At 48, Shania Twain’s life reads like the stuff hit country songs are made of: Born in Canada, parents divorce when she’s 2; mother remarries; family is poor and parents fight violently; she starts singing in bars at the age of 8 to help family make ends meet; writes first song at the age of 10; goes on to become the top-selling female country artist of all time; has 14-year marriage; husband cheats on her with her best friend; they divorce; she loses her voice; finds love with the ex-husband of her cheating ex-best friend; remarries; finds happiness and healing; gets voice and free-spiritedness back.
Of course, the story doesn’t end there. In fact, Twain began singing a brand new tune on December 1, 2012 when her highly anticipated new Las Vegas production “SHANIA: STILL THE ONE” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace opened a two-year residency in what is her first time back on stage after eight years. And, to that avail, there’s a lot to be said for inventiveness.
"I’m going to let my imagination run wild," she said when she first announced the deal. "I'm going to go nuts creatively."
And she’s definitely taken a walk on the “wild” side -- horses and all. “SHANIA: STILL THE ONE,” created by Show Creator and Executive Producer Twain, produced by AEG Live and directed by Producer/Director/Dancer Raj Kapoor, takes audiences on a spectacular journey through the various stages of Shania's life and career in an unforgettable evening filled with music, fantasy, multi-sensory and visual experiences, fashion and the unexpected., the latter including two very alive and beautiful steeds. It’s all designed to make the new act in the Vegas “neigh-borhood” an undeniable sensation.
"My first step in creating the show was writing out the song list, building my ideas from there,” Shania, who will be at The Colosseum through February 15 and then will be back in May, June and July, explains. “I wanted to keep the hits at the heart of it all while weaving elements of surprise throughout the experience. My vision was to bring the atmosphere of each song alive through multi-dimension sensory and share the journey of my life and career with the audience from a unique perspective. The Colosseum theater is heaven for an artist and the opportunity to collaborate with such a brilliant team made my dream show a reality.”
“The show is very personal and a story,” she adds. “I wanted to tell it like a story. I wanted family around me and family involved. I sing with my sister, Carries, in the show for the first time ever. I also wanted my horses around me and nature – all my favorite things. All the favorite personal choices of mine in every way were included in the show. It’s much more like a concert that’s personalized. I like to design, create and communicate and interact with people. This production is more of a personal journey than anything I’ve ever done.”
Twain says that Carrie has not been on stage since she was eight but that they sound very much alike and she appreciates their blend together. Also in the mix, but not on stage, is Twain’s husband, Fred, whom she calls her “daily support.”
“I need him and that support -- what we have,” she candidly admits. “He grounds me and reminds me that there are other things going on in the world besides what I do. He helps give me perspective. Love is important, Family is important. Once you’re married, there’s a comfort you fall into after that.”
Regarding the regaining of her voice, Twain says that it is just fun to sing again and that she’s really enjoying it.
“I am very happy to finally have gotten it back,” she reveals. “It took a lot of very hard work and rehabilitation. Luckily, there was nothing ever wrong with my vocal chords. In terms of Vegas, where singers get a lot of what’s known as Vegas throat because of the dryness Bette Midler recommended some sprays for me and I’ve been taking care of myself. I grew up in Ontario and faced a similar challenge. But I’ve been fine here.”
Also enjoying the experience of being one place for the first time in her career, Twain, who says she has never had a show like this before, says that there are things happening around her that couldn’t happen with a traveling show. She says that she feels new about the show every time she performs it.
“Las Vegas is a very sunny place,” she sums up. “And there are sunny photos in my dressing room. I wake up very happy. I love being at Caesars. I love where we are.”
Twain is back up on her horse – and on a high note.
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