5/17/2001 May 17, 2001 Music Superstar Joins with Franco Dragone, Sony Music and Concerts West to Form 'Dream Team' Alliance in Creation of Long-Running Musical Production
LAS VEGAS - As part of an unprecedented alliance, Sony Music recording artist Celine Dion has accepted an offer to perform in an exclusive, extended engagement at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The unique production, which will be presented by Concerts West, will debut March 2003.
Ms. Dion's performance will be the centerpiece of a spectacular theatrical presentation directed by Franco Dragone, creator of the enormously successful "Quidam," "O" and "Myst?re." A brand-new 4,000-seat theatre, designed to resemble the Colosseum in Rome, is being constructed specifically for this concert engagement, which is scheduled to run for a minimum of three years. Dion, who gave birth to her first child Jan. 25, recently was named the world's best- selling female artist, selling more than 125 million albums worldwide over the past decade.
Dion and her husband Ren? Ang?lil's company, CDA Productions Inc., will produce the show, in association with Franco Dragone's company, Cr?ations du Dragon* (cq). Concerts West, an Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) company, will present the show. *Franco Dragone's company is correctly spelled "Dragon" (without the final "e")
"Concerts West is dedicated to creating this type of 'one-of-a-kind' production for audiences worldwide," said John Meglen, Co-CEO of Concerts West. "We are excited to team with Caesars Palace, which has a long history of hosting internationally renowned entertainment and events. We are so privileged to be associated with Celine Dion, Ren? Ang?lil and Franco Dragone; three individuals we consider not only to be among the most talented in their fields but the most honorable partners any organization could have."
"This alliance brings together an entertainment 'Dream Team' in Celine Dion, Ren? Ang?lil, Sony Music, Franco Dragone, Concerts West and Caesars Palace," said Thomas E. Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Park Place Entertainment Corporation, the parent company of Caesars Palace. "We have had a long and wonderful friendship with Celine and Ren?. We are delighted to join them in this all-star coalition to create an extraordinary show that will combine the best in music and the best in theatre. We are particularly proud that the home for this remarkable experience will be at Caesars Palace."
"It was not only our great admiration for Celine as a performer but our tremendous respect for her and Ren? as the people they are that led us to this partnership," said Timothy J. Leiweke, President of the Anschutz Entertainment Group. "Under the leadership of Concerts West, this 'one-of-a-kind' production will show how the synergies of the AEG affiliated companies create tremendous opportunities for our organizations and those we do business with."
Information will be available beginning Tuesday, May 22, at (877) CELINE-4 (877-235-4634) and online at www.caesars.com. An on-sale date and public ticket information will be announced at a later time.
Park Place Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest gaming company and owns, manages or has an interest in 28 gaming properties operating under the Caesars, Bally's, Hilton, Grand and Flamingo brand names, with a total of 2 million square feet of gaming space, more than 28,000 hotel rooms and 57,000 employees worldwide.
Based in Los Angeles, Concerts West, Ltd. is one of the world's largest producers and promoters of live music events and tours. Run by veteran tour promoters John Meglen and Paul Gongaware, the company's primary focus is indoor arenas, which allows for an extension of artists' tours and increased revenue by eliminating seasonality. Concerts West is an AEG Company.
The Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc. (AEG) is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, the London Arena, the Great Western Forum (as exclusive booking agent for sports and entertainment programming), HealthSouth Training Center and the Kodak Theater (as operator); sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Manchester Monarchs (AHL), Redding Royals (ECHL), Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids (MLS), five hockey franchises operated in Europe and portions of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA); Envision, a naming rights and sponsorship company; Spring Communications, devoted to creation and marketing of live events for pay-per-view and other electronic media; Turnstyle Marketing, a full-service marketing and advertising agency; and Concerts West, a live entertainment promotion and touring company.
AEG currently is overseeing the development of the L.A. Sports and Entertainment District, a proposed 4 million square foot development featuring LA Live, a state-of-the-art live theatre, a 1,200-room convention "headquarters" hotel along with entertainment, restaurant and office space all adjacent to STAPLES Center. In addition, AEG is spearheading the creation of a national training academy that will include major facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling, basketball and other sports in southern California. |