Celine’s Palace: In town for ‘Divas’ show, Celine Dion stops by Caesars Colosseum

Thursday, May 23, 2002 | 8:29 a.m.

The diva has landed.

International singing star Celine Dion and her team of producers and associates Wednesday gave the world its first peek behind the curtain of her new show and the $95 million venue where it will debut March 25.

The 4,000-seat Colosseum at Caesars Palace is still a massive construction project, but it is taking shape and those behind the project offered effusive praise during the afternoon session with reporters.

"We will be the finest entertainment venue in this town forever, and frankly one of the best in the world," said Tom Gallagher, president and chief operating officer of Park Place Entertainment, which bought Caesars Palace in December 1999.

Franco Dragone, creator of "O" and "Mystere," has created the production show for Dion. Cast rehearsals begin June 24 in Belgium, site of Dragone's headquarters. The cast includes 70 dancers and musicians.

Dion's contract is for 600 shows over three years. Performances will be at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

Advance ticket sales began at 10 a.m. today, with the price range for the production show set at $87.50 to $150. Anticipating a major rush, promoters said purchases were limited to eight tickets per customer.

Dion is in Las Vegas to perform VH1's "Divas Las Vegas" concert today at MGM Grand Garden. The show starts at 6 p.m., with a tape-delayed broadcast on VH1 (Cox cable channel 33) at 9 p.m.

During a press conference at the incomplete Colosseum, Dion was flanked by her husband, Rene Angelil, Dragone, Gallagher and John Meglen and Tim Leiweke. Meglen is head of Concerts West, a subsidiary of AEG and presenter of the show. Leiweke is head of AEG.

Those being interviewed sat in directors' chairs in the middle of what will be the showroom's half-acre stage, which extends into the audience and is 120 feet across.

Seating includes orchestra and three balconies.

"No seat is more than 120 feet from the stage," Gallagher said, noting that the close quarters were important for the feeling of intimacy Dion seeks with her audiences.

Leiweke said the Colosseum, and the show that will fill it, will be extraordinary.

"When we set our goals, we wanted to create a show ... they will talk about forever," he said.

The person chosen to formulate the production around Dion was Dragone.

"For me, it is difficult to talk about this show," Dragone, a native of Italy, said. "It's like a baby. You have a baby in your belly, and you don't know what it will be, but you imagine. You dream something. I am still in this stage.

"The show has to be an intelligent balance between interaction with the audience, a concert and theater. The show will have to reveal Celine, not to hide Celine. It must not only be around Celine but with Celine."

While hyperbole and superlatives flowed freely during the news conference, Dragone says he does not like to call a show the best or the greatest.

"I always say it must be the most specific and unique show, and one show is not another show," he said.

The production was discussed only in general terms. All that was revealed for certain is that Dion will not be doing a concert, but rather will be the featured performer in a production show.

She told the media she was happy for the change.

"I've been in this business 20 years," the 34-year-old Dion said. "At one point you want new things, more things to come out of you. It's wonderful to sing the best you can every night, but after you have toured the world and (your tours) grow bigger and bigger -- you've done it all.

"It was great, but once you know something else is possible, you can feel it, almost touch it, and you ask 'Why can't I have it?' "

Dion, who dropped out of entertainment two years ago to have a child, says it was time for a new direction.

"It's time for me to discover something new," she said.

Dion said one of the things that inspired her was seeing Dragone's production of "O" at Bellagio two years ago.

"It changed my vision of performing," she said.

Dion said she discovered she needed something that would drive her to be onstage every night.

"When I saw 'O,' it told me something else is there, and maybe I could be part of a show like that," Dion said. "It will bring the best out of me."

Leiweke said when AEG first met with Dion and Angelil, they set simple goals.

"We said, 'Let's go to the greatest entertainment market in the world with the greatest entertainer in the world,' " he said. " 'Let's create the most unbelievable show and bring in the most dynamic, ingenious creator in the world and let's build the greatest home for entertainment in the world.'

"When we set the goals, we wanted to create a show, not for just the three-year run (of Dion), but one that will last for years to come, and one they will talk about forever. We have set a new standard for Las Vegas, and for entertainment as a whole."