MIKE WEATHERFORD:
Echelon Place adding two new theaters to Strip
Will there be enough divas to go around?
That's something to ponder after last week's news that two theaters in the Echelon Place development replacing the Stardust will be managed by AEG Live, which operates the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
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One theater will have 4,000 seats -- an unusual size that just happens to match that of the Colosseum -- while the other will be a more standard 1,500 seats. Boyd Gaming's mixed development project should break ground next spring with a target completion date of mid-2010.
Boyd Gaming spokesman Rob Stillwell cited AEG's "successful track record in Las Vegas" and the company's "exceptional relationships in the entertainment business."
"We wanted the flexibility of the larger venue for a certain type of show," Stillwell said of the 4,000-seater, but added that "more definitive conversations" about talent selection probably will be put off until next year. "Right now they're focusing on the design of the two venues."
The Colosseum project survived several regime changes and the ultimate sale of Caesars Palace's parent company to Harrah's Entertainment. With Echelon, "it was very important to us to get (AEG) in early so that as we design it, we could have them at the table with us and our architects," Stillwell said.
The Anschutz Entertainment Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Co., operated by Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz. It also developed the Staples Center and Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. Its arrangement for Dion's "A New Day" is unusual in that AEG takes all the risk and keeps all revenue from ticket sales; Caesars Palace benefits only from incremental spending on the property.
Dion is not expected to perform at the Colosseum beyond 2007, although Elton John may well opt to continue beyond 2008. The names most cited on the short list of stars who might sign to a long-term commitment: Cher, Bette Midler, Jessica Simpson, Rod Stewart and Billy Joel.
But who knows? By 2010, Beyonce and Christina Aguilera might be ready as well.
Another Anschutz company co-producing the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" generated media speculation about Anschutz promoting his conservative Christian beliefs through his business empire. But that hasn't been the case on the Strip. John's show is as ribald as they get, though his early Bush-bashing comments seemed to drop by the wayside. ...
"The Producers" will open at Paris Las Vegas, but not this fall as billboards promise. Harrah's Entertainment planned to announce this week that ticket sales will begin Oct. 27 for shows beginning Feb. 1. There probably will be preview performances before that date, but ticket sales for those will be on a shorter turnaround.
Paris officials cited the busy schedule of writer Mel Brooks and director Susan Stroman, and say there is no point in opening the musical just before the December slowdown on the Strip. It's also no secret the producers are seeking a name star or stars, so there might be a casting announcement just before tickets go on sale. ...
Everyone knows it's dangerous to talk to a reporter, but this was too much. The day after outlining his plans to bring "Bottom's Up" to Fitzgeralds, producer-star Breck Wall was hospitalized after friends suspected a seizure or stroke.
Wall got a clean bill of health and said he is fine, but the debut of "Bottom's Up" has been delayed until Sept. 29. Steve Connolly's Elvis tribute will remain until Sept. 24. ...
Another longtime Las Vegas trouper, comic female impersonator Kenny Kerr, has a new show at Suede restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays. The room at 4640 Paradise Road caters to the gay community.
Departing from his old "Boy-lesque" format, Kerr has created a "one-woman show" about one character, Loretta Leiberman, a lounge act who hasn't performed in Las Vegas since 1963. ...
Finally, the death of jazz trumpet great Maynard Ferguson shouldn't pass without comment in a city where showrooms of the classic era were staffed by big band players who stepped down from the tour bus to settle here.
Many of Las Vegas' aging or departed jazz players were either peers of Ferguson in the Stan Kenton band, or considered Ferguson a kindred spirit for his tireless touring schedule and encouragement of young players. Ferguson lent his talents to a Kenton tribute organized by University of Nevada, Las Vegas administrator Ken Hanlon in 1992.
Before his death on Aug. 23, the 78-year-old Ferguson was scheduled to play Santa Fe Station on Sept. 9. For years he had made low-key annual appearances in Las Vegas. Oddly enough, many of his dates going back to the late 1990s were in the zebra-striped La Cage Theater at the Riviera.
