The word is now definite. Celine Dion has signed a three-year agreement to appear at Caesars Palace's new 4,000-seat amphitheater beginning in March 2003. The 33-year-old Dion will perform about 200 nights per year on a five-night-per-week schedule.

Dion's performance will be the centerpiece of a spectacular theatrical production co-produced by Franco Dragone, who directed both Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas productions - "O" and "Mystere."

Dion was recently named the world's best-selling female artist, selling more than 125 million albums worldwide over the past decade. Her last big hit was the 1997 "Titanic" theme, "My Heart Will Go On."

The $65 million venue under construction will be a replica of the ancient Roman Colosseum with a half-acre stage. When Dion isn't headlining, it will be used for concerts and special events such as boxing.

There's lots of restaurant news this week. Master Chef Gustav Mauler and award-winning architect Paul Steelman will open the latest installation in themed dining experiences, SAZIO an Italian restaurant inside The Orleans Hotel & Casino. SAZIO, which means to be satisfied, is the third in a series of signature restaurants designed and operated by the Gustav-Steelman team. As a note, Mauler received certification as one of only 54 Certified Master Chefs in the Untied States from the American Culinary Federation.

SAZIO will have an informal, sassy interior with brilliant colors of lime green, bold blue and radiant red. Its "twirling past" logo will be accented throughout the dining room, bar and entry way and art portraits of local personalities, entertainers including the "Crazy Girls" from the Riviera, politicians and celebrities will don the walls.

The hours of operation will be lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the restaurant. The bar will serve cocktails from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and a lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 702-948-9500.

San Francisco chef Michael Mina, who was lured to the Bellagio a couple years ago by Steve Wynn to open Aqua, will be opening Nob Hill at the MGM Grand in the space formerly occupied by Gatsby's.

Bahama Breeze is a new Caribbean dining/lounge concept at the corner of Flamingo and Paradise in the area referred to as "Restaurant Row." Paella and steel drum music on the huge patio will attract customers.

Freddie G's is the closed deli diner in the Howard Hughes Center sitting across from Lawry's The Prime Rib. It is being transformed into Piero's Trattoia, a less pricey version of the parent eatery located a mile away near the Convention Center. Look for this place to open around Sept. 1.

It's looking like the space at New York-New York that was occupied by Hamilton's, the former cigar bar, could be turned into a happening lounge this fall with dancing and a movie theme tie-in.

"Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance" in the 1,000-seat Broadway Theater at New York-New York has been extended through December 2001. The international hit with a cast of more than 40 gifted dancers and musicians opened at the resort in July 1998. Tickets range from $50 for the 3 p.m. Saturday matinee to $68 for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night shows, call 1-800-693-6763 or 702-740-6815.

Emmy Award-winning comic Louie Anderson, who is now the current host of the nationally syndicated show, the "New Family Feud," will appear in concert at the Top of the Riv Ballroom, June 5-7. His stand-up comedy routines focus around contemporary observations on obesity, alcoholism, fame, success and family.

Currently, Anderson is proud of the publication of a series of children's books based on the cartoon series, "Life With Louie." For 17 years, Anderson's animated series entitled, "Life With Louie," has been on FOX. The series highlights his writing and voice-over talents as the narrator.

The Third Annual Cigar Social will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton on Saturday, June 30 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Hilton Pavilions. More than 1,800 people are expected to attend. Dozens of top-name cigar markers, winemakers and restaurants will turn the Hilton Pavilions into a tropical paradise, complete with gazebo-covered serving islands, live entertainment and beautiful women including Playboy Playmates.

At the door Social attendees will receive a free gift that will include a wineglass to sample the wines that evening, a cigar cutter and a cigar coupon booklet. Coupons can be redeemed for cigars from each of the vendors at the Social. Tickets are $89, call 702-732-5755.

Neonpolis, the $100 million entertainment center under construction downtown at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Fremont Street has finally signed its anchor tenant. Connecticut-based Crown Theatres will be the main focus at the 14-screen multiplex. One theater will be smaller and seat about 100 people for viewing low-budget, foreign and "low-release" films. Neonopolis is scheduled to open in March 2002.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Broadway will play a role in next year's bookings. Film legend Tony Curtis is scheduled to make his first stage appearance in 21 years at the Aladdin next summer. Curtis, 75, will headline a national tour of "Some Like It Hot," a musical version of the hit 1959 movies co-starring Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. The tour will launch at the Aladdin on July 27, 2002, then go national and possibly to Broadway. Curtis will play a very rich, older character, Osgood Fielding III.

