have never liked The Beatles or their music and found their stage act boring. Elvis, on the other hand, was truly exciting and his songs invigorating. The Cirque Elvis shows will be outstanding.

January 5, 2008 3:03 PM Posted by Brian Fey

I was not a big Beatles fan, until I saw Love. I liked their music, but after seeing Love, It made me a fan. I don't care for Elvis personally, but I hope the show rocks, and I hope it makes me a Elvis fan also.

September 4, 2008 5:38 AM Posted by Maty

Next week the Elvis Presley "Re:Versions" album will be released in the UK. It's the first historical Elvis Presley's remix album. Maybe Cirque del Soleil are taking some music for their show from that.
http://www.reviewgraveyard.com/news.htm

April 14, 2009 10:12 AM Posted by Nick

Hey Robbie, Jubilee is the most boring show I have ever seen. The choreography is SO awful and repetitive. I am not crazy about the idea of an elvis show but I will give it a chance. I didnt like the love, or chris angel show that much. But come on Jubilee??? omg.