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Celine Dion will perform ‘significantly different show’

Celine Dion’s return to Caesars Palace on Aug. 27 will include plans for “a significantly different show,” according to a Caesars Entertainment rep.

“Her grand return to The Colosseum is also going to be supported by a lot of different creative elements in the show,” said Jason Gastwirth, senior vice president of marketing and entertainment for Caesars Entertainment Corp.

“With her new management,” he said, “there’s a creative new direction.”

Dion will be returning after a year’s absence to care for her ailing husband and longtime manager, Rene Angelil.

He gave up his management role in June, bringing in the former head of Cirque du Soleil’s business unit, Aldo Giampaolo.

Questions about the size of the orchestra have come up after Giampaolo recently cut four musicians, including longtime musical director Claude “Mego” Lemay.

“That’s still to be developed,” Gastwirth said.

Asked if Jennifer Lopez still might end up at the Colosseum or Planet Hollywood Resort, Gastwirth said, “We have a very full calendar at the Colosseum. I can’t comment on speculation about different artists like that.”

Tickets may be purchased in person at The Colosseum box office or by calling 866-320-9763 or visiting thecolosseum.com.

FRANK ADVICE

Early in her Las Vegas headlining days, Suzanne Somers got some unsolicited vocal tips from Frank Sinatra.

“When I was headlining here, Frank would have a party on his closing night for all the headliners. So I was always invited to that.

“I was the new kid on the block and, as always, in his dressing room was Jilly Rizzo, (Rodney) Dangerfield, Sammy Davis Jr. and George Carlin.”

Sinatra approached her one night and, “He goes, ‘Hello, kid, you got a good sound.’

“I said, ‘Thank you.’ He said, ‘You’re not breathin’ right.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’

“He said, ‘Uh, you’re singing like those singing teachers teach you,’ which I actually had.

“He said, ‘Are you pulling from your diaphragm?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘No, you pull from your peep.’ I said, ‘What’s my peep?’ He said, ‘Your peep.’

“He said, ‘You pull from as far down as you can pull; you pull that air up.’ He said, ‘You push it through lungs, and you push it through your wings, and that’s where you get your power.’ And it really changed the way I sang. A pretty exclusive singing teacher. And then, because we live in Palm Springs and because I was ducking over to Vegas, he invited us over to his home. If you went to a restaurant with him, he’d be the one serving, ‘Want more clams, Suzie?’ That kind of thing, so pretty lucky.”

Somers, star of the late 1970s and early ’80s hit sitcom “Three’s Company,” was in Las Vegas to promote her upcoming residency at Westgate, where she headlined for years when it was the Hilton.

“Suzanne Sizzles” will open May 23 and play at least 28 weeks.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil will be singing the national anthem at the debut Monday of the Las Vegas Outlaws. Neil is one of the owners in the Arena Football League. The Outlaws will host the L.A. Kiss, co-owned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss. Kickoff at the Thomas & Mack Center is 7:30 p.m. Chris Phillips’ Zowie Bowie band will provide halftime entertainment. …

Barry Manilow revealed a whopper of a self-truth during an on-air interview with The KKLZ Morning show duo of Mike O’Brian and Carla Rea. Manilow was raving about the long-running loyalty of his Fanilows when he added, “If they only really knew what a (expletive) I really am.” Manilow, who had a seven-year headliner run here starting in 2005, returns April 10 for his “One Last Time!” North American concert tour at the MGM Grand Garden.

Correction: Diana Ross begins her headliner residency Wednesday at The Venetian.

THE PUNCH LINE

“A pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who was supposed to start a spring training game accidentally drove to the wrong stadium. The Cubs pitcher realized he was at the wrong stadium the moment he saw hope in the eyes of a fan.” — Conan O’Brien

Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.

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