Las Vegas has certainly seen its share of A-list superstars grace the same stage on a single evening. For instance, the Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children draws some of the biggest names in music and comedy each year. Ditto the annual Tiger Jam hosted by golf giant Tiger Woods. And, of course, those who visited the Strip back in the 1960s had the opportunity to catch regular performances by three guys named Frank, Dean and Sammy.
So to say the pairing of megastars Celine Dion, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld for a one-night-only extravaganza tops anything ever assembled on a Las Vegas Strip stage might be pushing the hyperbolic envelope just a bit. However, to say that the trio's scheduled gathering on Feb. 20 in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace could have the most positive and lasting impact of any concert ever staged in this city would hardly be an exaggeration.
That's because Celine, Elton and Jerry have agreed to join forces at the behest of Harrah's Entertainment for the sole purpose of raising money to help the thousands of Harrah's employees in the Gulf Coast who were victims of last summer's devastating hurricanes.
Dubbed H.E.A.R.T. -- Harrah's Entertainment Artists Rally Together -- this unique Presidents Day event features mini-concerts from each of the three entertainers who regularly take up residence inside the resplendent Colosseum. All three are set to perform 30-minute sets, with a couple of surprises expected to be thrown in for good measure.
Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the Gulf Coast, Harrah's Entertainment has been raising money to assist the 9,400 employees who lost their jobs when the casinos were closed as a result of damage caused by the disasters. Through various relief efforts, the company has managed to collect more than $3 million, all of which has gone to aid those employees hit hardest by the hurricanes.
And with individual tickets for the H.E.A.R.T. benefit ranging from $100 to $1,000, plus additional packages that start at $3,000 and go up to $100,000, a lot more financial assistance will be on the way soon. As for the trio most responsible for the gala, we'd venture a guess that of the thousands of performances each has given throughout their remarkable careers, none is as meaningful -- both personally and professionally -- as this one.