The VivaFest Tent sits on an island within an island at Cornerstone Park in Henderson. But what’s performed inside sends a ripple across Las Vegas entertainment history.
“Circus Freaks,” a variety production from former “Mystere” and “Le Reve” artist Christopher Childress, drops in for shows this weekend, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) Friday and Saturday (tickets start at $40 for general admission, with a 2-for-$60 discount; go to events.humanitix.com/thecircusfreaks-com for intel).
Launched 21 years ago as a stand-alone annual production, “Circus Freaks” made a splash at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for five years in the early-mid 2000s. The production is a circus-style variety show with acts that are familiar to Cirque/”Le Reve” fans. Dance numbers, aerial routines and vocalists are all expertly staged.
The show shows some skin, is adult in tenor with drag acts in the mix, and recommended for ages 18-over (though kids with adult kids will not be turned away).
Lorena Peril of “Fantasy” is among the trio of singers. Robin Antin, founder of the Pussycat Dolls, performed in the original and is back on stage in the “Don’t Cha” number. Antin is friends with six other dancers in the show, which has largely been a Vegas reunion effort.
“All seven of us are living in this Airbnb here for five days,” Antin says. “We’re just laughing and reminiscing. It’s wild.”
Antin continues to review options in Las Vegas for a new “Pussycat Dolls’ stage show. The latest incarnation, the international “PCD Forever Tour,” opens in June and runs through October.
The cast has reassembled behind Childress and his husband and producer, David Oliphant. The show is returning to Vegas after running in San Francisco. Proceeds are being donated to ALS of Nevada, to honor beloved Vegas performer Michael Lee, who died from the disease just before Christmas. Lee was featured in the first five “Circus Freaks” shows.
Childress was the Redbird character in “Mystere” from 1997-2000, shifting to independent coaching and choreography, then joining “Le Reve” as artistic coordination from 2008-2011. He and Oliphant then moved back to the Bay Area.
The idea is to use the Vegas shows as a launch for a regional or even U.S. tour. The core of the cast represents veteran stage performers. Childress is 59, proud to still perform as effectively as he did in his “Mystere” days.
“I don’t see a lot of performers at a certain age that are still in their careers,” Childress says. “Most people stop that. They’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t do that anymore.’ But to have people like Robin or myself in this group, everybody’s returning. Your passion and your drive and the way you approach performing means everything in the world, like it always did, but this feels more personal.”
As Antin, standing at his side, says, “We are doing this to support Chris, and to keep dancing. If you do that, you’ll live a long life.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
What: “Circus Freaks”
Where: VivaFest Vegas Tent at Cornerstone Park, 1600 Wigwam Parkway, Henderson, 89074
When: 8 p.m. (doors 7 p.m.) Friday and Saturday
Tickets: GA start at $40; $60 discount for two tickets.
Information: events.humanitix.com/thecircusfreaks-com
CAST
Emcee
Ben Tucker
The Vocalists
Lorena Peril
Madelyn Simon
JeNelle Wiley
The Divas
Robin Antin
Terry Beeman
Heather Boney
Christopher Childers
Natalia Oliveira
Lisa Ratzin
Kevin Stea
The Acts
Gena Christiani
Avery Cluff
Kayla Kalisz
Elena Lev
Mark Martinex
Johanna Sapakie
Tonya Tovias
Juliano Wade
The Vegas Dancers
Teri Thorndike
Lisa Kunz
Jeanne Laubscher
Kimba Munford
Scott Barnard
Jamie Richards
Theatre Arts Preparatory School, Las Vegas
Levi England
Tessa Farris
Allison Holstein
Hayden Hughes
Trinity Mitchell
Wilson Wright
The Bay Area Dancers
Karen Hall
Doug Hall
Julie Lanesey
Jennifer Fuller
Josh Farris
Melissa Cheu
Christine Baker
Wendy Walker