The Broadway Theater Company of Las Vegas has announced its inaugural 2001-2002 "Best of Broadway Las Vegas Series" that will take place at The Orleans. Anne Jeffreys will open in "Mame" on Dec. 21, 2001, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. will open in "Dreamgirls" on Feb. 13, 2002, and Tab Hunter will star in Damn Yankees" opening on April 12, 2002. If you buy your season tickets before June 15, you can save up to $50, call 702-365-7075.

The Magic of David Darkstone "Illusions & Beyond" will open at the New Frontier Hotel & Casino on June 1 for an indefinite run. The afternoon shows will be daily except Monday at noon and 2 p.m. in the New Frontier showroom. Tickets are $12.95 with two drinks included, call 702-794-8200.

"Illusions & Beyond" features illusionist David Darkstone and variety entertainer Will Roya, billled as the Dynamic Duo because the two men are so young at 23 and 24 respectively. Darkstone headlines the show with his illusions including both close-up and interactive magic, while Roya is the featured juggling act using glow-in-the-dark balls, rings and fire, in an hour show.

Darkstone got his first big break at 14 when he appeared in a Pepsi commercial in which he floated a can of Pepsi as it poured itself into a glass. By age 16, he was filming a Brazilian variety television show called "Opa Fredgie." In 1997, Darkstone received the Latin "Ambience Entertainer of the Year" Award, an award generally reserved for Latin singers and actors. Pervious recipients include such stars as Enrique Iglesias and Gloria Estefan.

As a side sad note, Kenny Kerr's show and "The Legends of Comedy" show both quietly closed at the New Frontier.

Jay Leno now in his eighth year of hosting NBC's Emmy Award-winning "The Tonight Show" still takes time out to headline in front of a live audience which he'll be doing May 31-June 2, at the MGM Grand's 1,700-seat "EFX" Theatre. Tickets are $50 and $60 plus tax and handling fee, call 1-800-929-1111, 702-891-7777.

The Las Vegas Hilton NightClub has been transformed into Abbey Road through June 3 as The Fab Four, the ultimate tribute to The Beatles, invades the showroom. The British Invasion is all live with no backing tracks or sequences. Tickets are $25, call 702-732-5755.

As a testimony to the group's popularity, in the recent VH-1 special, "The 100 Greatest Albums of Rock and Roll," The Beatles registered five albums in the top 100 and four of them were in the top 10.

You can double your pleasure at The Orleans in the new Brendan's Irish Pub by catching a Mark & Clark high energy show at 6 and 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The identical twins play piano, sing and do musical comedy.

The duo has been dubbed "The Original Twin Piano Twins" because of playing head-to-head specially-built white Baby Grands. They present music from the classics to movie themes to comtemporary pop to Ricky Martin. Originally brought to the hotel for a week's engagement, the twosome has already been extended until June 3.

Mark & Clark have toured throughout the world and the United States and owned three successful nightclubs in Florida, where they performed. They received gold albums for their Columbia Records LP, "Doubletake," in five countries throughout Europe. The songs were all original tunes and one of them, "Jigsaw Woman," became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard charts. Mark & Clark have also recorded albums on their own label, Twinco.

The Rio will host the fifth annual Miss Hooters International Swimsuit Contest on June 29.

The Regent Las Vegas in northwest Las Vegas started its weekly Regent Pool Party last Friday at 5 p.m. The poolside festivities include live music, dancing, a Summer Splash Swimsuit Contest, food and drink specials and a radio remote with random prize giveaways and drawings.

Guests must be 21 or older. Swimsuits and beachwear are encouraged especially if you want to participate in water volleyball games. Trained body workers from the Regent's Aquae Sulis Spa will provide inexpensive chair massages. The pool's 13 pool cabanas will be reserved weekly for company parties while the Waterside Cafe offers hamburgers, hot dogs and nachos.

Pianist Bruce Zarka and his partner, bass player Geralyn Lee play for the wealthy gambling folks at the Baccarat Bar in the Bellagio. The rules for the duo are not to sing or play rock 'n' roll music. They perform Sundays through Wednesdays from 4:15 to 8:30 p.m.

Zarka was the winner of the 1980 Liberace Keyboard Entertainment Search coptition. He also toured with Louis Prima for three years (1972-75), and was on stage with Prima and the band in Chicago when Prima collapsed, putting a stop to his career.

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