At Caesars Palace
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 Céline 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 in 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 Mystère " 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. Ms. Dion, who gave birth to her first child on January 25th, was recently named the world's best selling female artist, selling more than 140 million albums worldwide over the past decade. Ms. Dion and her husband Rene Angelil's company, CDA Productions Inc., will produce the show, in association with Franco Dragone's company, Créations du Dragon* (cq). This company is based in Belgium and specialized in the creation and production of high level artistic live shows entertainment, special events and multimedia projects. "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 Céline Dion, René Angélil 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 Céline Dion, René Angélil, 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 Céline and René. 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 Céline as a performer but our tremendous respect for her and René 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." 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