Just like a prayer: Madonna announces her set list

The producer of Madonna's upcoming shows in Israel revealed details of her act at a press conference yesterday, just weeks before the pop superstar's arrival. Madonna is scheduled to perform two shows at Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park, on September 1 and 2.

Producer Shuki Weiss confirmed that technical teams have arrived in Israel in the past few days, and that the Israeli production team has begun preparing the ground for her visit. A stage 18 meters high was prepared in May, including four hydraulic elevators and a 25-meter catwalk that will extend from the stage into the crowd. Film clips and laser patterns will be screened, and Madonna will be accompanied by 17 dancers, who will change costumes no fewer than eight times during the performance.

Weiss confirmed that Madonna's entourage would number around 200 people by the time of the concert, but neither confirmed nor denied rumors that some famous friends of hers, including Justin Timberlake, would be among them.

The playlist for the concert - which will run for exactly two hours and 15 minutes - is expected to be exactly the same as that used at other performances during the current Sticky & Sweet Tour, which began in 2008.

Tickets are completely sold out for the first concert on September 1, but are still available for the second show the following day.

The September 1 concert will be Madonna's second performance in Israel. She first appeared at Hayarkon Park 16 years ago as part of her Girlie tour, and also visited Israel in 2006 during the Jewish High Holidays along with 2,000 other students of Kabbalah.