In Vegas, All You Need Is LOVE

The Beatles LOVE, a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas.

Using a high-powered combination of acrobatics, aerial ballet and even extreme in-line skating, the show follows a rough approximation of the Beatles' story using many well-known characters, such as Eleanor Rigby, Lady Madonna and Sgt. Pepper. The show's 30 songs are from the 1960's, but the sound system is pure 21st century. The theatre was outfitted with more than 6,000 loudspeakers, including three in each seat, to ensure maximum sonic fidelity.

LOVE was an instant hit. Champagne judged LOVE's broad appeal, in part, by tracking the way a certain Beatle referred to it. "In the first meetings I had with Paul McCartney, I remember him talking about 'George's show.' You know, Paul was involved, more or less, in order to support his friend George's idea while the show was being developed," Champagne explained. "Then Paul started to talk about 'your show' — me and George [Martin] and Giles Martin and the creative team."

"And then it became, in Paul's words, 'our show,'" Champagne said. "By opening night, I remember hearing him talking to someone about 'my show.'"

For Champagne, it was the ultimate anniversary gift: "I had the privilege of feeling like I've been the fifth or the sixth Beatle, for a while."