Elvis Returning to Vegas

Thu., Aug. 17, 2006 6:50 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

Las Vegas already has Love. But now it's getting a hunka hunka burnin' love.

Cirque du Soleil announced Thursday that a show inspired by the life and music of Elvis Presley is in the works and will take up residence at the brand-new (as in, not even open yet) MGM Mirage CityCenter hotel and casino in 2009.

"I am pleased that during this time"--Wednesday was the 29th anniversary of the iconic performer's death--"when we remember Elvis Presley and celebrate his life, we are able to announce his return to Las Vegas, a place where he truly rose to iconic status," Robert F.X. Sillerman, chief executive of Elvis Presley Enterprises parent company CFX Inc., said in a statement.

"Elvis has a unique relationship with his adoring fans in Vegas and a large part of our mission is to recreate the excitement and the spirit of joy he generated here," Cirque du Soleil founder Gui Laliberte said.

According to the Associated Press, Presley played the Las Vegas Hilton 837 times between 1969 and 1976.

Unfortunately he was wearing a bejeweled jumpsuit during most of those appearances.

But the legend that Presley cultivated during the 20 years in which he redefined popular music in America lives on. And now that Cirque du Soleil is getting its hands on it, that legend's gonna soar.

The French Canadian company, known for its mind-boggling acrobatics, lavish sets and costumes and infectious popularity on the Vegas Strip, most recently brought the Beatles' music to life at the Mirage hotel-casino.

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow, Olivia, made an almost unheard-of appearance together at the June 30 premiere of Love, which features a score of entirely digitally remastered Fab Four tunes put together by the Beatles' main producer over the years, Sir George Martin. Each seat in the specially built, 2,013-seat theater is equipped with three speakers, the better to really meet the Beatles with.

While the King of Rock 'n' Roll's repertoire may not lend itself to the same surreal subtext that characterizes Love, it should nevertheless be interesting to see what sort of visual spectacle can be mined from classics like "Jailhouse Rock" and "Suspicious Minds."

Besides, digitally remastered Elvis is never a bad thing.