Matt Bailey Speaks with the Mindfreak Himself, Today on Talk For Two!
Show notes by Matt Bailey:
***NOT MENTIONED IN SHOW, JUST ADDED: CRISS ANGEL IN PITTSBURGH PA JUNE 9TH. TICKETS HERE***
As many of you know by now, I just got back from another trip to Las Vegas. I could get used to going to the desert every two months. The day I landed–literally hours after stepping off the plane, I had the chance to talk with one of my all-time favorite entertainers, Criss Angel.
Now, my travel days are sacred. I don’t rush around after landing anywhere, for ANYBODY. Sorry, but I don’t need that stress if there’s a chance my plane could be delayed, etc. But for Criss, I said I’d make it work, and with the graciousness of his team, we did. We talked over the phone for over 20 minutes.
Criss Angel now performs at Planet Hollywood, in a show called Mindfreak. This is his first live creative endeavor in Las Vegas without Cirque Du Soleil. Having opened in December, the show has already won Angel critical acclaim, including an award as “The #1 Show in Las Vegas” from Celebrity Radio, the UK’s #1 review site for travel and Vegas.
In our interview, Angel was more honest and forthright than I expected him to be. He opened up to me about his unhappiness, as well as safety issues with his former producer. Angel also expressed excitement about the freedom he now has at Planet Hollywood. He says this is the most creatively fulfilled he has ever felt.
The show absolutely blew me away. 100% immersive, PH completely remodeled their showroom to become the Criss Angel theater. You can tell they are betting on him playing there for a long time to come.
Criss, in the days of his A&E series, also called Mindfreak, got a lot of flack for being a “TV Magician.” I guess as a millennial, I never really saw the issue with that. It brought attention to an art form I love. Was his personality a little…aggressive and gothic for my tastes as pre-teen and teen? Sure. But like every maturing rockstar, Angel seems to have relaxed into his image, and begun to let the Magic speak for itself.
I’m going to be a bit bombastic here, but I really believe it: Not since Lance Burton has their been magic show on the strip that has had more production value, more spectacle, and more of a “WOW” factor than Criss Angel’s Mindfreak. Fans of real illusions done in a modern way with true Vegas showmanship will love this show.
But, if you’re NOT able to get to Vegas, don’t worry. Criss Angel is coming to Broadway this summer with “RAW.” While RAW is the name of the show he tours around the country, Angel promises something completely different for Broadway. His stint at the Lunt-Fontanne theater runs July 2nd to the 7th, as part of the In Residence on Broadway series. For my New York friends who think they can slack–there will be NO extensions. Get your tickets here:
Now this weekend, Angel will be appearing at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor in Windsor Ontario, and at Seneca Niagara Falls Resort in Niagara Falls, NY. He’s in Windsor tomorrow, and Niagra Falls on Saturday June 8th. Get your tickets by clicking the link text above.
Special Thanks to Max Hornig
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