Greek Mindfreak to perform with Cirque

By Lia Karidas

You might know Criss Angel as the stunning illusionist, made famous by his A&E Network television show, Criss Angel Mindfreak.

What you might not know is that Criss’s real name is Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos, and he is a famous Greek American.

Another thing you might not know is that Criss has been slated to perform with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas this fall. The show, CRISS ANGEL Believe™ , will be an unconventional magic show that combines the distinctive imaginations and performance styles of Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil respectively. If you have ever seen Criss Angel’s mind numbing illusions, or Cirque de Soleil’s unbelievable physical feats, you can safely say that this show is going to be something spectacular.

Before Criss Angel dazzled us with his magical prowess, he was raised in East Meadow, Long Island, New York. His interest in magic was born when he was a child, and his aunt Stella showed him a card trick. He would always ask her how she did it, and she would always tell him. Both of his parents are Greek, and his mother, who has regular appearances on Criss Angel Mindfreak, hails from Mystra, Greece.

He had also taken an early interest in music, and one of his trademarks is his combination of magic with loud, pulsating rock music. “I wanted to combine magic and music in a much grander vision that required a band, larger illusions and more equipment”, he said in an interview.

Now audiences have the opportunity to see what really goes on when preparing for one of Criss’s shows. Preview performances for CRISS ANGEL Believe will begin September 1^st and run through to September 11th. During these performances the creative team will still be in the final stages of production, and the audience’s reaction and participation will be integral in determining the outcome of the actual show. These performances might be interrupted to make adjustments as necessary.

CRISS ANGEL Believe will be performed at the Luxor in Vegas on Friday through Tuesday with no shows on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

For more information about Criss Angel, and this promising show, visit his official website at www.crissangel.com.