Criss Angel returned to his spectacular MINDFREAK show at Planet Hollywood last year while laying groundwork for AMYSTIKA, a collaboration with legendary director Franco Dragone, set to open March 11. We chatted with him about AMYSTIKA and his new endeavor, Criss Angel’s Breakfast, Lunch and Pizza (aka Cablp).

Most Las Vegas headliners had a very busy year in 2021 but you really took it to another level. You added a beautiful baby girl to your family and opened a restaurant, all while getting MINDFREAK back on track. How’s the restaurant biz treating you?

Cablp is doing fantastic and I’m really excited about the future of that concept. We bought a second building and are hoping to open a second location by the end of (this) year, and we’re looking for at least 10 locations in the future. People love it, the food is amazing, just casual comfort food in a great environment with a friendly staff. That community in Moapa Valley with Overton and Mesquite, they’ve been fantastic and incredibly supportive. And it all started because of my son Johnny Christopher’s birthday wish to ride dirt bikes in the desert, that’s when we stumbled upon this place and camped out for the first time as a family there, and we all loved it.

Of course, you also spent a lot of time last year developing AMYSTIKA, your new show that is set to open in March. What was the spark for this project?

I think back to when I first saw Franco’s work on an HBO special and I just fell in love with something about what he does. He’s completely unorthodox and has a different way of thinking about live entertainment and theater and circus. He’s been copied and emulated, but he is who he is, and I always wanted the opportunity to work with Franco. Back in the first days of Le Rêve (formerly at Wynn Las Vegas), we hooked up and worked on that show … and we were developing a show together for Steve Wynn before my deal at Luxor, but that never came to fruition. But we kept in touch.

What’s it been like to work with him on this new show?

Franco is probably one of the most prolific directors in entertainment history, and he certainly changed the trajectory and history of Las Vegas. Now we are equal partners on a course to create some more. Sometimes when you work with somebody, you don’t know what you’re going to get. It has turned into something absolutely beautiful, and I’ve grown so much, personally and professionally. He’s such a genius at what he does and he looks at the process in a very different light that I’ve seen anybody do.

You’ve said AMYSTIKA is a sort of prequel to MINDFREAK. What will set this new show apart from your previous efforts?

What’s wonderful about this show is that it’s very interactive, a visual feast, but there is a story there. This is the first time I’m aware of in Las Vegas history where you have two shows you have to see to get the complete experience and understand the entire concept. This is about my journey, about how I became who I am, not literally but much more symbolic. Hopefully it will give anybody watching it not only an incredible experience, but to leave the theater realizing anything is possible, even for a kid who barely made it through high school and never went to college and now finds himself more successful than he ever dreamed of. If I can do this, anyone can do this.

Planet Hollywood Resort, 702.777.2782

Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.