When master magician Criss Angel teamed up with Cirque du Soleil in 2008 to create “Believe” at the Luxor, nobody knew what to expect. Skeptics claimed it would never work and the 10-year contract would last roughly as long as one of Angel’s onstage illusions. After some initial growing pains and a few tweaks to the show, Believe continues to be a draw for Angel’s legions of fans and was the best selling magic act in Sin City in 2013.

Believe is one of eight Cirque du Soleil productions based in Las Vegas but it is honestly the least Cirque-like of them all. The show is based around Angel’s talents as a world famous magician and illusionist instead of the body-bending physical feats that take the spotlight in Mystere, Ka, O and most of the other Cirque shows in town.

Like other Cirque shows, Believe takes place in a fantasy world with outlandish characters waging the classic battle between good and evil. As the show’s protagonist, Angel plays a Victorian nobel  in search of true love and he struggles to understand his existence in a surreal world. Kayala is Angel’s love interest and represents the forces of good. Crimson, dressed all in black and red, represents evil as she wages war against Kayala to win Angel’s love. Angel’s four assistants are Maestro, Slim, Lars and Luigi, a quartet of bumbling sidekicks linking the world of Believe with the real world. The white rabbit Lucky is the show’s mascot but appears on stage only briefly.

Throughout the show, Angel performs dozens of illusions as he attempts to thwart the evil advances of Crimson and find his way to true love with Kayala. The theater’s dark gothic atmosphere serves as the moody setting for the Cirque du Soleil artistry and the levitations, disappearances, escapes, and body mutilating illusions Angel is so famous for. All of this leaves audience members with the impression they have just witnessed the most macabre circus on the planet.

Angel brings plenty of street cred to the table in this collaboration with Cirque, which is one of the undisputed giants in Las Vegas entertainment. He has logged more television prime time hours than any other magician has. He is best known for starring in the “Believe” series on Spike TV and “Criss Angel Mindfreak” on the A&E Network. He has also starred in numerous TV specials and has a reputation has an entertainer who insists on having a hand in every aspect of the creative process, including creating, directing, producing, writing and performing.

If receiving awards mean you’re great at what you do, then Angel stands head and shoulders above the rest. His peers in the International Magicians Society honored him with the Magician of the Decade award in 2009 and the title of Magician of the Century in 2010. In fact, he has amassed more magic awards than any other performer of his kind in history. Locally, he has garnered accolades as Vegas’ Entertainer of the Year and the Best Magician in Las Vegas.

To say he is popular with fans, especially those of the female persuasion, is an understatement. Angel has gathered more than 5.5 million followers and likes on Twitter and Facebook combined. Madame Tussauds has even immortalized the magician in wax, so you know he’s special.

Criss Angel Believe plays Tuesday through Saturday at 7 pm with an additional late show at 9:30 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Luxor offers a dinner and show package that includes a special three-course dinner at Tender Steak & Seafood.

The show admits children 5 and older but anyone 15 and younger must attend with an adult. The show’s promoters recommend parental guidance as mature language may not be suitable for young children, especially those under the age of 12.