Las Vegas Blockbuster to Close after Five-Year Smash Run Playing
to Almost 3 Million Fans and Grossing $400 Million
LAS VEGAS--(Business Wire)--Tonight, Celine Dion and cast will take the stage for the final
performance of A New Day..., the Las Vegas spectacular created by
DRAGONE that has been seen by nearly 3 million fans since premiering
in March 2003. The show's landmark run at The Colosseum at Caesars
Palace, Las Vegas, grossed more than $400 million throughout 717
performances.
At the end of tonight's performance, Celine will deliver special
remarks to the audience, cast and, crew and take her final bow.
"This has been one of the most incredible journeys of my career!
Working with Franco Dragone...working with an amazing cast of artists
every night...knowing that we've had the best team around us, the best
partners to work with...and in this most beautiful theater...it's
all been a dream come true! I'm going to miss being with this 'family'
of extraordinary people who have become a big part of my life during
the past five years. I'm grateful to each of them for giving so much
of themselves to make our show a success. Most of all, I'm overwhelmed
by the support that we've received from all the fans who have traveled
to Las Vegas from all across North America, and from every corner of
the world...I can't thank them enough!"
When A New Day... was announced in the summer of 2002, it took the
entertainment world by storm as Celine Dion was about to do what no
other artist at the height of their career had ever done - stop
touring and invite the fans to come to her. The Las Vegas gamble paid
off as the show became an instant hit and was the second best-selling
concert in North America in its first year. The success continued from
there with performances selling out night after night throughout the
show's run.
"A New Day... was a first for us, pairing one of the world's
biggest stars with a production that didn't tour within a specially
designed venue, and we have proven that we found a winning
combination," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG. "We
could not have been more thrilled with the partnership we created with
two of the most talented and hard working people we have ever worked
with. Thank you Celine and Rene for your friendship, your partnership
and allowing us to be a part of bringing your vision to the stage, as
well as to millions of fans from around the world."
The show's status as one of the hottest tickets in Las Vegas has
been a constant since opening at the $95 million Colosseum designed
specifically for the show.
"We always knew the potential that a show like this held, and
we've been thrilled with the success, as well as with the opportunity
to work with such a talented and giving performer as Celine," said
John Meglen, president and co-CEO of AEG Live/Concerts West. "The
support from all sides has been a constant and everyone involved has
worked together seamlessly since the beginning of the show to build
this unprecedented operation."
Through a unique blend of concert, dance, theatre and multi-media,
A New Day... transports audiences to a virtual world where each song
shapes a universe of its own. Created by world-renowned director
Franco Dragone, the performance is an artistic collection of powerful
song and dance, fantastical imagery, reoccurring characters and
special effects, including projected images that are stories high and
sequences where objects and performers appear to float across the
stage. The show includes a cast of more than 50 dancers, musicians,
incredible lighting effects and the largest indoor LED screen in North
America, which creates an ever-changing backdrop for the show.
"My goal with this project was to create a spectacle like no other
- a fusion of song, theatre, dance and technical innovation - and
showcase Celine's immense talent in a new art form," said show creator
Franco Dragone. "I can confidently look at the show, at what it has
become, and know that my goal was accomplished."
To keep the show fresh and exciting for returning fans, A New
Day... continually evolved throughout its five-year run. New songs
were incorporated, showcasing the best of Celine Dion's musical
catalogue, as well as favorites from legendary artists such as Frank
Sinatra, Etta James and Elvis Presley. With new songs came new set
designs, and to add to the visual interest on stage, Dion and cast
donned new custom-made costumes each year.
"Celine Dion, as a performer, has set the bar for success in Las
Vegas and exemplified our property's commitment to providing our
guests with the best entertainment offering in Las Vegas," said
Caesars Palace President, Gary Selesner. "Caesars Palace is proud to
have hosted this show for the past five years and will truly miss
Celine and her husband, Rene, but will always consider them part of
the Caesars Palace family."
Fans that missed their chance to see the show live in Las Vegas,
as well as those that want to enjoy it again, will have the
opportunity to do so as A New Day... will be shown in more than 200
movie theaters nationwide on Monday, December 17, at 7:30 p.m. (local
time). Tickets for this one-time-only special engagement are on sale
at presenting theater box offices and www.FathomEvents.com.
In 2008, Dion will embark on her "Taking Chances" world tour,
beginning in South Africa in February. Tickets for North American
performances are on sale and available through
www.celinedion.aeglive.com. For more information on the world tour,
visit www.celinedion.com.
ABOUT A NEW DAY...
A New Day... is produced by AEG LIVE, created by DRAGONE and
presented by Chrysler. For more information on A New Day..., call
888-995-1555 or visit www.celinedion.com.
NOTE: Photos will be available from Getty following tonight's
performance
GolinHarris
Stephanie Schaffer
Office Phone: 213-438-8743
Cell Phone: 310-433-9154
sschaffer@golinharris.com
Copyright Business Wire 2007
