Levitating Upwards

Illusionist extraordinaire Criss Angel took me on a one-on-one tour of his new home at Planet Hollywood just before opening preview shows of his new magic spectacular Criss Angel: Mindfreak last week and it was mind-blowing. He believes the multimillion-dollar renovation of the showroom now known as the Criss Angel Theater is the most extensive and expensive such project in the history of Las Vegas and beyond, and after exploring his fantastic custom-built stage and setup, I’m sure he’s right.

He’s trying to change the game. “Life is death without change,” Angel said. “I want to be the show that initiates real change and development because the ultimate winner is the public. They deserve the best. If they’re coming to Vegas and spending their hard-earned money, it’s our responsibility to be the most sophisticated, technological and entertaining show in the world.”

All the Vegas: Terry Fator

“This is the place, and this is why I wanted to have my own theater here, where the greatest entertainers on the planet come. My favorite part is that Celine Dion, the legend of legends, her vocals are not human. It’s just ridiculous! No one should be able to sing that perfectly. And she’s right next door. That’s the best. The greatest artists of all time come here, and I love when they get a residency because that makes me realize what an honor it is to be able to maintain and sustain a show here. That’s the best part.”

Listen to Terry Fator’s episode of the All The Vegas podcast on Apple Podcasts and allthevegas.com.

Quick Hits

Lady Gaga hasn’t even begun her Las Vegas residency yet—she opens at Park Theater on Dec. 28—but she’s already adding additional shows in 2019. The inimitable artist’s ambitious Vegas production is actually two shows in one: the expected concert spectacular dubbed Enigma and the stripped-down, intimate Jazz & Piano affair. The five newly announced productions in June, October and November are the latter.

British supermodel Adwoa Aboah recently visited Magic Mike Live at the Hard Rock Hotel and took her party crew backstage after the show to meet with the cast and take pictures, also known as the Magic Mike meet-and-greet.

Nightlife visionary Andy Masi’s Clique Hospitality, which operates several sizzling bars, restaurants and clubs on and off the Strip—including the new Apex Social Club at the renovated Palms resort—is working on its second project at the Cosmopolitan. The Barbershop, a classic grooming salon with an “old world-inspired” cocktail program, is set to open in the spring in the space formerly occupied by the Bond bar.

Naughty new burlesque show Little Miss Nasty is picking up steam at the Night Owl Showroom at Hooters Casino Hotel. The L.A. transplant hits the stage Thursday through Saturday at 10:30 p.m. This revue comes complete with a hard-rocking edge, thanks to a soundtrack from Led Zeppelin, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails and more.