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Cirque du Soleil Offers "Elvis Experiences"

First they secured the rights to some unreleased Beatles music, now Cirque du Soleil is planning to bring Elvis Presley back to the stages of the world. Not only will the troupe perform shows inspired by the King's legendary body of work, but audiences will also be treated to a traveling interactive Elvis museum called "Elvis Experiences."

The kick-off show is still about a year and a half away, and "Elvis Experiences" will not open for business until 2008. A tour schedule has not been set, but the group plans to begin their worldwide tour in Europe and Asia.

The company that controls Presley's business dealings, CKX Inc., is all shook up about the prospect of taking Elvis to the circus. Presley has conquered a variety of media, obviously, but this will be new territory.

"The partnership promises to not only keep Elvis alive, but also to bring a new perspective and vibrancy to Elvis that only the people at Cirque du Soleil could do," said CEO Robert F.X. Sillerman.

Oh, and one important order of business: Even though Vegas and Cirque du Soleil go hand-in-hand, this won't be a show for Elvis impersonators. Good news for fake Kings, though: CKX has backed off from earlier reports that they were planning to shut down unauthorized performances and performers.

Sillerman went on to say that the show may incorporate actual "artifacts" from Graceland, or, on the other end of the technology spectrum, may also blow minds with some virtual reality.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
05.22.06