Photo Coverage: Cirque Du Soleil VIVA ELVIS Premieres in Las Vegas

Cirque du Soleil, in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, celebrated the world premiere of its latest resident show Viva ELVISTM, at ARIA Resort & CasinoTM at CityCenter in Las Vegas on Friday, February 19, 2010.

In attendance at the event were Priscilla Presley, Robert F.X. Sillerman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CKX, Inc., Bill McBeath, President and COO of ARIA Resort & Casino and Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil among other distinguished guests.

Viva ELVIS, a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music, is a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley. Nostalgia, modernity and raw emotion provide the backdrop for his immortal voice and the exhilaration and beauty of his music.

Created in the image of The King of Rock 'n' Roll - powerful, sexy, whimsical, truly unique and larger than life - the show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodies the freedom, excitement and turbulence of his era.

Viva ELVIS focuses on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas: Elvis Presley. Significant moments in his life - intimate, playful and grandiose - blend with timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the charts.

In paying homage to the music of Elvis, Cirque du Soleil set out to present the songs of the King of Rock 'n' Roll in a contemporary form that evokes the spirit of Elvis in every way. Thirty of Elvis' songs are used in the production, with remixes designed to accentuate and boost the emotional charge of his performances. Elvis' voice is the only male singing voice in Viva ELVIS, joined by occasionally live female singers and an energetic live band. The only way to convey the true vitality and seductive charm of Elvis is with Elvis himself.

The Viva ELVIS costumes are inspired by Presley's life, his entourage, his concerts and his films. The fabulous imagination of ‘50s and ‘60s America, expressed through the cinema, advertising and magazines of the time, was a source of inspiration for costume designer Stefano Canulli.

Viva ELVIS is presented exclusively in the custom-built Elvis Theater at ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas. The international cast of 76 artists is comprised of dancers, musicians, singers and acrobats.

Beginning February 21, 2010, Viva ELVIS will be performed Friday through Tuesday at 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm. There will be no shows on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

For more information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/vivaelvis.

Photo Credit © RD/ Erik Kabik/ Retna Digital