Sunday’s Las Vegas Raiders game at Allegiant Stadium, a loss to the Chicago Bears, might be eventually remembered as ex-coach Jon Gruden’s last on the sidelines, but for many of those in attendance, it was the football game where Criss Angel made history.
Before kickoff, the headlining magician at the Planet Hollywood resort on the Strip performed an incredible upside-down straitjacket escape while suspended 100 feet above the field, twice the height of Harry Houdini’s most elevated escape. It only took him 30 seconds to spin free of the restraint, before dropping the jacket to the field below, a stunt that was part of the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative to support the American Cancer Society’s call for early detection of multiple types of cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Raiders owner Mark Davis, who helped secure Angel into the straitjacket, donated $50,000 to the Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation, the nonprofit Angel founded to raise awareness of pediatric cancer and provide funds for research and treatment. Johnny was diagnosed with leukemia at 20 months old and was at Allegiant Stadium to cheer for his dad. Angel recently released tickets for all 2022 performances of his hit “Mindfreak” production at Planet Hollywood, which hits the stage at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
“Fantasy” at Luxor is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this week and has added two new numbers to the wildly popular female revue performing nightly at 10:30 p.m. at the Atrium Showroom plus an extra 8 p.m. show on Sundays. The show is set to release its annual calendar, with the 2022 version known as the “Gold Standard” calendar, featuring its famous showgirls, and Mandalay Bay and Luxor COO Chuck Bowling welcomed guests to the anniversary performance on October 12, attended by loads of local celebrities and entertainers.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are the latest mega-act to make plans to play Allegiant Stadium. The Chilis will launch their first 32-city U.S. stadium tour in 2022 including a stop at the home of the Raiders on August 6. The tour also marks the return of guitarist John Frusciante and The Strokes and King Princess will open. Tickets go on sale Friday.
More new concert announcements this week include: Puerto Rican singer Jay Wheeler will perform at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan on November 26; Singer and songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov will visit Brooklyn Bowl at the Linq Promenade on December 6; Styx will launch its 50th anniversary tour with a special five-night engagement performing with Nancy Wilson of Heart at the Venetian Theatre on January 28-February 5; Shinedown will make a tour stop at the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on February 4; Chicago will make a triumphant return to the Venetian Theatre for a six-show run on February 16-26; and Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox will be back in Las Vegas at the Smith Center on June 17.
As I mentioned on this week’s Sun on the Strip, comedian Amy Schumer will bring a special night of laughs dubbed “Amy Schumer & Friends” to the Mirage Theatre on November 4, with tickets starting at $100. The performance will be a phone-free experience, meaning guests will allow their devices to be secured in individual locked pouches within the performance space.
If you are lucky enough to be attending this weekend’s Power of Love gala at Resorts World, the fundraising event for Keep Memory Alive has added even more incredible entertainment. Demi Lovato, Jordin Sparks, AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys and the duo of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. have joined the lineup, which already included honorees Smokey Robinson and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Bruno Mars, Kenny Loggins, Boyz II Men and more. Grab a ticket at keepmemoryalive.org.