Celine Dion and A New Day... Cast Make Final Curtain Call in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Saturday night, Celine Dion and cast took the stage for the final performance of A New Day…, the Las Vegas spectacular created by DRAGONE that has been
Celine Dion to leave Caesars Las Vegas  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 the performance, Celine delivered special remarks to the audience, cast and crew, and took her final bow as the stage was showered by 100,000 rose petals.

“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… transported audiences to a virtual world where each song shaped a universe of its own. Created by world-renowned director Franco Dragone, the performance was 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 appeared to float across the stage. The cast included a cast of more than 50 dancers, musicians, incredible lighting effects and the largest indoor LED screen in North America, which created 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 became, 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, Celine 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… was 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.