The love affair between the crew of the and the Town of St. George?s grows stronger each year ? so much so, in fact, that even before the Norwegian Cruise Lines? regular East End vessel arrived in port last week on her first voyage of the season, on-board entertainer Marcus Dagan had already drawn up plans for yet another open air concert extravaganza in the Town Square ? this time on Tuesday, May 17.

?We?re calling it ?The Welcome Back to Paradise Concert?, and the whole raison d??etre for it is the way the Corporation and merchants of St. George?s have again welcomed the crew and passengers back,? Mr. Dagan said. ?So this is our way of saying, ?Thank You?. We are all excited to be here. We love Bermuda, and even the new crew members have picked up on the excitement of being here.?

As producer/director of the variety concert, in association with St. George?s mayor E. Michael Jones, Mr. Dagan assures that the event will have something for everyone.

In addition to a host of entertainers from the their colleagues on the sister ship, will also be performing.

Headlining the show will be the multitalented Rudy Macaggi, who delighted audiences at the original 2003 concert. Other entertainers from the NCL ships include the Caribbean Vibe Band, the Amadeus Trio, singers from the Philippines, the Mikael Orchestra and the Show Band with pianist Peter James.

Co-producer of the show will be the Chad Brennen, who fulfilled a similar role for the 2003 concert. Emcee?s will be Pedro Serra and Julie Valeriote, cruise directors of the and , respectively.

Jonathan Trott of Spanish Town will once again be handling stage and sound arrangements.

?The concert, which will run non-stop from 2 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. in the Square, will be dedicated to the lasting legacy of the late David F. Raine,? said Mr. Dagan.

In addition to authoring historical books, Mr. Raine was a common councillor on the Corporation of St. George?s.

Also joining in the fun will be the charismatic Mayor of St. George?s, E. Michael Jones, and his equally well-known Moluccan cockatiel, ?Papoose?.

?I am absolutely delighted that the entertainers on board the Norwegian Cruise Lines? ships have once again decided to honour St. George?s by making their time available for both their passengers and the local residents,? Mr. Jones said. ?It is so nice to have them back.?

This is the third St. George?s concert Mr. Dagan has initiated. The first, two years ago, was a highly successful fund-raiser post-Hurricane Fabian relief for the badly damaged St. George?s Preparatory School. It raised $18,000 in cash, in addition to which Microsoft donated $20,000-worth of computers.

Once again, the Plexiglas World Trade Center memorial sculpture created by Bermudian Michael Hooper will be on display. As on previous occasions, the public will be invited to donate a minimum of $1 to ?purchase? a piece of Bermuda sea glass to put in the towerlike piece, each one of which represents a life lost in the 9/11 Twin Towers disaster in New York. Two special pieces of glass will represent the Bermudians also lost that day.

When the appropriate target is reached, it is intended to present the sculpture to the Mayor of New York in a special ceremony.

Pianist, singer and recording artist Mr. Dagan?s love of Bermuda goes back to 1976, when he fulfilled a six-month engagement at the then-Rum Runners restaurant on Front Street.

It proved to be the springboard which launched his international career. Among the original material Mr. Dagan has written and recorded is a song about Bermuda which he began composing during his initial 1976 stay. It is entitled ?I need All of the Sunshine?.

Admission is free, and all are welcome.