Criss Angel sets ‘Mindfreak Live!’ cast, casts net for Sept. 12 charity show

By John Katsilometes, Robin Leach

Published Wednesday, March 30, 2016 | 3:59 p.m.

Updated Thursday, March 31, 2016 | 12:27 p.m.

The magic in Criss Angel’s new show on the Strip is to arrive from two performers: Angel himself and Chloe Crawford.

This is the overarching message from the casting of Angel’s “Mindfreak Live!” at Luxor opening May 11. The new show supplants “Believe,” which is closing April 17.

“Mindfreak Live!” is designed to carry Angel through the remainder of his contract with Cirque du Soleil at the hotel, which runs through October 2018.

In the announcement of the show, Angel has elevated Crawford to the role of co-star, and it is clear that these two will deliver the magic. But there is a large ensemble in this production, too.

Making up that crew:

Comic actor Mateo Amieva (Maestro from “Believe”), Penny Wiggins (who long portrayed Psychic Tanya, the daffy sidekick of The Amazing Johnathan), “tricking” artist Chase Jarvis, dancer/acrobat Daniel Torres, dancer Michelle DiTerlizzi (late of “Peepshow,” “Vegas! The Show” and Holly Madison’s 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque at Mandalay Bay), dancer Matt Carroll, acrobat Tatiana Mayarov, dancer Daymara Sibat, hand balancer/acrobat Denys Tolstov, acrobat Josh Spencer, dancer Maila Aberg and musicians/video jockeys DJeff and Del Cheetah.

That lineup is charged with helping Angel convey the autobiographical story from his days as a kid in New York to the “Mindfreak” TV show through to the Las Vegas stage.

Angel is ramping up the production with all variety of advanced video, stage technology and new acts, with Crawford and he performing amid a series of dancers and acrobatic artists.

Angel has been working tirelessly, which is characteristic, at his Las Vegas warehouse/fortress/headquarters and also at his theater at the Luxor.

Also taking shape is his burgeoning charity, which he’s dubbed Heal Every Life Possible, or HELP (which is not to be confused with HELP of Southern Nevada, established in 1970 by the Junior League).

Angel has locked in 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the “Mindfreak Live!” theater for this event, which is inspired by Angel’s 2-year-old son Johnny Crisstopher, who suffers from leukemia. Through the September fundraiser, Angel is raising money for pediatric cancer care and research.

HELP is an all-star show with a scheduled performance from recording artist Shaunyl Benson, mother of Johnny Crisstopher. Those also scheduled to take the stage are members of Cirque du Soleil, guitarist Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Blue Man Group, Lance Burton, Terry Fator, Gordie Brown, the Cirque Couture troupe, Kris Kremo and Angel.

Angel is driving to make the night one of the biggest charity events of the year in Las Vegas. He’s putting up a stay at his own estate, the 25,000-square-foot Serenity, and an under-the-carriage tour of his 60,000-square-foot Las Vegas studio to help in the silent auction.

In that silent-auction package is a private magic lesson, given by Angel and members of his “The Supernaturalists” touring show. The full guest list is being built, but Siegfried & Roy, Jerry Lewis, Wayne Newton, Tony Orlando, Vince Neil, Carrot Top, Gene Simmons, Gary Oldman, Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas, Flavor Flav and Miles Brown are being lured to the event by the ever-persuasive master of ceremonies.

As Angel says in sharing this information, “Love is a powerful thing.”

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