 Celine
Bids Goodbye, For Now
After
five years of consecutive sold-out performances at Caesar’s
Palace Colosseum, the final curtain will fall this Saturday on Celine
Dion’s A New Day, but will definitely rise again for her before
you can say “I’m Alive.”
Celine
Dion could certainly rest on her laurels, but that’s just
not who she is. She has won over 1,000 awards including Grammys,
Oscars, Golden Globes, World Music Awards - you get the idea, she’s
talented. And she will now share that gift around the world, in
person, but first, she will take a couple of months off from performing,
before she launches her new “Taking Chances” tour in
South Africa on Valentine’s Day 2008. Not to worry, Celine
fans, as she will be back in the States for a 45-date tour next
August, kicking off in Boston (what, having the Red Sox and Patriots
wasn’t enough luck for Bostonians?). Currently no Las Vegas
dates have been scheduled.
Sounds
like Dion will need a little time off (of course she will probably
be rehearsing at breakneck pace) before her tour. Just this past
month alone, she has performed at the World Music Awards, and was
a guest at the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center
in NYC and on “Dancing with the Stars.” She has also
made guest appearances on All My Children, Oprah and the View. People
Magazine featured her and her six year old son Rene-Charles in a
six page interview; and if all that wasn’t enough, she launched
two new albums “Taking Chances” and “Live in Las
Vegas – A New Day…” What did you do this past
month?
“A New Day” was inspired when Celine and her husband,
Rene Angelil, saw “O” for the first time and they realized
that there wasn’t much difference between fact and fiction.
“Magic is possible and is in the eye of the beholder.”
Dion states in her exquisite “New Day” program. It was
then that the concept of Dion’s show was realized; they just
needed to find some way to put all the pieces together.
 Rene
took over and his first piece of business was to find a director
that could realize their vision and that was none other than Franco
Dragone, the mastermind behind Mystere and O. “We met with
Franco Dragone and understood each other’s idea of just what
a show could become, given a little bit of destiny and a whole lot
of luck. This big adventure began with a handshake, true respect
and confidence.” Dion said.
A
performer, a captain, and a director were all in place, and all
that was needed was the all-important venue. Enter Arthur Goldberg,
President of Park Place Entertainment, who saw the potential, took
the risk and got the wheels turning to build her the beautifully-rich
Colosseum. Sadly, Goldberg passed away before he got to witness
the finished venue or the record-breaking show, but his memory lives
on.
For
the past five years, “A New Day” (presented by Chrysler)
has transported audiences to a unique, theatrical world with each
song evoking a different visual experience, creating a theatre of
life. Although
the fifty-nine performers that have accompanied Dion all these years
will not all be going with her
on her tour, they will always know that they were part of something
special.
 The
Colosseum will, of course, remain after Dion walks off the stage
for the last time. Caesars Entertainment Corporation spared no expense
(95 million dollars) building this wonderful 4,000-seat masterpiece
that is a contemporary interpretation of one of antiquity’s
architectural wonders. The Colosseum features a vast performance
space and a feel that is at once roomy and intimate.
Recently,
I caught one of the performers that Dion has shared the room with,
Elton John (The Red Piano), and I was blown away by the incredible
acoustics and the enormous LED screen (the largest in North America)
situated up-stage from the performers. It will be interesting to
see what kind of visuals will accompany the “Divine Miss M”
Bette Midler, who will grace the stage of the Colosseum in February
of 2008.
After
all these years, it will seem a little sad and a little strange
to see the biggest-selling female artist of all time bidding farewell
to Las Vegas. It will also feel a bit odd and sort of re-freshing
not having everyone asking me if I can get Celine Dion tickets.
Adieu Celine. Bring on Bette.
-Brett
Revell
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