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Andy Walmsley
One of two renderings of the set designed by Andy Walmsley for a proposed Whitney Houston residency in Las Vegas.
Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 | 10:48 a.m.
One of two set designs created by Andy Walmsley for a Whitney Houston residency that never happened.
Sun archives
- Superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48 (2-11-2012)
More Whitney Houston coverage
- Pre-Grammy gala celebrates Whitney Houston’s life (Feb. 12, 2012)
- A personal tribute and a plea: Memories of Whitney Houston (Feb. 12, 2012)
- Whitney Houston is the soundtrack of my life (Feb. 12, 2012)
- Superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48 (Feb. 11, 2012)
Some of the most inspired Las Vegas concepts never leave the port. Remember late casino pioneer Bob Stupak’s plans for a Titanic-themed resort across the Strip from the Sahara?
In 2009, there was a lot of talk that Whitney Houston would embark on a residency in Las Vegas, an extended engagement similar to that of Celine Dion’s production at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Planet Hollywood and Paris Las Vegas have been specified in such reports for a project to be fronted by Las Vegas producer Joey Battig. Nothing ever came of this planned showcase.
Well, not quite nothing. There are some fancy renderings of what Houston’s set would have looked like. In the aftermath of Houston’s death Saturday, Emmy Award-winning set designer and Las Vegas resident Andy Walmsey has made public two versions of a set he designed during his brief collaboration with Battig in ’09.
“It was one of those classic Vegas things that never had a chance of happening,” said Walmsley, whose work on the set of “American Idol” earned him a 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Set Design and who also has designed sets for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Got Talent.” In Las Vegas, Walmsley has developed set designs for Nathan Burton’s afternoon comedy-magic show at Flamingo, Terry Fator’s ventriloquism production at the Mirage and “Name That Tune” at Imperial Palace.
Walmsley says the show starring Houston was targeted for Paris and would have been a simpler production than what Dion had previously rolled out in “A New Day …” at Caesars, which was laden with Cirque-styled dancers and acrobats and a raked stage that doubled as a series of video panels.
In Walmsey’s renderings, Houston would have been flanked by lighted orchestra stands and a pair of LED screens. A long staircase descended to the stage from the middle of the set.
“It was just her and the orchestra onstage,” he said during a phone conversation late Saturday. “I made a 3D computer model of the set after (Battig) found me and called about it. I was looking for a big breakthrough in Las Vegas, something really big, and at the time nothing would have been bigger than Whitney Houston.”
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.
... <There are some fancy renderings of what Houston's set would have looked like. In the aftermath of Houston's death Saturday, Emmy Award-winning set designer and Las Vegas resident Andy Walmsey has made public two versions of a set he designed during his brief collaboration with Battig in '09>
I was still living in Vegas in '09 and I don't remember Whitney Houston's name coming up for a resident show. Maybe I just forgot and was more interested in other names that were always thrown around - Cher, Rod Stewart.
So what is the point of bringing this up now?
Please note: The article states Paris would have been the site.
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First off, I loved Whitney's voice and recognize her contributions to the industry. But, having said that, I doubt she would have been able to keep it together long enough for a series of repeat performances. To add insult to injury, financiers would have been unlikely to back her and the producers would have had a difficult time obtaining insurance due to her history.
The train wreck scene in the movie "The Fugitive" comes to mind.
Yet again, Vegas trying to tie itself to a major event that doesn't involve Vegas in the least bit.
It's kinda messed up to even be trying to connect itself to Whitney. I have to second DetMunch's question about the point of this. Like she's not even alive now, so posting make-believe pictures of her in Vegas is a little creepy.
Watched some of her interviews over the years. Angry, confrontational, spacey, belligerent. Other than her voice she came across as a nasty person. Not sure why all the accolades.